Syracuse Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; The logo of the Syracuse Orange is seen on a helmet during the second half of their game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
By Sam Neumann on

Radio host Brent Axe was fired from ESPN Radio Syracuse and was told on Sunday that his “On the Block with Brent Axe” radio show would no longer be on the air. Axe was reportedly told that he was being fired for being “overly negative” about Syracuse University sports during his drive-time radio program.

According to Syracuse.com’s Chris Carson, Galaxy Media Partners president and CEO Ed Levine said he fired Axe because he believes the content of his show had become too negative toward Syracuse University sports.

“I had a problem with the content of the show,” Levine told Syracuse.com. “I’m an SU fan. I’m sorry, but I bleed Orange. I’m not going to apologize for that, and I think a fair reading of the Orange is appropriate. I understand (Galaxy has) a business relationship (with Syracuse), that Coach (Jim) Boeheim and I are personal friends and he’s an investor in my company.

“I understand and acknowledge all of that. We’ve called it pretty fair, and I would argue we’ve been tough on SU when the on-field or off-field events warrant it. I just think over the past six months it took a different tone and became overly dark and negative. I don’t think that’s what Syracuse fans want to hear.”

Needless to say, the sports world did not react kindly to the news that Axe’s show would be taken off the air, effective immediately.

“Brent is a pro,” said Sports Illustrated senior writer Connor Orr. “What a sad example this sets for a bunch of university kids studying journalism.”

“Absurd. Huge fan of @BrentAxeMedia, who loved the teams he covered and did so fairly. Syracuse sports have been incredibly disappointing this year, and should be discussed as such. This is incredibly weak,” wrote Nick Reynolds, a senior reporter for Newsweek.

“I’m embarrassed for this station after reading the quotes in this article,” said Erik Slater, who covers the Brooklyn Nets for ClutchPoints. “What a sad look. Brent was never overly negative about Syracuse even when he had reason to be these last two years. Imagine firing someone for being objective to their audience. Unbelievable.”

“You can’t make up the quotes from the CEO,” said The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel.

“I think fans would be surprised at how many radio and TV entities are in contracts with schools, teams and leagues that can and do control the editorial product, AKA why I’m #bannedfromFinebaum,” wrote Steven Godfrey.

“Not surprising that this stuff is happening to Syracuse sports because they were dumb enough to hire John Wildhack as their AD, but this story is particularly gross,” The Ringer founder Bill Simmons said. (Simmons worked at ESPN while Wildhack was an executive there.)

[Syracuse.com]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann