WMVP-AM (1000) cuts loose Dan McNeil

HUGE mistake. I am stunned. DeFalco is good, but he can't carry Jurko and Harry. I agree with Boers. Mac IS sports talk in Chicago. Sad day. Mac will end up just fine. It will be ESPN 1000 that will suffer the loss.

A very surprising decision by ESPN 1000. The Mac Jurko Harry show is nothing without Mac or the other two. But Mac more so. For Mac was the moderator and the best brodcaster. His use of language, wit, and humor is unmatched. This is surely going to mark the end of the show. Carmen DeFalco is a good guy but he does not have the personality for a big time radio gig. He is just like the everyday fan, whereas Mac was unique. Mac had a great personality fit for radio. Yea he was intense, personal, and controversial, but that was what made the show good. For example just today both the Mac Jurko Harry show and the Mully and Hanely show on the Score interviewed Jerry Angelo. On ESPN, the interview was much better because the tough questions were asked in a straight forward manner mainly thanks to Mac. Mike Mulligan on the other hand tried to ask the tough questions but posed them in a way such that Angelo would not have his feelings hurt.

What is really sad is that Mac just wrote an article on how bad the Chicago sports media has become and that hopefully North and Jiggets can inject some life into it. The media has become weak and afraid to ask the tough questions. Mac was one of the few tough guys willing to go after Angelo, the Cubs, or whoever else needed to give the Chicago fans some answers. This is a sad day.

Dan McNeil has elevated the level of sports radio programming in Chicago for years. A dip in ratings this past year--losing to "Boers and Bernstein" as evidence--may have precipitated this move, but McNeil is quality programming whereever he works, so I would imagine that Modrowski is right when he says McNeil will land on his feet. I'll miss him, though, because I do like his show.

I get the feeling that this was a financial move more than anything. He wasn't as big a 'blowhard' as North, and he seemed to be able to to the past behind him with Harry Teinowitz after their on-air altercation.

I think substituting Mac with DeFalco is a step down (not so much that Carmen is a bad radio host, more so that Mcneil just did a terrific job anchoring that show). Being a radio host making $600,000+ a year will end up making your every move scrutinized beyond belief in today's economy.

So the opinionated bully got axed again. Good, now I am try to listen to 1000 when B&B are on commercial break. I refused to listen to that blowhard.

Take some anger managment classes and stop fighting with your bosses on air. You know how no one wants to hear rich athletes complain about their team or teammates? Same applies to you, Mr. Blowhard.

I have been a big fan of that segment since the start up but have grown tired of McNeil whose ego seems to growing daily. His demeanor has changed over the last few months, he just seems full of himself. Just the other day he said "I wouldn't get out of bed for a $250,000 job" well, I guess we will see about that.

I would not be suprised if his public critizm of his colleagues on the same station did not contribute to this decision. He seemed to enjoy belittling the local morning show. At some point, you have to be a team player and keep your thoughts in house.

I really look forward to DeFalco joining the team.

Its the stations choice whether they want Danny Mac on their airways or not..But its a pretty classless move to not allow him to say goodbye to his listeners...

I have been listening to Mac since he was a raw rookie with Chet Coppock...

Throughout that time, I have enjoyed listening to Mac,especially with Jurko and Harry..It has been Very entertaining and they have posted great numbers..IMO,like Mike North, His dismissal was prompted by 3 things..His salary and his arrogance and superior attitude, the later 2 things which turned me off and made me switch the channel on many occasions...However, I am sure that I will be listening or watching when he finds his new home..

Good Luck Mac!!

...

There has to be more to this story than a simple line-up change.

Their ratings fell off slightly last year, but they were still competitive in their time slot. I listened to part of the show on Friday, and I didn't catch even a hint of this move.

My guess is that Danny Mac must have taken a voluminous leak in the wrong person's corn flakes. He's had a long history of pi$$ing off his bosses, sponsors, co-workers, and the sports world figures and teams that he covers. It's also well known that he doesn't think much of his partner, Harry.

Roman: You're a reporter, co-worker, and personal friend of his, so it is not unreasonable to ask that you shine a light on this, and provide us with a bit more information than what has been published. (which is "no information at all)

I'd like to know the full story, along with a few of the gory details.

Get on the case, Roman.

although, I enjoy the irony of a sports critic being released by his "team", what are they thinking at espn 1000? the "afternoon saloon" is the best sports show on radio. the show is now like like Moe, Larry and Curly without Moe. I hope the replacement "Curly Moe" Carmen is not permanent, he is an annoying spaz. good luck "Mac" you will be missed. ps. don't let the door hit you where the good lord split ya.

Good riddens to McNeil! McNeil's departure is long overdue. His blowhard antics have made the show unlistenable and his co-hosts uncomfortable. I hope WMVP will stay with the trio of Carmen, Jurko and Tiny, they diserve there time in the spotlite. I think this trio who have worked together in the past will be funny, entertaining and insightful, without being ignorant and condescending like McNeil. I am sure McNeil will be calling foul, but since he takes all the credit all the time, he has noone to blame for this firing but himself!

Anyone who believes AM 1000 afternoon drive will be competitive without Dan MacNeil must not listen when Mac is on vacation or suspension. Jurko and Harry without Mac have absolutely no direction even when Carmen sits in. Mac had everything to do with the direction of the show, even when he was a bit cantankerous with callers managment and cohosts. Mac wasn't afraid to be more than a sports radio host he was a real guy you'd sit and have a cold one with at your "afternoon saloon" he brought that atmosphere to the show. He told us about being a father of a child with autism, a fan of things other than sports, and a regular guy. He brought out that side of both of his cohosts and often his guests as well. I never met him but I feel like he is just a regular guy. This is just a sign that espn can't handle true Chicago flavor on their east coast brainwash machine. Before you know it they will dump Chet and J Hood and there will be absolutely no reason to turn to AM 1000 at all. How sad. Now I on my long drive from work I will have nothing to listen to. Good luck Mac.

My % sports radio listening over the past two years has gone from 100%, to no more than 25%. The one show I tuned in was Mac, Jurko, and Harry. Dan McNeil is the only guy on Chicago radio who recognizes there are other things in the world than the Bears.

Boers and Bernstein hate everything. Whether it is sports, movies, books, magazines, people, their callers, co-workers, etc. it does not matter. I might watch an event the night before, enjoy that event, only to be labeled an a**wipe the next day. I just grew tired of it.

This is a terrible move for ESPN.

I was stunned to here that Mac was gone. I like Jurko and Harry, I think that Carmen will do fine but as long as they continue to make fun of each other and they dont replace him with Mike North. But I do think Mac will turn up with North and Jiggets. Good luck Mac.

Danny Mac was never "my cup of tea." However, I totally agree with JD that he dared to move beyond the irrational cult that is "Da Bears" even though he was truly a football guy. I also loved that he has been a hockey guy. We still need more of those in this town.

He was always strong and used solid, glibly-delivered vocabulary while rarely, if ever, stumbling upon his words. He had the ability to steer a conversation in whatever path it needed to go. Again, while he wasn't a guy who stopped me in my tracks in order to listen to him, I did respect him as one of the tops in Chicago sports radio. As Villano stated, there's got to be more to this story behind the scenes.

I think this is a poor move. If he costs too much, how about approaching him about a re-negotiation. If he were to refuse taking less money, then it would be more understandable in letting him go. Just to throw it out there... Mac has always been less than enthusiastic with regards to the Bulls and NBA in general. Because the Bulls' telecasts are on ESPN 1000, is there are chance his half-hearted treatment of the Bulls and NBA contributed at all to this? Maybe that's a ridiculous train of thought but I think it's also ridiculous that McNeil be removed quietly and suddenly from the airwaves when the product being delivered each day was second to none.

While I am sad that Mac lost his job and I enjoyed his show very much, Mac did portray a certain arrogance that turned people off (me included at times). Especially lately his aggrogance was on display the way he talked about the sports anchor from channel five. The guy came on the show to talk about his performance and Mac didn't have much to say. While I will miss the show and Mac to a certain extent I will not miss the arrogance.

