Boston-based WBZ-FM's Michael Felger is "catching heat over a 12-minute rant" in which he berates former MLBer Roy Halladay in the wake of his "deadly crash while apparently doing stunts in a small plane," according to O’Ryan Johnson of the BOSTON HERALD. Felger on-air yesterday called Halladay a "moron" and a "jackass." Felger, "Your little joyride is that important to you, that you’re going to risk just dying? ... ‘Whee! Whee! Yeah, man, look at the G-Force on this! I’m Maverick. Pew, pew! Yeah, man, look at this, this is so cool!’ And you die. Splat, and it’s over." When asked about the rant, Felger said, "NBC Boston doesn’t want me to talk about it tonight. My boss doesn’t want me to say anything about this tonight." Johnson notes Felger during the rant also mentioned Steve Irwin, who was "killed by a stingray," and then went after NASCAR HOFer Dale Earnhardt, who "died racing in the Daytona 500." Felger: "I root for the wall. That ain’t not tragedy. (Race car noises) ‘Yeah. I take that turn like that. Woo!’ And then you crash into a wall and I’m supposed to feel bad for you? Give me a break" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/9). Felger also said of Halladay, "He got what he deserved. That’s how you’re wired? And that’s how you die? Bon voyage." When asked about Felger's comments, WBZ Program Dir Mike Thomas "declined to comment." The rant "led to immediate criticism from many listeners, with some calling for his removal from the show" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/9).
HITTING A NEW LOW: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe writes Felger's comments seem "pretty tasteless ... even in the no-holds-barred world of Boston sports talk radio" (PHILLY.com, 11/9). In Newark, Joe Giglio writes, "Wherever the line is on sports talk radio, Michael Felger crossed it" (NJ.com, 11/9). In K.C., Pete Grathoff: "I’m not sure we’ve sunk to a new low in sports commentary, but we’re not far away" (KANSASCITY.com, 11/9). In Minnesota, Bob Collins: "Everything that’s wrong with bro-talk radio can pretty much be summed up with a Boston sportscaster’s rant against Roy Halladay" (MPRNEWS.com, 11/9). The N.Y. Times' Sopan Dep: "It really doesn't get much lower than what Mike Felger had to say about Roy Halladay's death. Just awful." Denver-based KDCO-AM's Benjamin Allbright: "Felger begging for attention at the expense of Halladay's death is disgusting. I wonder how many morons will pretend 'he has a point.'" Former MLBer Kevin Youkilis: "Michael Felger has and will always be a low life behind the microphone!!!" (TWITTER.com, 11/8).
