MEDIA BLITZ
By John Molori
11/24/2003
Keyshawn drops the ball on the field and on the air
John McEnroe was known as Super Brat, but on the tennis court, he backed up his pouting with championship caliber play.
Ex-NFL quarterback Jim McMahon was known as the Punky QB, but he was a signal-calling warrior who played with pain on numerous occasions.
McEnroe was not a brat and McMahon was not a punk, but Keyshawn Johnson answers to both monikers.
The erstwhile Buccaneers wide receiver, deactivated this week due to insubordinate and detrimental conduct, turned up on “Fox NFL Sunday” this past weekend.
The folks at Fox deserve a swift kick in the rear for even inviting Keyshawn on the set. Clearly, they were just trying to capitalize on the story of the week.
Thankfully, Fox didn’t unveil their new analyst until 25 minutes into the show. Immediately, however, host James Brown, the biggest TV suck-up since Ahmad Rashad and Arsenio Hall, tried to take Keyshawn off the hook.
Brown said that the Buccaneers made Keyshawn “look like a major malcontent.” No James, Keyshawn Johnson made Keyshawn Johnson look like a major malcontent. The Bucs made him disappear.
When asked what he did after being deactivated, Keyshawn first said that he called Jon Gruden, then retracted that saying he called GM Rich McKay. He then finally stated that he called the team’s assistant GM. Hey, Keyshawn, which one is it? Just give us the damn call!
The only member of the Fox on-air team who pressed Keyshawn for answers was Jimmy Johnson. When Keyshawn said that he was committed to the Bucs, Johnson asked him why he failed to show up for off-season and Monday workouts.
When Johnson reminded Keyshawn that the Bucs were paying him $13 million, Keyshawn channeled Mo Vaughn stating, “It’s not about the money.”
Johnson also asked Keyshawn why he chose to air his discontent in the middle of the season. To that Keyshawn replied, “I needed to get it off my chest.” Another selfless maneuver by Keyshawn the Great.
Keyshawn’s contradictions continued. He said that when he played for the Jets, he was willing to share the receiving load with Wayne Chrebet.
Terry Bradshaw reminded Keyshawn that he publicly insulted Chrebet in his now infamous book, “Just Give Me the Damn Ball!”
Keyshawn played the youth card, saying that he did that as an inexperienced rookie. When asked about playing for Bill Parcells with the Jets, Keyshawn stated, “He taught me how to do things, how to pay attention.”
Right. The only person Keyshawn listens to is Keyshawn. The mouthy moron went on to trash the cornerbacks of the Carolina Panthers and comment on the San Francisco-Green Bay matchup. This was sad.
In terms of natural gifts, Keyshawn Johnson is one of the four or five most talented people ever to play his position. He shouldn’t be analyzing defenses. He should be dominating them.
Instead, he chooses to create discord by putting his own agenda ahead of his team’s best interests. Shame on Fox for giving this witless twit a forum in which to air his repulsive fodder. In my neighborhood, trash day is on Wednesday, not on Sunday.
As the show neared a merciful end, Keyshawn said that he would rejoin the Bucs immediately if they asked and that he is not a problem player on or off the field.
“I didn’t ask to be sitting here with you guys,” he whined. “I don’t want to be here.” At last, Keyshawn, we agree on something.
Ordway’s options
Contract talks continue between Sportsradio 850 WEEI and Glenn Ordway, host of the wildly popular and successful “Big Show” (weekdays, 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.).
This weekend, Media Blitz spoke with two station sources who gave some insight on the tenor and progress of the talks. The sources said that WEEI has offered Ordway half the reported mid-six figure salary given to morning host Gerry Callahan who re-signed with the station in September of 2002.
One source stated that WEEI admits to overpaying Callahan who, at the time, had a lucrative counter-offer from AM 1510 The Zone.
Ordway has hired noted agent Brad Blank. If a deal with WEEI cannot be worked out, look for Ordway to try to syndicate his program throughout New England.
This region offers potentially lucrative markets including Boston, Providence, Hartford, Springfield, Worcester and Portland. Through successful syndication, Ordway could increase his earnings exponentially.
WEEI has had a controversial year with several on-air talents being suspended for a variety of reasons. Most notably, Callahan and his morning partner John Dennis were silenced for two weeks last month after making racially insensitive comments on the air.
This week, GM Tom Baker announced that he will be leaving the station. Despite the controversy, WEEI remains a national model for sports radio success. Its hold on the New England sports audience and psyche is unquestionable.
Ordway has a dilemma. He is as good a sports talk show host as there is in the nation. In truth, he is the Larry Bird of hosts, making everyone around him better.
Ordway is a star maker. He is also a smart businessman and a student of the media business. The man eats, sleeps and breathes ratings, trends, etc.
However, unlike Callahan, he does not have AM 1510 as leverage. The Zone has become a virtual non-entity in Boston sports radio since their cutbacks last July.
So, what are Ordway’s options for a Boston flagship station, WBZ, 96.9 FM? Both these stations are viable choices, but will they be willing to pay Ordway the money he commands and deserves?
WEEI seems to be telling Ordway that they can maintain their audience share without him, and they have precedent on their side.
The legendary Eddie Andelman left WEEI in 2001 and the station has not missed a beat. WEEI, like many radio stations here and across the country, is steering a course through tough economic waters. Will Ordway be their first example of fiscal prudence?
The thought of Ordway leaving WEEI creates questions. Would his regular panelists follow him out the door? Who would take Ordway’s place?
The feeling here is that a deal with WEEI will be completed. Ordway needs the vast and accessible forum that WEEI provides, and WEEI is kidding themselves if they think they can find a host with the talent and impact of Ordway. As always, stay tuned.
John Molori’s Media Blitz column is published in The Boston Metro, The Providence Journal, The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, The Lowell Sun, Patriots Football Weekly, BostonSportsMedia.com and MethuenOnline.com. John can be reached via E-mail at JOMOL3@aol.com.
