Missanelli returns, feud with Eskin begins

Mike Missanelli is coming back to Philadelphia radio as afternoon host on sports-talk station WPEN (950).

"I feel good, excited, I'm pumped," Missanelli said. "I think we're poised to make a good run."

He will start April 1 with the rest of the lineup on "ESPN 950," but a war of words has begun.

Missanelli - taking aim at talk king Howard Eskin, who hosts the 3-to-7 p.m. shift on rival WIP (610) - today said: "His worst nightmare just came true."

Missanelli and Eskin were colleagues but not buddies at WIP until Missanelli was fired two years ago after an altercation with a producer.

Told of Missanelli's wisecrack, Eskin said: "I'm just happy that Mike finally has a job. I just hope he doesn't hit anybody at this place."

Missanelli said his own show "will be a lot more fun to listen to. His show is tired and everyone knows it."

Missanelli, who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs, said he would give up his New York-based, national ESPN show with former Inquirer columnist Stephen A. Smith, who is in contract negotiations with ESPN Radio. A spokesman for ESPN said that regardless of Smith's radio contract, he would continue on its TV and Web platforms.

ESPN 950 yesterday announced its morning show, ESPN's Mike and Mike (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.).

Today it announced that Jody McDonald, now afternoon host, would move to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

ESPN's Mike Tirico will take the 1-to-3 p.m. block, followed by Missanelli from 3 to 7 p.m.

The Locker Room, with current midday cohost Harry Mayes and Dan Schwartzman, previously at ESPN 920, will be on from 7 to 11 p.m.