Jody McDonald leaves 950 ESPN, today was last broadcast
Today was Jody McDonald's last day at 950 ESPN, as the sports-talk veteran announced just moments ago. "This is the last show I will be doing for this radio station. The radio station has decided to go in another direction and I am perfectly fine with that. They informed me this week that my services are no longer needed," said Jody Mac, who went on to thank a number of people who were instrumental in bringing him back such as Bob DeBlois and John Fullam. "I saw it coming...I knew this job was going to end at some time, and it officially ends today. I will miss talking to Philadelphia sports fans, they're the best on the planet," McDonald says. "I'm not retired, I'm not going anywhere, I've got other gigs right now...This has been my home for 19 years...I truly hope I get to talk Philadelphia sports with you again down the road at another radio station," said McDonald, taking advantage of an opportunity rarely offered in radio for a host to say goodbye to listeners. Typically they're just heard one day, then gone the next. McDonald, a former 610 WIP, had been at 950 for four years since the station started as Sports Talk 950 AM. "Jody has been one of the keys to the station's success and we thank him for his many contributions," Program Director Matt Nahigian said in a statement. Jody Mac's co-host Harry Mayes will remain on the 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot, now paired with Dan Schwartzman. As Schwartzman had previously hosted nights, there's now a vacancy. Nahigian says the station is "developing outstanding football-related shows and will annouce details very soon."
Jody McDonald leaves 950 ESPN, today was last broadcast
Dan Gross
Today was Jody McDonald's last day at 950 ESPN, as the sports-talk veteran announced just moments ago.
"This is the last show I will be doing for this radio station. The radio station has decided to go in another direction and I am perfectly fine with that. They informed me this week that my services are no longer needed," said Jody Mac, who went on to thank a number of people who were instrumental in bringing him back such as Bob DeBlois and John Fullam.
"I saw it coming...I knew this job was going to end at some time, and it officially ends today. I will miss talking to Philadelphia sports fans, they're the best on the planet," McDonald says. "I'm not retired, I'm not going anywhere, I've got other gigs right now...This has been my home for 19 years...I truly hope I get to talk Philadelphia sports with you again down the road at another radio station," said McDonald, taking advantage of an opportunity rarely offered in radio for a host to say goodbye to listeners. Typically they're just heard one day, then gone the next.
McDonald, a former 610 WIP, had been at 950 for four years since the station started as Sports Talk 950 AM.
"Jody has been one of the keys to the station's success and we thank him for his many contributions," Program Director Matt Nahigian said in a statement. Jody Mac's co-host Harry Mayes will remain on the 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot, now paired with Dan Schwartzman. As Schwartzman had previously hosted nights, there's now a vacancy. Nahigian says the station is "developing outstanding football-related shows and will annouce details very soon."
UPDATE: Jody Mac just posted a message to fans on his Facebook page. "Thanks for all the kind words here on my page. Don't sweat it much, I'm not. Knew it was coming and wasn't all that moved to stick around anymore anyway. Other than talking to the great fans of Philly and an occassional yuk with Harry, nothing I'm going to miss working there. I'll keep you updated here on if I add another gig in the future to the 2 I alredy have ("The Show" Sirius 210 XM 175 M-F 4p-6p) and 1050 or 1040 ESPn Sat & sun 10a-1p. Stay in touch here !! 'Preeeeeeciate it !!!!"
