BREAKING NEWS: Mark "Friedo" Friedman Leaves The Ticket

By Richie Whitt Wed., Jan. 21 2009 at 3:00 PM

Categories: Radio, TV and that Damned Media

Long-time Norm Hitzges sidekick and 1310 AM The Ticket assistant program director Mark Friedman confirms this afternoon that he has left the station to take a similar role with rival sports-talk station 103.3 FM ESPN Radio. Friedman will next week begin his new role as ESPN's APD and producer for The Michael Irvin Show.

Wow.

While Friedo's talent and experience are a major coup for ESPN, the transaction also dumps more fuel on The-Ticket-Has-Seen-Better-Days fire that was already starting to spread at an alarming rate. Friedo may be the next name to leave The Ticket, but something tells me he won't be the last.

Friedman, who got his start in local radio at 570 AM KLIF producing a 1994 Sunday afternoon Fantasy Football Show with Gil Brandt, has been Hitzges' on-air sidekick and off-air right-hand man since '99. It's hard to imagine Norm getting through a two-hour show with barking "Friedo!" isn't it? For that matter, hard to imagine Norm turning on a computer or answering a cell phone without Friedo by his side to, well, turn on the computer or answer the cell phone.

If you know Friedo, you know how tough a move this is. Not that ESPN isn't presenting him a great (re: lucrative) opportunity, but the fact that he was one of The Ticket's most loyal and fervent employees - the station became part of his DNA - further exhibits the depth of unrest behind the scenes at Cumulus' Dallas outpost.

I know, I know. Irrationally loyal and rabid P1s somehow blaming this post on Richie's bitterness at not getting a Plus-1 gig commencing in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...

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ESPN Radio, Mark Friedman, Norm Hitzges, The Ticket