I won't say I'll never listen to ESPN1000 again. I like some of the other show, and Carmen DeFalco will do fine. I will say the reason I started listening to ESPN1000 was because of Dan McNeil. Before he joined the station, it was definitely second banana to the Score.
Just as I think the Score has never been the same, I think it will be difficult for ESPN1000 to be as entertaining. It wouldn't suprise me if more changes are coming.
Good luck Mr. McNeil. I hope you are on the air soon, as I'll probably follow you again.

that show will be a shell of itself. the chemistry and three-man team made it listenable, as if you were listening in to a conversation. each of the three had a distinct role and the show worked the best that way. they're going to find a drop in prestige, listeners, money, etc. if this was a panic move because of the economy it was a bad one.

i thought they could go on for a few more years, maybe until carmen, dickerson and hood replaced them, as those three work well together too. it's disappointing for people like me, who work all day and drive for an hour and change and want to be entertained and catch up on sports news and not feel like you're listening to some lame amateur hour nonsense(aka the score).

Boers and Bernstein may be the most negative voices in Chicago sports talk, but at least they stick to sports. Rarely do you have to listen to their complaints about management, critiques of the profession they've chosen, or the self-created soap opera that has become Dan McNeil. When you make yourself out to be bigger than the stories you're supposed to be discussing, you've slipped off the tracks. Dan McNeil has been slipping like this for years. How he can publicly criticize his own station's listeners for choosing a national show like Mike and Mike over local programming exemplifies both his ignorance and arrogance. That, alone, makes WMVP's move justifiable. Having said all that, I still think he's a talented guy, and I hope he surfaces on the local scene, albeit with a different approach.

A sad day for Chicago sports radio listeners. He was the show that is/was the best in Chicago. He always brought his "A" game and will be sorely missed.

670 please replace that a**clown Murph with Mcneil, PLEASE! I can then listen between 12-2 again! Thanks

I honestly have no idea who this is. Can someone please enlighten me? It's been a while since I even listened to talk radio.

If you are the #1 rated afternoon show on all of radio in a market like Chicago, I find it hard to believe 1000 could not afford Dan McNeil. The show will never come close to what it was just yesterday! Terrible desicion making by the suit's at WMVP. Soon enough they will realize the huge mistake that was made today. The chemistry was perfect, and the show will never seem right if it survives at all! What an awkward show it will be Monday. Guess I'll just listen to music on the commute home from here on out. Here's one dedicated listener that will no longer tune in to a poorly run, shell of it's former self, joke of a radio station!!!

Although I didn't always agree with everything that was said by Mac. I did find the MJH show entertaining and caller friendly. He provided an upbeat, energetic approach to every show. I can say the same for B&B on The Score. I believe this was a money motivated dismissal, not a result of anything negative that was said by Mac. I wasn't thrilled when he would disregard any Bulls talk, mainly because he didn't care, even though there are a lot of devoted Bulls fans, but he was a knowligable host and enjoyed their music/movie refrences and pop culture talks. Good luck, Mac.

well, we all woke up one morning after the bears lost to carolina in the playoffs and carmen and silvy were no more... now danny mac is shown the door most likely due to his salary and attitude given his history of suspensions and recent fall in ratings. The ROI was not justified in this economy apparantely. I have to hand it to carmine for sticking it out after getting the screw and now he may be rewarded.. i still miss his show with silvy as they had a true repoire but i guess u have to have a big local name to secure guests and draw listeners like waddle, hampton or jurko do.

I will miss Mac, but one monkey don't stop the show. I listened to the afternoon saloon everyday, and I am going to give the new team a chance. I am interested in hearing why they broke up the number 1 show. Had to be a good reason. I like all 3 guys but they are NOT Sox Friendly or Bulls friendly and that doesent cut it in Chicago.

I'm not a big Mac fan but he carried Harry and Jurko. I still don't understand how Harry lasts on the show. At least Jurko can add his experience from being a professional athlete. If anything I think they should have put new people around Mac. I will continue to listen to B&B on 670 and switch to 1000 on commercial breaks.

Ditto... If you can get rid of Mac, then Mike Murphy has to go! Then again Murph is probably making chump change compared to Mac.

If you were Tiny and Jurko would you not be somewhat concerned as to when the other shoe(s) are going to drop?? History tells us that their future (w/o mac) will be somewhat brief on that stations afternoon drive..
Dahl, Eddy and JoBo, North and now Mac.
Perhaps it is not the best time to be a large salary in a tightening (failing) economy.
The local radio personalities making > $1 million are now comprised of: Drex (Kevin Buchar), Eric Ferguson, Roe Conn, Johnny B., and Spike.
Financial reality is never pleasant.

I think it was a good move by ESPN radio. I was a long time listener of the show, but after a while it seemed to be getting a little stale. Almost like McNeil was getting bored of the show, or maybe all three were just to much of the same. I doubt that they would do it, but I would love to hear Danny Mac on radio 720 in the 1-4 slot that currently is open. He seems like he can spread his wings a little, talk about food, and movies, and yes sports especially before or after a Cubs game, or Hawks game. But maybe not be as serious as the other personalities on the station. I liek waddle and Silvy where they are in the morning. Maybe David Kaplan will go from 720 to ESPN. WHo knows.

a ridiculous move by WMVP....to hell with ratings..Mac Yurko and Harry was 1000 times the sports talk show that BORES and bernstien and their Porkys mentality put on the air.Apparently $ and personality with management once again,shortchanges the listener...time to listen to Rhome on the web..to hell with so called "local" Chicago sports talk...it hasnt been that since Grobstein and Tommy Williams were let go in another,insensitive to the Chicago listener,stupid move by the suits !

Mac, Jurko, and Harry without Mac is like a Big Mac without the secret sauce. Something is missing. Jurko is okay, and Harry is a suck-up. Besides having a lousy voice, he doesn't offer anything concrete to the show. I don't like a guy that kisses management's behind all of the time, and that's Harry.

Carmen DeFalco was okay back in the day on the Bulls pre and post game shows, but as a host - boring.

Most of the Chicago media including sports radio hosts are afraid to come out and ask the tough questions. Somebody has to do that, and I'm not sure if that person is on this show.

If you check me out on WLUW 88.7fm on Sunday mornings at 11 hosting the Sunday Sports Shootout, you'll see that I'm someone that's not afraid to ask the tough questions or have strong opinions. I may not be well known in Chicago, but if you remember the guy on the Score that asked Dick Jauron if he was coaching like a coward, that was me.

I'm a little bit like Mike North, with one big difference. I have a brain. I also have more guts. North was great at ripping people, but when he had them on the air, his stance softened. The only one I can remember that he didn't do that with was Mike McCaskey, and that's only because of his hatred for him.

Chicago sports radio gets tiresome, and I agree with the person that said they're tired of seemingly endless Bears talk, like practically every show on the Score. Other than hockey talk, football is probably the most boring sport to talk about. It's three days of pre-game chatter followed by three days of post-game chatter every week of the season. They're still talking about them all of the time even though the season is over, though this has probably been the only time they have been worthy of some conversation because of the coaching moves. Enough already.

And why are all of the shills in town afraid of Lovie Smith. He treats them like idiots and dismisses their questions, yet they constantly have their lips planted on his behind. He's not a good head coach, and he wasn't a very good coordinator. Look up his numbers. St. Louis won because of their offense when he was there, not the defense. He got the job for one reason and one reason only and we all know the reason. You should be hired based on your ability, not your race. In Lovie's case, affirmative action definitely benefitted him. If the Bears wanted a defensive minded coach rather than an offensive minded one that I would have preferred, they should have went with Mike Singletary. He's a far better leader, and at least he's not comatose.

