3 Atlanta radio hosts make fun of former Saints player with ALS...get fired for it.

[FloorGeneral]

Atlanta radio station apologizes for making fun of Steve Gleason | ProFootballTalk

As a player, Steve Gleason is best remembered for blocking a punt in the Saints’ return to New Orleans a year after Hurricane Katrina, a blocked punt that spurred his team to a victory over the Falcons. He’ll always be beloved in New Orleans for that.

But for courageously continuing to live his life while ALS ravaged his body, Gleason has become universally respected by everyone who knows his story. That universal respect apparently stops at Atlanta sports radio station 790 The Zone, however, where Gleason was the subject of a Monday morning segment that made fun of his disability.

ALS has robbed Gleason of the ability to do most of the simple everyday things that most of us take for granted, like speaking and using his hands. As a result, the only way Gleason is able to communicate is to use computer software that allows him to type with his eyes, and provides him with a voice to speak. The guys at 790 The Zone apparently thought it would be funny to engage in a mock interview in which they poked fun at Gleason and used a robotic voice to portray things Gleason might say.

Understandably, many listeners were angered. When contacted by PFT, 790 The Zone confirmed that it has received strong negative feedback after airing the bit. And Nick Cellini of the “Mayhem in the A.M.” show that ran the Gleason-bashing segment acknowledged on Twitter that he had made a serious error in judgment.

“My apologies to everyone. It was a stupid attempt at humor that backfired. Emphasis on stupid,” Cellini wrote.

It’s hard to imagine how anyone ever thought making fun of Steve Gleason was a good idea. There’s no word yet on whether the folks who were involved in this will remain on the air at 790 The Zone.

790 The Zone fires Mayhem in the A.M. crew for Gleason “joke” | ProFootballTalk

The now-former hosts of Mayhem in the A.M. probably suspected that, at some point, the name of their show would have literal meaning.

790 The Zone in Atlanta has announced that the “three individuals” involved in a bizarre and unfunny bit involving former Saints defensive back Steve Gleason have been fired.

The station has announced the move without naming the (former) hosts of the show: Stephen “Steak” Shapiro, Nick Cellino, and Chris Dimino.

Here’s the full statement, posted the station’s website: “We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on ‘Mayhem In The AM’ on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS.”

The audio of the gag, which featured a caller with a computerized voice pretending to be Gleason, has surfaced. It’s not humorous, under any reasonably stretch of the subjective concept of what is and isn’t funny.

One of the hosts seems to realize while it’s all unfolding that it wasn’t a great idea, saying “I just don’t know if I want to play.”

He should have listened to his instincts, and they all should have realized that this was a huge mistake that would bring their careers at 790 The Zone to a swift and decisive conclusion.

SMH, scumbags. And Gleason was this weeks guest writer of MMQB, where he talks about his ordeal. Article is long, so won't post. Also the audio is linked in the 2nd article if you wanna listen.

 

[MVike28]

That is a disgusting act by these 2 crakkers-*joe buck voice*

 

[SubZeroDegrees]

fukking idiots, I'm not even going to make it a Saints vs Falcons thing. It's just fukking stupid.

 

[Steezy]

THE AINTS GET A fukkER fukkIN AND THEM GUMBOS SHOULD DIE SLOW

but on another note , some shyt bigger than football..not cool breh

 

[p00rky]

Good luck finding a radio hosting job lol

 

[Illeye buckmatic]

So there's an opening in Atl

 

[FreedS[ohh]lave]

Aint this the same station that fired the 2 live stews for being too black?

 

[kp404]

Aint this the same station that fired the 2 live stews for being too black?

yep...a new manager took over the station, told them to tone down the "urban" aspects of their show, and then refused to renew their contracts...straight bullshyt

 

[Born2BKing]

I heard this shyt live this morning and I was thinking wtf are they doing??? I knew it would get backlash but didn't know it would end in them getting fired. It was just a stupid ass decision. John Michaels is a future star in sports radio though, so I'm sure he will replace them nicely.

 

[Rick Roller 10]

Aint this the same station that fired the 2 live stews for being too black?

I forgot about those guys.

 

[PortCityProphet]

they got what they deserve. scumbag shyt straight up. there's jokes then there's taking shyt too far. who the fukk thought this would be a good idea? i hope they never get a job again.

 

[Black White Sox Hat]

Damn this shyt is crazy.This crew has been on in Atl forever.And Nick Cellini is really a funny dude.I have no idea what they were thinking with this shyt though.790 use to be the top station but last few years 680 has passed them up.Crazy to see these dudes radio careers finally come to a end.Guess their tv deal is done too.I know kincade going to go in

 

[AVXL]

That's my drive time morning hosts

FUUUCK

 

[AVXL]

I heard this shyt live this morning and I was thinking wtf are they doing??? I knew it would get backlash but didn't know it would end in them getting fired. It was just a stupid ass decision. John Michaels is a future star in sports radio though, so I'm sure he will replace them nicely.

John Michaels in the morning breh?

FUUUUUCK

 

[FaTaL]

so wheres the audio?