Sports Radio News
Mike Missanelli Removes Fanatic References From Twitter
“The most common reaction to Missanelli’s tweet was to ask if he was hacked again.”

Published
2 years agoon

It causes an uproar when a professional athlete does it, so it’s worth noting that Philadelphia sports radio host Mike Missanelli removed any mention of 97.5 The Fanatic from his Twitter handle on Wednesday.
Previously @MikeMiss975, The Fanatic afternoon host changed his Twitter name to @MikeMiss25, and the account’s header, which currently makes no reference to his show or the Beasley owned Philly sports station that airs it.
It’s never a good sign when someone removes team references from their Twitter account. Last year, NFL safety Jamal Adams even cancelled his weekly radio spot on WFAN after he was asked on-air about scrubbing anything Jets related from his social media accounts. Less than a year later, the Jets dealt Adams to Seattle.
For Missanelli, it’s possible he just needed a change of scenery when he logs into Twitter. Or maybe his offered explanation of making the change to honor 76ers guard Ben Simmons’ number 25 is legitimate. But if it is legitimate, it’s odd timing at a minimum, considering Simmons and the 76ers ended their season Aug. 23.
Please take note: In honor of Ben Simmons, I have changed my Twitter user name to Mikemiss25.
— Mike Missanelli (@MikeMiss25) October 14, 2020
The most common reaction to Missanelli’s tweet was to ask if he was hacked again. In February, Missanelli was locked out of his Twitter account as hackers erased his bio, removed his avatar, replaced his name with “.” and summoned his followers to make a donation using bitcoin. But this Twitter change appears to be Missanelli’s doing without any hacker influence.
Recently, Missanelli’s Twitter account has turned into a space where he frequents his political stances. In 2020, that’s not exactly an oddity, but it is possible Missanelli wanted to keep his political opinions separate from Beasley, leading to the removal of Fanatic references from his Twitter account.
Philly sports blog Crossing Broad previously reported Missanelli’s contract with Beasley is set to expire at the end of this year. While connecting contract negotiations to Missanelli’s new look Twitter handle is nothing more than speculation, it was also odd timing for John Kincade to announce he was in Philadelphia.
— John Kincade (@JohnKincade) October 14, 2020
Kincade, a Philly native who started his career at WIP, was recently let go from Atlanta’s 680 The Fan after 20 years with the station. While a return to Philly is more than plausible for Kincade, taking over Missanelli’s afternoon drive spot on The Fanatic doesn’t seem like the obvious destination. Despite Missanelli falling behind WIP’s afternoon drive in the ratings battle, he’s still a Philly sports radio mainstay with the ability to attract interest and listeners.
Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Mediaite. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
Sports Radio News
Tony Bruno Relives Favorite Moments With Angelo Cataldi on 94 WIP
“I loved every day. We did stuff that put Sports Radio in Philly on the map and I’m proud of that.”
Published
16 mins agoon
May 19, 2022By
BSM Staff
Tony Bruno has been a staple of the sports radio business for decades. Bruno is from Philadelphia and was teamed up in the early nineties with a duo still dominating the local airwaves there today, Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti. The three reunited Thursday morning on 94 WIP to remember the glory days of their partnership and friendship.
One of the first moments Cataldi asked Bruno if he remembered was the update he did from a tree outside of their studio and the answer was an emphatic yes.
“Absolutely, it’s one of the highlights of my life – other than interviewing four Presidents and every sports athlete in history – there’s no bigger moment than me climbing up in the tree, which was obstructing our view of William Penn and the city skyline. That’s what I do, I was a man of action. I’m not one of these guys that talks the talk, I climb the tree to do whatever is necessary.”
More frivolity followed when Cataldi harkened back to a segment of ‘Damsels in Distress’ and a time in which Bruno was sent on the street during a snowstorm to help shovel people out of their driveways. Bruno quickly recalled, “Man of the people. I should run for – I should of run for Governor of Pennsylvania or Senate or something.”
Bruno added that his favorite rant (and one that Cataldi loved too) wasn’t about the Cowboys or sports at all. “My favorite was my Infinity Broadcasting rant where I went on one day and even ripped our bosses, all the way up to the top of Infinity Broadcasting.” Cataldi cackled and praised Bruno’s rants more before being interrupted by Bruno saying, “yeah, my only regret is I never really ripped Al (Morganti) the way I should have ripped him. I let him of the hook so many times.”
