Mark Madden
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| Mark Madden | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | {{{names}}} |
| Born | December 29, 1960 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Resides | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Debut | 1990 |
Mark Madden (born December 29, 1960) is a former radio sports talk-show host in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and also a former World Championship Wrestling color commentator in 2000. He was fired from 1250 ESPN on May 27, 2008, after making controversial comments regarding Senator Edward Kennedy.
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[edit] Professional biography
A 1982 graduate of Duquesne University, Madden wrote for Pro Wrestling Torch from 1992 to 1994 before beginning work as a TV color commentator, magazine writer, hotline recorder, and Internet dispatcher for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His notorious commentating role began in early 2000 during the company's ratings downfall and lean toward more adult content. This had him obnoxiously calling matches, favoring heels, lusting toward females, and arguing with his fellow commentators. Madden did, however, coin the term "Spinarooni" to describe Booker T's signature windmill move. This name has carried on for many years in various wrestling promotions.
Madden's role in the company was certainly not without its controversies; he was once suspended for calling Diamond Dallas Page "Leatherface," a harsh nickname he had acquired in the smark community, on air. Shortly before WCW dissolved in 2001, Madden was fired for making disparaging remarks about the company, lobbying for the return of the fired Scott Hall, and disclosing information about the sale of WCW. [1]
Madden has also worked within mainstream sports journalism, including fifteen years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he primarily covered high schools for the paper's suburban sections, as well as stints at the now-defunct Penguins Report and the weekly Pittsburgh City Paper. He subsequently appeared as a featured guest on Action Sports Sunday on WTAE-TV, a half-hour sports discussion show. The Post-Gazette reported on November 17, 2006 that WTAE-TV dropped Mark Madden as a freelance sports commentator on its Sunday night sports show. [2] Madden has been writing a weekly column called "Monday Madden" for the Beaver County Times since May 28, 2007.
Another area of sports in which Madden is heavily involved is the game of street hockey. Madden runs Street Hockey USA, and is also involved in the American Street Hockey Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to growing the game of street/dek/ball hockey in America. He has coached numerous National Champion teams over the years (most notably his Pittsburgh Wizards team), as well as coaching the United States Junior team to a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Championship in Aosta, Italy. [3]
On May 27, 2008 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted Madden as saying he had hoped Sen. Edward Kennedy "would live long enough to be assassinated." Madden, without pause, added, "I wonder if he got a card from the Kopechnes." Madden's comments came during his show on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, the same day it was announced the Massachusetts Democrat Senator was diagnosed with an aggressive, malignant brain tumor. "Kopechne" was mentioned in reference to Mary Jo Kopechne, who drowned in during Senator Kennedy's controversial Chappaquiddick car accident incident. Madden was last heard on the air Thursday, the day before his comments appeared in the Post-Gazette. Subsequently, ESPN national headquarters confirmed that, after a review of his overall history, Madden was taken off the air, permanently, per the network's contractual rights. The show had aired weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on 1250 ESPN.
[edit] Notable opinions
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Madden is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan and is especially fond of Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. He was an outspoken advocate of the Isle of Capri Casinos gaming company's failed plan for a new arena in Pittsburgh. Madden is also a longtime supporter of former Pittsburgh Pirate Barry Bonds.
He is known to be a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C..Madden also has made it public on his broadcast's that he doesnt care to much for Steeler stars Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward.He has made sevral negative comments about Ward's off field marketing deal's and also towards Bettis since he missed a appearance on his radio show.Madden went as far to make fun of Jerome Bettis during his live pregame raido broadcast in the eastern conference finals game 1 in 2008 when one of Bettis's marketing agents showed up at his show wearing a hockey jersey with bettis's name and number on the back.He was fired 2 weeks later for a unrelated matter.
[edit] Steelers/Hines Ward controversy
On November 14, 2006, Madden reported that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was appearing at Ross Park Mall in Pittsbugh to sign autographs at BC Sports, and that tickets for one signature started at $175. [4]. Madden claims that the following day, Ward was extremely upset at the Steelers' media department because the segment portrayed Ward in a negative light. Madden claims that the Steelers called ESPN Radio 1250 to complain about the incident. [5]. Just a day after that, Madden was fired from the WTAE-TV Sunday evening sports program Action Sports Sunday as a result of Madden's on-air language (used the word 'jackass' during a broadcast). The team made the argument that they did not care for it, yet he contests that he has used similar language for years. The team allegedly threatened to cut off WTAE from access to Steelers for interviews if Madden was not removed. There has been some speculation about the incidents being connected by fans of Madden and, of course, by Madden himself. As a result of this and other incidents, Madden now refers to Ward as "Whines Hard" when discussing him on his radio show.
[edit] Firing from ESPN Radio
On May 27, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Madden had been fired by ESPN [6]. This transpired after Madden made inflammatory comments regarding Senator Edward Kennedy on his radio show Wednesday May 21, 2008. He stated "I'm very disappointed to hear Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated. And I wonder if he will receive a get well card from the Kopechne family."
Two hours after making the statement, under pressure from station management, Madden backtracked. 1250 ESPN announced on Monday, May 26, 2008, that Madden was suspended from his radio show[7].
His last appearance on ESPN Radio 1250 was May 22, 2008.
