...GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CONFERENCE!
*************
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - A guest host for a radio sports talk
show says he has been fired because he discussed the arrests of two
Marshall football players on the air.
J.J. Hester said he has been notified he was "released" from
the Insider Sportsline-Statewide show produced by Kindred
Communications.
"That's absolutely why, because of that show," he said.
Hester said he also was relieved from broadcasting high school
football games. He is still employed as an advertising salesperson
for Kindred.
Kindred owns several Huntington stations, including flagship
station WRVC, 930-AM, as well as the Herd Insider, a publication
for Marshall fans. Kindred produces the show for ISP Sports, which
owns radio and promotional rights for Marshall sports and other
schools' sports, including Virginia Tech and Central Florida.
Marshall and ISP have been partners since 1998.
Hester said the arrests of reserve quarterback Bernard Morris
and Roger Garrett, a defensive back, were a hot topic on his
Tuesday show. Morris was charged with malicious assault and Garrett
was charged with assault by threat early Sunday.
Hester said he expressed some strong opinions, stressing the
potential two- to 10-year penalty Morris faces. He said he changed
the topic and blocked callers from discussing the arrests after
receiving a call from Jim Woodrum, general manager for the Marshall
partnership who is an ISP vice president.
"I loved that job. It's like they took my life away. I loved
doing the show. I'm distraught, I'm hurt and everything," Hester
said Wednesday on Paul Swann's sports talk show on WVHU, 800-AM, a
Huntington station owned by Clear Channel Communications.
Kindred Communications President Mike Kirtner said Thursday the
company has a policy prohibiting editorializing by on-air hosts,
although callers are welcome to voice opinions.
"Our announcers are instructed to be moderators. We are not
trying to create news. Unfortunately, right now we are," Kirtner
said.
"J.J. Is a little high strung and he can get very opinionated.
We have had other occurrences with this," said Kirtner.
He said Woodrum demanded that Hester be removed.
"This was something he did four or five hours a week," Kirtner
said, emphasizing that Hester is still employed as a salesperson.
"He is a good young person," Kirtner said. "In a market this
size, I think our goal is to help people get their careers started
and let people learn from their mistakes and their victories. That
is one reason, rather than just throwing him out with what has
happened, we are going to work with him."
The victim in the alleged incident that led to the players'
arrests said Morris poured beer over her head in Goodfellas Bar
about 1 a.m. Sunday. The woman, who was not identified, began to
walk away and Morris allegedly grabbed her by the neck and struck
her in the face with a beer bottle, according to a Huntington
Police Department incident report.
A fight then broke out in the bar, according to the police
report. The woman claimed she was confronted by Garrett as she
tried to leave. Garrett had been thrown out of the bar earlier, the
report said. She ran and Garrett was restrained by others outside
the bar, the report said.
The woman was treated and released from St. Mary's Medical
Center for a cut on her upper lip, a cut on her right ear and
redness on her neck, The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington reported.
Marshall coach Bob Pruett has said Morris and Garrett will not
play in Saturday's game at Kent State.
It wasn't the first time Garrett has been arrested this season.
He was charged with malicious wounding after an Aug. 22 fight
outside a bar involving an Ohio State player. That charge was
dismissed at the request of prosecutors on Sept. 15.
Ohio State defensive end Redgie Arden suffered a broken nose and
other facial injuries in the August incident.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Dear Marshall....
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BGSUfanatUT
- rubs smooth arms
- Posts: 1355
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transfer2BGSU
- Peregrine
- Posts: 5829
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 8:50 am
- Location: Jed's, Myle's Pizza, Corner Grill
Re: Dear Marshall....
I think this young man may be a bad influence on the Marshall squad and maybe deserves the opportunity to be suspended from the team for his behavior.Associated Press Wire Report wrote: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - It wasn't the first time Garrett has been arrested this season.
He was charged with malicious wounding after an Aug. 22 fight outside a bar involving an Ohio State player. That charge was dismissed at the request of prosecutors on Sept. 15.
Ohio State defensive end Redgie Arden suffered a broken nose and
other facial injuries in the August incident.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
What's the saying?