An insightful moment came at the end of the call when Cataldi asked rhetorically if Bruno ever thought they (Cataldi & Morganti) would still be doing this thirty years later and then asked if Tony ever regretted leaving.
“It was a tough decision, Ang,” Bruno answered. “I was given an ultimatum. When I came to work with you guys, I loved every day. Every day we had fun. We did stuff that put Sports Radio in Philly on the map and I’m proud of that. It wasn’t one of those, ‘oh I got to go; I’m too big for these guys’. I even turned the ESPN job down a couple of times.
“My kids were still younger then, I didn’t want to move. I didn’t have to move. They said just come up here on weekends and that’s how ESPN Radio started. So I was doing weekends and Tom Bigby (Program Director) didn’t like that either, told me it wasn’t going to work. It was a philosophical thing. When he told me, ‘you should go because we are not going to pay you what they’re paying you,’ I said ok.
Cataldi began to sign off with Bruno with genuine thanks: “I got to tell you something Tone, we are indebted to you for the rest of our lives because we both learned so much from you and you are one of the great talents that radio has ever had.”
Sports Radio News
Dodgers Temporarily Pull Broadcasters Off Road
“If the broadcasters’ are not dealing with severe cases of Covid and they have cleared health and safety protocols, it appears the team is open to sending them back out on the road.”
Published
7 hours agoon
May 19, 2022By
BSM Staff
When the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the East Coast later this week, the men that call the action on TV and radio will not be with them. The games will instead be broadcast on AM570 LA Sports and SportsNet LA from their respective studios.
“Due to a few members of the Dodgers’ broadcast team having recently tested positive for COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, the Dodgers have decided to not travel their broadcasters to upcoming games in Philadelphia and Washington,” the Dodgers announced in a statement. Similar to the 2020 and 2021 MLB seasons, the games will be broadcast from Los Angeles,” reads a statement on the team’s Twitter account.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 18, 2022
No further details are available, so the severity and the number of cases remain unknown.
Last September, both members of the Dodgers’ television play-by-play crew were forced into quarantine. Joe Davis was the first to test positive, followed later that month by Orel Hershiser.
On Wednesday, manager Dave Roberts told the media that the Dodgers’ roster and coaching staff are not effected.
“There’s there’s no symptoms in the clubhouse. I think that as far as the upstairs, as an organization, we’re all just trying to be very cautious. But as far as in the clubhouse, coaches, training staff, nothing like that.”
If the broadcasters’ are not dealing with severe cases of Covid and they have cleared health and safety protocols, it appears the team is open to sending them back out on the road. 2022 was supposed to be a return to normal for the Dodgers and many other teams after not letting broadcasters travel in 2020 and 2021.
Sports Radio News
Pat McAfee: ‘No One Will Disrespect Jim Rome On My Show’
“That’s because you need to respect the f–king jungle.”

Published
11 hours agoon
May 19, 2022
Jim Rome is a sports radio icon and Pat McAfee recognizes that.
On The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, McAfee was talking to co-host A.J. Hawk about how Rome trended recently on Twitter.
This happened after news of Tom Brady’s FOX Sports deal surfaced, and a list of the top paid sports media personalities was compiled. Rome came in behind Brady at number two making a reported $30 million a year, and many were surprised by that number. McAfee wasn’t.
“That’s because you need to respect the f–king jungle,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for Jim Rome.”
There will be NO Jim Rome slander on this progrum#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/6m4kyOa9ni
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 18, 2022
McAfee gave props to Rome, 57, saying he’s been doing sports talk probably longer than anyone. He’s one of the most widely distributed hosts in the country. Pat said he won’t tolerate anyone talking smack about the Smack-Off King.
“No disrespect will be said on this show of Jim Rome, ever,” he said. “Love that man.”
Jordan Bondurant
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.