I never cared for McNeil dating back to his SCR days. Gave him a shot when he moved to MVP. Still wasn't for me. That said, the afternoon show is dead in the water without him. Jurk and Harry were unlistenable even with McNeil. Without him,I shudder to think. Maybe MVP will replace him with Coppock. Couldn't hurt.

It's a shame they let Mac go,he helped put that station back on the map when they weren't even an option to listen to in the afternoons.Maybe he'll resurface on 670 at noon,get rid of that goof Murph,can't stand that guy.He asks a question to callers and guests and never gives them time to answer him,always enterupting them,it's very unprofessional,very irritating.And enough with the clapping with your Jack Phelan spots.Mac would definately land on his feet,he's to talented of a guy not to.If 670 was smart,they would sign him and put him on at noon.He probably needs to work solo anyway because of his opinionated nature.

Is there anything that lowers your IQ more than sports talk radio? I listen to a few shows - those that tend to have a lot of guests and not take many (if any) calls.
Too many neanderthals calling into shows like this one - waxing poetically to the days of the 85 Bears, old time football, Ron Santo, etc, etc. Worse yet, stations seem to be catering to these meatballs by putting more hosts on who can whip these dopes into a frenzy.

Mac became bigger than the show. Now maybe he can go back to the Score & team up with Boers. Bernstein can go to morning drive.

A sad day ( again ) for Chicago radio. Yes Mac could be all about him at times, but the show was a very easy listen. I "will" say other than " Mike and Mike " I am done with local radio. The suits run the show now and if and when that ever changes , they will continue to tell us what we should like and dislike. I hope Mr. Pastor will be shown the door the same as Mr. Ahern was. Chicago radio is dead, listen to your I-Pods at work people..... Hear that radio advertisers......

Dan McNeil is one of the best sports broadcasters in the business but in recent years his ego and lifestyle contradicted the "Afternoon Saloon" mentality. In my opinion he was condescending to his audience with his talk of fur coats, the gated lifestyle and his gourmet menu choices. Don't get me wrong I was happy for his success and he can spend his money however he chooses but he should not flaunt it on the air, especially when the target audience was the "Saloonites".

Who Cares...

He was always a ---- to Harry. He always did it his way or no way. He thought he was above the everyone and he got what he deserves. Never really listened to the show, because of him. Maybe now I will tune in.

I've been a fan of B&B for years and I've always found MJH unlistenable largely because of Tienowitz, who by all accounts is a nice guy. But he is a completely clown who loves everybody and has a voice that makes me want to rip my ears off. But, I think Mac is a self-important blowhard and he annoys me. But, maybe I'd like him better alone or paired with someone like Buffone at the Score frm 12-2.

Good Riddance to the biggest sore on Chicago radio's sports' butt. His history speaks for itself. McNeil, a self professed louse, demonstrated that daily on the air giving sports radio the stench of the drunk big bully with the chip on his shoulder when it came to opinions or humor other than his own. He was condescending to many listeners other than his favorites, as well as his co-workers. His knowledge is incredible, which is why it was tough not to listen in every now and again. But each time was a reminder of why I no longer did. He runs and produces a good show: always moving, always provocative, and at its peak could even be entertaining. But those moments were rare. DeFalco's replacing him isn't the issue. McNeil's mere removal is. Whoever replaces him is an upgrade for reasons I've mentioned. Chicago right now is an extremely fickle media market, and sports radio is certainly no exception. Every entity is trying to get its moneys worth. If McNeil had a brain in his Cro-Magnon head, he'd have understood at least that much. But his irascibility was his worse enemy, as his inevitable suspensions would atest to. Once a louse, always a louse. What will all those minions with their lips stuck to his buttocks do with all their lipstick now?

Saluki Jeff,

Mac and Buffone? That's food for thought! I would listen to that show--on occasion.

last Friday Mr. McNeil told of his recent purchase of a boat..how wonder he was...or it was and how he wouldn't get out of bed for a $250K job. How lucky he must have felt~! I guess "talent" plus extreme arrogance to talk sports has now landed you your well deserved and long overdue limited exposure. Good move ESPN1000!

I will be first to admit that Mac was an arrogant, self-righteous son-of-a....gun. That said, I enjoyed listening to him grill his interviewees. No one asked a tough question like Mac...straight to the point. He didn't start off by kissing @$$ and then asking a question. Oops, I didn't mean to bring up Harry. I'm gonna miss you Mac. I really don't know if I will be listening to that show in the near future. I guess I will finally have to get my CD player fixed.

It won't be long before Jurko goes. He always kissed up to Mac for getting him the job and now that he's gone, John will be next. Good. He has no business being on the radio because he can't talk. Bye-bye Jurko

When mac would take a vacation day or get suspended it was ok to listen to the show but what he brought to the table everyday will be tuff shoes to fill thanks for the laughs Mac good luck wherever you go you have a fan

I can't believe this, I'm shocked. I like Jurko and Harry, but wherever Mac ends up I will be following. He was the reason why I listened to the show and I'm disappointed by the decision.

I have been a sports radio junkie for a long time and used to listen and call in to The Score back when they were on Belmont Avenue. McNeil and Boers were the show that really made my day more enjoyable. I got to go on various outings with the two and attended quite a few of their Friday shows at establishments all over Chicago and Dan was always accessible and friendly to the listeners. Dan is a smart guy and knows exactly how to get the listeners attention and get you to respond to topics, he'll definitely show up somewhere...maybe even back at The Score. Hey Mitch Rosen, wanna bury WMVP forever?!! Thanks Dan, for everything that you've brought to sports radio in Chicago and I wish you the best.

Note to Mitch Rosen,
Get rid of Mike Murphy once and for all!!! He's the tool of the day everyday!!! Put McNeil in his spot but starting at 9:00am.

I am (or at least was) a regular listener to the show. I found it to be, hands down, the best in Chicago. And, to disagree with many posters here, Harry added an element of modesty and humor which was a perfect offset for the over-ego McNeil. His wit is greatly underrated. And Yurk added a great comedic element himself.

What remains to be seen is whether Carmen can pull off the coordination of these two, and have the chemistry to create an enjoyable, organized show. I doubt it. But I'll listen with an open mind. Thus far (Monday @ 4:45 pm), it's sub-par.

I used to enjoy the show a couple of years back but really got sick of Danny Mac on his high horse. Talking all the time about the high quality Allen Bros. meats. Your listeners are everyday Joe's who cannot afford to eat at Allen Bros meats or dine regularly at the local downtown chop house. Mac and Jurko rip Harry constantly for his fancy upbringing but he seems more down to earth and lives a less extravegant lifestyle then either Mac or Jurko. Carmen will do just fine.

Mac was a know-it-all putz anyway. Carmen will do just fine and not be as obnoxious about it. Mac was not the entire show by any means. It's about time he got knocked off of his high horse.

Thank the lord he's gone!
I followed the show for a good year until Harry took a vacation this past year. The whole week, Mac, Jurko & Carmen did nothing but bust Harry's balls. THE WHOLE WEEK. The previous week, Harry hosted with Carmen and Hood because Mac and Jurko were on vacation, and was nothing but class and professionalism.
Mac was insulting and demeaning to anyone who disagreed with him. Hope he lands on his overpaid ass.

This is by far THE best blog I've had the privelege of reading on FCP. The insight of the listeners that contributed their thoughts and opinions on this topic have been nothing short of fantastic.

My take: I liked McNeil for many of the reasons that a lot of people hated him.

He was arrogant, opinionated, self centered, knowelegable, and loathe to suffer fools.

When he had a semi-functional illiterate / blithering idiot on the other end of the line, he didn't let the moron ramble on and on.

I understand that it was a "Sports Show" but he could converse on a variety of topics other than sports, and his command of the language was somewhat uninque when compared to the Dee's, Dem's, and Do's we're usually subjected to in this venue. (can anyone say Jurko?)

Overall, he elevated the level of discourse in this city, and it's a shame that our local media can't find room at the table for his wit.

