Philly Talk Show host versus Phillies manager

[zagoshe]

I'm sure you've all seen this clip by now on ESPN and saw the talk show host in question, Howard Eskin, explain it.

These kinds of blow ups make for good television but I'm wondering if these episodes are good or bad for our business and whether you think the talk show host's line of questioning went too far?

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

Howard Eskin is a bitter, bitter individual when it comes to the Phillies. He has a total axe to grind and is one of the grumpier hearted men in sports radio. Incidents like this, when a guy just won't drop the issue, are definitely bad for the business because even though he's not a print guy, he still found his way into print stories. The majority of gamers from that night focused on the Eskin-Manuel spat than the fact the Phillies got smoked again.

 

[write then drink]

Howard Eskin is a bitter, bitter individual when it comes to the Phillies. He has a total axe to grind and is one of the grumpier hearted men in sports radio. Incidents like this, when a guy just won't drop the issue, are definitely bad for the business because even though he's not a print guy, he still found his way into print stories. The majority of gamers from that night focused on the Eskin-Manuel spat than the fact the Phillies got smoked again.

couple things ...

Eskin asked Charlie legitimate questions last night. he wasn't baiting him, wasn't out of line at all. Howard doesn't have an "axe to grind." He was in a press conference, asking a legitimate question of a manager whose team had just fallen to 3-9

my biggest problem with this whole thing is that the Inquirer and Daily News did not use Howard's name in their stories, just referred to him as "a radio personality" or something. every suburban paper used his name. not sure how you write about this and don't use the guy's name.

what makes this even stranger is that this morning, the Inquirer had an audio interview with Eskin on its web site, a poll about the incident, and several other things -- but they still hadn't added his name to their stories.

 

[zagoshe]

I think Eskin should send the Phillies manager some flowers......

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Braves' radio broadcast tonight mentioned the incident, but they didn't bring up Humble Howard's name, either . . .

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Braves' radio broadcast tonight mentioned the incident, but they didn't bring up Humble Howard's name, either . . .

It would have little relevance to Braves radio listeners, but I don't see how you avoid mentioning the name in Philly newspaper stories. The guy might be an attention *****, but still...

 

[Moland Spring]

FYI: There is a law against beat reporters using the name of any other writer and/or media outlet in their copy, unless those beat reporters are absolutely forced to use a quote followed by "told the Big City Press."
It's the law.
(Yes, I follow it to a T.)

 

[zagoshe]

There is a law?

 

[Moland Spring]

Yes, but unlike some laws, this one is governed by ego and pride. Sometimes my own.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Dear Reader:

Welcome to our pissing match. Sorry for any confusion it may cause, but we have egos to protect. Tune into a radio station that might be able to fill in the blanks for you.

 

[shotglass]

Howard ****ing Eskin makes Colin Cowherd seem like Mother Theresa.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

Even assholes have names. I see the Inquirer has used Eskin's in today's follow story.

 

[Blue_Water]

Haven't lived in the Philly area for a while, but on my drive-thrus it seems like Eskin has toned down his act. He was one of the original talk trash and hang up on callers when sports talk radio first started, but it seems like he's morphed into just a cynical, bitter man. Do people think he did this for attention or did it just happen? Kinda curious.

 

[hpdrifter]

Did I hear the manager say he's been "growed up for a long time?"

 

[Bob Slydell]

Did I hear the manager say he's been "growed up for a long time?"

Good Ole Charlie Manuel. I wonder if he's ever learned how pronounce Miguel Tejada's name?

Don't know much about this Erskin characer, but if he's a sports talk guy I would have liked to seen Manuel pound on his ass. Like Zimmer, Manuel is very old school. I heard the tape of what he said and Erskin sounded liek he was just tryng to get under Manuel's skin for a response. Well, he got one.

 

[cranberry]

Braves' radio broadcast tonight mentioned the incident, but they didn't bring up Humble Howard's name, either . . .

It would have little relevance to Braves radio listeners, but I don't see how you avoid mentioning the name in Philly newspaper stories. The guy might be an attention *****, but still...

The episode struck me as another idiot radio "personality" trying to make himself the story. He was successful, of course, but he remains an idiot. Manuel shouldn't have allowed himself be baited like that, though.

 

[Moland Spring]

The image I get is of a fan-boy radio guy, so upset his manager is letting him down, that he's going after him with fight-me questions and trying to bait him. Those who know him, is that accurate? In my mind, what else could it be? A real reporter would never get as emotionally invested, I don't think.

 

[write then drink]

again ... listen to the audio ...

Howard did not ask baiting questions. He did not ask inappropriate questions. He did not ask anything that was unethical or improper.

It's easy to dismiss this as just another radio asshole being a jerk, but that wasn't the case this time.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Write, I listened to the audio. I think he was trying to bait him into something. Maybe he wasn't, and maybe that's the conclusion we all jump to, but that's what it sounded like to me. Why else would he ask it unless he wanted something good to put on the air.

If Manuel had given just an ordinary response like "I get mad sometimes" and left it at that, don;t you think Erskin would have gone on and tried to get him fired up so her can get his juicy soundbite?

The best part was in the lockerroom when Manuel got even more pissed. I love Charlie Manuel, old school country boy.

 

[Armchair_QB]

There is a law?

They're more like guidelines.