Meiners confirms he’s been kicked off U of L broadcasts

Terry Meiners

Terry Meiners

Update: Rick Bozich is tweeting from Big East Media Day that Pitino says he is taking the year off from his radio show. Says he was not happy with WHAS, but claims that was not the reason for the change.

Update No. 2: Lachlan McClean of WHAS radio wanted to make sure that I made the distinction that Pitino will not be doing his TV show on WHAS. Pitino is expected to do his WHAS radio show with Paul Rogers.

Via twitter, Terry Meiners has confirmed he’s been kicked off the U of L broadcasts.

He tweeted “true and correct” with link to my earlier blog post.

Then he tweeted:

terrymeiners Terry Meiners
Pitino TV show format fractured. I’m no longer host. No more farce halftime interviews, either. Read my wiki for details.

So we read his wiki:

In 2010, the University of Louisville switched from Freedom Hall to a new downtown arena, tossing out familiar seating assignments for longtime season ticket holders. Meiners publicly criticized[20] school administrators, saying that decades of fan loyalty had been ignored in the re-seating process to accommodate late line jumpers making fresh donations to the athletics department. In a live radio interview[21], Meiners asked a university fundraising spokesman about the number of prime seats school officials kept for its own use, whether school employees who received those free tickets were allowed to resell them “to enhance their compensation packages,” and about advance block sales of seats to ticket brokers before seats were made available to common fans. Meiners was soon removed from an upcoming charity golf tournament where University of Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich was slated to play in Meiners’ foursome. Meiners responded[22] by offering to buy two foursomes in the charity tournament, stocking the one in front of Jurich with four slow-moving octogenarians and the foursome behind Jurich with four long-hitters having “a delightful day of methodical shot selections.”

Shortly thereafter, a university official notified WHAS-TV of changes in the coach’s show[23] show format for the fall of 2010, resulting in Meiners no longer continuing to host the program[24]. WKRD-AM and WHAS-AM sports radio host Drew Deener[25] was selected to replace Meiners on the weekly Pitino television show under whatever format the university approves. Deener’s radio shows are consistently friendly to University of Louisville athletics.

To be fair, news was broken by  a tweet from KSR’s Matt Jones.

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29 Responses to “Meiners confirms he’s been kicked off U of L broadcasts”


  1. 1 rjr October 20, 2010 12:36 pm at 12:36 pm

    Jurich seems to have a short fuse. With this news, I can’t help but wonder why he stuck with Petrino as long as he did.

    But having said that, what is he thinking? Meiners, who I personally find boring, has a four hour radio show on by far the biggest radio station in the state. Why would he turn him from a friend to a foe? Its just appears to be very obtuse logic.

    Plus, I’ve always thought that UK wasn’t getting its money’s worth with 840 WHAS. They are the home of UK, but it seemed like with Terry Meiners and the rest of the crew, they talked as much about UL (if not more) as UK. I wonder if that will change now. Odd, odd, odd.

  2. 2 BC October 20, 2010 12:38 pm at 12:38 pm

    Jurich should live by the adage those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Terry Meiners asked questions that many long time UL fans sought answers to. While as VP it is Jurich’s decision whom to have on the UofL show, it seems a bit of a junior high school mentalilty for a middle aged VP of a major university.
    Jurich needs to grow up and focus on what should be important to the University of Louisville: student athelete graduation; student atheletes’ preparation for life after basketball and true fan base support. The fans are what got UofL to where it is today.

    BTW I’m a UK alumni.
    LOL and way to go Tom!!

  3. 3 Lori M October 20, 2010 12:39 pm at 12:39 pm

    Sounds like Jurich is trying to build a moat and a fortress around Rick. This time I doubt it works. Just way too much in Rick’s closet.

