Let’s get to ready to rumble!
Fighting out of the blue corner, a mixed martial artist, hailing from Rhode Island but claiming to be a Phillies fan, it’s Angelo Cataldi!
And fighting out of the red corner, a freestyle brawler, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it’s the King! Howard Eskin!
I’m here for this.
It may be contrived bullshit, just like many things Angelo Cataldi says or writes, but this certainly caught my eye on Wednesday morning:
In response to his insulting tweet yesterday after my entirely true story about the Bryce Harper negotiations, I must tell the truth about Howard Eskin. He is a hopeless lapdog for any local sports organization that will pay him any attention. It’s war, Howard. Screw you.
— Angelo Cataldi (@AngeloCataldi) February 27, 2019
Damn! Round one goes to Angelo, 10-8.
But we require context before continuing, so here’s what Cataldi reported on Tuesday afternoon regarding Bryce Harper Watch 2019, after the jump:
Phillies are in a staredown with agent Scott Boras over Bryce Harper’s demand for a three-year opt-out in the 10-year, $330-million deal. What do you say, Philadelphia? Should the Phillies say yes?
— Angelo Cataldi (@AngeloCataldi) February 26, 2019
Angelo believes that’s the deal on the table: 10 years, $33 million per, with an opt-out to coincide with the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
I’m looking for the “insulting tweet” that Angelo is talking about, and this is the only thing I see that would be remotely close to “insulting”:
What is the hang up with Bryce Harper and the #Phillies. Now that everybody in Philadelphia has whined all day about what was reported as the holdup with a deal, I can tell you for a fact, and by a rock solid source, it has nothing to do with a 3 year opt out or any opt out.
— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) February 26, 2019
In typical Howard fashion, the tweet uses incorrect punctuation and grammar, and while it’s not aimed at Angelo specifically, he is disputing the idea that both sides are held up on the three-year opt-out, which is what Cataldi reported in the morning.
At surface level, this is just a “your source is wrong and my source is right” kind of situation, but as we dissect this further, let’s analyze the following Eskin claim made by Cataldi:
“He is a hopeless lapdog for any local sports organization that will pay him any attention”
Angelo is not wrong here.
Howard does one radio show per week, on Saturday mornings, while also appearing every so often during Joe Giglio’s 6 p.m. hour. He no longer anchors at FOX 29, and his main gig is being the sideline reporter during Eagles radio broadcasts. Despite working what amounts to part-time media hours, he still shows up at any press conference he can make, cuts off other reporters to ask his questions first, and doesn’t really know what he’s talking about. Then, after he asks those questions, he doesn’t use the quotes for anything. He doesn’t cut the audio for broadcast. He doesn’t write for 94WIP.com. He shows up, puts himself in the front row, asks his questions, and then leaves to go do whatever he does.
It is about seeking attention, as Angelo says. You may recall Howard asking Gabe Kapler about coconut oil masturbation at his introductory press conference last year, which had to be one of the dumbest and most ridiculous things I’ve ever witnessed, however delightful. Howard wants to be in the front row, he wants to go first, and he’s playing by his own rules while everybody else just deals with it.
But let’s not pretend like it’s anything different for Cataldi, who just says shit that I suspect he doesn’t even believe. He’s been acting and performing and entertaining for years now, and while he’s certainly great at it and brings in a ton of money for 94 WIP, I get the sense that he’s just cruising through his final contract.
Both guys are closer to retirement than relevance, which makes me think that this was just some ploy to remain above water:
I'm sure you'll report on it @CrossingBroad, but the "feud" between @AngeloCataldi and @howardeskin is manufactured, right? Two old blowhards doing everything they can in an attempt to remain relevant.
— Dan Hilferty (@DanHilferty) February 27, 2019
But whether or not we write about it, Angelo will still be winning in the mornings and Howard will still be in the front row, speaking over other reporters who actually have the microphone and are trying to be respectful of the people around them.
It is what it is.
32 Responses
Only 90’s kids will remember the Blood Code for the Sega Genesis.
ABACABB
Also remember the finishing moves, the fire guy’s move was start up up, and the ice guy who took your head off was toward down toward A.
Scorpion and Sub-Zero.. show some respect.
Other than that you were spot on! Good memory bruh.
Howard Eskin, the self-designated king of in-your-face sports talk radio, acknowledged Wednesday that he had sent a dozen roses to a Pottstown, Pa., woman, prompting her jealous husband, authorities said, to kill her with a kitchen knife.
Old news, bro.
How can you be talking about this when the biggest addition to the Philadelphia sports scene landed with impact last night!
Of course I mean Ryan Hartman! He had a hit. He drew a penalty. He took a penalty for diving! He does it all. He had 4 penalty minutes. Obviously the greatest debut of a player in the history of hockey. What more could he do! He totally earned that 3rd star of the game! He was mucking and grinding all over the place!
Heck. I bet Bryce Harper doesn’t want to sign with the Phillies because he know he will forever be in the shadow of Ryan Hartman! Tell Kyle to fire up the t-shirt machine for some “It Takes Hart, Man!” Shirts.