All I can say is, "WOW"! Out of the blue. I jumped into the car this afternoon to discover that ESPN has made another monumental mistake. I have to say this was the WORST drive home since the 4 hour Jan. 9 commute in the snow. At least I had something to listen to that day. Mac, I've met you on several occasions, at remotes, the manniversary this past year, etc. All I can say is that you were the consummate sports fan, professional and all-around great guy to chat with. Thank you for that. Man, my thoughts are with you. I will not say prayers because I know you will land on your feet and I WILL FOLLOW! From your days on the Score with Jig's, TB, et al, I have always tuned into you and will continue to do so. I truly hope you stay local (don't have satellite radio), so I can continue to follow your logical, enlightened and, yet sometimes abrasive personality. IT WORKED! And alas, this ones for you Mac,I know how you're a stickler for grammar: In regards to Roger Turman who posted on January 17, 2009 10:48 AM
Pick up a dictionary before you decide to post something in a public forum, pick up a dictionary, thesaurus, words of the day toilet paper, whatever and.....LEARN HOW TO SPELL!! If I were you, I'd take some time off, at least until late April or early May, get the rods oiled, re-lined and take some time to drop a few crank baits during spawing season. Look forward to hearing you again soon on our local air waves.

Thanks Mac,

TJ

everything everyone said is correct in most ways. mac mean to harry, jurko can't talk, mac talks about his gated neighbor hood. this is what made them great. thats why people listen to mjh or not. if it wasn't so good there wouldn't be all these responses people would just say oh well. mac talking about money well his wife is a lawyer so that would help. i like carmen but can only take him for a week when mac is gone. i hope the show will still be good but like someone said wait for the other shoe to drop. good luck mac it was 4 hours i could relax and forget about real problems in life.

How about getting rid of Jurko too and really giving the show a facelift. That guy adds absolutely nothing of value to a sports talk show. 75% of his comments are only thrown in so he can say he said something, and actually don't make any sense at all!

I'm pissed off to see Danny Mac go. He made that show, when i listened to the new Afternoon Saloon, it just wasn't the same. Danny Mac was funny, but to say the least I won't be listening to Boers and Bernstein, I can't stand him, Bernstein is an asshole who talks down to everyone that calls the show, hes right and the caller is always wrong. Good Luck Danny Mac!

Alot of comments on "dangerous's" personality. That gentleman, like it or not, is why You do or don't listen to him or anyone else. I too have been with dangerous since the CC days. Enjoyed him best as part of the "heavy-fuel crew" when, in my opionion, sports radio was at its zenith. For now, I also hope he finds a place in Chicago radio, and what better place then to come home to 670. Take care Danny, hope to hear from you soon>

The afternoon saloon is now DEAD. There is no way Carmen DeFalco can guide the show and offer the type of personality that brings out the best of his co-hosts like McNeil did. There is no more captain, so now the ship will sink.

I hope McNeil ends up at 670 The Score in the morning slot in place of the boring Mulley and Handley (or what ever there names are). He should easily beat out Mike and Mike (they are really vanilla). I haven't had anything to listen to in the morning since Howard.

If he doesn't end up there, I guess there's always satellite!

Not happy. Jurko can not be Jurko without Danny Mac. The two of them made listening to radio from 2 - 6 worth it. I have never went home and turned on my AM radio until I heard those two guys. The way they work together and annoy Harry is classic radio. For WMVP to take a guy like Danny Mac away from a show that has so much success is foolish.

Only thing I can think of is that they are going to move T-Wad and Silvey into the afternoon slot. Which will be the biggest mistake they could make.

This is as bad as finding out your wife has been cheating on you.

Good luck Mac. You will be missed. I hope you stay in Chicago. This town needs you. Hope you left WMVP something to remember you by, and I'm not talking about your success on the radio.

I have listened to MJH since Day #1 and I just found out today that Danny Mac is gone. Personally, it makes me sick. For those of you that think he and Jurko were always picking on poor little Harry, you are right, they were. I also seem to recall the tiny one coming back at them, especially when they were not around. It's called real life, people. I bust my co-workers chops constantly and guess what, they do the same in return. There is nothing wrong with that at all.

You may call Mac arrogant, I will call him confident. He is damn good on the radio and by far the most knowledgable of all Chicago's sports talk personalities, and he knows it. Nothing wrong with that either. Hell, I wish I could make $600,000 a year for hosting a sports show, but I am not good enough for that...Danny Mac is.

AM 1000, you have just lost an afternoon listener. The only time I will tune in to your station now is in the morning for Mike & Mike. Every time Mac was gone on vacation, (forced or planned), I cringed to see who would be taking his place. I still can't fathom your logic...let's get rid of the best host we have and keep Harry & Silverman.

I have seen people on this blog hassle Danny Mac about trashing Harry & Silvie. My question to you is why hassle him? If I had the chance, I would trash those two as well. Harry is a pompous little twit who was raised with a silver spoon in his mouth and Silverman just plain makes me sick when I hear him. Can the sound effects for his show be any more...ummm...let's just say feminine?

Face it folks, WMVP made a huge error last Friday and I for one am done with them. Danny Mac, you have made a lifelong fam here and I can't wait until you hit the airwaves again so I have some local talent to listen to. Whatever you do, please leave Harry behind!

A good move was made by ESPN 1000. Dan MacNeil had what for many is a dream job, and all he could do is complain and gripe. In a time that many folks are having financial woes, to hear this egotistical blow hard moan, made me turn the show off. This guy was making good money and getting great perks from steaks and cars to clothes. Maybe he can take some time and enjoy life instead of always complaining. I hope the Sun-Times follows suit and drops him also. He is a poor follow up to Jay Mariotti. In addition I was getting sick of always hearing about Northwest Indiana. This is a Chicago show, Talking about Chicago teams. Carmen is a Chicago guy. Finally some balance. I hope Dan MacNeil stays in Northwest Indiana. Let him talk about the Colts and Pacers and give us a break from this self obsessed jerk. I will be tuning in now that he is gone. I'm sure if he reads this he will pick out all my errors in grammar. Good at least I wont hear about it on the radio.

I've now listened to two days of the Afternoon Saloon, sans Mac, and I hereby pronounce it dead.

Saying that Carmen DeFalco is lame would be a compliment. I know he's in his early 30's but he's too wet behind the ears to take McNeil's place. He sounds like a whiny, pimply faced adolescent, and he brings little to the table as far as insight and life experiences are concerned. Perhaps "juvenile" is the word I'm looking for here.

Sorry Carmen, but Jurko is juvenile enough for all three of you, and at least Dan was able to balance that out a little with his superior intelect.

Prediction: This show will be off the air, or re-configured within six months.

MHJ was the most like a real life work environment than any other shows on the radio. Somebody could relate in some way shape or form to each of the 3 guys, whether it's the way you argue with or idiot brother or co-worker, or complain about your boss. Everybody gets paid to do a job, and if you didn't like the way Mack did his then you didn't have to listen. Unfortunately for us that liked MJH the way it was, we have to get used to Carm or listen to B&B. I liked my commute home the way it was and it's sad to see Mack go. Good luck Mack in whatever lays ahead.

I didn't always like him and I thought he was an arrogant pig a lot of the time but I always listened. Carmen is awful in my opinion and the show will fail for sure. Carmen is no idiot either - he knows that making fun of Harry worked for Mac and he will try to recreate this environment and will go down in flames.

No one can be sure what the reason behind macs firing was, but I offer a guess. On the same segment where mac spoke about buying his boat, he explained that his son with autism will likley not go to college, so the money he would have spent will go to the boat that he will take his son out on frequently. Unfortunately, at the end of his speech, he referred to his reasoning as "playing the tard card". I would have to say this upset many listeners and sponsers. Without sponsers, they can't pay that salary. Just a thought.

