Though closely challenged by Marcel Mutoni admitting to listening to Andrew Siciliano’s radio show (and for a scary glimpse of hate-fuckery in action, check out some of the comments to said post), the week’s award for going where Pretty Much No One Else With A Working Radio Would Bother goes to the New York Daily News’ Gallagher doppelganger Bob Raissman.
Broomhandle Bob accuses ESPN 1050’s Max Kellerman (above) of “damaging HBO’s boxing credibility,” claiming I-Max’s radio employer “thinks “journalism” is taking an AP story and getting it on the air before WFAN.”
On Wednesday, while talking about Evander Holyfield’s name surfacing in conjunction with a law-enforcement raid on two Orlando pharmacies, where steroids and human growth hormone were involved, Kellerman said no one should have been surprised.
“Seven out of the 10 top heavyweights are on the juice,” he said. “Most of the top guys are (juicing).”
Kellerman, in one short sentence, indicted all marquee heavyweights. Of course he did not name names. That would have taken concrete proof – and guts. And yet, Kellerman presented his line as if it were a stone-cold fact. He had absolutely no regard for the reputation of any of these fighters or the fact he represents HBO Sports.
Yes, on radio, he is not going to be held accountable. On HBO, it’s a different story. Unless he offered on-the-record proof on TV, Kellerman would not be allowed to shoot his mouth off. Nonetheless, if MeMax has the goods on these heavyweights, if he knows exactly who they are and what substances they are abusing, he should expose the cheaters, by name, on “Real Sports” or “Costas Now.”
Or maybe MeMax should just stand next to his broadcast partner Lennox Lewis and deliver the goods on “Boxing After Dark.” Until that happens there is only one conclusion: Kellerman has severely damaged his credibility as a boxing analyst. He cannot be believed. He also makes me question the judgment of anyone at HBO who hired someone so practiced in the art of verbal recklessness.
Over at the New York Post, Raissman’s radio/TV counterpart Phil Mushnick pays tribute to the end of “The George Michael Sports Machine”‘s run by praising Michael for joining the Mushy One’s crusade against backboard smashing and rim rattling. And indeed, there’s no better way to measure a man’s television career than by checking to see how quickly he capitulated to Phil.
(UPDATE : korrection korner, sans Ralph Kiner. Ben Maller was the one listening to Scilliano’s radio show, not a shocking thing, given that they work for the same radio station. My bad.)
Jesus, those AOL comments are out of control. As usual.
I’d hate to see the comments they actually weed out (since I’m sure they try to limit the hate speech at least a little bit).