Howard Berger Must Go

Great to know that the majority of Leaf fans are like-minded on the subject of this condescending blow-hard. If his employers fail to acknowledge their responsibility to those of us who simply want intelligent, respectful Leaf coverage, let’s cast our lots with those committed to doing so. Look forward to the PPP podcasts to come.
Years ago, the record industry also thought their poop didnt stink. They were blind-sided because of their arrogance, by a GREAT EQUALIZER, this nifty little thing called the internet. Consumers bought in. We can do the same here…
Go Leafs

eff Berger.

I wrote Doug Farraway regarding the recent outcry over Bergers latest outburst:
Dear Sir:

While we as Leaf fans acknowledge your support of Howard Berger, it is an offense to summarily dismiss the sentiments of the very demographic you,and perhaps more importantly, your key sponsors, wish to entice with the services and on air products you offer. Berger’s ‘joke’ has been going on far too long. By his own admission, this is by no means the first public outcry against the brand of ‘journalism’ he feels it is his prerogative to deliver to the most dedicated hockey fans in the game, anywhere. Our displeasure did not originate with his recent ‘gag’. Far from it. The liberties he regularly takes with fans, and Leaf personalities alike is so far below what is acceptable journalism, that it begs the question: why does a leading Toronto sports radio station choose to endorse an individual who displays such regular contempt for the team and it’s fans that it is his PRIVILEGE, not right, to report on?

   From regularly abusing the readership then clumsily explaining his masked intentions (was he the only one in on this gag?), to literally challenging a reader to fisticuffs (Twitter), the predominant attitude among Toronto sports fans is that Mr. Berger abuses the privileges his employer (YOU) affords him. We feel we deserve a more responsible brand of Leafs coverage. That doesn’t mean looking at the world through blue and white glasses, it just means respectful coverage minus the hyperbole, the sarcasm, and the condescending posturing. That Berger was openly gleeful that so many Leaf fans voiced there displeasure, as opposed to acknowledging his offenses, is in itself, offensive.In just two hours, one hundred Leaf fans signed our petition. Did we expect to oust him? not at all. We simply want you at the Fan to clue in and realize what the average fan thinks. Hopefully, that matters to you. Controversy may equate to relevance if you are Paris Hilton, but we are sports fans. We want honest, un-coloured Leaf coverage. Not the Howard Stern of sports-shock-jock, third- rate crap we are getting now from Berger.

Have a look at some of these comments…

150. Richard St.Louis he is a disgrace. I hate the leafs but he just crossed the line and i’m a habs fan

141. Steven Cohen I can’t believe this guy is being paid to report on a team that he clearly dislikes and go after the same fan base that pays his salary. Give his job to someone that actually wants to report on the leafs, not his or her’s unsupported opinions.

130. Vinny This guy is not fit to cover the leafs. The FAN can do SO much better!!!

116. Nick Richard Howard, you are truly pathetic. I’m as skeptical a Leaf fan as you’ll find but I can support them though it all and don’t insult the fan base.

99. Alex Parker Fan590, you deserve better.

70. Brian Huddle Disgrace to Toronto Media

  Each and every day new sources of quality sports coverage are presented to us sports fans. Local competition offering more even handed coverage, Internet radio, satellite radio, independent podcasts, etc. are alternative means of getting our ‘Leaf fix’. It behooves you all at Fan 590 to acknowledge that listenership loyalty is not an entitlement, it is earned, and maintained by offering quality information, not abusing fans at will then justifying it with a lame ‘just kidding’ disclaimer. At best, this is irresponsible journalism. At no point does Berger qualify his remarks. He just runs the fans down, and we are all just supposed to laugh along with a buffoon known for his disdain of Leaf fans. By summarily dismissing our views, you alienate many of the very fans you hope to engage.

   I responded to Berger on your forum yesterday. My replies were neither vulgar or offensive, unless the truth is offensive to your ‘moderator’. My comments were dissected and posted in such a way as to misconstrue context. When I called him on it, my posts were all removed. That is GUTLESS, and disrespectful. If that is the standard you hold yourself to, then I’ll simply do what many have now decided to do, and tune in to your competition.

Respectfully submitted,

Owen Durkin

Here’s his reply:

Thanks for writing

We present a number of opinions on all the platforms that wear the FAN 590 label.

Howard is entitled to his, as I am to mine. You are entitled to your opinion of what we present on any of the platforms we present on. You can chose to like, dislike, reject, turn off any of the platforms at any time.

We are in the entertainment business. As long as we don’t libel, slander or defame under the law we are allowed to say what we want when we want and how we want, and if the consequences are good or bad we reserve the right to deal with them in any fashion we chose because it is our business.

I have never watched a reality program on television. My choice. I read Nelson Demille. My choice. I watch the Maple Leafs despite Joe bowen. My choice.

You have the opportunity to chose. If you don’t like what Howard writes, don’t read it. Your choice.

d

Nice, huh?

That is how Berger gets away with his horse-shit. If being dismissed in this manner irks you as a fan, perhaps it’s time to get behind the alternative media, kids…

To clarify, by alternative media, I mean sites like this. If even handed, intelligent coverage is what you guys are about, you have my support. Visit Rick Baker and I at I Bleed Blue Maple Leafs For Life on Facebook. We’d love your input, and we’d be happy to direct our members your way for their Leaf fix

I’d never heard of Howard Berger…

I used to be so happy =(

I hear you.
But is this going to help or hurt the cause? The basic premise of talk radio is that controversy generates ratings. If you are protesting, you are listening.
It might be more effective to hit them in the wallet. This would require someone to make the supreme sacrifice of actually listening to Berger to identify the culprits, but if advertisers get even 10 calls a day saying “I won’t buy your products because you support this pustule,” Berger’s leash will get shorter.