Those times of disappointing shock, thankfully, come only once in a blue moon. And the second full moon of the month came for me Sunday morning. Reading that Dan McNeil was gone from "The Afternoon Saloon"...well, it honestly felt like a friend died. I'm sure I'll get lambasted for overstating, but for me, that's exactly how it felt. You hear it all the time, and with good reason, because it's true. "You don't know what you've got until it's gone." MJH was a part of my life that I will always remember with fondness. I could always count on those guys to make me forget about a bad day of teaching on the way home. And Danny Mac was a huge reason why this was so. I will miss his straightforward style, his honest candor, and his unrelenting passion for his job. As a teacher, I appreciate this last quality most of all. I wish Carmen, Jurko, and Harry well. I think it's a bit premature to condemn them after only two shows. They'll take some time to gel. I hope they do it sooner, rather than later, because I need them to fill a void that hasn't been empty for about 8 years. Mr. McNeil, I hope to hear your voice on the Chicago airwaves again soon. From reading these various blogs, you'll have plenty of fans waiting for you, this one included. Until then, enjoy some family time, grilling up steaks, and fishing. You've certainly earned it!

not a chance the shows survives. Mac's laugh just cracked me up. The chemistry was perfect. Love all the cheesy carmen spliced in photos on the web site too...nice photoshop work...and to all the people saying mac was arrogant...he was totally tounge in cheek most of the time...including not getting out of bed for 200K...

The show has become soft and irrelevant. I don't need Jurko to be handcuffed and have Tiny tell us how wonderful everything he likes is. Could have saved $$$ by just dropping Tiny. Mac and Jurko would be just fine. Thank god for Sirius. I can listen to someone who isn't trying to give me feelgood nonsense all afternoon. I like Carmen, but not in this format. Jurko, collect the pay and get back with Danny Mac. It's like your year in Cleveland. Hopefully someone in Chicago sports media will grow a pair sometime soon.

I listened yesterday not knowing about the change and I about drove the car off the road. I thought it was a spoof but tis not. I attempted to listen and give the show a chance but it did nothing for me. The laughter I enjoyed after a day at the office was filled with nothing but sports ramblings of statistics and how do you improve on this. I have lived here for 7 years having moved from MN and I thought the show was a great mix of Chicago sports, guy stuff, and national topics. Without Mac the show gets lost and it always has whenver he was not there. All of them had and have big egos but they made it work and were able to feed off each other.
Jurko and Harry are now just two guys in a radio booth breaking down Bears, Bulls, Hawks, etc and being lead down the all to familiar road of traditional sports talk radio. Yurko and Mac need to have a show together and leave Tiny behind. Nice job 1000!

I had already stopped listening to MJH for about three weeks,it was blatantly obvious the shows charm had run its course,the only time in the last year the show was listenable was when one of the regular cast members wasn't on air.Mac was a huge self absorbed,"the world owes me something",personality but the three had a good mix for the first 7 years,this past year Mac's lack of a sense of reality that his over inflated ego had lost touch with the common sports talk listener,such examples of this being having Mike North on in what seemed a very disrespectful interview that seemed at least to me, a kicking a man when he was down segment,to the talk of his love of his own High Def 20 moniter viewing room in his home,or maybe it was the gloating over his renting of Blackhawk great Bobby Hull for the small fee of $5,000 for the opening of his on personal Blackwawk wing of his house!!!Mr.Mcneil I believe it was you that had a button at your disposal that suits you more "We're happy for you!"In your new found free time open up the paper and read the business or money sections and once you get past correcting the grammer of your contempararies in the newspaper business(because lord knows you let everyone know in the last months of your latest second job)soak in that thes are trying times in this great country,and in the future remember you are not the center of the univesrse and remember a little humility can go a long way. Good luck and god bless in your future,hope you land on your feet and remember to stay grounded next time you hit the airwaves.

The move was garbage.

Good luck, Mac.

BIG thumbs down for ESPN 1000!

WMVP1000 just lost a listener. I tuned in yesterday to find out that Mac was history. The show was pathetic. Almost soghmoric. Talking about Carm gaining weight, getting beat up by his girl friend. Thats not a sports talk show. I think I'll just stay home and watch the Vue.

MJH is the reason I started listening to sports radio, let alone ESPN 1000. I have no idea why they got rid of him, maybe he was a bit in your face at times but at least he was honest. Carmen is awesome and I love the J and H, but it will be nothing without the M. Good luck Mac and go get effed WMVP.

Long overdue - I am so glad to see Carmen get another chance in a decent timeslot. Mac had become a caricature of himself in recent months, it seemed he was consciously trying to out do his over- the- top points of view. His brash disrespect for a major partner in the Chicago Bulls was likely the final nail in his coffin. Because of Mac's negative impact on the show, I recently stopped listening to the station between 2-6...I just learned this afternoon of the change. I believe just as bringing in a new coach renews the spirits of a failing ball club, Carmen's addition will certainly re- energize the show both on the air & behind the scenes. The production crew for Waddle & Silvy in the past six months has far surpassed the afternoon show's - it's apparent why that has happened...it's difficult to get yourself excited to do your best job when you're working with an inflated ego or on egg shells that any misstep will bring the ire of the headlining talent.

I couldn't he happier. Now everyone can listen to sports talk without hearing his mysogynistic arrogant viewpoint. Seems like the self appointed media critic should've seen this coming, or was he too busy ordering HD-TV for Macky land? What goes around comes around!

That show will lose a lot of listeners without Dan. I can't stand Harry and Yurko is comic relief without adding much substance. MAc knows his stuff and is not afraid to express it. I didn't like mcneil when i first started listening to him but he grew on me and will be missed on the drive home.

Ben in Batavia:

Great post.

You summed it up rather succinctly. Mac is a guy you could love AND hate at the same time. He was without a doubt entertaining, but as you referenced, the man was very much self absorbed.

But so am I .... so I'll cut him a little slack on that personality trait.

Anyway; keep posting.

You have an interesting take on things, that while just far enough off the beaten path, it's not quite lost in the woods either.

It would have been nice of ESPN to allow him a chance to say goodbye. The last 2 days of the show have been dead. I'm now going back to FM radio on the way home.

Ben in Naperville,
Ben in Batavia,
Ben Franklin,

Thank you Ben! I couldn't have said it better myself!

This move was long overdue and Harry and Jurko should be next. Let Carmen and JD anchor the afternoon. Those guys are excellent and will carry ESPN 1000 into the future.

I don't make $250,000 but I get out of bed everyday to do my job.

One of the last comments I heard Mac say he wouldn't get out of bed for 250K job.

Sorry, Mac was becoming too arrogant to meet in an afternoon saloon.

Maybe a few months of unemployment will get him in touch again..

Picked up some books on tape at the library.

Better listening and their not arrogant

Bad choice ESPN 1000, you'll get what you deserve without Mac. Now it's time to sit back and watch as your ratings bottom out. I like Carmen, the good kid and tiny, but it's not the same without Danny Mac. I will not be tuning in anymore. Good luck Mac hope to hear you soon.

I love this!! MacNeil was air bag and didn't conform with our city. I think he made the show weak!! Carmen is a lot better!!!

Hey Danny Mac, Come to Phoenix !! The weather is great, plenty of golf course's ,Lakes to fish and sports radio, like the geography, is a desert. I would get home from work and log on to my computer so I could stream your show . Screw Chicago winters, I don't miss them one bit, and besides, you won't have to shovel the heat off your car !!!

I'm glad that Mac is gone and he even said it was overdue. At best, he's just ok in small doses. I still can't believe we don't have an Asian, Hispanic, or an African American on the Chicago radio sports airwaves during prime time. I guess the Chicago radio gods must think everyone wants to listen to just their own view.

