Effing Hired: Des Moines Duo Paired In D-League

Tom Witosky of the Des Moines Register lets us in on the silver lining for Marty Tirrell, Larry Cotlar, and Geoff Conn after their firing.

Iowa Energy officials decided today to keep Marty Tirrell and Geoff Conn on their game-day staff, and add Larry Cotlar to the team’s radio color commentary — beginning Saturday ((pictured, thanks WHO-TV)).

The surprise move came after all three men were fired Wednesday from KXNO Radio as a result of a profane, on-air argument last week between Tirrell and Cotlar during which Tirrell used the “f-word” at least a dozen times.

Cotlar, who engaged Tirrell in the argument, was co-host of “Cotlar and Company” – a morning drive sports talk show. Conn was Cotlar’s co-host and assistant program manager at KXNO.

“In the spirit of reconciliation, the Energy has invited Geoff Conn to continue as the public address announcer. Marty Tirrell will continue to do play-by-play and Larry Cotlar will be hired as the color commentator for all remaining home games and the playoffs,” the team said in a statement issued this afternoon.

The club also said that neither Tirrell nor Cotlar would have any comment on the incident until the Energy’s game Saturday night against Fort Wayne when “both will be given a chance to address the fans.”

At the same time, the team’s statement said that their decision was based on the fact that the men had apologized to each other as well as listeners and individuals mentioned in the argument for their behavior.

“This acceptance of responsibility and accountability was not only key to retaining the affiliation with the Iowa Energy, but also necessary in order to move the local sports community beyond this unfortunate incident,” the statement says. Team officials said that their decision shouldn’t be interpreted as condoning the incident.

“Regardless of whether Tirrell and Cotlar believed that they were having a private conversation, the content and tone of the conversation were completely unacceptable,” the statement says.

Energy officials also said that any future conflicts would not be tolerated.

But let's go ahead and revisit the conflict in question, anyway...

UPDATE: Cotlar changed his mind...

From WHO-TV...

Channel 13's Keith Murphy learned that Cotlar has since changed his mind and will not be broadcasting for the Iowa Energy.

Cotlar released this statement to Murphy: "I want to thank the Iowa Energy for offering the opportunity to be color commentator for the remainder of the season. However, I must respectfully decline their offer. Since I accepted that offer, circumstances have changed. I am now considering other career opportunities, and I choose to look forward. I sincerely regret any inconvenience I may have caused the Energy and wish them continued success good luck with their season."

The Iowa Energy says former Hawkeye standout and NBA player Bobby Hansen will do color commentary at Saturday's game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Effing Fired: The End In Des Moines

((HT: WHO-TV))

Three employees of a Des Moines sports radio station have been fired. KXNO has let go Larry Cotlar, Marty Tirrell and Geoff Conn ((pictured, WHO-TV)).

The firings relate to an incident at the station Friday morning. Hear the incident here...

A profanity-laced argument between Cotlar and Tirrell accidentally made it on the air. The argument happened during a commercial break when the men thought the studio microphone was not going out live on the air. The argument could be heard in the background of the commercials. Conn was reportedly running the audio board during the commercial break.

KXNO suspended Cotlar, Conn and Tirrell earlier this week.

They have not been on air since Friday.

Tirrell released a statement to the media on his termination. In part, it reads: "I have remained quiet for the past few days so Clear Channel could make their decision. That said, I have been eager to publicly apologize. Specifically, I would like to apologize to Larry Cotlar for the way I treated him. He deserved better, I would also like to apologize to anyone who heard the comments on the radio, to Bud Legg and the IHSAA and to Clear Channel for the embarrassment I have caused them."

Channel 13 has also confirmed Tirrell will no longer participate as a commentator on KCCI in the "Mouth of the Midwest" segment. Conn spoke with Channel 13's Keith Murphy and says he was fired for "violation of Clear Channel policy."

In a statement sent Wednesday afternoon, Conn wrote: "I am very sorry for what happened on the air Friday, I apologize to KXNO listeners. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work at Clear Channel Radio the past 14 years. Thank you to all my friends, colleagues and listeners who have been so supportive on this very tough day."

In a statement from Larry Cotlar, he apologized to KXNO listeners and also wrote: "I am saddened and deeply disappointed with Clear Channel's decision to terminate my employment after all my years of service over an unfortunate incident which I did not initiate nor had any knowledge was being broadcast over the airwaves."

Clear Channel senior VP Joel McCrea has confirmed the firings to Channel 13.Cotlar was host of Cotlar & Company, which Geoff Conn often contributed to. Conn was also the assistant director of programming at KXNO. Marty Tirrell was a co-host on Marty & Miller.

Suspensions Handed Down In Des Moines

Three KNXO radio employees were suspended indefinitely after Friday's outburst by on-air host Marty Tirrell- aimed at fellow on-air host Larry Cotlar ((pictured, thanks WHO-TV)).

