View topic - OT: Mark Madden Fired From ESPN Radio

[tjs1974 Profile]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08148/885212-100.stm

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Do you think Stillers.com would fire me if I said "I hope he suffers as much as the girl he let drowned."?

[GodfatherofSoul Profile]

Do you think Stillers.com would fire me if I said "I hope he suffers as much as the girl he let drowned."?

Funny how conservatives are so obsessed with Chappaquidick. I wonder if you know who Laura Bush killed back then. No? Never see it mentioned because it's not how liberals play politics.

But, I do admit I hope he makes a deathbed confession about what really happened. He was probably drunk and tried to hide that fact.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Michael Dutton Douglas was his name.

(Who said I was a conservative? Notice I didn't say anything about the legislation he has helped pass over the years - just his involvement in a girls death.) But let's look at the facts:

In 1963 Laura (Welch as she was named then) was involved in a car accident by running a stop sign and hitting another car, killing classmate,who was driving the other car. No alcohol was involved. No one was charged. Laura was born in 1946 making her 17 in 1963.

That is very different from chappaquidick which happened in 1969 when Teddy (born in 1932) was 37 - AN ADULT. Kennedy entered a plea of guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. Teddy Ran from the scene, Laura didn't. It is widely believed that alcohol was involved. You can read about Chappaquidick at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident.
Note that a judge found Kennedy's story was not true. Note also the quote from the diver.

Another big difference - Teddy is an elected official; Laura is not.

It's not about "playing politics". It is about the truth, and about character.

Car accidents happen; running from car accidents is a choice. Running past multiple houses with phones in them doesn't just happen - that is a choice also. Not notifying the police until something like 10 hours later is a choice also. Those choices reveal the man's character - or in Teddy's case - lack of character.

[GodfatherofSoul Profile]

Michael Dutton Douglas was his name.

(Who said I was a conservative? Notice I didn't say anything about the legislation he has helped pass over the years - just his involvement in a girls death.) But let's look at the facts:

In 1963 Laura (Welch as she was named then) was involved in a car accident by running a stop sign and hitting another car, killing classmate,who was driving the other car. No alcohol was involved. No one was charged. Laura was born in 1946 making her 17 in 1963.

That is very different from chappaquidick which happened in 1969 when Teddy (born in 1932) was 37 - AN ADULT. Kennedy entered a plea of guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. Teddy Ran from the scene, Laura didn't. It is widely believed that alcohol was involved. You can read about Chappaquidick at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident.
Note that a judge found Kennedy's story was not true. Note also the quote from the diver.

Another big difference - Teddy is an elected official; Laura is not.

It's not about "playing politics". It is about the truth, and about character.

Car accidents happen; running from car accidents is a choice. Running past multiple houses with phones in them doesn't just happen - that is a choice also. Not notifying the police until something like 10 hours later is a choice also. Those choices reveal the man's character - or in Teddy's case - lack of character.

That's not how I heard the story (ages ago, can't remember original source). She did the same thing as Kennedy, ran off to sober up (she did leave the scene). Fact is, you poll 100 people and maybe a handful know it without Googling for the info. And, I'm not saying that Kennedy is innocent. In fact, the evidence should have been enough to slap a real sentence on him, I think he got probation or something like it.

[baumblvd Profile]

FWIW, I had no idea that Laura Bush was involved in a fatal accident. Not that it matters, but it does help make the point.

[Dreadnought Profile]

Nice post Hammer.

Right beside you about Teddy's ... ahem... "character"

[Steelers4Tim Profile]

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/08148/885212-100.stm

Madden should not have been fired for this, because he was absolutely right. ESPN might as well be called the Extra Soft Pussy Network, because they have became a bunch of soap opera bitches. This is nothing more than an over-reaction by the liberal controlled media and the forces that control them.

As for Ted Kennedy, as soon as that sick fatass fuck dies, he has a captain's chair waiting for him in hell....he is one of the most worthless pieces of shit in the history of politics. He's so liberal, he pee's pussy. Too bad we didn't get to see him get nailed like the rest of his pathetic family. This country needs a day where we can just start capping liberal fucks like him all day long, IMO.

[Hi5Steeler Profile]

well i havent followed kennedy's career since that accident and im sure we all hate the guy for doing what he did...plus because he is a democrat....but to say he will go to hell is ridiculous.

That would depend on whether he gave himself to christ believing in the lord. In that case he is not going to hell. Thats stated five hundred different ways in the bible. and no you cant argue it or justify this or that. IF you believe then you KNOW it aint our decision. IF you dont believe in god ...well honestly your opinion doesnt matter, you shouldnt be allowed to vote, nor have kids. Seriously....people who dont believe are mostly all assholes. and we dont need any more of those in the world.

[trenches Profile]

The problem is actually Disney. Someone tell my why they should own any news related media?

If I wanted G-rated media, I'd read Dr. Seuss.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

The problem is actually Disney. Someone tell my why they should own any news related media?

If I wanted G-rated media, I'd read Dr. Seuss.

Blasphemy!
How dare you speak ill of the mouse.

YOU'RE FIRED!