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Shame shame shame Coach Pruett.
"The name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back" -Herb Brooks
Not to mention the player they just reinstated who transferred to Marshall after he got kicked off the team at UVA... Don't forget that those I-AA titles, and their coming back into the MAC at the 1-A level was due in large part to picking up scraps like Randy Moss who got kicked off of larger programs.
At least Luther Pruett is sticking to his guns...they're the wrong guns, but he's sticking to 'em.
At least Luther Pruett is sticking to his guns...they're the wrong guns, but he's sticking to 'em.
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Rightupinthere
- Mercenary of Churlishness
- Posts: 6549
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:53 am
- Location: Ye Olde Pigeon Hole
Hold on, folks. I don't think it's the fans that pulled him.
I really believe that it was the station's heads not wanting to "lose listeners" or lose a broadcast contract because one of their personalities had a "poor opinion" of the local sports team.
That's not saying they didn't get any complaint calls. However, I have yet to read a Marshall fan who is condoning the behavior of these two "individuals".
All that being said, yes, I am looking forward to Marshall leaving the conference. And a majority of their fans are "challenging". Or is that "challanged"? But the fans weren't the reason for this fella being pulled from the airwaves.
I really believe that it was the station's heads not wanting to "lose listeners" or lose a broadcast contract because one of their personalities had a "poor opinion" of the local sports team.
That's not saying they didn't get any complaint calls. However, I have yet to read a Marshall fan who is condoning the behavior of these two "individuals".
All that being said, yes, I am looking forward to Marshall leaving the conference. And a majority of their fans are "challenging". Or is that "challanged"? But the fans weren't the reason for this fella being pulled from the airwaves.
"Science doesn’t know everything? Well science KNOWS it doesn’t know everything… otherwise it’d stop."
Dara O'Brian - Comedian
Dara O'Brian - Comedian
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Schadenfreude
- Professional tractor puller
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If you had ever been to game at MArshall you would understand. It is just plain weird there. Of their 25,000 fans you are lucky to see one who is not missing several teeth. The town and their fans are the steorotypical WV folk. As soon as you step foot into town there, something just ain't right.Flipper wrote:How can their fans take any pride in that program?
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Falconfreak90
- Rubber City Falcon
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- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:28 am
- Location: Green, OH
- Contact:
I've been to Marshall for a couple BG games and its like a whole new scene. That town rallies around that team like few I've ever seen at this level. But, with all the crap that goes on in the program, how anyone can have pride like that is beyond me. I agree with SF that the MAC is stronger with Marshall....on the field only. These off field incidents are way too numerous to handle. Everyone knows how Marshall has broken so many rules in so many ways. Pruett is a fine coach but a person without convictions. Win at all costs seems to be his motto and as long as they win, it doesn't matter what happens off the field.
To me, Marshall is the cancer of the MAC and when they're gone it will be too bad. But remember, THEY chose to leave. I say we give them one heck of an ass whuppin on 11/13 and send them out right!
GO FALCONS!!! CRUSH THE CARDS!!!!
To me, Marshall is the cancer of the MAC and when they're gone it will be too bad. But remember, THEY chose to leave. I say we give them one heck of an ass whuppin on 11/13 and send them out right!
GO FALCONS!!! CRUSH THE CARDS!!!!
Michael W.
BGSU-12 TIME MAC CHAMPION
FALCON FOOTBALL ROCKS!
BGSU-12 TIME MAC CHAMPION
FALCON FOOTBALL ROCKS!
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Rightupinthere
- Mercenary of Churlishness
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I agree that the MAC has one extra chance to be recognized nationally with a team like Marshall on the field, but what I *don't* need is to read every other day about how not only did a Marshall player get arrested, but he's sitting out a game and rejoining the team. These aren't jaywalking tickets, either, and they keep getting worse. Who ever thought that Stan Hill's little run from the law on a suspended license would look like child's play two years later? It keeps getting worse down there and the punishments stay the same. They may have a good football team, but their "program" can rot in hell for all I care.
