re: Jordy Culotta Out at 104.5 ESPN

Anything else come out on this?

104.5 has been great for years but something like this can be the beginning of the end.

quote:

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Basically Jordy thought he was bigger than the team. That’s all it is to it.

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This is the correct answer. I’ve seen it many times in radio and tv.

Think about how willing Jordy was to accuse Dale Brown based on an apparently false rumor, how he’d call out J’s school system for closing due to light rain, how he was willing to shout down Dick (who’s a pretty big celebrity in this world), etc. Part of what made Jordy great was his fearlessness, but that fearlessness is also probably what led to the sudden, immediate departure. If he were trying to rile up all the on-air to demand a raise or refuse a pay cut, he did so knowing that: 1) he has the head FB coach, the head BB coach, the heisman winner’s family, the head coach of ULL, the LHSAA, the most famous name in college BB (Dick V), the father of LSU’s all-American sophomore CB, the director of the Senior Bowl, and many other big time “gets” in his back pocket; 2) Jordy was one of the top salesmen at Guarantee, having developed close relationships with the most major advertisers, as well as a handful more who are on a wait list to become title sponsors of the show; 3) he’s universally liked by his colleagues, on-air and off, and has friends in many other outlets (barstool, ESPN Bristol, SEC network, various recruiting services, the sportscasters at the other in-town stations, as well as the weather men/women and the other anchors, and many others I’m not immediately thinking of); 4) he is very, very well connected around town; and 5) he may be the most popular host at 104.5.

So combine his value as a booker, as on-air talent, as a salesman, and as an all-around well-connected guy with his willingness to go up against ANYONE. The resulting conversation could’ve gone something like this:

Management: Jordy, we’ve become aware that you’re trying to effectively unionize the other hosts to squeeze us for more money. Stop it or you’re gone.
Jordy: “...Or I’m gone?” Do you know who you’re talking to? I’m the kingmaker. I get the guests, the sales, the clicks, the downloads...You get rid of me and this ship is gonna sink.
Management: you think you’re bigger than the radio station? We made you and we can replace you. We get rid of you and we can replace you with some guy off the street.
Jordy: Do it then! Fire me and see what happens. I’ll take the audience and the sponsors with me.
Management: You’re out. Pack your shite and get out of the building right now.
Jordy: Great! I can’t wait to watch you crash and burn. You’ll be begging me to come back. Go frick yourselves.

I know that conversation is hypothetical and dramatized, but I’d bet that is exactly how it went down. He tried to lead a union-style mutiny and forced their hand. I seriously doubt they wanted it to play out like that, but Jordy’s weight backed them into a corner.

I don’t say any of that to the detriment of Jordy. If he acted that way, that’s exactly what I like so much about him. It’s the same situation that Howard Stern caused over and over again, resulting in his being fired over and over again. Same sort of circumstances.

I love T-Bob and I’m still riding with him, but I’m gonna ride with Jordy wherever he goes next. I’m a big fan of OTB and Jordy has always been great the little I’ve interacted with him. Mornings won’t be the same, and I’d love it if everybody made up, but he’s a legit star and will find something else that’ll probably be more lucrative very quickly.

The end of a golden era of Baton Rouge sports talk radio.