Comments (46)
frankly, he's a bore. I am surprised he lasted this long. go back to NY, Jody.— thingfish- Jody Mac was the only reason to listen to that 3rd-rate station with their poor signal.— jman
- What was ESPN thinking? Jody Mac is the best. Now, only Mikey Miss is worth listening to on ESPN radio. Harry Mayes? No thanks. As a sidekick he was OK. But not without Jody Mac.— Neal Obstat
- You will be missed, Jody. It's pretty sad when you hear the morons on air these days, and they are letting someone like you slip away. You'll be back, probably sooner than you want, somewhere.— littlericky
- Not one negative comment says it all about how much he was liked and 'preeeeeeeeeeeciated'. Teaming Jody with Mayes was stupid. And they think Mayes and Swartzman are better sports talk hosts than Jody? That's ridiculous. I won't be listening. I always listened for Jody's objecitve and reasoned opinions. He'll be missed.— greenflyer
- You can try to listen to Jody on Saturdays starting at 10:00am on 1040AM. However, that market is NY & it can get a little boring.— CSFurious
- Jody was very objective. Why do people have to be so provincial in this area?? Who cares where you are from originally?? He's not a Philly guy. Who cares he was rational and told it like he thought. Just bacause he didn't call you a dope or a moron like Mr. Personality on the other station. And Angleo Cataldi is originally from Rhode Island but I don't hear anybody complaining about him. I guess he puts on an act like he's a Philly guy. He is a mEts fan becaus he was from Yonkers N.Y. and hes dada was GM for a while. Good luck Jody. You were one of the best. "Apperciated Ya"— jtf123
- Thr two guys at midday of 950 nare a total snooze. how can they can Jody for such sub par talent? These guys can barely read the news, Jody was the real deal. Hell, I'd much rather listen to him than Miz, who is totally overrated, but still better than most. Ray Diddy and Jody are the best.— kjsherman
- Good move, 950. I can totally see why you think we all want to listen to Schwartzman instead of Jody Mac. Now I'll be switching over to The Fan during my drive to and from lunch everyday. That, or enjoying peace and quiet.— jayrw
- laxtil wrote ... Bring back Mac&Mac; dump the werewolf; the cuz goes head-to-head against Mikey Miss I couldn't agree more! Glen and Jody had a good chemistry, much like Mikey Miss and Steve Fredericks. And yeah, the "genius-moron-dope" has GOT to go! BAM!!!— 4DaBirds
- Mayes and Schwartzman?? ...seriously?? Those two guys harp on the same things day in and day out. God forbid you have a guy like Jody Mac on the airwaves with intelligence and a open mind. He lets callers give their opinion, and either agrees or respectfully disagrees. I'll listen to music in the afternoons from now on! Good luck Jody Mac! We'll miss you!— the anti t.o.
I was a strong supporter of 950 ever since they went on the air with Jody Mac 4 years ago. I left WIP and never looked back. I may have to rethink that. Shwartz is ok but not worth firing Jody over. I guess they are trying to be a more confrantational with there hosts. That doesn't work for me. Good quality sports talk does. I will tune in to any station that Jody signs with.— rjw817- Jody Mac is one of the BEST sports-talk people on the radio. Not only is he knowledgeable about Philly sports, but the guy would let you talk about golf, horse racing, pretty much anything and everything going on in sports. I've listened to him on WIP, WFAN and ESPN, now I will have to delete 950 on the dial just like the last 2 stations.— corbinator
- I stopped listening to 950 this week when I found out. Anthony Gargano and Macnow are about 1000% better than Mays & Schwartzman. Jody Mac is the best radio broadcaster in this town. He will be back because he is not moving from South Jersey as he has kid/s in school. Irrespective of his New York roots, he is a part of Philly now.— CSFurious
- This is horrible news. Jody had a presentation that was different than anyone else in the city. It was certainly a welcome departure from d-bags like "The Cous" who thinks all of his listeners are enamored with South Philly culture and "The Prof" whose arrogant take on sports and pretty much everything else is difficult to stomach. Harry Mayes is amateurish at best and boorish at worst. I don't even know who "The Schwartz" is and I'd like to keep it that way. What a bummer.— guyguy4
Comment removed.- No one will listen to Harry and Dan in the Mid day now. Bad move by 950. Mikey Mis is great and Mike and Mike are awsome too but Jody was my man. 610 would be smart to scoop him.— stiltzer2001
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- Jody Mac is the best. Insightful, informative and entertaining. I do not understand the logic behind the decision to let him go.— PowderFinger
- There's gottta be more to this story. The only time I listen to sports radio in this town is when Jody was on. Why would they get rid of him? And he sounds bitter.— scars73
