Mark Madden
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Mark Madden (born December 29, 1960) is a newspaper columnist, sports commentator, and radio personality. He is well known for his distinctive voice and often contributes to the NFL Network show NFL Top 10. He currently writes for The Beaver County Times and WrestleZone.com, and beginning October 13th will be the new afternoon drive host on WXDX-FM.
Journalism
A 1982 graduate of Duquesne University, Madden had already been writing freelance articles for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since he was 17 years old, also writing for the Pittsburgh City Paper. He became a staff writer after more than ten years with the Post-Gazette, serving as a sports editor and hockey writer.[1] He got a major break in wrestling journalism when he began penning articles for Wade Keller's Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter from 1992 to 1994.[2] He edited To Be the Man, the 2004 autobiography of legendary wrestler Ric Flair, with whom Madden is good friends.[2][1] Madden currently writes a weekly column for The Beaver County Times entitled "Monday Madden" as well as a wrestling editorial commentary column for WrestleZone, a wrestling news website, marking a return to wrestling journalism after a near eight year absence.[2]
Wrestling
Madden was hired by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994, working for the company in multiple capacities, eventually becoming a on-air color commentator. Madden is noted in wrestling for having coined the term "Spinarooni" to describe Booker T's signature windmill move. This name has carried on for many years in various wrestling promotions. Madden also made the contreversial remark "Fly Fatass Fly" when Hugh Morris attempted his No Laughing Matter moonsault on Scott Steiner during a Nitro main event. Madden was fired from WCW for making disparaging remarks about the company and some of their employees very shortly before the 2001 acquisition by World Wrestling Entertainment.[3] According to Madden he was fired for "making one joke too many" about Diamond Dallas Page when he said "he should wear luggage tags for earrings."[2]
Radio broadcasting
Madden briefly worked as a part-time on-air host for WTAE radio in 1996. When the station changed hands in 1997 and became WEAE, Madden was re-hired and given an afternoon drive slot which he would hold until his 2008 dismissal. During that time span, he hosted the national SportsRadio ESPN program The Magazine. Originally hosted by Dan LeBatard, Madden took over the Sunday morning timeslot (8am-11am) in 2004-2005. The name of the show was changed to Out Of Bounds in 2005 and aired from 9am-11am on Sunday mornings. Although his national stint ended that year, the brash and inflammatory Madden's show consistently finished in the top three in his timeslot.[citation needed] Madden's success in radio and WCW translated into local television appearances, specifically as a frequent featured guest on Action Sports Sunday on WTAE-TV. Madden was let go from this position in November 2006 due to use of foul language on the air.[4] His sports radio show on ESPN furthered his reputation as knowledgable about NHL hockey, particularly the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, it also furthered his reputation as an overly opinionated and rude host. He frequently dismissed callers into the show with insults, often asserting his own intellectual superiority over listener and callers. While popular, he became increasingly controversial. Many other sports commentators criticized him for making arguments against athletes and other sports personalities based on less than completely accurate information. His dismissal from ESPN 1250 came on the heels of an inflammatory comment Madden had made regarding Senator Ted Kennedy's then-recent cancer diagnosis. He was officially suspended and then later taken off the air permanently at the behest of parent company ESPN, with his last broadcast airing on 2008-05-22.[5] His comments, "I am disappointed to see Ted Kennedy get cancer, I was hoping to live long enough to see him get assassinated. I wonder if he will receive a get well card from the Kopechne family?" After Madden was taken off the air he was unable to secure a new broadcast job because ESPN would not release him from his contract.[6][7] After months of waiting Madden was released from his ESPN contract on 2008-09-25, and it was immediately announced by WXDX-FM that he will join their lineup as its new afternoon drive host starting on 2008-10-13from 3-6 PM.[8]
Personal life
Madden is very protective about his private life. He was raised by his mother and grandmother and has never known his father.[1] Madden is a fervent supporter of street hockey, heading the group Street Hockey USA as well as devoting time to the American Street Hockey Institute. He has coached the United States national team since 2002, most notably winning the gold medal in 2006 World Junior Championship in Aosta, Italy and the bronze medal at the 2008 World Junior Championship in Saint John's, Newfoundland, Canada.[9][10][11]
References
- ^ a b c Rouvalis, Cristina (2000-03-02). "Mark Madden: The mouth that roars". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d Madden, Mark. "Mark Madden's WrestleZone.com Debut: Introductions & Jackasses". WrestleZone.com. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ Rouvalis, Cristina (2001-01-03). "WCW bosses give Madden the boot". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ Wilson, Ryan. "Pittsburgh Radio 'Personality' Mark Madden Relishes Controversy, the Role of Village Idiot". FanHouse Blog. AOL. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "Pittsburgh ESPN Radio Host Taken Off The Air". KDKA-TV. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Smizik, Bob (2008-07-14). "Smizik on Air: Madden may join station". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ Smizik, Bob (2008-08-20). "Madden-WXDX not a match yet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ Smizik, Bob (2008-09-26). "Madden lands show at WXDX". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ "USA National Team News". Street Hockey USA. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ "World Junior Ball Hockey Championships 2008: U20 United States Tournament Schedule". BallHockey.net. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
- ^ Rodenbush, Jim (2008-07-10). "PG North: District players help U.S. to bronze at World Junior Street Hockey Championships". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