Shooting percentage – Zero for Hartman. A third liner with no scoring touch. This guy will be a legend in Philly.
I might have to replace my Steve Downie jersey with a Ryan Hartman jersey!
The truth about Eskin is he’s actually an extremely nice and personable guy who treats people kindly. He cultivated relationships within sports teams in Philly and has a lot of trusted sources. He also is a radio guy and a broadcaster from way back. A lot of the WIP staff resented him because while they were hanging around the studios Eskin was out at press conferences, talking to front office people, getting stories.
The truth about Cataldi is his on air “blue collar, man of the people” schtick is 100% an act. He wouldn’t be caught dead with the likes of his Dirty 30 rabble and the guy around the office and in his real life believes he is a star and so far above his colleagues and listeners he shouldn’t be bothered with them. He also is a Rhode Island New Englander at heart and a Yankee and Patriot fan.
Side note: Missanelli is the most entitled pr ick you’ll ever want to meet.
Time’s yours.
Seems about right
I agree. great guy
absolutely spot on to the feeling I get …Eskin likes to have fun and people get all worked up …cataldi is a fake, joke and I haven’t listened to more than two mins of the morning show in one sitting since the 09 WS when it was clear he was rooting for the Yankees.
People in Connecticut and RI support NY teams. They were raised on New York TV. Angelo is a major Giants fan.
How irrelevant is The Cuz that he can’t even get a mention or a shoutout? We’re still talking about two old, washed up losers and The Cuz, in the prime of his life and career, is nowhere to be found. Makes you think.
You said it yourself–he’s irrelevant. How can a “professional” incapable of nuance be considered in his prime? Everything is either “awesome” or “blows.” He geeks out like fanboy with guests, sucks up to callers and cackles obnoxiously into the mic. There isn’t much to think about: he is a cancer to the airwaves, plain and simple.
This is what has become of radio wars. Cb stinks anymore. Sorry
Howard is a smug know-it-all who looks down at everyone. He has thrived for years in the area despite a vast majority of the fans hating him. He is my hero and everything I aspire to be…if I ever meet him in public and he does anything other than tell me to “beat it” while wearing a fur jacket I would be profoundly disappointed.
Jealous azz-whole
This ‘fued’ has been going on for like 25 years now. It probably reached it’s peak at the height of the Great Sports Debate, but I never considered it anything above the level of a pro wrestling angle.
The truth is Howard’s hair makes a great handle and when you go balls deep his beard feels just like Eskimo poon. Times yours.
Now that’s funny. I need to remember that one.
Jealous Much?
Meh…. two jock sniffers trying to be the king of the mountain. Who cares. They’re both worthless.
What a hater. Eskin is Philadelphia sports media royalty – that’s why he speaks first over the other jabronis who wait in line patiently like the peasants they are. You’re damn right Howard makes up his own rules – that’s what his resume gets you.
He defends the teams when they’re winning and spending money – he criticizes them when they aren’t. Simple as that. Lapdog comment is nonsense.
Eskin for Mayor, down with the soda tax.
I really hope this was a joke. Eskin is a douche and has always been a douche……he blew Andy Reid for 14 years, who never won the big one, and couldn’t deal with Charlie, who did. Nothing to do with spending money or winning. Phillies did both and he still resented them. Still does in fact.
Eskin is, and always will be, a clown, a contrarian, and he is definitely a shill for the Eagles, the only company who still pays him There’s a reason why he can’t get a show anymore. Especially when you consider the competition…..
Eskin doesn’t want or need to commit to a full daily show anymore – he’s made more than enough money from his career. In fact, his lack of daily platform despite his continued relevance just proves how much of a big dog he is.
He supported Reid because – to that point – he was the most successful Eagles coach in history by a longshot. When you’re used to Norman Braman, Rich Kotite, etc. etc. – Reid was a blessing.
He was wrong about Charlie, but has since admitted as much. None of us are perfect, not even the King.
Who else would have the ability to scoop the Jason Peters story? The one that states he only leaves games as frequently as he does due to multiple bowel movements in-game? Stands to reason that the King, on the sidelines, would know. No one else is even close.
Thr real reason that Caltaldi was mad was when he talked to Eskin about the opt-out Eskin didn’t dismiss it. Then Howatd goes on air at 6 pm that night ripping Angelo, saying he probably got his source from a street vendor. Just bullshit like that, not having the guts to tell Angelo ahead of time, like Angelo said, even a call beforehand. Eskin is a punk and Angelo is 100 percent correct in this case.
Angelo was not upset by a tweet Eskin made but by comments Howard made while on the air. He discredited Angelo and Calle him a dope. If you listened to Angelos show instead of just looking to create click bait you would know this idiot.
F#ck me til my other eye goes crooked and titty f#ck my flapjacks, you smelly cab drivin’ sand-niger
You know that these guys are friends and all of this is just fodder for you guys.
Howard guesses and fabricates stories. To the Eagles he is a useful idiot.
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