Tony Kornheiser is an a$$

[ny biker]

http://ow.ly/1nByQ

March 11 radio show, part 1, about 11 minutes from the end.

In sum: Cyclists dominate the roads, run them down because roads were made for cars.

Bob Roll's reaction:

http://www.versus.com/cycling/videos/bobs-beef-with-espns-tony-kornheiser/in-stream/sports/cycling/sort/most-recent/i/1/

Why aren't we hearing about this???

[tulip]

He's getting himself into trouble all over the place. Too bad because I do like to watch PTI from time to time, when I find myself in the vicinity of a TV.

[arielmoon]

Johan posted about it on Facebook and that is how I found out about it.

[arielmoon]

This guy posted a transcript for those who prefer to read

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2010/03/tony-kornheiser-allegedly-condones-running-down-cyclists.html

In the comments people that listen to the guy on a regular basis claim that he is joking as part of his cranky old man shtick.

Still...

[annielynn]

I just read about this a$$ this morning. I sent a comment to ESPN. I don't know if anything will be done about him. But it made me feel better to vent. It is just sad and shocking the attitude of the people on his show. Bob Roll's beef was really good.

[Biciclista]

good grief.

[Possegal]

I was listening when he said it. I have ESPN radio on while I"m working and this was his local 10-noon show. I like him and always seem to be defending my liking him to other people. As he started into this bit, I was sitting in my office shaking my head and talking to my computer telling him that he was now making it impossible for me to defend liking him.

I do agree though, it is his "shtick". But clearly he doesn't get the ramifications of even making jokes like this. I was so pissed I haven't listened to him since, so not sure what more has been said. I may go back to listening to him, but I'll probably be a closet listener from now on. :)

I haven't had a chance to read Bobke's response and since I'm not listening, don't know if Kornheiser's addressed any of the flak that I'm sure he's getting. And yes, he seems to be getting himself in trouble all over the place lately.

[TriMom217]

I haven't heard this so I'm just piling on here....

there is a Boston radio personality who did the same thing many years ago. Took cheap shots at a young man who had died at the hands of a drunk driver. It was all part of his shtick but it crossed the line for me. The boy had been my kids' camp counselor and was everything you'd want in a son.

I haven't listened to Howie Carr since, but apparently plenty of people do since he is still on the air.

[Tri Girl]

I watch PTI, and I know he's got this "cranky old man schtick" thing, but SERIOUSLY? When you "joke" about running people down and killing them- that's just not funny. :mad: Especially because some people will listen and really do it because they are brainless drones who will do anything a radio personality tells them to. There really are people that stupid in this country. (shaking my head in disbelief)

He's been in some hot water already, and I hope the heat gets turned up even more. What an a$$, indeed!

I liked Bob's response. I also like that he mispronounced Tony's last name every chance he had.

[Eden]

I seem to recall the last time some shock-jock told people to go out and run down cyclists he was either charged with or at least threatened with a charge of inciting violence and fired.....

I wish Bobke's response wasn't a video - whatever program they use to stream doesn't play right in my browser. (update - got it to play, a bit choppy, but OK.. Bob was much more level headed than I expected)

Someone has been publishing the VP of ESPN's email address in the comments to a lot of the stories out there (its on the comments to Bobke's video on VERSUS). Who knows if he reads that stuff, but what the heck I sent an email. Apparently he doesn't think it was a big deal since it was just a joke (telling people to harm someone is never funny) and he only got 100 or so emails.... I hope he gets lots more in the coming days.

[Crankin]

I've never heard of this guy (talk radio makes my blood pressure rise), but what a jerk. I liked Bobke's response. He is a pretty smart guy.
And as for Howie Carr: the biggest Masshole around.

[Flybye]

I would encourage everyone to let ESPN know about your thoughts and feelings. I have :)

While I could go on a huge rampage and let some words fly about the way in which Tony Kornheiser addresses cyclists on the road, I will spare myself to stooping to his level.
What I will say is that I am a 38 year old mother of three children who works to make the lives of others more bearable. The fact that Tony Korhnheiser would be encouraging and advocating that motorists ....."you tap them. Tap them once" with their vehicles is unacceptable. He goes on to say "Run them down" and "RUN THEM DOWN, like Wile Coyote's, run them over."
Is this truly the kind of man that you want representing ESPN? Someone that advocates and encourages motorist to kill people like myself?
If that is what ESPN has allowed itself to be represented then I am finished watching and listening.
I am an athlete and last time that I checked, ESPN was dedicated to broadcasting and promoting athleticism in America.
Perhaps the best solution would be to have Tony Kornheiser produce a show where he works in conjunction with cyclists to understand their sport and the laws that allow for cyclists to be on the road. Perhaps he should be required to train and participate in a 100 mile charitable ride. HIs ethnocentric view only proves that he is the center of his own world. He can only gain an appreciation of the culture of cycling if he is to broaden his knowledge and understanding of the group.

