Oh, no he didn't
Pittsburgh: Just when you thought that Hillary Clinton was the only one talking about Kennedy assassinations, Mark Madden of ESPN Radio WEAE (1250) apparently also has been in the fray, according to Bob Smizik of the Post-Gazette.
Says Smizik --- who must be a glutton for punishment, since he hates Madden's show, but apparently listens all the time --- the confrontational sports-talk host said Wednesday:
"I'm very disappointed to hear that Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated.
"I wonder if he got a card from the Kopechnes."
The comment referenced Kennedy's role in the 1969 drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne, who was a passenger in his car when it drove off of a bridge and into the water near Martha's Vineyard.
Madden apologized on the air two hours later for what Smizik says "would be a fireable offense at some radio stations."
WEAE GM Mike Thompson tells Smizik, "it was a comment that was stupid" but one that didn't justify further action.
Readers’ Forum
It seems that Mark Madden can’t handle anyone telling him that he’s wrong about anything or challenging any of his comments (I remember his “Night Talk” appearance several years ago when he whined that calls were being taken and then, while live, told the producers to quit taking calls).
(Editor’s Note: This comment was edited for taste and fairness.)
Bob - May 23, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I know for a fact Smizik doesn’t listen to Madden all the time. He was tipped about the Kennedy comment by a fellow P-G staffer who heard the on-air apology. He then looked into the story from there and listened to a tape. There is an important distinction to make here — Smizik does a semi-regular column focusing strictly on sports broadcasting. This isn’t a case where he’s devoting his usual general sports column to a radio-TV matter.
Vic - May 23, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Thanks, Vic. It was meant to be a joke; I didn’t really think Bob Smizik spent every waking minute monitoring Mark Madden.
Maybe I should issue an on-air apology.
Jason Togyer - PBRTV Contributor - May 25, 2008 at 09:24 am
No one will be able to take Madden’s place. You either love him or hate him but no matter what category you fall in, you still listen. My afternoon drive home from work will now suck!!! Sirius radio pick him up now.
Steve - May 28, 2008 at 01:00 am