John Fedko

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John Fedko is an American sportscaster. He is a sports director and anchor for Channel 11 Pittsburgh (WPXI). Fedko reports for Channel 11 News at 6 and 11 PM, and hosts The Fedko Fone Zone, a local sports call-in show on Pittsburgh Cable News Channel (PCNC).[1][2]

Fedko was voted "Pittsburgh's favorite sportscaster" by Pittsburgh magazine.[2] He is especially popular during high school football season.[3] In 1995, he was the second-most recognizable personality in Pittsburgh, two percentage points behind Patti Burns.[4] Fedko's popularity has also brought criticism; some within the broadcasting community find his "goofy, self-aggrandizing shtick" "annoying".[5] Fedko has been accused of particularly catering to childish audiences.[6]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Fedko was born in Lawton, Oklahoma to John and Catherine Fedko.[2][4] He has three sisters.[4] The family moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1972,[4] where he attended Trinity High School in Camp Hill.[2][4] In 1977, Fedko's family moved to Orange County, California, and Fedko entered the University of California, Irvine,[4] but later transferred to University of Southern California.[3]

He is married and has five children.[2]

[edit] Career

Fedko began creating home skits at the age of nine.[4] In his early twenties, Fedko sought to become a celebrity by moving into television.[4] Fedko became a TV weatherman and sportscaster in the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area.[4] When the sports director died, Fedko was promoted to sports director at the age of 23.[4] Fedko next moved to Amarillo, Texas, then Milwaukee, then finally to Pittsburgh.

[edit] Religion

Fedko is devoted Catholic; he has said "The Lord is the most important thing in my life".[2] He "turned to God" in high school, and has "prayed every night since [his] college days".[3]

Fedko gives motivational speeches to teenagers. In high school, Fedko was unpopular and said he was "considered a real loser and a geek", and "was constantly getting beat up because of that"; however, in college he discovered he had talents he could put to good use.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Fedko Fone Zone", Pittsburgh Cable News Channel. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "John Fedko - WPXI-TV", WPXI. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
  3. ^ a b c d Burgess, Kelly. "Fedko boosts teens' talents, says keep trying", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1997-11-09. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Finder, Chuck. "When it comes to friday night football in Western Pennsylvania, this is a market that has become ... Fedko's own", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1995-10-12. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
  5. ^ Bianco, Robert. "On WTAE, A lead story that goes to the dogs", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1994-10-25. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 
  6. ^ Brogley, Bill. "Sports mailbag: Fedko fans as childish as Channel 11 reaction", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1996-12-28. Retrieved on 2007-03-08.