  4. 4 Patrick John Hughes October 20, 2010 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm

    Jurich is an ass. He threatened to ban me from all UL events because my son Patrick Henry Hughes questioned the UL marching band’s treatment by his Athletic Department. He responded not only with the threats but by making it next to impossible for my son to participate in the UL Pep Band. What is it with this guy? Lots of nice facilities but more court appearances (by far) for his UL staff than championships.

  5. 5 JHB4UK October 20, 2010 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm

    I’ll just say the same thing that was said to UK fans back in 2001 when the war started with Terry Meiners….nobody in the state of Kentucky is more listened too on a daily basis, and nobody receives more IRS Form 1099′s at the end of the year than Terry Meiners (i.e., for advertisments and promotions of products and companies). You are picking a battle and war you will not win, Turtleneck.

  6. 6 UKFAN October 20, 2010 1:48 pm at 1:48 pm

    Maybe now he will leave coach Hall alone and start picking on Pitino. This is going to be interesting. Like one of the comments said, Minners has a huge voice over several states. This could be just what UK is looking for in advertising in Louisville. And the best thing about it is it will be free!

    FREE ENES GO CATS

  7. 7 WOW October 20, 2010 2:04 pm at 2:04 pm

    Yeah, dont mess with Terry Mieners. He will turn your world upside down. LMAO! I didnt even know AM radio still existed. Some of you are hoping WAY too hard. Out with the old and in with the young.

  8. 8 samwise2206 October 20, 2010 2:09 pm at 2:09 pm

    Terry Meiners has “wildcat Joe” call in almost daily. And while the bit is a shot at over zealous U.K. Fans “Joe” rips on Pitino a lot I mean real good shots about Sypher and calling him ” sticky Ricky” among other things. It is hilarious but I always wondered why Pitino allowed it being the thin skinned person he is. Maybe he got wind of it and cried to papa Turtleneck.

  9. 9 Dave October 20, 2010 2:38 pm at 2:38 pm

    I wonder if meiners got caught in the middle of a bigger battle. Is Jurich tiring of being the mayor of Pitinoville. Meiners and Pitino at one time were great buddies.

  10. 10 JackB October 20, 2010 3:38 pm at 3:38 pm

    If you going to be buddies with a radio personality that lives off of humor, and you are huge local public figure, you had best have a thick skin.

  11. 11 rpeeb October 20, 2010 4:36 pm at 4:36 pm

    Terry should’ve checked with the University first before making allegations and then Jurich should have gone to Terry to discuss the issue in private. No one wants to see dirty laundry hung out on the line…or do they? Let’s stop all the finger pointing and thank God that we still live in a free country. Life is too short to bicker back and forth. Pray for one another.

  12. 12 Kentucky Explorer October 20, 2010 4:41 pm at 4:41 pm

    Drew Deener has to be the MOST BORING radio host I have ever encountered. The show will lose alot of following I would guess

  13. 13 Cheryl October 20, 2010 4:45 pm at 4:45 pm

    Jurich is a real jerk. Doe anyone remember about 2-3 years ago, he was able to get a local radio sports show off the air – one of these days, he is going to cross the wrong person (I don’t mean physical harm) but I do mean he will probably regret what he is doing now.

  14. 14 Toni A October 20, 2010 4:59 pm at 4:59 pm

    I guess UL will break ties with the Courier Journal and Rick Bozich next since he recently wrote an article criticizing Pitino. It seems to be a pattern around UL. Either support the good old boys network or get packing. The self destruction will only continue. Go Big Blue!

  15. 15 ZING! October 20, 2010 5:19 pm at 5:19 pm

    I heard from a guy whos friends with a guy whos sister said that Terry and Pitino were eating dinner late at Porchinis a few weeks ago. Then this happens. Sounds awfully familier. I dunno…………lol

  16. 16 JimmyCrackCorn October 20, 2010 5:52 pm at 5:52 pm

    Hey UK dummies, Pitino and Meiners are not feuding….it’s Meiners and Jurich. If anything, it seems to me Pitino may be taking time off from the show out of loyalty to Meiners.