Really too much ado about nothing. While I enjoy that show over the competition, his leaving is not worth this much debate. It is sports yap and maybe they will give someone new, not an ex Bear or another recycled host, a chance to develop an on air personality not dictated by management or a predetermined role as Mac's replacement. Maybe DeFalco can step up after a honeymoon period and not be a cut out foil for the 2 remaining hosts. It will pain me to see Teinowitz take a bigger role as he can't carry that much weight, (nothing intended there). Radio as a whole has been drying up in Chicago for some time now and maybe some FCC changes on ownership will free up the airwaves and bring some diversity. I tried the new show with Jiggetts & North and couldn't take more than a few minutes. And to the Sun Times.Is it that hard to find columnists that you hire 3 radio jocks to "write" columns. No wonder your paper is dying with decisions like that

Years ago, Steve Dahl described sports talk radio as a dog chasing it's tail. On air hosts taking different sides of a topic just for argument's sake, the conversation becomes pointless and goes on for hours. I remember how bad WMVP was before MJH. WMVP hired too many elitist know-it-alls like Jay Marriotti, Peter Brown, Rick Telander, Criss Cross, Brian Davis, and of course the fabulous sports babe. Danny Mac brought credibility to AM 1000 and a lot of fans. I wish him the best and want to thank MJH for the years of entertainment.

Tried to listen again, not much there. If you turn on the LOOP you want to hear Zeppelin not Neil Diamond. MVP might as well be the LITE (or whatever they call that crap) I listen to the Score from 6A.M. to 2 P.M. and then I go to FM or satellite (if I can). Hardcoresports at least has opinions, but probably too much hockey talk for the average guy. I'd like to listen to someone in Chicago talking about Chicago teams who keeps me entertained. Right now, only Mully and Hanley are fitting the bill (they're the best of what's left). No shot at them, I've always enjoyed them as quality filler. They are not as entertaining as D.P., MacNeil or North. Hopefully someone has enough sense and money to put together the talents that are out there to keep all of us belligerent people entertained. We listen and relate to the hard edge that these guys bring to us during work, make us smile and crack up! It's gone. Guys like me are looking elsewhere and if there is something better, we won't turn back. D.P. and MJH use to be a fun release to have on my radio every day, but I need to surf the stations now. You guys in radio are missing the boat(at least to me). I don't enjoy what you have replaced my listening experience with. You'll have to figure out how to get me back. I no longer need to turn on AM 1000 for the SOX, HAWKS, BEARS or MAC! Quality programming will be somewhere else on the knob. Thanks for alot of fun workdays with MJH, but you screwed up!

AMF

The "Afternoon Saloon" might as well be the AM version of "THE VIEW". Totally disappointed, to say the least. I can't wait to hear something to make me feel something on the radio again. I'd rather smell Jurko's bombs than listen to the bomb I'm hearing on the air. Jurko and Carm, it's over. NO ENTERTAINMENT. You guys, are doing silly stuff. Go text everyone, give away a bunch of stuff to make people listen, C'mon! Jurko collect the paycheck and move on. Your flatulence is more entertaining than Tiny's jokes. Carm, good luck, you aren't in the right spot. Tiny can take jabs at Mac, but Mac made Tiny. Tiny, you and Skip go play.

From the guy who takes offense to you saying "The guy who is no longer on radio" and your other jabs. People will find Mac more pertinent than you for a long time coming.

Big mistake, ESPN 1000. Mac was the soul of the show and the main reason I tuned in. Yes, he could be a bit arrogant and a blowhard, but that's what some of us expect from talk radio: opinionated, articulate personalities that entertain us and make us think at the same time. It used to be close with B and B, now with Mac gone, it's no match.

Sadly the last three things I will remember about Mack is, his remarks about Harry, his remark about Labron being better than Michael Jordan, and his most defining comment "I wouldn't get out of bed for $250 grand a year". And my advice on all 3 Mack:

1. Never insult a woman, black person or Jew while in the media. These are folks who have been kicked in the stomach and our society frowns on it. And you will NEVER win this battle even if you don't get fired. Harry may not have been offended, but trust me he has friends that can reach out and touch you.

2. Never insult your audience - MOST of whom make under 100 grand. This was your biggest problem. That comment oozed with smugness and became your on-air persona. Some call it confidence, but most call it "looking down your nose". And you did it at a time when people with a degree are applying for jobs a McDonalds and Walmart. I'd bet your bosses were putting out 5-alarm fires while you were on the expressway on the way home.

3. You insulted Michael Jeffrey Jordan, the best player to ever put on a pair of gym shoes. In the town that he built. LaBron is the best today, but he never had to play against the Pistons and Knicks. And when he did show up in the finals, he lost. This comment showed your knowledge of the sport, and your feeling for the fans in Chicago. My ears bleed when I hear Harry gushing all over the Cubs, but he has his priorities right. Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the ONLY player in NBA history that has his jersey retired in another teams stadium, by GM Pat Riley who said "every team in the league should retire this number", "he embarrassed the league". Harry rides that broken horse all the way to the bank, but you chose to insult - a living icon. Its enough to say Labron is the best today, but to put anyone in a conversation with MJ is just asking for it.

To have a job like that is like a dream come true; to be paid for doing it is icing on the cake; to get fired for salary reasons is total stupidity. If Mac was tired of it and needed a break, that's a different story. Move on...go get Mike North... they have the same personalities and their broadcasting voices are almost identical. Maybe North will take a cut in pay just to get back to the air-waves!

Here we go again, Bristol, CT telling us who we want to listen to...what a freakin' suprise. You thought they would of learned by now, I mean come on, anybody who has been listening to Sports Talk Radio in this town for more than 20 yrs. has already been pushed around, by both ESPN-Bristol and whoever is now running CBS-NY about who where suppose to listen to...I thought in the "free-market" spirt of enterpirise, the listener had the last vote...wrong again for me! :( greg

Mac never missed an opportunity to make fun of someone's shortcomings, whether it be a weight problem, mental problem, acne, you name it. Very insensitive for a man with an autistic son. He was a braggart and a hypocrite. He claimed to be a "blue-collar" guy with no college education, yet constantly corrected people's grammar (on a sports talk show!) and bragged about his Allen Bros. steaks, all the other expensive food and liquor he consumed, and any other luxury he thought necessary to throw in the face of his audience. (Just a quick comment from a chef: frozen meat sucks and jumbo prawns have no flavor!!) I always thought of him as a classless, immature man with a very inflated sense of self-worth.

That being said, it's obvious the show will not survive without him. He brought it all together and is the reason the show was so successful. Mac: when you land a new gig, get over yourself and focus on the content/entertainment. You're great to listen to when you're not trying to impress people.

Mac so full of himself and just complained about everything. He was one of the big reasons I got Sirius. Good luck to Carmen.

I think it is a shame that they got rid of Mac. He was the show and made it run. I never could stand listening to show when Mac was out of town or on suspension, it just never flowed and after listening to it for almost a week without him it just isnt flowing. I never thought ESPN would have me angry at the world wide leader but this is an embaressment for them. When he shows up at another station and the listeners switch over they will be wishing they paid him his million and more. What a total buzz kill this show is in the afternoon.

Dan Mcneil is by far one of thee best radio personalities in CHICAGO.I have been listening to him for years and I know he will be back on the air hopefully mornings on the SCORE! Then Yurko can come team up with him and have a MAC & YURKO MORNING SHOW!!! Good luck DANGEROUS DAN!

What a shock! Mac was the glue that kept that show together. The show was just awkward when one of the guys was out. Carmen is boring! He was better with Silvie.
Well I'll just keep my radio locked on to B and B on the Score. They're smart and funny, though they do insult the listeners a bit much.

K LSS - your best post ever. Thanks!

ONLY 72 days until opening day........

I have been listening to MJ&H since their inception and I cannot believe that am 1000 thinks that the show will survive without Danny Mac. He was the straw who stirred the drink, and like a car with no driver the show is going to crash. Get ready for more BS syndicated national programming, like Mike & Mike and Turico & Van Pelt. Looks like for the 1st time in years I'll have to switch to the Score. Bad move MVP. Good bye am 1000, hello 670

Absolutely stunning. I didn't listen much to CJH this week. The show just isn't the same...not much flow and definately less humor. Carmen is really solid. He is very knowledgeable and brings good thoughts to the table but, just isn't Mac.
I've always said Harry was the weak link on the show with his lousy jokes and whiney, homer personality. Really sad to see Mac go. Can't wait to see where he ends up.

being from NWI this comment may be a tad biased.. but I also listen to both stations everyday while in my car. I will now only be tuning into one station(score). This is truly a sad day. First I lose Mancow in the morning on short notice, then Mike North leaves unexpectedly, and now the best ever is cut loose! AM sports radio is goin the route of the hard copy newspaper I see.

