Phil Mushnick

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Phil Mushnick is a sportswriter who writes a sports media column for the New York Post.

Mushnick's articles criticize the world of sports as portrayed in the media. Frequently criticized subjects include sexuality/obscenity in sports broadcasting, the alleged steroid abuse in professional wrestling, and the general lack of moral behavior permeating the world of sports. He often criticizes WFAN radio personalities Mike and the Mad Dog (referring to them as "Know-It-All and the Village Idiot"^[1]) and also as "The Pope and the Dope", ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, and FOX baseball broadcasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. Another frequent target is Don Imus; however, it should be noted that Mushnick defended Imus during the "nappy-headed ho" controversy about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.^[2]

Mushnick is a longtime critic of professional wrestling; specifically, World Wrestling Entertainment and its chairman, Vince McMahon. After the death of Brian Pillman in 1997, Mushnick criticized McMahon for steroid abuse among pro wrestlers, and claimed McMahon was morally responsible for Pillman's death. McMahon responded by referring to Mushnick as "a stupid, self-righteous, bitter, pathetic, no-good son of a bitch" during a live broadcast of Monday Night RAW.^[3] Recently, following the murder-suicide involving WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, Mushnick called the pro wrestling industry a "death mill", and cited several wrestlers who died before the age of 45 as alleged evidence of McMahon's culpability. However, some of the wrestlers in question had been relesased from WWE or WCW for various periods of time prior to their deaths.^[4] Several other news media outlets also cited statistics showing a high number of wrestlers dying young, many from heart failure. Other former pro wrestlers, though, were shown to have died from car crashes, accidents, or other health-related problems that had no connection to alleged steroid abuse.^[5]

He devotes many columns to defending fans' right to affordable ticket prices and reasonable game times, notably the New York Mets' recent policy of charging higher prices for games against high-profile teams. Each week, he publishes the names of a celebrity and an athlete who look alike (e.g. actor Martin Mull and Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren). The "lookalikes" are submitted by his readers. Also, in one of his articles, Mushnick related to his readers a piece of advice from Jerry Orbach - never be photographed with an alcoholic beverage in your hand.