  17. 17 skwerl October 20, 2010 6:36 pm at 6:36 pm

    You know Mr. Hughes, I find it a bit hypocritical that the univeristy that opened all the doors for your son and your family now is the focus of so much immmature and inane language from you. How many universities in the nation allowed and individual in a wheelchair to have their father aide them in participating in the band? ONE. How many universities opened countless doors for your son and family by assisting the Hughes family in this corageous endeavour? ONE. Do you really think that Patrick would have been the focus of so many human interest pieces during all the sports’ broadcasts had it not been for UL and their cooperation? Not a chance. I doubt seriously you would be living in that multi-million dollar donated home if it had not been for the publicity you received due to UL’s cooperation with your family. By the way, have you returned the free educations that UL awarded your other children since they have taken such advantage of you and your family? Just an honest question. It seems to me that you have an issue with the fact that the UL Pep Band did not bend over backward to make it the JPH Pep Band. Your son is an amazing and very talented person but there comes a point sir when you stop EXPECTING to be treated differently than the rest of the students at UL. You should be thanking UL for what they have done but as is often the way, once you get a little you always feel you are owed more. Why don’t you take stock of your lives comparing now and the time before UL graciously cooperated with you and your son and recognize their merit in your vastly improved situation.

  18. 18 Brian October 20, 2010 8:09 pm at 8:09 pm

    In defense of Mr. Hughes and his son, I think they can stand on their own merit. Nothing that the university and specifically the athletic department did even remotely compares to the sacrifices that this family has made over the years. I should also remind everyone reading this that the university’s marching band even benefited by getting a new practice field and storage facility constructed while this family’s home was being built.

    All the above being said, Jurich’s actions involving the Hughes family provides even more evidence about what type of character and values that he has. Jurich may have been brought in to Louisville and has been “protected” throughout the years by some large financial donors to the university. However, it appears the inner circle may be broken and Jurich’s alledged tower of power is crumbling.

    No one (Louisville fans included) can deny that Jurich likes to seek out the tv cameras and enjoys his time in the spotlight. This was obvious when-at the end of the Sypher trial-Jurich (acting as the spokesperson for the entire university) called a press conference to say “Pitino is an honorable man and the University of Louisville fully supports him”.

    I have been told personally by U of L employees that the university’s athletic department and staff are treated differently than any other group of university employees and they play by their own rules-all of which apparently rolls back to Jurich himself.

    U of L fan, UK fan, or innocent bystander, you have to agree that it’s time for Jurich to go based-if on nothing else-his latest childish move to protect Pitino from the media. In my opinion, there’s plenty more evidence that would support showing him the door.

    In closing, I would just say that we should not be surprised if Jurich gets a “job offer” overnight sometime in the not-so-distant future and decides it’s time to move on. His personality would only allow for a move like this to save face before U of L President James Ramsey gracefully shows him to the door.

  19. 19 JimmyCrackCorn October 20, 2010 10:44 pm at 10:44 pm

    Yeah Brian, Jurich is on his way out because the University has had enough of his crap. What in the hell are you talking about?

    You wish he was leaving. He’s not going anywhere unless he wants to leave. He’s the best AD in the country. Let me say that again….”THE BEST AD IN THE COUNTRY.” He’s not going anywhere unless he wants to leave. You don’t run off the best AD in the country.

    I’m not saying he’s perfect. His manipulation of the media disturbs me as well but you have to take the good with the bad and the good out weighs the bad by a long shot.

    Besides, Meiner’s can be a little whiney and he’s not that good at his job anyway.

    Jurich is a business man. Like it or not, the Athletic Department is a business. I’m all for loyalty but in this day and age, unfortunately, the people that can pay more money get the better seats. So Meiners can just suck it up and enjoy his upper level seats or not come to the games. Obviously, he won’t be missed because someone is willing to pay more money to fill his seats.

