Jump to content

Semi OT - Bernie leaves the Post for Radio Slot on 101


Recommended Posts

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/sports-columnist-bernie-miklasz-is-leaving-the-post-dispatch/article_b9671b8d-8f97-5a5a-8a0e-1734af3ab475.html

Any columnist in every market has those who like and dislike him. Bernie was a very credible writer and one of my must reads on a daily basis. Very few have the insights on Cardinals and NFL that he brought on a daily basis. On a Billikens related note while I wished we received more coverage from him (even though we didn't deserve it) over the years, his columns on Spoonball, Majerus, and those criticizing Biondi and the brass were pretty much what the SLU fanbase was asking for.

His departure from the Post signals to me that Lee is going to completely overhaul the paper for the worse but also that the Rams will soon be gone as well.

I always enjoyed his radio shows, in a weak radio market I thought he was the best or among them. Now with his focus just on radio he should be that much better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/sports-columnist-bernie-miklasz-is-leaving-the-post-dispatch/article_b9671b8d-8f97-5a5a-8a0e-1734af3ab475.html

Any columnist in every market has those who like and dislike him. Bernie was a very credible writer and one of my must reads on a daily basis. Very few have the insights on Cardinals and NFL that he brought on a daily basis. On a Billikens related note while I wished we received more coverage from him (even though we didn't deserve it) over the years, his columns on Spoonball, Majerus, and those criticizing Biondi and the brass were pretty much what the SLU fanbase was asking for.

His departure from the Post signals to me that Lee is going to completely overhaul the paper for the worse but also that the Rams will soon be gone as well.

I always enjoyed his radio shows, in a weak radio market I thought he was the best or among them. Now with his focus just on radio he should be that much better.

I don't think his leaving has anything to do with the Rams. He had tried to make his "Breakfast with Bernie" a money maker for the Post and him since he had given up doing radio on a daily basis a while back. That venture apparently did not work out for him and his salary at the Post was not enough for his lifestyle is my guess so going to 101.1 makes a lot of sense for him. Also Lee has offered a buy out for some of their more expensive writers and he took it is my guess. He will still be writing for ESPN and honestly I have missed him on the air. Anybody know what his time slot will be?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think his leaving has anything to do with the Rams. He had tried to make his "Breakfast with Bernie" a money maker for the Post and him since he had given up doing radio on a daily basis a while back. That venture apparently did not work out for him and his salary at the Post was not enough for his lifestyle is my guess so going to 101.1 makes a lot of sense for him. Also Lee has offered a buy out for some of their more expensive writers and he took it is my guess. He will still be writing for ESPN and honestly I have missed him on the air. Anybody know what his time slot will be?

His contract at the Post was up. He had enough of Lee. He turned down a deal that would have allowed him to stay at the Post and would have had him take Limbaugh's time slot at KMOX. He didn't want to work for Lee at all anymore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what his departure means for The Post or if it signals the Rams are for sure leaving, but I will say that he is fuoking insufferable on the radio. The dude is as thin-skinned as it gets and for some unknown reason considering he is the biggest voice in STL sports, he can't deal with message board guys or website commenters disagreeing with him. His last show on 101 devolved into him just whining about the knuckleheads online. I am sure we'll get that again.

Another thing about him that is tough to take on the air is that when push comes to shove he is about the biggest pu$$y you'll ever find. He'll talk all kinds of smack when it is just him and the mic. But let him get an actual interview with a person that he's criticized -- a$$ kiss city. I still remember him railing on Colby Rasmus' dad for months on end, but when he finally got him on the air, he folded like a cheap suit. He is no different than any other boorish radio jock. He's a big man when he's by himself or surrounded by lackeys, but that's because he controls the narrative. When you bring in someone else, he'll be a back-slapping buddy who's never said a bad word. It is tough to listen to.

He has always been better writing than talking. I actually like his columns and am sad to see those go by the wayside now. As a radio personality, he is just godawful. At the same time, I can't fault 101 for bringing him aboard. He has a following and will likely do well in that morning slot. It also gives them more hours of original local programming if he is going to be on 7-10 AM.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bernie needs to keep writing. He should be able to market himself and have his own website with sponsors etc. Too talented of a writer and too much of a following to not do something like that. I always read him first on stltoday and I'm certainly going to miss his articles and perspective on Stl sports.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bernie needs to keep writing. He should be able to market himself and have his own website with sponsors etc. Too talented of a writer and too much of a following to not do something like that. I always read him first on stltoday and I'm certainly going to miss his articles and perspective on Stl sports.

He had a series of tweet yesterday and said he will keep writing but his articles will just be on 101espn website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

He had a series of tweet yesterday and said he will keep writing but his articles will just be on 101espn website.

