With FOX Sports pulling the plug on three of its weekday programs on FS1 yesterday, reaction is beginning to trickle out from those involved in the decisions made by FOX Sports. While details on who will go and who will stay remain unclear, former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth shared his reaction to the news following the cancellation of his show, Breakfast Ball.
Although Schlereth was sad to see the cancellation of the program, he remained upbeat about the opportunity.
“They cancelled our show Breakfast Ball yesterday. Listen man, life is good. All is good,” said Schlereth. “I got an opportunity to do something that I didn’t know I’d ever get to do. I’m so grateful to all the people at FOX. Danny Parkins and Craig Carton have become lifelong friends. What an unbelievable ten months.”
On Monday, FOX Sports officially pulled the plug on The Facility, Speak, and Breakfast Ball as part of a major shakeup to its FS1 weekday lineup. As a result, the network will retain The Herd with Colin Cowherd and First Things First, while pivoting away from shows that struggled to generate consistent viewership since launching in August and September of last year.
Schlereth, who is also part of a morning show on sports radio station 104.3 The Fan in Denver, was the lead host on Breakfast Ball alongside Craig Carton and Danny Parkins.
“To Carton my partner. To Danny Parkins, my partner. Thank you guys so much,” said Schlereth. “Sorry we couldn’t make it work out.”
Mark added that it’s unsettling having an apartment in New York City and a house on the market in Denver but he’s hopeful that everything works itself out.
The FS1 shakeup comes less than a year after network executives, under the guidance of then-EVP Charlie Dixon, reshaped the daily lineup to appeal to younger and more digitally engaged viewers. Consequently, this swift course correction highlights the volatility of sports television programming in an evolving media landscape.
Schlereth joined FOX Sports in 2017 after 16 years at ESPN following a 12-year career in the NFL. While serving as a game analyst on NFL on FOX broadcasts, Schlereth also hosted a weekday radio program on Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan alongside co-host Mike Evans. Additionally, the former NFL lineman told Barrett Media he struggled with the role of the lead host for some time when the show was constructed in August of last year.
Despite the cancellation, Schlereth has maintained a positive outlook moving forward.
“Life marches on, sometimes you get punched in the gut,” said Schlereth. “It’s all good.”
In closing, Schlereth expressed gratitude to those who reached out following the news, regardless of their tone.
“To everybody who watched on FS1, who supported me and reached out to me, thank you so much. I appreciate it. For all the people who celebrated me getting fired and our show ending, I thank you guys too,” shared Schlereth. “One thing I’ve learned in this business. You want 50% of the people to love you, and 50% of the people to hate you. As long as you’ve got that ratio, things are good. You’re doing your job.”
As for his future with FOX Sports, Schlereth said he expects to continue calling games on FOX TV for the NFL, though he isn’t quite certain of that just yet.
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“Speak” is the worst show ever, so glad to see that one go. And cannot stand Colin Cowherd – he is a hater of all things good in football.