Syracuse radio personality Brent Ax fired for talking too negatively about Orange athletics

ESPN Radio Syracuse personality Brent Axe, who first joined the station in 2014, was taken off the air for speaking negatively about Syracuse sports programming.

Ax hosted “On the Block with Brent Ax” in the afternoon slot. He is a sports columnist for The Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com and has worked part-time with ESPN Radio Syracuse, which is owned by Galaxy Media Partners.

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

“I understand and recognize all this. We’ve called it fair enough, and I’d say we’ve been tough on SU when events on or off the field warrant it. I think in the last six months it’s taken a different tone and it’s become too dark and negative, I don’t think that’s what Syracuse fans want to hear.

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Syracuse hasn’t fared well in major sports recently. While the football program made a postseason appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, the men’s basketball program finished 17-15 and missed the NCAA Tournament. The disappointing campaign led to the retirement of men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim after 47 years at the helm.

Ax said his show gave the public a chance to express their feelings within the Syracuse sports program. He felt that there was no waning of interest in the show. However, Ax admitted that his performance might have caused some consternation.

“I felt something was wrong,” Ax said. “I had the feeling that what I was saying was not going down well with certain people. The Galaxy have a relationship with Syracuse University in various ways and I’m sure they weren’t happy. No one said anything, but I had this feeling. .”

Levine pointed out that some fans were upset by the criticism of the show. He felt that Ax focused too much on the negativity surrounding the program.

“When we haven’t had a particularly good football, lacrosse or basketball season, everybody here knows it,” Levine said. “We don’t have to put our faces in it every day.”

Ax was informed of the decision on Sunday.

The decision comes at an interesting time. This week, Levine announced on Facebook that Boeheim will make regular appearances on Galaxy Media platforms. However, Levine states that the decision has nothing to do with pulling the Ax.

“I put it on Facebook for the right moment,” Levine said. “That deal was made a year ago. They are completely unrelated. Two completely separate items.”

Ax has drawn the ire of the Syracuse staff in the past. Boeheim called out a “local talk show host” when he addressed the criticism to reporters in February. Others reportedly took issue with Axe’s tone regarding athletic programs.

Levine noted that he felt Ax and Syracuse.com had an agenda. He conveyed that the agenda spread over the airwaves and was one that went against Galaxy Media’s values.

“We have no agenda,” Levine said. “We are in business with Syracuse University, but we say it directly. What I told Brent was that I wanted him to cover Syracuse University with the same affection that he covered the Buffalo Bills with.”

Levine is set to make an announcement regarding the future of the primetime show. The news will come during the time slot in which “On the Block” airs.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Syracuse radio personality fired for being too negative about Orange