[ny biker]

Well Lance has now weighed in on twitter and it got picked up by USA Today. The words "complete f-ing idiot" were involved.

update: new from Lance: ...just off the phone w/ Tony Kornheiser who's very sorry 4 his comments re: cyclists. Going on the show 2morrow 2 discuss this w/ him.

I know lots of people generally don't like Lance and I respect that, but I appreciate having him in my corner on an issue like this.

[Possegal]

Actually Lance is going to be on his show tomorrow morning, after talking to him on the phone at some point today. Guess I'll have to decide if I'm going to lift my self-imposed ban tomorrow.

Looked like on Facebook that the station made a comment like "so now Lance has weighed in... well he has a few skeletons in his closet" Way to go 980, way to make yourselves look even worse, if that was possible. It isn't about Lance and whatever you think of him, just that he's the most visible figure that has picked it up. And given his twitter following, it did explode. Nearly every pro cyclist I follow on twitter was commenting about it. But Lance will get that info out there faster and wider. Who cares about his "closet"? Good heavens they are stupid. I think they deleted it, but someone on Levi's FB page had caught it and copied it.

Edit - JINX ny biker :)

[Tri Girl]

http://www.espn980.com/info/contact_us.php

Send ESPN an e-mail. I did, too. I didn't copy mine before I sent it, but it was smart and educated (while getting to the point that I was PO'd at him).

[ny biker]

Some people are defending this as a joke, like "that's just how Tony is and you're uptight if you take it seriously." Clearly these people have never been an inch away from becoming a splat on the pavement.

Christian Vande Velde referred to him as "Kornhole, I mean Kornheiser." Nice. Bikesnobnyc just feels sorry for him.

[owlice]

There's a "Tony Kornheiser Sucks" Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36938192525&ref=nf

Not a new site, BTW.

[Flybye]

And this on Facebook:

ESPN's Tony Kornheiser on road cyclists- "run em' over". We don't think so!

[crazycanuck]

This reminds me of the anger over a cycling rant by magda szubanski...There's a facebook group against her as well.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/magda/2009/10/01/1253989983683.html

[Lise]

I learned about this on Facebook and wrote to ESPN to ask if Tony was absolutely certain that car drivers could tell the difference between the cyclists he hates and the midwife riding to work (me) or training for a triathlon to keep me fit and sane. Because if I get "tapped" (assaulted), I may have to go after ESPN for giving him a forum. :mad:

[Bike Chick]

Thanks for the link, Tri Girl. I put my two cents worth in as did my hubby. What an idiot!

If anyone hears the show with Lance, please post.

[7rider]

I await the day when threatening the safety of a cyclist because the "annoy" you or get in your way is as morally reprehensible as threatening a black person because you read that a young black male mugged someone at the bus stop, or threatening Jews because Bernie Madoff bilked millions of dollars from people.
:(

[owlice]

My letter, just sent:

I am the 53-year-old mother of a 16-year-old. I returned home last evening from a 22-mile bike ride, read the news, and learned of Mr. Kornheiser's attempt at humor in which he advised listeners to "run down" bicyclists. (Threatening people with physical harm is amusing? To whom, pray tell?)

Why on earth does ESPN, a sports network, employ someone who shows such disdain for people lawfully engaging in physical activity? Someone whose disdain crosses the line into advocating unlawful and dangerous, even deadly, behavior towards them?

Kindly read this: http://laist.com/2008/07/07/road_rage_motorist_vs_cyclists_on_m.php

The update on that story here: http://laist.com/2008/07/07/update_on_bicycle_accident.php

And the outcome of the driver's trial -- on multiple charges -- here: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/03/local/me-cyclist3

Are these outcomes -- bodily injury and jail time -- what you want for your listeners? For those lawfully engaged in sport, and those who drive?