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May I congratulate you on your intelligent post.You have won me over and gained a new fan. in comparison to many of the articles on the web this is a joy to read, I am very glad that I came upon your post. I will be linking to this on all my blogs.
Anyone thinking Friedo is regretting his move to ESPN??
Fredo leaving isn't the problem . Mike Bascik is the problem. The guy is horrible . With that negro Donovon and now Basick the thing is done. Good bye KTCK
Interesting feed here. My 2 cents is that the ticket is detined to go through change, i.e. personalities coming and going, controversy, i.e. Greggo situation. I have listened since about the 6 month mark and it still is the most relevant and fun to listen to show in the market. I miss Cooperstein and maybe a couple of other people that have graced the Ticket's airwave over the years but I will continue to listen to them until it becomes tiresome. I'm sure that I am not alone but since I have been listening since I was 30 something and now I'm 40 something my tastes have changed and I have gravitated from personality to other personalities. That is inevitable. Gordon, Jub and a couple of others grab my attention and they still give me a chuckle when I feel like the world is coming to an end. As far as R Whitt's articles, it is an interesting read. I like the different view and gives everyone something to think about. Is is 100% accurate, I don't know but at least most of us with a brain can make that determination ourselves. Long live The Ticket.
@roachboy: so in your view, doing my job gives me an ego problem? interesting. maybe on some blogs you can hide behind your anonymity and call people "coward" and "jackass." sorry, not here. the fun part of my gig is to engage in back-n-forth with educated sports fans who aren't naively married to mainstream media. the crap part is feeling obligated to respond to morons who don't have the wherewithall to conduct an intellectual debate, so they fall on the crutch of elementary-school name-calling. but, please, keep it coming. i find your attacks entertaining.
wow, how Chris Chris of you to continue to check the responses every 30 minutes on this blog even though you wrote it 6 weeks ago (ego problem)?...........and while we are at it, eff you also.
@roachboy: wrong, wrong and triple wrong. not only do i not criticize anything that is successful. not only do i not want to be a part of it. but i'm also not a coward. because a coward would ignore your assinine comments to avoid confrontation. and i, on the other hand, will tell you to go eff yourself. capeche?
Whitt you JACKASS, you'll always be critical of anything that is successful because you are not a part of it. Cowards do that, which describes you perfectly.
Feedo was a spare. He had no radio chemistry with anyone on The badass Ticket. My guess would be that he will be bringing in Greggo for the evening show.... We would like to stop down for the following annoucement: New 103.3 ESPN Spring Host Lineup 11-2pm Crackhead 2-6pm Alcoholic 6-9pm Cokehead 9-12pm That Dude from Celeb Rehab P1 Rob in Houston
lOVE THE TICKET. LOVE THE TICKET. HATE CONFRUNTATION. HATE CONFRONTATION.
Pete Stein left???
good...i'm glad i don't have to hear friedo again. i hope rich phillips is next. the same can be said for ben/skin. i can't think of two people who are more boring and know less about sports than these two. the same can be said for greggo. worst sports opinions ever. the current major lineup is stellar. i hope it doesn't change for a while. norm will find another producer. i love listening to the other guys...but if i really need some pure sports knowledge/facts/opinions, norm is second to none.
Frito, come back its not all about making a name for your self....remember the people that made you.....How could I possibly go through 2 hours of Norm without him say ( Frito ).....Money isn't everything......Come HOME!!!
Another reason not to listen to the Irvin show. Friedo going to KESN is like someone moving from Okalahoma to Arkansas, both states IQs go up. Norm will so much better without the arrogant SOB.
The Ticket needs to get sold to a better owner. I think Cumulus doesn't have the money or the knowledge to take the Ticket to where it could be. I have been a TCKT listener since 1994 and I listen to other Sports Radio across the country and none of them can compare to what these guys at the Ticket do. They are unique and the way they do mix it up makes it what it is. I like a little bit of sports talk that is currently relative, but I don't care to hear about Cowboys much longer after their season is over, or any other team for that matter. Talk about sports when and if it is relative to todays news, don't cram the same stuff down the airwaves everyday. The Ticket will be fine and would benefit heavily if Cumulus would just sell them to a company with bigger bags. Cumulus doesn't come across as a well run company that cares for their employees. It seems as if they are pinching the almighty penny to the point to where they are going to piss all of the talent off at the Ticket to where they won't have any other option but to bolt to a CBS or ESPN station. I personally would go into withdrawal if I didn't get to hear Rhyner, Norm, or Bad Radio talk about Baseball, or listen to Corby's goofy ass. Gordo doesn't fit and will be the next one to go if anybody splits. Long live the Ticket! Stay Hard P1's.
Love gay quads? Call meh.
So, who does this put the anus on?
Something is happening, and I did feel that Jr.'s rant on Friday was a little weird. If I worked for the Ticket, I would feel let down by the company. Hell, half of us can't even get the damn signal most of the time, but apparently there's nothing they can do. I want to listen to spoooooooorts, and if I can't get the ticket signal, i change the channel, plain and simple. Richie, thanks for doing your job. You give us more insight into the local radio and sports scene than we could ever hope for. Stay hard.