Tirrell dropped 12 effing bombs in, about, a 75-second span during a commercial break when he thought his microphone was off.

It was not... It really was not...

((We know the linked changed yesterday from WHO-TV, but we fixed it...))

The fallout from the tantrum is as follows...from Tom Witosky and the Des Moines Register...

National sports talk shows replaced two regularly scheduled local programs Monday on KXNO radio as station officials dealt with a profane on-air incident Friday involving broadcasters Marty Tirrell and Larry Cotlar.

The pre-empted shows on AM-1460 took place as an executive for Clear Channel Radio Corp. confirmed that three employees at the station had been suspended until further notice.

Sanda Coyle, vice president of marketing for Clear Channel, confirmed that three KXNO employees had been suspended. She declined to name the individuals in an e-mail response to a listener — later confirmed by Coyle to The Des Moines Register.

Listeners of the sports station heard a profane argument Friday morning between Tirrell and Cotlar that included Tirrell’s use of the “f-word” at least a dozen times.

Joel McCrea, senior vice president of WHO/Clear Channel, issued an apology to listeners later Monday.

“A private conversation between two KXNO employees inadvertently found its way on the air,” McCrea said in the statement. “KXNO Radio apologizes to anyone who was offended by the content aired during this accidental broadcast.”

McCrea said the incident remains under review by KXNO officials, but that company policy forbids additional comment about the employees involved.

“Cotlar and Company,” Cotlar’s morning drive-time show, did not air Monday. The show was replaced by a Fox Sports Radio feed, along with Dan Patrick’s syndicated show. In addition, Geoff Conn, a co-host and producer of the Cotlar show, was not on the air, either.

On Monday afternoon, KXNO’s only local program was the “Jon Miller Show.” The regularly scheduled afternoon program, “Marty and Miller” — co-hosted by Tirrell and Ken Miller, — was replaced by a Fox Sports Radio show. When contacted Monday by the Register, McCrea declined to say how long the two local shows would remain on hiatus. Cotlar referred all questions to McCrea.

Tirrell also has declined comment on the incident.

McCrea said he had not been notified of the filing of an FCC complaint.

Jerry Crawford, an owner of the Iowa Energy men’s basketball team, said Tirrell would remain as the team’s play-by-play announcer.

“Marty Tirrell has been a model employee of the Iowa Energy and we believe he is the best play by play announcer in the league,” Crawford said. “If Tirrell had known he was on the air when he had the conversation with Larry Cotlar, we would terminate him. But as we understand the facts, he had no way to know he was on the air, and had the right to assume he was in a private conversation.”

The future of Tirrell’s weekly “Mouth of the Midwest” segment on KCCI-TV in Des Moines, meanwhile, remains uncertain.

“Obviously, we want to see how this plays out,” said Paul Fredericksen, KCCI president and general manager. “At this time, I’m not certain what the end result will be.”

Asked if the segment will air in its Thursday slot, Fredericksen said: “We’ll wait and see. It all depends what information comes out. If he said what we heard that he said, then those are pretty bad words as far as radio and the FCC is concerned.”

What's a Few Effing Words Among Friends...?

Not much, unless your mics are still hot...

From the Des Moines Register and WHO-TV... those of us in the business get a refresher course in "Radio 101."

First lesson- Make sure your mic isn't hot when you want to go on an effing tirade...

Friday morning, KNXO radio co-shost Marty Tirrell went off on a fellow talk host about media credentials to a high school basketball event...
Listeners tracked down at least a dozen effing references toward Larry Cotlar in 75 seconds...

Neat...
Here's the tirade in question... and in demand...from WHO-TV...



Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit the use of profane language in broadcasts between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Profane language is defined by the FCC as "so highly offensive that their mere utterance in the context presented may, in legal terms, amount to a nuisance."

In addition, FCC officials have warned broadcasters in the past that, depending on the context, it would consider the "F-word" and those that are as highly offensive to be profane language.

FCC rules also say that the base fine for any violation of the profanity restrictions is $7,000 per violation, but that the commission may charge as much as $32,500 per violation based on a variety of factors, including the nature and circumstance of the violation.

Enforcement of FCC rules can only begin after a complaint is filed with the commission.

And, apparently, it's not the first time Tirrell has been called to the carpet...

Last year...Tirrell was suspended for one day from broadcasting on KXNO (1460 AM) after he named an individual and that person's occupation in a derogatory way related to events on a trip to the U.S. Open golf tournament. Tirrell apologized for the incident, but never provided specific details of the incident.

All this does is remind us of the scene in "Smokey and The Bandit" where Bandit is fueling up the Trans-Am and he's talking to Sheriff Justice on the CB radio.

Justice asks: "Where are you, you sum'bitch...?"
Bandit replies: "Don't you cuss on this-here radio..."

"My apologies to anyone list'nin..."