  20. 20 VietNamVet69 October 21, 2010 1:03 am at 1:03 am

    JimmyCrackCorn…….If you think Jurich is the best AD in the country then your morals are just as bad as his are. Any AD that would give a coach a contract extension and raise after what “15 Second Pitino” did with Karen Sypher and then paid $3500.00 for her abortion to KILL the unborn baby is totally unreal. It is like saying “Good Boy Rick, we approve of what you did”. I haven’t read his contract but i would bet it had a morals clause in it and what he did would fall under that clause so he should have been fired. All of this really makes UL look good to the public. If I was a UL grad I would be ashamed to tell anyone. What UL needs is a good house cleaning starting at the Top with the President.

  21. 21 Patrick John Hughes October 21, 2010 2:18 am at 2:18 am

    Dear Skwerl – The marching band opened it’s door for my son. That’s where it happened – marching band. I’ve thanked President Ramsey many times over for his generosity to my 3 sons. TJ fought us every step of the way. I was there in meetings with his staff. I know. Perhaps if you used your real name, your comments wouldn’t be construed by me as cowardly.

  22. 22 JimmyCrackCorn October 21, 2010 7:25 am at 7:25 am

    VietNamVet69, I concede your point about Pitino. He should be fired right now. This is the one decision Jurich has made that I can not support. He never should have hired that man. Pitino has been an a**hole forever. It was easily seen years ago while he was being praised like a God by UK fans. I tried telling them at that time but they did not want to listen.

    And as a UofL graduate and fan I am embarassed by his decision to not fire Pitino.

    In case you didn’t know, Calipari is an a**hole too and UK’s Athletic Department and fans are in serious need of having their moral compassess recalibrated. That program has a long and storied history of cheating and corruption. Point shaving, paying players, fixing grades. They play in an arena named after a racist for goodness sake.

    If I was a UK fan or graduate I would be embarassed. I honestly believe their Athletic Department is a laughing stock. Everyone knows their “rich tradition” is built around a history of corruption and that Calipari is just another chapter that the book.

  23. 23 skwerl October 21, 2010 6:46 pm at 6:46 pm

    Dear Mr. Hughes,

    I never use my real name, especially in a volatile arena such as this. Call me a coward if you will but I don’t require the same attention that it seems that you do. You could have gotten your point across equally as well anonomously, but lately that just doesn’t seem to be your style. Being a veteran of the Louisville and Southern Indiana fraternity of construction and building workers I can claim having a hand in the building of your home and was proud and honored to do so. But your comments as of late paint you as someone who feels they are owed whatever it is they decide they want. If you do not like the way you come across then perhaps you should think before you speak. I made clear what I think of your son, his courage and his talent. That being said, if he were my son I would worry more about how my words reflect on him and the rest of your family. That is just my opinion and you are fully entitled to disagree with it. Just because you and TJ disagree about how things should be handled does not make him wrong, it gives him a 50% chance of being wrong with the other half of the onus lying upon your shoulders.

  24. 24 Charlie Hertey October 22, 2010 9:25 am at 9:25 am

    Be careful skwerl, you’re not exactly dealing with a MENSA candidate here.

    As it is, I think you’re analysis is pretty much spot on.

  25. 25 Patrick John Hughes October 22, 2010 1:55 pm at 1:55 pm

    You’re right skwerl. My apologies. Thanks for contributing to our house.

  26. 26 George W Bush October 23, 2010 7:22 am at 7:22 am

    Maybe not a MENSA mind like us, Hertey, but hopefully Mr. H understands when to use (your) and (you’re) appropriately. W -

  27. 27 hmmmrgirl October 28, 2010 11:47 am at 11:47 am

    This is the FACTS…..Terry Meiners & Patrick Hughes were here LONG before Tom Jurich got here………..and will be here LONG after he is gone! Tom did a lot for the University, however it has gone to his head & caused him to be a Horse’s A**! Here is a reality check for him…..YOU ARE REPLACEABLE! We can only hope that he decides to make like a jockey and ride his A** out of town!

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