Mark Madden

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Mark Madden
Statistics
Ring name(s)
Billed height	5 ft 10 in
Billed weight	465 lbs
Born	December 29, 1960 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Resides	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Debut	1990

Mark Madden is a radio sports talk-show host in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and also a former-World Championship Wrestling television commentator.

1 Professional biography
2 Personal life
3 Notable opinions
4 Steelers/Hines Ward Controversy
5 Trivia
6 External links

[edit] Professional biography

Madden was born in Pittsburgh in 1960. A graduate of Duquesne University in 1982, Madden worked in professional wrestling as a TV color commentator and magazine writer for World Championship Wrestling, being fired shortly before the organization dissolved in 2001 due to disparaging remarks he made about the company, lobbying for the return of the fired Scott Hall, and disclosing information of the sale of WCW against the company's wishes[1]. He worked his way up in WCW from a column writer in 1994 to their Internet Radio personality on WCW Live!, TV personality on WCW Thunder. He was listed as the editor for (Ric Flair and Keith Greenberg) on the book To Be the Man (ISBN 0-7434-5691-2/ISBN 0-7434-9181-5). He also spent several years as a regular columnist for Wade Keller's Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter.

Madden has also worked within mainstream sports journalism. He has written for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, now-defunct Penguins Report, and the weekly Pittsburgh City Paper. Most of his 15-year career at the Post-Gazette was spent writing about high school sports for the suburban sections. The Post-Gazette forced his resignation because of questionable taste, the same reason his column was abruptly dropped by City Paper. He is the host of an afternoon talk radio show on WEAE, Pittsburgh's ESPN Radio affiliate, which airs from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. His radio persona is known for the blunt and often condescending treatment of his callers and borrows heavily from his previous wrestling performance experience. Madden was dropped from commentaries on WTAE-TV news after highly negative viewer reaction, but subsequently appeared as a featured guest on "Action Sports Sunday" on WTAE-TV, a half-hour sports discussion show. The Post-Gazette reported on November 17, 2006 that WTAE-TV dropped Mark Madden as a freelance sports commentator on its Sunday night sports show.[2]

[edit] Personal life

Madden was hospitalized on January 29, 2006 after suffering what he believed to be a heart attack while coaching in a dek hockey tournament. He underwent surgery to have an artery unblocked. Despite doctors' warnings to radically change his lifestyle, Madden's weight remains in excess of 400 pounds.

His mother Peggy Ann died on Thursday, May 18, 2006 in Pittsburgh following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Madden was a renowned high school speech forensics coach and teacher.

[edit] Notable opinions

Madden is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan, and is especially fond of Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. He is an outspoken advocate of the Isle of Capri gaming company's plan for a new arena in Pittsburgh. Madden is also a longtime supporter of former Pittsburgh Pirate Barry Bonds.

He is known to be a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C.

[edit] Steelers/Hines Ward Controversy

On November 14, 2006, Madden reported that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was appearing at a Pittsbugh mall to sign autographs, and that tickets for one signature cost $175. [3]. Madden claims that the following day, Ward was extremely upset at the Steelers' media department because the segment portrayed Ward in a negative light. Madden claims that the Steelers called ESPN Radio 1250 to complain about the incident. [4]. Just a day after that, Madden was fired from the WTAE-TV Sunday evening sports program, "Action Sports Sunday", as a result of a Steelers complaint. The team made the argument that they did not care for Madden's on-air language, yet he contests that he has used similar language for years. The team allegedly threatened to cut off WTAE from access to Steelers for interviews if Madden was not removed. There has been some speculation about the incidents being connected, as the Steelers are documented to have unfavorable stories buried in the past. [5]

[edit] Trivia

Known during his stint as a high school sports writer for never changing his shirt when he covered sporting events, even a shirt with mustard stains.

Won a world championship as coach of a youth amateur dek hockey club.

His favorite band is UFO.

He alleges he once had a hockey stick swung at him by former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tom Barrasso. There are no corroborating witnesses, even though the alleged incident took place at a full team practice.

Refers to his legion of devoted fans as "MF'ers" , short for "Madden Followers"

Is a longtime fan of radio personality Howard Stern

Watches That 70s Show in syndication during his radio broadcast. The show's Danny Masterson appeared on his show following his appearance in the 2006 All Star Celebrity Softball Game.

Former neighbor of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and former neighbor of New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress in the Washington's Landing section of Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger moved in the summer of 2006.

His frequent targets of ire include:

A longstanding dislike of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis due to a last minute cancellation of an appearance on The Mark Madden Show.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato due to their stance on the Mellon Arena/Gaming License debate surrounding the city of Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette and columnist Bob Smizik, who Madden refers to as "Bozo the Columnist". Smizik used to be a frequent guest in the past.

ESPN Radio 1250 newsman Jim Colony, who Madden frequently interrupts during newscasts.

ESPN Radio and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, who Madden criticized in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in 2004. [6]

Pittsburgh Pirates, and former Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris (who he refers to as "Franco Harrah's", a result of Harris' support of the Harrah's casino plan in Pittsburgh).

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who is constantly brought up by callers as a potential buyer for the Pittsburgh Pirates or Pittsburgh Penguins.

Friends and frequent guests of the show include:

Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby

KDKA TV-2's John Steigerwald

Pittsburgh Post Gazette football write Ed Bouchette

Sports Illustrated Columnist Rick Reilly

ESPN personalities Beano Cook, Mike Greenberg, Mark Schlereth, John Clayton (sportscaster), and E.J. Hradek.

Launched a new segment called "Mr. Madden, Super Genius" in May, 2006 with a theme song created by Liam of Mike and Mike in the Morning.

Frequently quotes his favorite websites, A Socialite's Life (celebrity gossip) and the Pittsburgh sports blog Mondesi's House

His nicknames include "Double M", "Big Sexxy", "Super Genius" and "Flounder."

Gained the ire of professional wrestler Lex Luger while doing commentary for WCW Thunder. Madden jokingly said that Luger had let himself go and instead of being at the 5% body fat level Luger had boasted about being at throughout his career that he was up to 7%. This angered Luger, leading to him making shoot comments about Madden's physique on the subsequent week's show.

Was suspended one week from his duties in WCW for calling Diamond Dallas Page the unflattering name of Leatherface.[7]

Mark Madden can also be credited for creating the more common name of Booker T's breakdance move, which basically had no official name until Mark Madden coined the phrase "spin-a-roonie" (on the Live Audio Wrestling Radio show on October 1st 2006, he claims he stole the name from Chris Jericho).