On the topic of Craig Carton, it appears Mike’s off.
On the topic of Craig Carton, it appears Mike’s off.
Mike Francesa fans tuning in Wednesday in the hopes of the Sports Pope weighing in on the arrest of morning co-host and bitter rival Craig Carton had to be disappointed.
Francesa, who has publicly clashed with Carton for years, seemed to be muzzled by WFAN suits. He opened his show with the following statement:
“On this show, we don’ t dodge things. We never have. So, we know what the news of the day is. Let me just say this for all of you: the company has put out a statement. For the present, that statement has to suffice as the only statement that will be made. That is what the company wants until further notice. That’s what they have informed me, so don’ t call up asking me any questions about anything that’s going on pertaining to that because I cannot answer it right now. Because the statement, which I’ m sure you’ ve seen, if you’ re interested, that is right now the statement that stands for the company and is the only statement they want made right now.
“So, that’s the bottom line. Anything else will not be discussed at the present time.”
CBS Radio, which owns WFAN, issued a statement earlier in the day that said, “We are aware of the situation and are cooperating with authorities.”
Carton was arrested early Wednesday morning for his alleged role in running a concert ticket ponzi-like scheme. Carton’s $5.6 million scam was used to help him pay off staggering gambling debts to casinos and at least one individual, authorities said.
Carton’s co-host Boomer Esiason opened their show saying Carton was out sick but came clean after 9 a.m. with the real reason he was absent.
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“I am aware now why Craig is not here this morning. Unfortunately, he was arrested this morning, ” Esiason said on the air. “Over here at the station they’ re aware of it as well. They’ re cooperating with authorities. I’ m taken aback by it and surprised, just like I’ m sure everybody else is. I have no other information. There’s nothing else I can say.”
“So I guess there will be more news to come, I’ m sure, from somewhere, but it’s not going to come from me, because I don’ t have any, ” he said. “That’s all there is about that. Not easy.”
On rival station WABC 770, Bernard McGuirk and former WFAN host Sid Rosenberg spoke at length about their competitor’s plight.
“He fleeced people for millions of dollars, ” McGuirk said. “I would be looking to whack the guy.”
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“You’ re watching too many ‘Goodfellas’ movies, ” said Rosenberg, who was often a target of Carton’s as he struggled with his own addictions.
On the air, Carton made no secret of his affinity for gambling. He also made no secret of his hatred of Francesa, whom he often mocked for falling asleep on the air, mistaking an old report of Zack Wheeler injury for a new one, and not helping to promote the morning show.
Francesa fans on social media were having a field day producing memes making fun of Carton’s situation. Here’s some of their work:
Carton recently told Newsday that Francesa, who’s set to retire at the end of the year, has soiled his own reputation. Francesa has suffered a series of gaffes over the years, which Carton was always quick to jump on.
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“I think whatever legacy fans of Mike think he has… I think he’s done great damage to the legacy, ” Carton said.
The two have gone back and forth on the air over the years, so Francesa had to be biting his tongue Wednesday.
“My legacy is great, and that’s why they’ ve always been behind me in every possible part of this business, whether it’s awards, polls, people’s perceptions, they’ ve always been behind me and they’ ll always be behind me, and that’s their problem, not mine, ” Francesa told Newsday after Carton’s latest comments. “My show is every bit as good as it’s ever been.”
