Mike may have had a bad heart in his chest but not for the most part as a person.
I was Managing General Partner of KTIK and Mike worked for me about 6 months after the station started in 1995 or so. He helped operate the radio station and hosted a mid day talk show, The Sports Buffet. We called him the Sports Pig. Mike wasn't about doing interviews, in fact, he hated local sports for the most part and loved to argue national topics with himself, his co hosts Tom Lewis/Todd Miles or callers. He made front page news when Boise State Athletics took away his media credential for criticizing their program. The AFL-CIO got involved and he was ultimately reinstated but we took a beating. I had to put him on probation, suspend him and give him a last chance. We finally had to let him go when he accused former Boise State Coach Rod Jensen of being a racist for assuming his players weren't smart. I didn't hold it against him cause he was likable in his own sort of way and hilarious. I contacted my friends in the business and helped him land a job as a National Sports Talk host on Sports Fan radio network based in Las Vegas. He took it from there doing talk shows, live remotes from strip bars and casinos and making a nice career for himself. I stayed in touch but never too close.
I will be in Boise Monday, Jeff. I'll stop by and say hello in the afternoon at the studio before IST...
ReplyDeleteEven if you hated what he had to say (I often did) he had you listening! He crossed so many lines from that day's standards but proved well ahead of his time. Boise was even smaller back then and If a media credential was pulled for bashing BSU the big dogs like ESPN would highlight it to no end. 52 is far too young to lose a friendly and talented person if I agreed often or not. R.I.P Mike #Oink
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ReplyDeleteI was one of Mike's closest friends for over twenty years and he was truly an original. Often he could be challenging, disruptive, insulting, obnoxious, and frustrating, however, he always cared deeply about his profession. I remember I was living with him and another person in Boise during his turbulent stint at KTIK, and I also remember talking to you a couple of times when you weren't sure how to "deal" with him or the controversies which he had "stirred up." Although, I hadn't been in touch with him in nearly ten years I can honestly say I had some of the best times of my life being around Mike. I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing for a truly unique "life force" has left us. Jeff, I was a long-time friend, even a roommate of his on occasion, however, I was NEVER his boss......in fact, I'm not sure if anybody was truly the "boss" of Mike Responts, huh?! He always respected you Jeff, although he may not have always agreed with your decisions, but then again, I suppose that could be said of anybody that got close to Mike in any manner. Oh, some of the stories and memories I have of Mike and me. Rest in peace old friend. Mike, you may be gone but it will be impossible to forget you. Take care!
I was shocked and saddened today to discover that Mike is gone. I went on the web to see if he'd made it back on the air. Mike was a great friend. It was a privilege to be his technical producer on numerous occasions. We worked at KFXD, KTIK (for one day), SportsFan, and we were comrades in arms when I tried to help him get his show on anywhere. We literally marketed him to every part of the world. I still have all of his audio, for some reason his disheveled ass refused to get tapes.
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