Mark Madden No Longer on ESPN 1250

After an on-air opinion which shocked and sickened many ... ESPN Radio 1250 host, Mark Madden has been "permanently removed" from the station's airwaves.

On May 21, Madden said on his radio show, "I'm very disappointed to hear Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts is near death because of a brain tumor. I always hoped Senator Kennedy would live long enough to be assassinated. And I wonder if he will receive a get well card from the Kopechne family."

Mary Jo Kopechne died in 1969, while a passenger in a car driven into the water by Senator Kennedy on Chappaquiddick Island, which is near Martha's Vineyard, in Massachusetts. He left the accident scene and waited 10 hours before calling police. Kennedy later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident where there was bodily injury.

Hours after the comments, Madden reportedly apologized, but it was apparently too little too late. ESPN, based in Bristol, Connecticut, said Madden's comments were "inappropriate and uncalled for." His last day on the air was May 22.

ESPN 1250's website says Ken Laird and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Joe Starkey will take over Madden's time slot.

The Associated Press is reporting that Madden is still under contract with ESPN, however, it is not likely he will remain employed with the company. It is being widely reported that Madden has been completely fired and his contract terminated. ESPN will not confirm or deny.

This is not the first time Madden has been in the hot seat. He was fired as a commentator from WTAE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for making disparaging remarks about the Steelers football team.

He was also let go from World Championship Wrestling after being suspended for calling wrestler, Dallas Page, "Leatherface," and disclosing information about the company's sale.

Other radio hosts have been in trouble with viewers and their station's management, most notably, Don Imus.

The cowboy hat wearing shock jock was fire by CBS radio and MSNBC, which simulcast his talk show, in 2007, for calling the African-American members of te Rutgers University women's basketball team, "nappy headed hoes."

He apologied for the comments and was eventually hired by ABC Radio in New York to do a four-hour morning show.

In 2002, Opie & Anthony were suspended from WNEW radio in New York City following one of their popular stunts/contests, "Sex for Sam." In this contest, a comedian would follow selected couples and encourage them to have sex in public places. The contest was sponsored by the makers of Samuel Adams Beer. A couple visiting Manhattan was arrested for public lewdness for copulating in a vestibule at Saint Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue.

Media scrutiny led to the Catholic League to ask that Opie and Anthony be canned and WNEW's broadcasting license be revoked.

To placate the Catholic League, the station suspended te hosts and cancelled their show. However, they were paid to the end of their contract. They now host a show on XM Satellite radio, where they are not governed by Federal Communications Commission rules.

The late Morton Downey, Junior was fired from his radio show in 1984 for using the word "Chinaman," which many Asians consider to be extremely offensive. I mention this because there is a controversy brewing today over the use of the term. In April, CBS announcer, Bobby Clampett referred to Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong as "the chinaman," during a broadcast at The Masters. Clampett later apologized.
Being fired didn't hurt Downey's career. He later went on to have a salacious television talk show in 1987, which pioneered the "trash T.V." genre of today.