looky here homies, if you talking sports knowledge, you got to include elfenbine. that boy has some hso's
Friedo will be sorely missed. My favorite broadcaster on The Ticket(and on KLIF before) is Norm. He (and BOB) seem to be the only knowledgeable people on the Ticket regarding anything. Friedo always seemed to rein in Norm when when his arguments started to wonder. I can see Norm going to ESPN or The Fan in the future. I hope Norm goes to the Fan, and Dan McDowell goes to NPR.
Remember when we all desperately wanted to know the backstory on Greggo and no one at the little Ticket would offer full disclosure? Well, Mr. Whitt did his best to dig out the facts and present them to us. I was very greatful for the info and felt he went out of his way to be fair to both sides, but apparently, only one side was willing to really talk. Thanks for your solid reporting Richie!
That's why we have traffic jams in this city. I didn't realize that those thousands of pulling over were P1s. Have good and get a little give.
Rural, it is people like you who kill Richie Whitt. The only time this blog receives more than a hand full of comments is when Richie fires one at The Ticket. However, I bet there are thousands of people like RB who pull over to hear the end of WTDS or Gordo's Corner. I know I do. The only reason I get close to this site is the greatness of Wilonsky.
I started listening to the ticket 3 years ago when i began working in the Denton area. I commute over 130 miles each day and I catch myself pulling over on the way home trying to hear the last bit of one of Snakes stories. I lose reception about 20 miles from my home and it drives me crazy that I cannot listen to all of the musers and hardline because I live so far from the metorplex. People driving down I-35 probably think i am an idiot when they look over and see me laughing while driving alone. Anyway, I think everything about the ticket is great, just wish I lived closer to the metroplex so I would not have to pull over to catch the end of a great story.
I agree with everyone that said the Ticket is still fresh and Michael Irvin show not listenable. Will miss Fredo.
Moves by ESPN radio, reminds of the moves by Jerry Jones. ESPN goes after rejects or 2nd tier personalities of the Ticket i.e.(Greggo, now a big has been on ESPN night time and Friedo a 2 hr a day producer and part-time weekend host), compares to Jerry going after Pacman and Tank. ESPN radio should realize that the Ticket is a Dallas Institution. They have been crushed in rating wars before and will be crushed in the future. I also agree with one of the above bloggers that Friedo maybe can teach the english language to Michael Irvin. Corby needs to go back to his Yuk Monkey job and Mark Followill needs to be the new member of Hardline in place of Greggo and when he is doing Mavs duty, it could be like the current format.
VSBB?
Junior's rant this morning was odd. It used to be that they would rarely discuss their ratings or success. Instead taking on a humble "lets not jinx this thing" mantra. Junior going guns blazes about "don't doubt the ticket" sort of reminds me of any other dynasty right as it started to crack and crumble. The Ticket has been shaken like never before in it's history. It went from being the little guy underdog. To the envy of the market. They have a target on their backs. Lets look at the facts- 1. They went from competeing with no one to competing with two deep pockets- ESPN & CBS. 2. Their revenue, numbers and buzz are down, 3. Corby is a hack that is getting exposed more and more by day. Sell the top on Corby if you haven't already he'll be doing yuk monkey for Pug's & Kelly in 6 months.
Something does seem odd at the Ticket. The morning show today had very little Junior Miller, Gordo and George were dominating the show..Is JM the next guy to leave? That would be a giant steal for ESPN. Junior would bolt for the right money..
Richie Whitt says: I've learned their standard operating procedure, and it goes something like this: Kiss our ass and we'll let you into our secret clubhouse. Write anything negative and you're locked out. Fine. I've written a million times that The Ticket is the top-rated, best station for my demo. For years I've posted the numbers of their ratings dynasty. I wrote what I thought was a fair and balanced story on Greggo's departure. Now that I perceive there to be significant cracks in the foundation, I'm writing that, too. If it puts me on their shit list, so be it. It's all very amusing because, remember, for a long time our blog readers complained that I was a Ticket shill. But you're not bitter, right Richie? I think the thing the readers of this blog need to remember is that this is not news, it is opinion, no matter how Mr. Whitt chooses to present it. His vague inferences that The Ticket is falling apart is clearly hearsay, as he himself writes: "write anything negative and you're locked out." Clearly he has been locked out since his Greggo article. Whether the guys at the Ticket should have done so can be debated, but for those of us who have read his work both before and after that article, his tone has definitely changed. Saying "The Ticket continues to have high ratings" but following it up with "despite the way they treated the innocent and sweet Greg Williams and the fact that the station is virtually shutting down," does not constitute a fair-and-balanced story. With regards to Mark Friedman leaving, this is less a sign of a station falling apart and more of a sign of the way radio usually works. At any normal radio station producers, directors and talent leave at dizzying rates. It's the nature of the business. Media in general is very similar to sports; more money, better markets, better opportunities. If you're talented, you move. Then you move again. The story here is that someone as clearly talented and respected as Mark Friedman didn't move for so long. Kije has it right. The thing that could destroy The Ticket is ESPN and CBS buying away the talent and, therefore, the audience from a company that is clearly struggling financially right now. ESPN's strategy at attacking them has already failed (Irvin is horrible, Greggo is just kind of sad). The Fan has listenable hosts, but are making the same mistake that 1190 made. If I feel the need to hear eight morons tell me that Tony Romo need to work harder, I simply pop over to 105. Apparently they have a mandate to take a certain number of calls because even their really solid hosts (Ben & Skin) spend as much time listening to idiocy as talking. I'm sure the people that call love it, but the other 90% of us can only take it for a few minutes. In conclusion, this was way too long and implies I care way more than I do.
