FOX NFL analyst and Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan host Mark Schlereth knows he ruffled the feathers of Philadelphia sports fans earlier this week, and he’s not taking back any of what he said.
Schlereth on The Stinkin’ Truth Podcast earlier this week mentioned he had received plenty of criticism from Eagles fans during this past Sunday’s game in Washington against the Commanders. In response, Mark essentially called fans fickle saying they always try to find some kind of negative to harp on with a team that’s still got the best record in the NFL entering Week 9.
On Thursday he was asked by co-host Mike Evans if he was feeling the effects of his week-long battle with Philly sports supporters. Schlereth said he wasn’t fazed by any criticism, and that he’s embracing the label from fans as a hater.
“I played enough against Philadelphia. I’ve been around Philadelphia enough,” he said. “I’ve done enough stuff over the years both with ESPN and now with FOX with Philadelphia fans. So no, I am not at all rattled. As a matter of fact, I like the hate.”
“I do this to entertain myself. You know that, right, that’s the only reason I do this business,” Mark Schlereth added. “To entertain myself and to draw a paycheck.”
He continued that a wise man once told him when he first broke into sports media that the goal is to have 50% of the audience loving him and the other 50% hating him.
“And if you do that, if you have that ratio, you’re doing a good job. So I love the hate. I love it when people throw things at me.
Schlereth then responded to criticism he faced from within the sports media space from WIP hosts Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie, without mentioning them by name. The duo said Monday on their show that Schlereth was a bad announcer and extremely biased.
“If what you say to me is ‘The broadcast was horrendous. You’re awful. It’s too X’s and O’s. Plus you were so biased,’ you didn’t hear the game you wanted to hear,” he said. “I don’t get paid to talk about the game you want to hear. I get paid to cover the game in front of me.”
“And if you’re throwing at me, especially a media member, that I was biased in my broadcast then you’re a candy-ass bitch, and you know exactly who I’m talking about,” Schlereth continued. “That’s exactly what you are.”
He finished by saying Philly fans and sports media folks alike need to take off their rose-colored glasses.
“I can’t help you if you didn’t get to hear the game that you wanted to hear,” Mark said. “Sorry, I’m not sorry.”
