It's not a shot at Mac. Mac didn't replace him.

If anything, it'd be a shot at Bernstein.

Mac did replace him after leaving once.

We are often chosen by listeners with the direct expectation of supplying a target for derision and/or rage. As long as you listen, it counts. This can lead to some really bad programming choices by certain hosts, who go for the easy denominator of being provocative instead of genuine. If you’re not careful, you can lose yourself and become a contrarian by convenience, ready to inhabit a debate role that virtually anyone could play.

We lose a lot of rights when we look the other way when it doesn't affect our lives or it isn't a cause we agree with.

I didn't read it as a shot at Mac either. This is a definite shot at Bernstein and/or Goff:

I got no problem with it. Takes strength to write something like that after being fired.

He makes me want to puke. What a fucking douche.

And they do this to a guy who has a young child. Really nice guys at the Score.

I'm sure Spiegel is a guy you would enjoy having a beer with and shooting the shit.

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?

How could it not be a shot at Mac? Jay Leno left and then came back which pushed Conan out. If it wasn't a shot at Mac it is a massive mistake to use that metaphor.

I'm getting the sense that Spaulding thinks Spiegel is a douche.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

I remember when Mac came back from some time off (rehab?) he delivered a big mea culpa to the Score and the audience for relapsing and mailing it in for a while. Spiegs would have none of it, and basically stated the apology doesn’t mean anything if not backed up by action (which is true). I don’t think the show was the same after that, and I wouldn’t doubt Spiegs still holds a grudge for the relapse. Thus, the Leno comment.

Spaulding, Darkside and me all agreeing. What a glorious day.

Spiegel's content is often boring. Fun was king too. He's a smarmy little soul patchy "poetic" cute phrase writing douche. He might as well put on a beret and get his girlfriend an I'm with stupid t shirt.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

How could it not be a shot at Mac? Jay Leno left and then came back which pushed Conan out. If it wasn't a shot at Mac it is a massive mistake to use that metaphor.

Many that is true, but an incomplete statement.

I don't like white rappers.

Spaulding, Darkside and me all agreeing. What a glorious day.

I'm a big dumb shitlib baby

I'm a big dumb shitlib baby

We are all self-important, sure. But have you ever seen a group as self-important as Score employees?

It's all fine and dandy that Spiegel can write this heartfelt little piece, but what fantasy land does he live in? No one is mourning over Matt Spiegel being gone. No one really cares except Spiegel.

I think he could actually do himself a lot of good by realizing that none of us are that important in the whole scheme of things. Might help his insecurity too.

On the end of daily Score life.

I will no longer commune and connect with my people every day from 9 to 1. That sucks.

I love being a part of your day. The spontaneity and precariousness of live, interactive radio is unmatched, as is the genuine magic that occurs when a show gets rolling.

Our show was rolling. Spiegel and Parkins had come so far in terms of our chemistry DESPITE YOUR ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY IT. The quality of the conversation, the unpredictability of every segment, the musicality (or honest lack thereof) in our song parodies, the evolution of ideas, the inclusion of the whole crew with Jay and Rick; the momentum was palpable to everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Also, as you’ve probably read by now, the ratings numbers had steadily climbed and by now were very, very good. That was not the issue. My contract or salary
was not the issue. As far as I know, societal conversations and other non-sports content was not the issue.

The issue is that each radio host is not beloved by everyone, and a new boss gets to do what he wants. This has played out in our industry, and others, for decades. Because I’m me, I’m reminded of so many rock bands who sign a record deal with a passionate A & R man, only to be hung out to dry when that record label goes through management changes. I feel a little (just a little) like Wilco when Reprise Records said they didn’t want to put out Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The band found a way to get the music out, but it was awkward and tumultuous. It’s the content creator’s lot in life to carry on. CONTENT CREATOR?

So It Goes, as Vonnegut wrote. In that sense it’s been pretty easy to not take the move personally.

But please know that I miss you. We had a hell of a 9 year run.

We is not me and Danny Mac, or me an Jason Goff, or me and Patrick Mannelly, or me and Danny Parkins. It is not me and the 30 or so different co-hosts that have joined from 9 to 1 at some point. THE NUMBER OF EX-WIVES IS GAINING ON THE NUMBER OF FORMER CO-HOSTS.

We is me and you. The connection we’ve had is the absolute goods, and I deeply appreciate it. I thank you for hearing me, for yelling to or at me, and most of all for furthering conversations with me. You’ve made my best thoughts funnier and more fleshed out. You’ve withstood my worst thoughts, and let me find good ones again. You’ve shared life experience that helped conversations synthesize and be enriched deeper than I could have imagined.

I’ve always thought of you as one big collective, theoretically comprised of every slice of Chicagoan imaginable. It took a couple years, frankly, to accept that amidst that collective were some that deeply loathed me. Local radio is unique in that way. We are often chosen by listeners with the direct expectation of supplying a target for derision and/or rage. As long as you listen, it counts. This can lead to some really bad programming choices by certain hosts, who go for the easy denominator of being provocative instead of genuine. If you’re not careful, you can lose yourself and become a contrarian by convenience, ready to inhabit a debate role that virtually anyone could play. SHOTS FIRED AT BERNSTEIN!

Thankfully, I realized this danger, and have worked to avoid it. I didn’t succeed all the time, but please know I tried to remove as much of the filter between my head, heart and microphone as possible. I’ve been me, for better or for worse. Sometimes my sensitivity would show through, but I lived with that because it sure felt better than being a fake tough guy. SHOTS FIRED AT LAURENCE! Anyway, if you feel like you know me, you do.

Onward! I’ll be on the station, filling in on various shows as needed. I’ll resume writing baseball columns for The Score. I’ll be launching the podcast idea of my dreams, through the station’s website. This idea has been percolating a long time…if I can pull it off, it will fuse my worlds together as they’ve been destined to be. And, I’ll obviously still be playing and singing around town with Tributosaurus. WELL, HE DIDN'T SAY ORIGINAL CONTENT.

I want to thank each and every one of you who have reached out to wish me well, or remind me of moments that meant something to you. It’s been amazing; kind of like a living wake. I’ve joked that both me and Jason Goff have had that “noble martyr” thing going, like when Conan O’Brien got displaced on The Tonight Show by an entitled, waffling dinosaur in Jay Leno. GOFF IS NEITHER "NOBLE" NOR A "MARTYR."

But that imagined martyr role doesn’t last, or carry any real heft. I have to create content, and keep the connections with you active. I’m on it. Hell, Conan’s been pretty damn funny since then. Content is king.

You’ll hear or see or read me soon. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life.

Good vibes babe, (staying on brand)
Matt

I got no problem with it. Takes strength to write something like that after being fired.

I don’t have a problem with Matt’s post. He is correct that he and Parkins were succeeding and it’s reasonable for him to be surprised and disappointed in the change. He acknowledges his insecurities but I don’t think his post was over the top.

I'm a big dumb shitlib baby