ESPN Radio Station Fires Brent Axe For ‘Negative’ Syracuse Sports Talk

Brent Axe, a radio host for ESPN Radio Syracuse, was informed on Sunday that Galaxy Media Partners is terminating his employment and that his radio programme “On the Block with Brent Axe” will no longer be broadcast.

ESPN Radio Station Fires Brent Axe For ‘Negative’ Syracuse Sports Talk

The reason Axe was fired, according to Galaxy President and CEO Ed Levine, is because Axe’s show, in his opinion, has become too disparaging of Syracuse University athletics.

Levine notified Axe by a phone call on Sunday afternoon, according to Axe. There is an instant firing.

Radio host Brent Axe was fired from ESPN Radio Syracuse for being "overly negative" about SU sports during his drive-time radio program. https://t.co/iAH1AMF6Ji

— chris carlson (@ccarlsononSU) March 13, 2023

“I had a problem with the content of the show,” Levine said. “I’m an SU fan. I’m sorry, but I bleed Orange. I’m not going to apologize for that, and I think a fair reading of the Orange is appropriate. I understand (Galaxy has) a business relationship (with Syracuse), that Coach (Jim) Boeheim and I are personal friends and he’s an investor in my company.

“I understand and acknowledge all of that. We’ve called it pretty fair, and I would argue we’ve been tough on SU when the on-field or off-field events warrant it. I just think over the past six months it took a different tone and became overly dark and negative. I don’t think that’s what Syracuse fans want to hear.”

Some news. https://t.co/8a8UuoKICC

— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) March 13, 2023

Axe is a sports columnist that works full-time for Syracuse.com | The Syracuse Post-Standard. He worked at Galaxy Media part-time.

Axe said he took satisfaction in evaluating Syracuse’s programmes honestly over the years and allowing supporters a chance to share their thoughts, whether they were favourable or not.

“I had a responsibility to give an honest, fair and thorough opinion to my audience,” Axe said. “I certainly wasn’t perfect, but I don’t regret anything about the approach of the show. We put listeners on the air, and we gave them the opportunity to say what they needed to say. I don’t have any regrets.”

Friends, I’ve just been informed my time with @ESPNSyracuse and Galaxy Media is over. It’s been a great run. I thank you for taking the time to listen. Not sure what’s next in the audio space but I’ll still be over at @syracusedotcom. Stay tuned.

— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) March 12, 2023

Since August 2014, when he made his debut with a one-hour sports talk show and broadcast before and postgame shows, Axe has been heard on ESPN Radio Syracuse. Later on, his chat programme was extended to two hours. It was cancelled while it was airing between 4 and 6 p.m. during the radio station’s busy drive-time hours.