bob and dan will be the morning show on the fan very soon
I think Norm is the most profesisonal broadcaster at the Ticket other than George and Mike. He puts up with an incredible amount jokes about him and put downs, yet he has more sports knowledge in his right pinkie finger that the rest of the hosts combined and the Ticket is lucky to have him. If he leaves, The Ticket truly may be one the way out. Norm will survive. The person that needs to be dumped is the true station cancer, Dan McDowell.
Everyone need to chill out, what is happening is that every time a new "All Sports" station comes to town they get their butts kicked by The Ticket. The Ticket has some sort of magic that the folks who listen to it just love em so these other station are now trying to hire away Ticket personnel in hopes of getting some of that for their stations. Not a bad idea but I believe that what The Ticket has can't be built, it is something that grows from having just the right chemistry and having people who know exactly what their demographic wants. For 15 years people have been saying The Ticket is going to die, it's not going to die and folks just need to get used to that. Do your thing and let them do their and if you can beat em then bully for you but if can't then shut up and take your lumps!!!
Now just get rid of that arrogant rhyner.
Scoreboard
@Sports Panties: For 15 years I've been the villain, huh? Really? Convenient, but of course colosally incorrect. Ironic that the guy who's written, by a mile, more positive stories about The Ticket than anybody else in this town is somehow now on their shit list. For example: http://www.dallasobserver.com/2006-01-26/news/a-dirty-dozen/. I've learned their standard operating procedure, and it goes something like this: Kiss our ass and we'll let you into our secret clubhouse. Write anything negative and you're locked out. Fine. I've written a million times that The Ticket is the top-rated, best station for my demo. For years I've posted the numbers of their ratings dynasty. I wrote what I thought was a fair and balanced story on Greggo's departure. Now that I perceive there to be significant cracks in the foundation, I'm writing that, too. If it puts me on their shit list, so be it. It's all very amusing because, remember, for a long time our blog readers complained that I was a Ticket shill.
To repeat what Junior Miller said this morning, people (like Witt) have been predicting The Ticket's demise for 15 years and they continue to kick butt in the ratings and continue to prove people like Witt wrong. People like Witt have an agenda because his coke head friend R.G. Williams got his arse fired. I'm a loyal P1, have been since day 1 and I think The Ticket is as good as ever. Good luck Friedo Chili Pie. You're going to need it.
jay, he will be dead soon b/che rides a donorcycle. mark my words. i see it all too much.
The photo looks like the one that you post when I guy dies. Glad you are alive and well Froto.
Mark will be missed. We are discussing his departure at www.grubesismyleader.com in <a href="http://www.grubesismyleader.com/index.php?topic=3044.0">this thread</a>.
Wow....Didn't see that coming. But I would bet that working with Norm can be a beating....I know listening to him can be at times. I honestly don't know if the Ticket has really 'lost its edge' or not. What I do know is that listening to Mike and Mike in the Morning trying to be funny proves to me that what Mike Rhyner said is true "we can do what they do; they can't do what we do." And the Michael Irvin show is barely listenable...When I do understand what he's trying to say, he making excuses for any wrongdoing that any professional athlete has ever committed. So even if you're right and the Ticket has lost its edge, it's still a damn sight better than anything that 103.3 and 105.3 is throwing down.
Ticket is amazing! But i miss the RMS> the Jedi of dallas will return in the next to Months. long live the RMS death to FAN/ESPN
So is this the end of "Norm's Clubhouse?" Maybe Dan Bennett will come back and produce Norm's show like he did on klif back in the day. Stay hard friedo chili pie.
Expo who? Exactly.
I think that Craig and George were 2nd string at KRLD before they were hired by The Ticket. I wonder, with The Fan starting up which is owned by CBS, if this will start a fight for talent. ESPN is owned by Disney, so that leaves 2 deep pocket radio stations throwing money at local talent. We will see when the best talent on The Ticket have their contracts end if they will bolt for a large contract.
I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak, I like steak.
A view from above, without judgment, is that a new owner who knows NOTHING about the fragility of a special P1 radio station built with love and care has come in with their only frame of reference of cost cutting, de-balling local management, and penny wise pound foolish cookie cutter radio. If you think about 1310 on the AM dial making close to 30Mil.. The Dickey boys have blown it -- they are decent people -- but are arrogant. Because they are brothers -- there is not much consequence to killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
" NO NO NO NO NEVER NEVER NEVER NO" Bye Bye Ticket good bye! Russ Martin is coming and your station and he'll stick a fork in your eye!
