Jody Mac gets the boot from 950 ESPN
By Jonathan Atwood on September 4th, 2009 3:47 PM |
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Mid-day sports talk host Jody Mcdonald announced at the end of his show Friday that he would be leaving 950 ESPN.
“This is the last show I will be doing for this radio station. The radio station has decided to go in another direction and I am perfectly fine with that,” said the veteran radio host. “They informed me this week that my services are no longer needed.”
Apparently, the move did not come as a surprise to Mcdonald.
“I saw it coming…I knew this job was going to end at some time, and it officially ends today. I will miss talking to Philadelphia sports fans, they’re the best on the planet,” Mcdonald says. “I’m not retired, I’m not going anywhere, I’ve got other gigs right now…This has been my home for 19 years…I truly hope I get to talk Philadelphia sports with you again down the road at another radio station.”
Dan Schwartzman, currently the host of the evening show The Locker Room, will join current midday co-host Harry Mayes as Mcdonald’s replacement.
According to WPEN Program Director Matt Nahigian says the station is “developing outstanding football-related shows and will annouce details very soon” for the now vacant night time slot.
Mcdonald had spent time on rival station 610 WIP, as well as WFAN in New York, before joining WPEN in 2005 for their switch to sports talk programming, where he was the drive time host from 3-7 PM.
In April 2008, the station switched gears, bringing in Mike Missanelli for the drive time show, moving Mcdonald to the daytime slot. Missanelli has since surpassed WIP and Howard Eskin as the most listened to show in the drive time slot, whereas Mcdonald and Mayes trail 610′s Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow during the day.
As you know, I am an avid 950 ESPN listener. I listen to Mcdonald and Mayes just about every day, as well as Missanelli. I am not a fan of WIP, although I do like some of their talent. I enjoyed 950′s midday show, and am a particular fan of Mayes. I liked Mcdonald, but found him to be a little too impressed with himself. But Mcdonald knows his sports (which is to his detriment sometimes), and his show was a more substance based show than your normal sports talk show. As one blogger said while commenting on his leaving WPEN, “As much as I love listening to the guy, he was never the brash, confrontation host that radio GMs and PDs seem to want these days. Wry and funny and full of substance, his shows are for the serious sports fan.”
Missanelli is brash and confrontational, but does it in a much smarter, and substantive way than most sports radio hosts. I was never able to really warm up to Mcdonald but I will miss his insight and commentary on the sports stories of the day.
There are currently 5 responses to “Jody Mac gets the boot from 950 ESPN”
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Big mistake on ESPN’s part. Mayes is barely tolerable with Jody and Schwartzman is terrible. Their show sounds like two guys with minimal sports knowledge and a lot of opinion (an awful combination) talking in a bar which is what Philly sports talk seems to like. Back down the dial at mid days for me.
Thanks for the link. I’m a Jody mac fan and I miss hearing him every day. He’s got more sports knowledge than anyone else on the air and he treated callers with respect. I was a fan of Missanelli in his early radio career, but his Angry Young Man seems to be more schitck these days than actual fervor.
Jody will catch on again soon, but in the mean time I will be listening to XM.
what a GIANT mistake…I will miss Jody he is the only reason I listened…will now tune back down the dial til 3pm..real stupid move…don’t APPREICATE IT!!!!!!
I am really bummed about Jody getting the ax! The only reason I gave 950 a chance was because of him, and he kept me there through Mike Miss. I can only hope that WIP has enough sense to jump on him and to partner him up with Glen Macnow again.
Jody Mac was the only radio sports personality I enjoy listening to.
If anyone knows where we can pick him up again, please let us know as I’m sure others are wanting this same info.
Each day I leave the office for a noon walk – and will really miss him.