Mr. Kornheiser should be fired for his comments. That could be my 16-year-old out there that Mr. Kornheiser is advising his listeners to "tap."

Sincerely,

[Tri Girl]

I also just sent an e-mail to Tony himself. I was not nearly as educated or calm in my e-mail to him. The one I wrote to ESPN was much more high-brow, well thought out, and "smart". This one- not so much. I let my emotions get to me.

"Mr. Kornheiser, you are a vile creature. To even suggest that drivers "tap" a cyclist is the most disgusting thing EVER! Hey idiot- if you "tap" me in your car while I'm on my bike- you KILL me. 2000+ pounds of car trumps 150 lbs of me and my bike. Shame on you, Tony. I'm going to guess you've never been on a bike and encountered a jackass in a car who tries to run you off the road, or felt the heat of a car as it passes far too close, or had to crash into the pavement because someone cuts you off and turns right in front of you thinking you weren't going the speed of traffic. There are millions of Americans who ride bikes not only to go fast, but for transportation or because they care about this planet that car drivers seem to care less about. Car drivers are arrogant thinking they own the road. In EVERY state in the union we have the same rights on the road as cars, yet when a cyclist is killed by a car (and most often it's the driver's fault but nobody can ask a dead cyclist what happened), the driver is rarely charged with manslaughter or even issued a ticket. And when you encounter us cyclits, we just MIGHT slow you down for 10-15 seconds tops. You are an ***, sir. You may have been "joking," but when you incite violence against a group of people (cyclists in this case), that borders on illegal. You should be fired for having a forum in which to vent your hatred at selected groups. Now, get back in your car and try to run down a cyclist for slowing you down for 10 seconds on your way to someplace very important. Next time a cyclist is hit- I hope it's a family member or friend of yours so you can experience the pain of losing someone you love at the hands of an impatient driver (like so many of us unfortunately have). "

BTW- I don't really hope he loses someone he loves. I should have left that out, but I only regretted it after I sent it. That wasn't very kind, but like I said: my emotions got to me too much. I'm glad I was more educated with the one I wrote to ESPN.
Here's the link to e-mail his show directly. http://www.espn980.com/includes/forms2/src/?form_id=26

[Possegal]

He's on right now.
www.espn980.com

[SadieKate]

Add Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post to the a$$ list.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/03/lance_armstrong_takes_on_tony.html

[Tri Girl]

Add Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post to the a$$ list.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/03/lance_armstrong_takes_on_tony.html

Yup- he's an a** too!!
"C'mon people- it's just a schtick. It's just a comedy routine. Where has all the humor gone?" That's what Dan said.
Saying you'd like to run over someone with a mack truck and advocating that people run over cyclists (which some will do because a radio personality told them to) is NOT the same thing. Grrrrr....
I wish those people would HAVE to ride a bike for just a week and they would all change their minds. Heck- one day in a city like D.C. and they'd be singing a different tune.
Why can't we all just get along on the roads????

[arielmoon]

Shtick or no shtick it is not funny to wish someone else harm.

[OakLeaf]

Sorry, it would be schtick if it were something that no sane person would consider actually trying. The way I talk about mounting rocket launchers on my forks. In reality, every single day cyclists not only get buzzed and threatened by motorists, every single day cyclists have things thrown at them by motorists, and many days cyclists are intentionally hit by motorists.

Now, define "sane," I know. True or not, there used to be (maybe still is?) a meme that male domestic abusers have no detectable abnormality on psychological evaluation.

This is the same sort of thing. Advocating that people intentionally hurt other people just because they're physically less powerful. Makes them feel big when the rest of their lives feel out of control.

[TriMom217]

with Lance: here (http://www.stationcaster.com/player.php?s=65&c=580&f=45332)

[Flybye]

Lance did a pretty good job of putting Tony in his place without reacting and being harsh.

[Bike Chick]

Yes, he did. I'm listening to it now. Thank you, Lance. And thanks TriMom for the link. It sounds like he may have learned a lesson.

There is such a double standard and it is so infuriating to me. If I made remarks at my job like Tony Kornheiser made, I would be sent to anger management classes, probably lose my job and have charges filed against me. But because he is a radio broadcaster he can say anything he wants and then later recant and say he really didn't mean it. He is in a very powerful position to be so irresponsible.