Evan Cohen turned rumors into fact. He announced on Mad Dog Sports Radio’s Morning Men that he is leaving the company to join ESPN Radio.
“Today is my last day on the show and at SiriusXM,” he said to open the show’s final hour on Thursday. “I have been here for 12 years. I’ve been so unbelievably fortunate to be a part of this company, this station, the show for the last 12 years. In the last month or two, the way in which SiriusXM has treated me, has made me feel more appreciated than literally at any time over the last 12 years. The trust that they have put in me and in us to do this right. People who don’t work in radio will never understand this, and I don’t think that anyone should. But the trust Sirius XM had in me and in us to go out the right way on the same terms with each other, unified, communicative, and fairly, is amazing. It’s absolutely amazing. And I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever thank SiriusXM enough.
Cohen will be part of the network’s new morning show with Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon. He told the listeners that more details will come another day. Thursday was a day to celebrate Morning Men.
“Today is about thanking you for this show that none of us ever, ever could have anticipated would have become this,” he said. “We have had an unbelievable run. And my portion of this run is over today. SiriusXM’s portion of this run will continue for eternity. It’s the biggest audio brand there is anywhere. Mad Dog Sports Radio’s portion of this run ain’t going anywhere.”
Cohen called the decision to leave “easy in working out, but impossible in deciding” and added that he is thrilled to be able to walk away from this job “with a smile on my face.”
He added that for him, the toughest part of saying goodbye to SiriusXM is saying goodbye to the people.
“What we created was special. What’s going to be created here on Mad Dog Sports Radio is going to be special. Whatever it is. Because with Doggy and Tory and Spitz and Long Balls and Babs and Lou and everybody involved. I have no doubt that what’s going to happen next is going to be amazing and I will be supportive.”
He singled out longtime partner Mike Babchick, saying that the tears in his goodbye were all about the two of them.
“We love you,” Babchick responded. “We thank you, and this ride has been incredible.”
