The last time I went on vacation to visit the Mother-in-Law in Traverse City, Mac was suspended for his battle with Mariotti, amongst other things calling him an 'interloper'. Here I am in Michigan, and there he is... in the 'Penalty Box' again.

Get to 'cottage' and relax Mac.


From today's Feder column:

Penalty box
ESPN's hotheaded host lands in trouble again for 'inappropriate' talk

June 28, 2007
BY ROBERT FEDER Sun-Times Columnist
Google "Dan McNeil" and "suspension" and you'll come up with a list of incidents going back at least seven years.
That list just got longer, thanks to yet another suspension for the mercurial afternoon personality on ESPN Radio's sports/talk WMVP-AM (1000).

While Carmen DeFalco filled in alongside co-hosts John Jurkovic and Harry Teinowitz, McNeil was off the show Wednesday and will be gone for the remainder of the week -- if not longer.

McNeil's bosses won't discuss details of his latest offense except that it involved "inappropriate comments on the air directed at another individual." The episode occurred on Tuesday's show.

Calling it "an internal matter," Jim Pastor, president and general manager of ESPN 1000, wouldn't say whether McNeil was being paid during the suspension.

One way or another, McNeil seems to explode with regularity, returning from each suspension chastened and apologetic. And then, inevitably, it happens again.

After he was suspended for an especially nasty exchange with Teinowitz last year, it took nearly three weeks before McNeil worked everything out and was allowed back on the air.

What could account for the seemingly unlimited patience of his bosses?

One obvious reason is that his show tops the ratings among men between the ages of 25 and 54. Another is that if ESPN 1000 ever dropped McNeil, his former home, CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR-AM (670), would welcome him back with open arms.

But someday even all that may not be enough to save him.

I didn't catch all of the show yesterday, seems to me Mr. Untouchable got knocked down a peg. I like his thoughts and seems to be a funny guy, but for sure has a "Don't you know who I am attitude"

Teddy's link... http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ch ... &cset=true

I would guess the suspension has something to do with whoever that lady was that he was calling a bitch the other day.

If I recall, it was something like (and I'm paraphrasing) "If you look up the word bitch in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of [whatever her full name is]."

I thought that was a pretty callous thing to do...calling some saleswoman out by her full name on the air...

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If I can use Mac's cliche "Pulling the covers over my head" radio was taken place the other day when he was calling the P.R. women from the Cubs a "BITCH" several times on the show. As I heard it I was thinking this is going to get him some time off and I was correct.

I don't know where this guys head is at sometimes but I could hear Harry and Jurko trying to reel him in and he kept going. You would figure after the Imus thing he would be a bit smarter than not but his ego got the best of him once again.

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"lET ME , Worry about Luca Brasi"

I believe its in poor taste, worth of a reprimand, but not worth of a suspension. It certainly doesn't violate any FCC rules to call some one a bitch on the air.

When I heard it, I thought it was mean-spirited, but not that big of a deal.

It's a fine line these guys are expected to walk. Their bosses want them to be funny and somewhat edgy. But there are no clear rules given as to what you can or can't say. I've heard far more offensive things on the radio over the years, but for whatever reason this was seen by management as something that had to be dealt with. It was probably not the smartest thing in the world to say, but I'm not sure that a suspension was warranted.

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This is my signature...

Was he talking about Sharon Panazzo? If so, then there will be a long line of media types ready to second the nomination. I haven't heard anyone say a good word about her. I didn't hear the segment, but he must have went over the top to get suspended. That or ESPN's ass has tightened to the point where it is becoming uncomfortable to work for them.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

[/quote]

It would all depend on how many calls were taken to complain about what was said and if the Cubs felt the need to call or the women herself called into complain you would think management would save face and do something to cool the matter down.

Like I said , with the Imus thing still fresh in people minds I felt Dan would be a little smarter than that .

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"lET ME , Worry about Luca Brasi"

Well, I would say that Greenstein scooped the crap out of Feder didn't he? Hey Feder, how'd you miss the ENTIRE story like that? Lazy bastard.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

It had nothing to do with sports. I think that if he hadn't called her out by her first and last name (a couple of times) most likely, he would not have gotten time off. He crossed the line and made it a personal attack on a background employee of his company.