We should line up the management at AM 1000 right next to Blago. They have betrayed the trust of the listeners and robbed us of the heart and soul of AM Sports Radio.
ESPN has the nerve to whack Danny Mac and leave Silverman employed?
This is a monumental mistake. McNeil is Chicago Radio. Plain and Simple. Carmen is a good guy and major talent but sticking him in between Jurko who is solid and Harry who is about as solid as a soggy cheeze sammich is a crime. BRING BACK MCNEIL YA BOOBS!!!!!

Mac along with all the other shows @ WSCR in the early 90's really was apart of something special. The remote's, the classic Ditka shows. But when you break-up tandoms that work, and try to pair them with other's, it seldom works in Chicago. Sports talk in this town is Jurassic. I would spend my time at www.illianamusic.com for news on all things Chicago Rock.

LVH
www.illianamusic.com

Wow,

I currently reside in Cincinnati and heard the news today.
I like listening to Carmen, late night, but he will NOT fit in with Jurko and Harry. Personally, I find the chemistry between the three (now two) is their Wit/Sarcasm. Carmen is calm and collected while Jurko and Harry shoot from their hips keeping their audience sharp with movie trivia.
Not a good move. Has anyone thought how this is going to affect T.Wad and his whinny co-host Silverman?

Wow,

I currently reside in Cincinnati and heard the news today.
I like listening to Carmen, late night, but he will NOT fit in with Jurko and Harry. Personally, I find the chemistry between the three (now two) is their Wit/Sarcasm. Carmen is calm and collected while Jurko and Harry shoot from their hips keeping their audience sharp with movie trivia.
Not a good move. Has anyone thought how this is going to affect T.Wad and his whinny co-host Silverman? Those guys feed off each others shows.

They fired the WRONG Guy! Tiny is painfull to be forced to listen to. I miss Jurko, but I, like McNeil have moved on.

I'd like to see the Score pick him up and team him up with Boers again. Ever since that snobby little a**wipe Bernstein joined Boers, I haven't been able to listen to them. Which is a shame because I really enjoyed listening to Boers and McNeil back in the day.

Gone, but not forgotten. I will probably listen to ESPN 1000 again. Afterall, I love Chicago sports. Jurko & Harry will go on and so will Mac somewhere..... but everyday, for almost of seven years, I really , really, really enjoyed listening to afternoon radio talk in Chicago. It was not ever the same without any one of the three. Thanks for the great radio memories to all the people that made the afternoon saloon worth pulling up a stool...Mac, Jurko, Tiny, Ben , Adam, you made it feel like I was part of a family. Life goes on!

I have tried to give this new afternoon saloon a try. It just does not work without Mac. He was the one that drove the ship and made sure it arrived at its destination every time on time... Carmen just does not seem to know how to drive it with Harry and Jurko sitting in the back seat. I hate to say it but I will now have to get my sports fix from the internet now.

I tried to give it a chance but ESPN has been removed from my radio dial. I don't like the score either. I'm moving on to Roe Conn.

I agree with everyone who has stated that money had to be the main reason for this move. That said the last month on the air Mac seamed to become more and more of a negative cannon than usual, culminating in that Sun Times article. If the whole story ever does come out I wonder how much him going to work for the Sun Times may have had to do with it too.

Huge mistake though he was the best Sports talk guy in Chicago period. I couldn't stand him when I first heard him (arrogant fought too much everything that's always been said about hime) and thought Jurko and Harry were by far the better radio peronalities, then I started to hear what the show sounded like without him and realized how good he really was at being the invisble hand and engine of that show. I give "The Afternoon Saloon" 3 months before it's gone.

It's funny back in 2004 when Jay Mariotti was trying his best to be a likeable radio personality on WMVP and just not pulling it off, I wanted to say to him, "dude you can't cary a sports tlak show, it takes a different set of skills then you have, plus a better sense of humor, stop trying, you're already the cities best sports writter by far and there's definitly no shame in that. Go home and write me something and stop trying to tell me about it."

And during the last month and a half of the Mac Jurko and Harry show everytime Mac went off about his newly aquired sports column and pimping the Chicago Sun Times I wanted to say the exact same thing to him, only the exact oppisite.

His heart wasn't it. He would say on a few occasions that he wanted to work in the morning because his lifestyle has changed(no wild night=no hang-over).
He has also praised MONSTERS IN THE MORNING that would be an outstanding fit because that shoe has little direction but he and NORTH wouldnt share the ball and the $$$ would be thru the roof.
WADDLE has too many time restraints to take his spot. SILLY is too soft. CARMEN is lame, i do agree.

The big problem with Mac leaving is Jurko. He is a big, dumb sidekick. His only value was to ride shotgun to Mac, mostly on the ride in from NW Indiana. Now with Mac gone, let's hope Tonto is the next to go. I never did figure out why Jurko was in the booth at all except that he was Mac's buddy.

Like many above I have tried the 'new' Afternoon Saloon and walked away disappointed. I know Mac wasn't the most beloved talk show host in Chicago but the chemistry amongst the 3 was perfect. Carmen is a good guy, but this has become some what of a college radio show and I no longer a fan. Luckily I have Sirius/XM in my vehicle!! We miss you Mac.

The show is definitely not the same without Mac. I've given it time, and I will still tune in, but I find myself wandering around the dial more. When Mac was on, my radio was locked in to WMVP. I had to listen- Mac was compelling. Jurk and Harry do their thing, and they do it well, but Carmen is nowhere near as compeling as Mac. I will follow Mac to the next battlefield, without question.

Oh No, arrogant ASSWIPE got canned? BYE BYE. Get SIRIUS and listen to a REAL sports talk show-FERRALL, SHAKE IT UP!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I am blown away. Talk about a combo. Lets face it, individualy boring but together is chemistry. You ruined my afternoons. WOW I am still in shock. WOW!! Arrogant or not they had chemistry. Sorry Jurko and Harry I must say goodbye.

B&B always talk to each other, which is amazingly annoying. Mac, with Jurko and Harry, talked TO the audience. Carmen does the same with the remaining two, but not quite as well.

Good luck Mac...hope you land in a good place.

This is a good move. I enjoyed the show much more over the past several months when Carmen was sitting in for Mac and was hoping they would make this permanent. I recently found myself changing the dial when Mac would go on one of his ridiculous rants and call people names just because they expressed an opinion. Carmen may not be as experienced as Mac but given time he will be an asset to the show. I am going to listen more now.

Good riddance. Never liked him. Very arrogant. Him and Jurko were like the bullies always picking on Harry. Like Carmen and think he will do fine.

I lost respect for Mac when he was teamed with Jiggets on the Score. The conversation was about hosting talk radio and Jigs was saying "this ain't working" implying sports talk host have a good job and it's not really hard work. Mac strongly fought him on this point.

I would think talking sports for four hours and getting paid for it would be considered "not working". Anyone of us would love that job.

As Charles Barkley would say.....this is terrible!!!!!

Reinsdorf's lacky Harry is the reasons the ratings are down! Why get rid of Mac when the anchor of that team, Harry, is a talentless know it all that has no clue about sports, was never an athlete and got his job because he is a sperm lucky olympian a PHD as they say, poppa has dough, and when his lips move it is what reinsdorf tells him to say! Good bye espn hello SCORE!

He might be a good sports talk show host, but I just could not take him anymore. He had became so full of himself and a A**hole on the show.