can WIP dump that worthlerss Glen Macnow for Jody Mac?— dpcoz- First heard Jody Mac umpteen years ago driving back from A.C. in the wee hours of the morning on FAN. Been a fan ever since. Jody Mac, do me a favor. Get back on the radio in Philly, fast!!!— VegasEddie
- How they can have that moron Cowherd on and get rid of a knowledgeable guy like Jody is beyond me. I sent an e-mail to 950's program director and I got a message that it was "deleted without being read". That makes my decision to newver to listen to 950 again very easy - if they don't care about my opinion then I don't care about their station. Fire Eskin and hire Jody.— mk1956
- sad. the one genuinely intelligent voice in philly sports talk gone...— TheLon
- Jody lasted because he is knowledgable, impartial and fun to listen to. I will continue to listen to him and Dibbs on the XM show and hopefully he'll get back on the local airwaves. WIP could use him since they have very little there, especially eves, but I'd hate to have to go back to listening to that station.— scootch
- What a shame. Jody has always been so enjoyable and such a classy, friendly, entertaining radio host. He is better and easier to listen to than all the guys on ESPN AND WIP. Always honest, never politically correct or incorrect. I am disappointed. These program directors are out of control.— Yankel
- Oh no, this is awful for their station. Schwartzman is just another blowhard, at least Jody would give fans their say. Oh man I'm gonna miss him.— PhilliesWFC
- ozey, it doesn't matter who his favorite teams are. he has loyal listeners because he's always been objective, knowledgeable, and entertaining to listen to. how many other hosts can you say that about? very few.— teddy_lowe
- Regardless of his loyalty to teams outside this market, Jody Mac always did his job with class and a certain respect for his callers. He, like many others, just do not fit into the current dynamic of ESPN generated story telling. He doesn't make it about himself and allows the callers to actually voice their opinions without being called a "nitwit". A true professional who I grew up listening to his mid-day show on WIP. Best of luck Jody Mac, you are and continue to be, one of the greats.— phillyjeffsr
- Short-sighted by 950. He was the only reason to turn the dial to the right.— ArtMooney
- Let's face it, that business is more fickle than most; if you have a bad rating period, or the program director isn't a fan , you're done. It doesn't matter if you're a hard worker or always professional; in fact, in that biz those traits can actually work against you. He'll find another radio job in Philly as soon as some program director gets bored with the guys he has now. Jody's a smart guy, he knows that's the way it works, that's why he didn't get all worked up about it.— drbob1
- WIP is not hiring him. If you remember after he was let go in New York. He was at WIP again on a trial basis. They elected not to hire him back.— Drew777
- Jody Mac is a season ticket holder of the Jets and the Cowboys are his favorite team. His favorite baseball team is the Mets and he loves the Knicks. How he worked so long in the Philly market astounds me. I am sure there are plenty of talented people who live and love the local teams. Starting with me.— ozey
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- I'll miss Jody's insights. He started the exodus from the noise down the dial. I think 950 is trying to 'go young'. I sort of saw this was coming. Jody doesn't holler enough or engage in dopey junior-high sexual inuendo. Good luck Jody my friend.— jhelm_waterw
- ummm Jody is a Jets fan. He's a Jets season ticket holder.— jbruder02
- Any Cowboys fan who can be beloved by so many Philly listeners has something on the ball. Good luck Jody, sure hope we are hearing from you soon.— citizenkane
- Jody will be missed. He lets his comments speak for themselves, he's level headed and doesn't feel the need to get aggrivated at bad callers. Good luck in the future Jody Mac. They should have at least moved him to that night show, no one will listen to that football program filling the time slot— Dozer
- WIP should pick him up for sure.— ktdb05
- WIP should pick him up for sure.— ktdb05
I hope WIP picks up Jody. He would be a HUGE upgrade over many of their guys now especially Ike Reese. I love Ike, just not as the primary host of a 3-4 hour sports talk show. Ditto Gary Cobb & Paul Jolovitz. No reason for me to tune to 950 middays now...
Jody Mac is just a straight talker who has definite views and will let you vent your spleen. He has knowledge and patience and that's why folks are drawn to him. I used to tune into 660 when he was up in NY because he is so much better than anybody else in sports talk. Best of luck, Jody.- Jody is the best.— TomH1
- Interesting in same week station is letting Jody McDonald and Jay Lamont go.— phillyccgwm
- ho ho ho— dpcoz
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