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Mark Madden

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Mark Madden
Born (1960-12-29) December 29, 1960 (age 63)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Professional wrestling career
Debut1990

Mark Madden (born December 29, 1960) is a radio sports talk-show host in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and also a former-World Championship Wrestling television commentator.

Professional biography

A 1982 graduate of Duquesne University, Madden worked in professional wrestling as a TV color commentator and magazine writer for World Championship Wrestling. Shortly before the WCW organization dissolved in 2001, Madden was fired for making disparaging remarks about the company, lobbying for the return of the fired Scott Hall, and disclosing information about the sale of WCW. [1] He also spent several years as a regular columnist for Wade Keller's Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter.

Madden has also worked within mainstream sports journalism, including fifteen years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he primarily covered high schools for the paper's suburban sections, as well as stints at the now-defunct Penguins Report and the weekly Pittsburgh City Paper. He subsequently appeared as a featured guest on Action Sports Sunday on WTAE-TV, a half-hour sports discussion show. The Post-Gazette reported on November 17, 2006 that WTAE-TV dropped Mark Madden as a freelance sports commentator on its Sunday night sports show. [2] Madden has been writing a weekly column called "Monday Madden" for the Beaver County Times since May 28, 2007.

Another area of sports in which Madden is heavily involved is the game of street hockey. Madden runs Street Hockey USA, and is also involved in the American Street Hockey Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to growing the game of street/dek/ball hockey in America. He has coached numerous National Champion teams over the years (most notably his Pittsburgh Wizards team), as well as coaching the United States Junior team to a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Championship in Germany. [3]

Personal life

Madden was hospitalized on January 29, 2006 after suffering a heart attack. He has openly expressed on his radio show that he fears that he may not be alive when Sidney Crosby breaks Wayne Gretzky's scoring records. His mother Peggy Ann died on Thursday, May 18, 2006 in Pittsburgh following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Madden was a renowned high school speech forensics teacher and coach.

Notable opinions

Madden is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan and is especially fond of Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. He was an outspoken advocate of the Isle of Capri Casinos gaming company's failed plan for a new arena in Pittsburgh. Madden is also a longtime supporter of former Pittsburgh Pirate Barry Bonds.

He is known to be a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C.

Steelers/Hines Ward Controversy

On November 14, 2006, Madden reported that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward was appearing at a Pittsbugh mall to sign autographs, and that tickets for one signature cost $175. [4]. Madden claims that the following day, Ward was extremely upset at the Steelers' media department because the segment portrayed Ward in a negative light. Madden claims that the Steelers called ESPN Radio 1250 to complain about the incident. [5]. Just a day after that, Madden was fired from the WTAE-TV Sunday evening sports program Action Sports Sunday as a result of Madden's on-air language. The team made the argument that they did not care for it, yet he contests that he has used similar language for years. The team allegedly threatened to cut off WTAE from access to Steelers for interviews if Madden was not removed. There has been some speculation about the incidents being connected by fans of Madden and, of course, by Madden himself. As a result of this and other incidents, Madden now refers to Ward as "Whines Hard" when discussing him on his radio show.

Trivia

  • Nicknamed "Flounder" as a student at Duquesne University
  • HATES to be called "Madden"
  • Refers to his legion of devoted fans as "MF'ers" , known as "Madden Followers"
  • Watches That 70s Show in syndication during his radio broadcast. The show's Danny Masterson appeared on his show following his appearance in the 2006 All Star Celebrity Softball Game.
  • His frequent targets of ire include:
A longstanding dislike of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis due to a last minute cancellation of an appearance on The Mark Madden Show.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (who Madden refers to as Luke "Raving Drunk" in reference to a police-shoving incident at a Steeler game in 2005 where Ravenstahl supposedly was intoxicated.), and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato due to their stance on the Mellon Arena Gaming License debate surrounding the city of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette and columnist Bob Smizik, who Madden refers to as "Bozo the Columnist". Smizik used to be a frequent guest in the past.
ESPN Radio 1250 newsman Jim Colony, who Madden frequently interrupts during newscasts. He has even coined a new segment of the show "Mr. Colony Super Jackass," in a spoof of the the 5:45 segment "Mr. Madden Super Genius."
ESPN Radio and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, who Madden criticized in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in 2004. [6]
Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver Hines Ward, who Madden calls "Whines Hard", due to Ward's outspoken nature on team issues.
Pittsburgh Pirates, and former Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris (who he refers to as "Franco Harrah's", a result of Harris' support of the Harrah's casino plan in Pittsburgh).
  • His self-given nicknames include "Double M" and "Big Sexxxy"
  • Gained the ire of professional wrestler Lex Luger while doing commentary for WCW Thunder. Madden jokingly said that Luger had let himself go and instead of being at the 5% body fat level Luger had boasted about being at throughout his career that he was up to 7%. This angered Luger, leading to him making shoot comments about Madden's physique on the subsequent week's show.


  • Currently running a segment "Who wants to win 15 bucks" during the "Mr. Madden Super Genius" 5:45 segment. The theme song is the theme from Jackass. Callers are asked to answer 3 trivia questions on various topics decided by Jim Colony and Mark. The topics usually center around popular movies or Pittsburgh sports trivia. Three people thus far have won 15 bucks.
  • Had been recently calling the Pirates the "Succos" a play on words from the term "Buccos" but has recently changed them to a more official name the "Succaneers".

Mark often jokes about getting a gastric bypass with a buzzsaw.

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