Portland-based KXTG-AM has "cut ties with controversial radio host Dino Costa" after the Timbers on Tuesday distanced themselves from their radio partner "due to the 'offensive and insensitive views and opinions'" expressed on Costa's show, according to Jamie Goldberg of the Portland OREGONIAN. During Costa's two months at the station, he "threatened to bring a straight pride flag to a Timbers game, said women couldn't successfully host radio shows and advocated for running over supporters of Black Lives Matter" (OREGONLIVE.com, 8/16). WILLAMETTE WEEK's Martin Cizman reported the Timbers on Tuesday issued a statement denouncing some of Costa's comments, but "declined to end" their deal with the station. The club in the statement essentially said that it is "troubled, but resisting pressure to drop its contract" with KXTG. Alpha Media VP/Marketing Randi P'Pool, whose company owns KXTG, indicated that neither the Timbers nor the Univ. of Oregon had "sought to sever their contract." The Timbers' deal expires after the '18 MLS season, and the club in the statement did say it will "carefully evaluate our radio home at that time" (WWEEK.com, 8/15). FORBES.com's Maury Brown wrote Costa's "brand of abrasive sports talk has caused issues in the past." He was fired from SiriusXM in '13 "after six years for making comments on the air about his bosses." He also lasted "just six weeks" at St. Louis' KFNS-AM (FORBES.com, 8/16).
