Former WFAN radio hosts Mike Francesa and Chris Russo recently criticized the station's current lineup of talent, and WFAN VP/Programming Mark Chernoff yesterday said the comments were not the "nicest thing that someone could have said." Chernoff: "Knowing Dog, I think Dog thought he was being funny. It wasn’t funny.” WFAN's Gregg Giannotti said, “It’s totally uncalled for. It really was.” WFAN's Boomer Esiason called it "classless." He added, "I tell you what, that (Francesa) retirement party lasted 19 months here and boy, I tell you what, nobody’s (expletive) got kissed more than his" (NEWSDAY, 4/3).
REACHING THE TOP: In L.A., Lance Pugmire reported ESPN "will televise" a bout between Manny Pacquiao and Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The bout will be ESPN's "first pay-per-view" since the net struck a deal with Top Rank last year. While July 14 is the "preferred date, it's also possible to place it on July 21 U.S. time." An official said that the date is "expected to be finalized after a discussion with DirecTV representatives" today. Pacquiao's MP Promotions "will be the bout's lead promoter" (L.A. TIMES, 4/3).
NOTES: Penske Media is "very much in the hunt to buy" four magazine titles from Meredith, including SI (N.Y. POST, 3/31)....LAFC "will air 18 games in Spanish" on UniMas-owned KFTR, which is one of two Univision channels in L.A. Univision L.A. will "produce the matches that will also air locally on YouTube TV as part of LAFC's digital-only coverage in English" (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 4/2).
