Atlanta radio program hosts fired for mocking former NFL player with Lou Gehrig's disease

June 18, 2013 at 8:40PM
Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune October 17, 2004 � New Orleans, LA � Louisiana Superdome � NFL � Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans--- Minnesota�s Kelly Campbell runs from New Orleans� Steve Gleason in the 2nd quarter.
Minnesota's Kelly Campbell runs from New Orleans' Steve Gleason in a 2004 NFL game. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ATLANTA — A station official says the cast of an Atlanta sports radio show has been fired after mocking a former NFL player who has Lou Gehrig's disease.

The show, Mayhem in the AM, was broadcast Monday morning on 790 The Zone. In a statement, General Manager Rick Mack says the station regrets comments made about ex-New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason.

The 36-year-old suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. ALS patients lose the ability to speak and move, which has happened to Gleason.

The station lists the hosts at Nick Cellini, Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino. But Mack didn't give the names of those fired.

Cellini took to Twitter to apologize, calling it a stupid attempt at humor. Listeners on the station's Facebook page called for the hosts' termination.

Gleason played for the Saints from 2000-06.

about the writer

about the writer

More from Minnesota Star Tribune

See More
card image
Provided/Sahan Journal

Family members and a lawyer say they have been blocked from access to the bedside of Bonfilia Sanchez Dominguez, while her husband was detained and shipped to Texas within 24 hours.

card image