Oh Wait, you're my boss. I probably can't fire you. Can I?:lol:

[Still Furnace Profile]

I find it pathetic that the PG allowed and Smizik gladly took the assignment of writing Madden's ESPN Radio career obit. Smizik's a lightweight to begin with, and spent far too many petty articles commenting on Madden. Their history of feud made smizik look like a petty gloater, and spiteful to boot -- some of the very things he criticized in Madden.

Were Smizik actually providing decent coverage, half of Madden's audience would not have been forced to endure low-brow BS for some time. Yes, he was funny at times, but there were far too many YAWN shock moments that detracted from what he was generally pretty good at. Madden had it coming, but it leaves us with even less decent commentary here in the burgh.

Otherwise, spot on about Kennedy. Cancer or no cancer, the guy is a low life who put his political viability ahead of saving Mary Jo Kopechne. The two dudes he spent the night with explained that he spent most of his time with them trying to figure a way of covering his ass so he wouldn't get in trouble as a Senator. He moaned to himself all night, i can't believe this is happening to ME. Uhh, dude -- she's in the car breathing from a bubble of air in the wheel well. How about thinking of someone else rather than your own immediate gratification?

Just like all the Kennedy's. Great personalities in public, but terribly flawed in private lives. How one can be a loser privately and somehow a great leader shows how people can be such sheep in who they'll follow. Just give them a handout, and you'll get a vote.

[trenches Profile]

Furnace,

Well said.

The PG and Smizik are both snakes that don't deserve their readership. Smizik has the self-confidence of a buck-toothed man-goat and has been employed long past his useful purpose. As a columnist, he is now a caricature of himself. If only he had one-eighth of the credibility of his co-worker Ed Bouchette.

Madden, despite his flaws, at least bucked the system and provided an alternative to RAW RAW sports talk. As a fan, I don't feel I have to agree with all of the tactics or antics of a host to enjoy sports talk but HATE hearing nothing but "glass nine-tenths full" commentary and opinions regardless of the situation.

Clearly the Kennedy comments did not get Mark Madden fired. He wasn't brand friendly and ESPN Radio (i.e. Disney) was looking to fire him. He pushed the bounds on many occasions and they capitalized on canning him whenever they could.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

I woldn't feel to bad for Madden - word is that he is still getting paid.
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/

It's been a week since Mark Madden last hosted his radio show on Pittsburgh's ESPN 1250. After making some idiotic comments about Sen. Ted Kennedy, orders came from on high (ESPN headquarters in Bristol, in this case), to take Madden off the air.

And while most of Pittsburgh still celebrates the news, Madden's absence from the airwaves could be short-lived. That's currently the speculation, anyway.

Reached by phone yesterday, Madden would not discuss his removal. "No comment. None. Bye-bye," he said before hanging up.

Rarely at a loss for words on the air, Madden might have cause to stay quiet. ESPN officials would not say Madden had been fired and would not discuss the financial terms, if any, of Madden's removal. Being taken off the air does not necessarily mean his contract was terminated, meaning Madden might still be collecting his salary.

Good to see Madden hangs up on callers at home too. Word on the street is that his contract will be honored (he just signed a new deal last year), although his archnemesis Bob Smizik doesn't think Madden will work in Pittsburgh again because "Clear Channel, which operates the only other sports-talk station in town, would not tolerate his act."

Apparently, that's debatable.

Ultimately, it'll come down to ratings. I don't think Madden's shtick would work outside of Pittsburgh, and given the numbers he was pulling, it's not unreasonable to think Clear Channel would take a chance on him. He's way too big a nuisance to go away quietly, and I fully expect him to resurface somewhere in short order.

In the meantime, enjoy the silence.

Also some good Stuff on Capazzi on that link.

[Switz Profile]

This is what is so hypicritial about this whole thing...

No matter what he said.... about Kennedy...

He is a shock Jock.. they do this and that is what they get paid for...

The station owners know this..

then when they get a few people bitching they decide to remove him?

They know what he does... why is this such a surprise...

if you fire him then you need to fire the people who gave him is contratc as well

[4nic8 Profile]

Ummm...that's like steelhammer firing trenches. Not gonna happen.

You are our most frequent poster Switz.

You need to put a little more thought into your posts.

Especially when referring to 12/7/08.

[SteelCityFan Profile]

Just give them a handout, and you'll get a vote.

This is why there is a democratic party. Don't want to work? Don't want to pay your taxes? Don't want any symbolism of American Pride, standards or values? Vote democrap.

[Coke Oven Profile]

"As for Ted Kennedy, as soon as that sick fatass fuck dies, he has a captain's chair waiting for him in hell....he is one of the most worthless pieces of shit in the history of politics. He's so liberal, he pee's pussy. Too bad we didn't get to see him get nailed like the rest of his pathetic family. This country needs a day where we can just start capping liberal fucks like him all day long, IMO."

Much as I despise Ted Kennedy, I don't blame him for being what he is. He's evil through and through and he'll never change. Who I do blame are the evil people of Massachusetts who keep re-electing the fucker over and over.

[toomuchmerrilhoge Profile]

Notwithstanding any feelings I have (or really don't have) for Ted Kennedy, I always thought Mark Madden was a giant douche. The self-proclaimed 'super-genius' spent his career berating and belittling simpletons, and made an assload of money doing it. Classic big fish in a small pond. I'm glad he's gone, because he really added no value to the airwaves. ESPN took a gamble on that fat shitwad and lost big-time. Good riddance.