That said, I think it warrants a day off...not an indefinite amount of time...

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MACKEY , MACKEY , MACKEY .....

If your off today let's go play some roulette or slots down in Joliet.

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"You can't put a bounty on a man's head"!

All I'm saying is that suspensions like this will continue to occur as long as there are no clear cut ground rules in regard to decency on the radio. I have heard McNeil and many other hosts on both stations take personal shots at people over the years. I'm guessing the difference in this case is that a woman was the target. For some reason, hosts are allowed to call players(clubhouse, dugout), coaches, owners and others a variety of names everyday.

Just make the rules the same for everyone. Well... I guess there would have to be some rules in the first place...

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This is my signature...

If he's repeatedly calling someone a Bitch, I don't think it's supsension material, but I can understand how his bosses may have gotten itchy.

Does Panazzo work for ESPN now?

Like Reason said, I have never heard a kind word said about the woman from anyone at either station. I miss the days of real radio wars. This one would not even register as a blip during those days in the 80's when Dahl and Uncle Lar worked together.

I have a feeling this justification is just a pretext used to get back at Mac for his in depth ridicule of the staff going to ESPN university. Justin Craig bleeds ESPN and his brand was being openly mocked.

Feder acts like it is some revelation that management puts up with guys who have ratings. I could give a rats rear end whether anyone in the building likes Mac or his work. The fact is, I do...and many, many others do. There will ALWAYS be a job in radio for someone like that.

If you want to employ a bunch of nice guys who can't pull ratings you will have a station full of Harry's.

I am a big fan. I really am.

That being said, Mac, man, that's still a woman, you know?
Gotta keep some level of respect there.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Funny, North was just talking about Barry Bonds ex-lover who is writing a book and called her a bitch. There's also some soundbite of North saying "bitch", I think in reference to Ozzie (could be wrong) that they play every now and then for humor.

ESPN 1000 Penalty on # 23 Dan McNeil.. 2 minutes for instigating, 5 minutes for fighting and a game misconduct at 5:45 of the 3rd period....

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"You can't put a bounty on a man's head"!

Three days for calling someone a bitch? Totally weak.

Radio keeps getting lamer and lamer.

missed the show yesterday as I was at a golf outing but I heard the stuff Tuesday and didn't think it was a big deal at all.

this situation elevates her bitch status to new heights, regardless of who did or didn't complain.

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@audioidkid

Read the Greenstein article. The suspension has nothing to do with Panazzo, but came in response to Mac insulting a Comcast producer.

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The metro mix website has it all pretty clear. I was off as well as it was a women producer from Comcast Lissa Christman who Dan was attacking verbally. Comcast made the call to Pastor and Christman was upset. The Website states Mac may never return.

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"lET ME , Worry about Luca Brasi"

Right....

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This is my signature...

This reeks of a publicity stunt.

Wondering if Dan was told not to comment here ? He refused comments to other outlets so maybe he will break his silence here?

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"lET ME , Worry about Luca Brasi"

I don't think it was over the top. He made the comment that if you looked up the word "bitch" in the dictionary you'd find her picture. He then said something like, "I don't like to use the word a lot but in this case it applies." I'm paraphrasing here but that was basically it.

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Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

Darkside,
I didn't miss your post or the reference from Mac telling us to respect women (aka Linda S) awhile back. Good Stuff.

I didn't hear Mac's comments on Tuesday, but when I heard Carmen on yesterday and they didn't mention that Mac was sick or would be back tomorrow, I had a feeling he was suspended for some reason (a pre-vacation suspension). Based on his history and prior suspensions, Mac should have been a little smarter in his remarks. Whether or not he should have been suspended, I don't know. Every company has their own standards / rules to follow. I do think that sometimes Mac's "holier than thou" attitude gets the best of him and seems to lead him into trouble. Hopefully it's only the three days and then he'll come back from his vacation well rested.

Has Pig Vomit been put in charge at AM 1000?


Or are both the Icy Jim Pastor and El Justin too busy nursing on the corporate nipple to think straight?