Freido probably got tired of the way Norm treated him and he also knew the Catlin is is going nowhere soon. So he jumped ship for similar to what the Catlin did a few years back. Perhaps he will come back one day, but won't have to hold Norm's weiner for him while he pees. You could tell from the interviews the Hardline did with him during the most recent pranks they pulled on Norm that Freido was tired of all the extra stuff Norm had him do because of Norm's phobia of techonology. And he was really tired of Norm's self centered attitude. Why put up with all of Norm's crap when you can produce for any number of other stations.
@em Good guesses, but... 1) I think Gordo enjoys radio more and knows that's where he truly shines. 2) Rhyner won't retire until he's left the Hardline in good hands. The Corby & Danny Show needs serious refining before Rhynes leaves. This is his baby, remember. 3) Bob & Dan sound so grateful they have this job, rather than the hells from which they came. 4) eh, Kevin Scott, next 5) Norm can still carry a 3 hr show himself, but does he prefer the shorter shift so he can concentrate on things like his draft coverage and Cowboys postgame? I think he stays. Note that no solid radio veteran has moved to The Fan yet. Ben & Skin and KScott were both 2nd string at KTCK. If Friedo was looking to leave, he was going somewhere more stable (ESPN not The Fan)
why cant we all just get along? Why
So they money whipped Freido. I'd go work for my company's arch enemy if they paid enough. I'd go back for the same reason. Anyone would for the right amount of money. It's a career move, not an earthquake.
It's obvious Richie already knows what's going but is keeping things on the rumor/mystery level. My guesses: 1. Gordon is going to try to do TV fulltime. 2. Rhyner is retiring, which breaks up the hardline and may shift some of the programs around. 3. Though I feel like BAD Radio should be intact now that the Ticket has the Stars, I can see Bob and Dan splitting up. 4. Kevin Scott will come back and leave and come back and leave in the span of a few months. 5. Norm retires or moves to ESPN or The Fan. George and Craig are perfect together, as are Bob and Dan. Would hate to see either of those split.
Boy Friedo really didn't want to go cover the draft again did he? The Ticket may be headed my way soon.
captain balls is too cool for this thread. please refrain from further posts lest he smite ye.
"dumps more fuel on The-Ticket-Has-Seen-Better-Days fire that was already starting to spread at an alarming rate." Spread by what means by whom? This blog is the only place where I've read anything about the Ticket lately. Bitter much?
TICKET SALES GUY doessn't speak for everyone at the mothership. I salute you Richie and suggest you root out that pottymouth so I can take over both of his accounts. STAY HARD (Please, by God, Cumulus! STAY HARD)
OH JEEZ, GET FRIEDO THE HELL OFF THE AIR
How wold you like to make love on that beach Corby? I really liked Friedo but oh well, I am sorry I won;t hear him again. Because ESPN radio sucks my Harry Cox..Big Harry Cox.
Look out for Dick 'NASCAR' Hicks as new Assistant Program Director. Hope he knows to put a cover sheet on those TPS Reports.
this is about as news worthy is Pete Stein leaving the Ticket.
I hate that son of a bitch.
What!? Big Baseball Friedo leaves for the Mouse? What a world. Who is going to print off the internet for Norm? Or Bailout the weekend? Needed: one flunky, contact N.Hitzges, ASAP
Norm: Pop on there Freido Freido: I'm leaving you Norm Norm: Woah, Woah, Woah, Woah, Wait........WHAT! WHAT! WHAT! WHAT! WHAT! STOP! WHAT! WHAT! WHAT!.......I love you sports
Ticket Sales Guy makes me laugh.. That guy needs to up his meds. Seems you are an insider.. keep it coming!
Ticket Sales Guys hell, they don't have any sales people left can't you tell
DON'T YOU DAMN CALL AGAIN HERE....FREIDO!
I heard that the Ticket sales team drinks too much coffee which has impacted sales.
Jesus, people- It's just fucking sports radio. Most of you don't even know these guys as real people and yet you feel the need to live vicariously through them. Get a life.
PISS OFF WHITT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE TICKET SORRY WE EVER LET YOU BE A PLUS 1 SUCKIT!
GET A FRICKIN LIFE WHITT SORRY WE EVER LET YOU IN THE BUILDING TO BE A PLUS 1! WHEN IT COMES TO THE LITTLE TICKET - TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW - WHICH IS NOTHING
This is a quote from Friedo in the book "Full Disclosure." "I knew I wanted to be at The Ticket and I knew they wanted me. There are a lot of people we want here, but no one leaves."
How sad. Guess I will never hear Friedo again, since the Irvin show is unlistenable crap.
maybe Freido will help Irvin learn the english language as producer.
good lord, the sky is falling! The TicketTitanic has hit that PPM iceberg and is sinking. who knew
Good for Friedo! Exactly how he escaped the gravitational pull of Norm may never be explained. Any chance he could take Norm with him?
or even if they did listen to norm, they won't without friedo. not that i was that fond of either of them.
Predictions of impending Ticket doom aside, Nobody here listens to Norm...
Aw, Richie, you stole my thunder with your last sentence. This is a little surprising since it's Freido, but in thinking about it, if you had to polish Norm's cane and print out the Internet for him every day, wouldn't you bolt at the first chance of more money? I do agree with you that he may not be the last to leave. I think one thing that came about with the Greggo situation is that blind loyalty to the Mothership is dead. ESPN could buy The Ticket outright if they wanted to. You think Disney doesn't have pockets deep enough? The thing is, nobody wants to hear 24-7 sports. You gotta have some E-news, some E-break, some ghey not ghey, some why today doesn't suck, some big show coming to town, some what's on my Tivo, hosts kicking each other in the nuts...you get my point. The Ticket in decline is still 20x better than ESPN or The Fan.
are you gay? ARE YOU GAY?
Glad to see him go, he was a bigot.
First! Maybe.
I have a suspicion that Norm is next...