After a month's judgment listening to the show, and reading the past month's fan comments, I can safely say that my first gut instinct was right. Danny Mac's personality (although certainly abrasive and arrogant at times) and his experience in the local Chi-town radio scene was the reason for the show's success. He has so many more interesting stories than Carmen, and wasn't afraid to take chances - including challening his own management on the air.
(See Entourage for what a "suit" means - or check our Capitol Bldg).
Since when is questioning authority a no-no?

He didn't talk Bulls much cause they've done the same crap for the last 2 years, so don't blame him. He was old school White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks. The Tiny One (yes, he has a whiny voice) was still a good partner for him and I think is getting too much crap. I'm going to miss Mac laughing his butt off when Tiny or Jurko got in a good one. This show is already getting stale and I can't wait to hear Mac on the radio somewhere again.

I was sick of Mac and am glad he is gone. I wasn't even aware until today that he had been fired, and figured he may have resigned to pursue other interests (print of online journalism perhaps). I was just glad he was gone and that I could begin enjoying the show again. He did seem to me to become increasingly arrogant and confrontational in recent years and it became too much to take at times. To berate his listeners the way he often did was shocking. Who did he think he was? Howard Stern? Because only he could get away with that sort of thing. Anyway, Carm certainly doesn't have an over-abundance of personality, but I think Jurko and even Harry have enough to keep things interesting. And Carm is young and will certainly get better as time passes. Plus, he doesn't completely disregard the existence of the Bulls. Kudos to WMVP for ridding themselves of McPrick.

He was a conceited jerk! He Gone! Now I can go back to listening the show.

What's the point in listening now? I didn't really like listening when any one of Mac, Jurko, or Harry was off. It only worked when all three were working together. Carmen is a joke. I tried listening and was fed a barrage of basketball talk (not even the Bulls) and a bunch of hockey crap. At least Mac knew where the audience's interests lie.

Call him conceited if you want, but he was the engine of the show. It's pointless without him, which is why I don't listen anymore. I wonder if ratings are down.

Dan McNeil was AM 1000. I thought he was on vacation or suspended again. Today I am listening to some tool challenge Yurko to a weight loss challenge in September. That is when I figured Mac was gone. I will now turn to WSCR in the afternoons. Mac was 100% of the afternoon saloon. They will be sorry that they made the switch. I hope Danny gets a new gig, I and many others will follow.

If I wanted to hear Nouveau riche blatherings from transplanted Chicago-area personalities like McNeil, Jiggetts (a Big Apple product whose claim to fame was playing on the same offensive line with Sweetness), et cetera, I'd read Chi-Town's finest entertainment medium, the Chicago Sun-Times, or listen to similiar idiocy on ESPN 1000.

Roman responds: Love the S-T love! But Mac isn't a transplant. Northwest Indiana basically is a suburb of Chicago.

I can't believe I miss McNeil -- like many above, I thought he was arrogant, condescending and abusive (and slightly anti-semitic) to Harry, but this Carmen is a know-nothing lightweight and Jurko has become such a crusty, disaffected curmudgeon, that the show is basically unlistenable. I use to listen every afternoon; now I try to tune in about once a week, and when Carmen and Jurko start arguing (give it 15 minutes or so), I have to turn it off.

I was out of the country for a big chunk of January and February and I didn't know what happened to Mac on the MJ&H show. I thought Mac was on a long vacation or out again on medical leave. I finally did a web search to see if I could get some news as to what happened to him. Wow! Here today, gone tomorrow. Just the simple fact that I went online to find out what happened to Danny Mac is proof to me that I miss his one-of-a-kind style. The show will never be the same without him.

I too found out today on the internet. I can't listen much b/c of my job...but I assumed Mac was on ANOTHER vacation. But I noticed they weren't mentioning a word about Mac...so now I found out. Yes, he became more arrogant over time, but he usually had the blue-collar demeanor. This show is already a shell of itself. I like Carm...but he doesn't fit MJH's style. Chicago sports radio continues to decline.

Won't miss him a bit.
Jurko is really the only listenable one on the show.
Now, if The Score would just dump Boers & Bernstein (their show is the very DEFINITION of brutal), Chicago sports talk radio would take a giant leap forward.

I long ago stopped listening to sportradio, filling the air with waste, cheap jokes (Tiny) and Dan McNeil. McNeil was sooooooo full of himself. Only rubes would be entertained by this crap.

Dan Mac is a total ass. He knows sports, but his ego is simply "unlistenable" anymore. I returned to Chi after a 2 year absence last week for a brief visit and noted the absence with pleasure. I think the three will survive quite nicely without this egocentric jerk, who I best remember for his ridicule of Jack Buck's voice...without checking the facts that he was dying...and then later never apologizing

I just came back from a 4 week vacation to learn that the Mac had been fired ....big mistake for AM 1000, Jurko is o.k. I guess, Tiny is a joke, and Defalco should be still interning making Chet Coppicks coffee! I assure you when the ratings come out AM 1000 will regret the day they let NWIs favorite son ...Mcneil go. I am hoping he teams up with Boers on the Score, as when they were together it was the best sports talk radio in the nation! Oh yeah maybe Bernstein can join Tiny and we can all hear about their Bar Mitvahs for the MILLIONTH time!!!

Who cares. I couldn't stand the three of them. Carms horrible. He's as controversal as a parakeet. There is not a good show in that time slot. Boers and Berstein are jerkoffs. I wonder what goes on between those jags during commercials.

Bad move by am 1000, Dan good luck you wil land on your feet for sure, as for arrogant i'd say opinionated and confident [justly] most knowledgeable of anybody here in Chicago , yurko and harry also witty and solid, but [imho] Dan was the glue to the show....Boers was good b4 being paired up with bernstien [the epitomy of arrogance; "Mr negativity" and not as bright as he thinks he is THE WORST!].....Good luck Dan and tough economy so dont be afraid to take a cut to get back...Just Do It!

I tuned in to The Score at 3:30 today to get my daily dose of Boers and Bernstein. Needless to say Boers is out sick and I heard the fill in voice, thinking to myself: this guy sounds really familiar and from a different station. Needles to say it's Mac. Any other info on this? I had no idea he was gone from 1000 since I rarely listen to them.

BOERS AND BERNSTEIN, JERKS AND MUCH. TOTALLY IRRESPOSIBLE, PEOPLE WITH A LACK OF RESPECT FOE MOST PEOPLE BUT THEMSELVES.. I TURN OFF THE SHOW NOW AND ALWAYS WILL. JOIN IN FRIENDS

I listened to Chet Coppock on sports after listening to Harry Carry broadcasting the White Sox game, which to me became perfect when Jimmy Piersall was added. All of them were knowledgeable and had an arrogance that came with being the best. They also did not suffer any fools, either with the team or with the fans. I also listened to Extension 720 with Milt Rosenberg, who had the same traits, but who did this with the arts and sciences. I enjoyed Dan McNeil in much the same way. Yes he sometimes went too far, but overall he is very good. I daresay the best Sports personality from the first days of the Score. I became a scorehead listening to the Heavy Fuel Crew. I listened to him on the Loop when he was giving updates. I also started to listen to ESPN, once he joined. Nothing against everyone, who is broadcasting right at any of the stations, but it just is not the same and no I do not like listening to Mike North, because he says contraversional things, just to get conversation going. I am awaiting Macs return and find myself spinning the dial up and down to get my sports information.

I understand the points that all of you have made about Mac and B + B...(arrogant, condescending, etc.). With all that being said, that's part of what makes them great! The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of ignorant Chicago sports fans who call in and waste everyone's time. Mac, Boers, and Bernstein all call them on it and what's wrong with that? If you're gonna get on to a show that's driven by argument, then you damn well better be sure you're making a good argument yourself, otherwise you're gonna get called on it by your hosts (or at least you should). That's why Murph (thank God he's off the air) was so boring - he would just suck up to anyone who came on the air. That's not entertainment, that's pedestrian sports radio at best. 670, thank you for putting on a great lineup from 9-5 everyday...Now if only you would bring North and Jigs back and put them on from 5-9...it would be the best lineup EVER.