Mets Relationship with Carton Embarrassing
By Mike Silva ~ July 14th, 2009. Filed under: Sports Media Commentary.
The Mets have always been an organization that stresses image and value with all stakeholders. Citi Field, in contrast to its Bronx counterpart, is far more fan friendly venue to take in a game. They also have a short leash with members of the organization and media. Back in 1993, Fred Wilpon immediately put OF Vince Coleman on “administrative leave” after he threw a firecracker at fans in Los Angeles. In March they took their flagship station, WFAN, to task for a certain midday host attacking the teams star (see Francesa and Wright). This is why it’s so baffling that an organization so obsessed with self image would continue to partner with the despicable Craig Carton.
It’s all Carton all the time when it comes to the Mets. Pre game interview on opening day, bullhorns outside the corporate office, announcing games at Keyspan Park in Brooklyn, and even helping choose the eighth inning sing a long. Why is this a big deal? Because what kind of example is the team demonstrating by having a rude, disrespectful, and annoying talk show host promote their product. One theory is that he comes with the Esiason package, but in reality I wonder if ownership realizes what a creep Carton really is.
This is a guy that has made sexist comments, ambushed athletes on the air, and demeans callers on a regular basis. He even recently annoyed Mets announcer Howie Rose with his childish behavior. Let’s also not forget that he slandered a former professional athlete in Philadelphia. Is this the type of resume that you would feel comfortable with? Funny, the Jennifer Capriati interview can’t be found on the Boomer and Carton archive at WFAN.com. Real tough guy that Mark Chernoff is- as predicted he ran the other way when public opinion turned sour.
WFAN is the flagship station of the Mets. There are plenty of other FAN hosts that can be a part of the aforementioned events. Steve Somers, Evan Roberts, Joe Benigno, and even Boomer should be welcome. It’s time for the Mets organization, unlike WFAN, to realize that Craig Carton is a bad reflection on their brand. It’s also time for the fans to let the Mets know this as well. Craig Carton being involved with the Mets is not just wrong, it’s embarrassing.
July 14th, 2009 at 9:53 am
You are preaching to the choir…. I guess the Met higher-ups are simply too busy trying to figure out how they can make Citi-field appear that it actually is the home of the Mets, and not the Brooklyn Dodgers. They are, obviously occupied with such serious questions like “Does anybody know what Bobby Valentine’s number is?”, and “Did we really extend Omar’s contract?” They can’t be bothered with a cancer that has been growing for some time.
Perhaps they believe that if they offend carton, they will lose the 13-15 year old crowd that enjoys him.
Unfortunately, once you have an I.Q. of over 27, Cartoon is no longer amusing.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:49 am
you certianly spend a lot of time talking about what Cartoon does on the air, if u hate hime so much why listen? you might be boomer and cartoons #1 listener and the reason they are successfull and as fatcessa said ny likes them and that is all that matters
July 14th, 2009 at 11:15 am
You know what’s funny Bob – I have yet to speak to people that really like the show. We keep hearing about ratings from “Turn Off”, but you and I both know that companies can make numbers do an awful lot of things. Personally, I don’t believe the industry has ever developed a method to accurately assess television and radio success. As per evidence that good shows get canned. I personally think stations can make things say and do what they want based on preference and politics.
Carton is at 10 minutes of his 15 minutes of fame. He will eventually implode. It’s just disappointing that he brings down others throughout the process.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
“you certianly spend a lot of time talking about what Cartoon does on the air, if u hate hime so much why listen? you might be boomer and cartoons #1 listener and the reason they are successfull and as fatcessa said ny likes them and that is all that matters”
Holy mother of god. Did a human being type this?
July 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I tend to agree with Bob – if the product stinks, people will stop listening. When the people stop listening, the advertisers disappear. When the advertisers disappear, money disappears and stations are forced to make changes. Best thing to do about this situation is to stop listening.
WFAN is a business like any other. If Carton drives business (as it appears he’s doing, per the ratings), he’s not going anywhere, and who can blame them? If he remains on-air as the business loses money, then that is foolish.
Anyways, I’ll never understand the appeal of listening to idiots on sports talk radio.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I completely agree with this. I’m sure that some of what Carton says is just for the shock value and meant to get people fired up, but he takes it too far. He is disgusting and has no business being in sports talk radio. I always hated mad dog, but I think I find carton to be even worse than he was. To be clear, I am not at all a frequent listener, I listen to a little bit on occasion when I’m driving in to work – and I often regret it.
It’s too bad Esiason was stuck with this idiot, he deserves better.