Good to know. Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

His contract at the Post was up. He had enough of Lee. He turned down a deal that would have allowed him to stay at the Post and would have had him take Limbaugh's time slot at KMOX. He didn't want to work for Lee at all anymore.

I know he was not crazy about them. I am not sure KMOX is a good fit for Bernie. He needs to be on a sports only show. Interesting - I was wondering when KMOX was going to dump Rush.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what his departure means for The Post or if it signals the Rams are for sure leaving, but I will say that he is fuoking insufferable on the radio. The dude is as thin-skinned as it gets and for some unknown reason considering he is the biggest voice in STL sports, he can't deal with message board guys or website commenters disagreeing with him. His last show on 101 devolved into him just whining about the knuckleheads online. I am sure we'll get that again.

Another thing about him that is tough to take on the air is that when push comes to shove he is about the biggest pu$$y you'll ever find. He'll talk all kinds of smack when it is just him and the mic. But let him get an actual interview with a person that he's criticized -- a$$ kiss city. I still remember him railing on Colby Rasmus' dad for months on end, but when he finally got him on the air, he folded like a cheap suit. He is no different than any other boorish radio jock. He's a big man when he's by himself or surrounded by lackeys, but that's because he controls the narrative. When you bring in someone else, he'll be a back-slapping buddy who's never said a bad word. It is tough to listen to.

He has always been better writing than talking. I actually like his columns and am sad to see those go by the wayside now. As a radio personality, he is just godawful. At the same time, I can't fault 101 for bringing him aboard. He has a following and will likely do well in that morning slot. It also gives them more hours of original local programming if he is going to be on 7-10 AM.

He has never been a Slaten type guy so I am not surprised he did not attack Rasmus's dad. That period of his life was one of discontent for him - he had lost his close friend RM who he says saved his life, he was upset with Lee, and he was stressed out doing the writing and a 3 hour daily show. His mental and physical health was faltering so he did the best thing he could do and that was drop the radio and try to make the Post gig work. I get your point but to each their own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here's the scoop: The union contract with Lee is under negotiation right now. The current contract says that anyone hired before, I believe, 1996 gets 2 weeks' severance for every year of service, up to a max of 66 weeks. Most of us took it as a matter of faith that this would get bargained away.

Seven or so very experienced journalists stepped up to take the severance in place of a relative newbies a couple of weeks ago. Someone told me it represented 300 cumulative years of service.

Apparently there was a no-restrictions buyout offered last week and a bunch more people took it. Aside from Bernie, the one other person I heard had left also had 30+ years' experience -- plus she knew where all the bodies were buried. I'm sure there were others.

For the 12 years I worked there, my total pay went up slightly in the first half and descended rapidly thereafter, to the point that when I left I was making about 70 percent of what I did when I started. I (like everyone else post-1996) was eligible for one week severance for each year worked, but there were no layoffs or buyouts around the time I left, so I simply walked.

For willie and my dozen or so other fans in the world, I can still be found at stlmag.com/dining. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bonwich, sad to read your story. It is a terrible fact, but many people have and will continue to undergo similar job situations with increasing stress and decreasing salaries until the time comes when something comes unglued and the person walks out. This type of situation has affected a lot of people in a lot of industries. Hope you do much better at your present position. All the best to you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The SL Post = fail.

And it is not something you can say was just because of the internet and 24/7 cable news.

Capitalism: the marketplace did it's duty, The SL Post isn't economically viable, most of their good employees are long gone.

If The St. Louis Post was not 100% committed to one extreme ideological viewpoint, good people, many more customers with jobs and money would still have it delivered or pay for it online.

Bernie was colorful and interesting, but often controversial and even flawed, I didn't like his coverage of SLU hoops much of the time, but overall he was a good sports writer.

A pity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That will happen right after they decide to "dump" the cardinals because they've decided they don't want any listeners whatsoever.

Nailed it!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Limbaugh's ratings are down big time. Combine that with the continued reluctance of many national advertisers to buy add time on his show has and it has become hard for CBS to make money off Limbaugh's show. He has been getting the ax from many stations similar to KMOX across the country.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The SL Post = fail.

And it is not something you can say was just because of the internet and 24/7 cable news.

Capitalism: the marketplace did it's duty, The SL Post isn't economically viable, most of their good employees are long gone.

If The St. Louis Post was not 100% committed to one extreme ideological viewpoint, good people, many more customers with jobs and money would still have it delivered or pay for it online.

A pity.

Bernie was colorful and interesting, not always "right", had flaws, I often didn't like his approach, but he was a good sports writer.

This argument from the usual suspects always cracks me up. This town's conservative newspaper closed down shop long before the P-D... how do you explain?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...