Fox 8’s Bill Martin Vows to Fight Atlanta Reporter
Clevelanders have shown very little patience lately with those who’ve decided to target the Rock and Roll City with various criticisms. First there was the reaction to Charlest Barkley’s daring assertion that Cleveland’s night life wasn’t even worthy of him making an appearance to throw someone through a window. Even local comedian Mike Polk has felt the wrath of Northeast Ohioans, receiving hastily made death threats for his Tourism Videos.
Well now, even the Cleveland media has had enough of all the apparent disrespect. Fox 8 television anchor Bil Martin (actually from Buffalo) took umbrage with the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Mark Bradley, who wrote:
“This city, as you’d expect, is pumped. We Atlantans moan over the state of our franchises, but Clevelanders have it way worse. For one thing, they have to live in Cleveland. For another, they haven’t seen a pro title since the Browns beat the Colts 27-0 to win the NFL title in 1964.”
Martin got his chance to respond to the comments in an ambush interview setting more typical of the Fox News Channel’s primetime lineup than the local news. What ensued was terrific and yet, incredibly awkward at the same time. In three minutes, Martin proceeded to intentionally misstate the newspaper’s name (called it the Constipation Journal), rip on the Atlanta airport, and even let Bradley know that he needed to “hide.”
Here’s the video. My only complaint is for the lousy directing: More Stacey Bell Closeups next time. Many more.
The venerable OhioMediaWatch weighs in.
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I cannot believe that an anchor of a major televison station would act like such a jerk to a reporter that was being completely respectful. Did his parents teach him any manners at all. This is embarrasing to watch. The reporter apologized and the anchor could not act gracious or even have a little humour. What is next, is he gonna mock a kid in a wheelchair. Get this idiot some happy pills. The Atlanta reporter even said they would be lucky to win one game. Wasn’t that enough? What a “hole”.
Dear Mr Bill Martin,
I think you just proved the point on what a crap hole Cleveland is.
Wow, slow news day in Cleveland. I feel like I was in the twilight zone. If Atlanta is so bad why do all the northeners move down south?
Some over-coiffed newsreader… one of Rupert Murdoch’s stooges no less… hardly represents the whole city. Bill Martin is a dimbulb, even by local tv news’ low intellectual standards. And Fox-8, in particular, specializes in trivial fluff and pathetic civic boosterism. I’m surprised he wasn’t wearing a Cavs jersey during the interview. What possessed Bradley to even consent to this interview?
THose of us who live here, know Cleveland is a dump. Buy hey… it’s OUR dump, and, believe it or not, it’s a cool town.
Slow news day in Cleveland? I think not, maybe it was long over due! Cleveland is a good, old fashion city that will never lose it’s charm. It may have downfalls, but not as bad as Atlanta!
What charm?
Never been to Cleveland. I have nothing against Cleveland. I know this writer here in Atlanta and he is tounge in cheek on many things. I hope the hawks win one (though I doubt it) just to see if this reporter backs up his talk.
Wow. Full disclosure: I live in Georgia, but I’m not prone to criticizing those from the north. Nor am I prone to criticizing Fox. But wow. This Bill/Mayor dude needs a serious attitude adjustment. On what planet is his behavior supposed to be acceptable or entertaining. Again…wow.
Martin was a beast, simple crushing an ass clown that didn’t belong in the same ring as him.
It was a Tyson vs Spinks moment and to you Gold Clubers from Atlanta…. maybe the guy that writes about the major sports teams in your city should be able to identify the team that is playing… check that…. maybe even the sport that is being played.
Mushmouth eating a peanut butter sandwich would studder less than that clown when confronted with Martin’s onslaught.
Only the French and the Hawks on Thursday night have surrendered more easily than Mark Bradley.
Keep up the dominance, and quite frankly Southerner’s Bill Martin doesn’t give a damn.
The last time I was in Cleveland…I was mugged!! Is this guy Bill lobbying to replace Bill O’Reilly? What an idiot!!
wow, people. some of you need to get your sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek detectors checked out.
Obnoxious self-important morons like Bill Martin are part of the reason Cleveland has such a sterling reputation in the rest of the country. Who appointed him “mayor”?
The whole thing was a joke, cant believe you MO-rons in the ATL took it seriously.
Quick question, Ohioans, if Atlanta is such a loser city, why do you people keep invading? Why do you keep on leaving your northern holes and move down to the beautiful South, home of Augusta National, SEC Football, and warmer weather?
Is it because you’re tired of seeing your Big-ZERO football teams like the Slowhio State Suckeyes get their butts handed to them by the superior forces from the SEC?
Is it because you’re tired of paying outrageous taxes forced upon you by your quasi-socialist state governments, or straight up dictatorships, like in Chicago?
Is it because you’re sick and tired of living in the cold, run-down, rustbelt cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, where they’ve been losing people for a steady 10 years to beautiful Southern climes?
I mean, what are the reasons? Why don’t you let us know. Because the fact is, we don’t want you carpet-bagging intruders with your puffed-up delusions regarding Big-ZERO football, your horribly bad driving manners, your weird accents, your calling Coke “pop,” and your constant claims of loving the horrible cities you used to live and putting down our lovely city that you just moved your wretched family!
Please, yankee, go home!
Hey BugKiller, Tell me how my ass tastes?
For the record, I would never, ever, ever ever move to that craphole.
Ah, yes, quite the classy response I was expecting from the trolls from Slowhio.
Maybe I should ask you which one of your Suckeye players will be the next Suckeye bust in the NFL.
Maybe the most overrated linebacker in the history of college football not named Bobby Carpenter or Andy Katzenmoyer: James “Laurie-nitis”
Or is it your brittle running back, Beanie?
You tell me.
um, why don’t we put away the rebel flags for a second
This is the real rossitron and i would never say such remarks.
Cleveland is gay. Seriously. That city blows more dudes than even me! And I blow a lot of dudes, because I’m homosexual.
Disregard that I suck cock.
What’s crazy is that I’m actually sitting here reading putdowns of Cleveland coming from people in Atlanta (notice I said “in” because nobody is FROM Atlanta). Cleveland is not glamorous but it has character, culture, civic pride and it’s people actually have a soul, none of which applies to Atlanta, or should I say “Metro Atlanta”. Go to a club in Atlanta and the guy next to you is either an obnoxious little yuppie, a drooling $hitkicker named Bubba or a crossdresser named Chris.
For all of you panty theives—
All of you are garbage…yeah, everyone in the ATL are transplants–that’s why your support for your teams is nil. Oh yeah, by the way, those losers who move to your backwards country town are those punks who can’t handle the cold (ooh, dn’t talk about the olympics—that must have been a fine time to show the world that you racist fodder down there are trying to revive the confederate army when that bomb went off, huh?). Waaaaaah! Its funny that you losers don’t even stand up for your city or your crap teams–even when they win. Look at your sorry newspaper writer–no heart. He’s just like you guys, all wet noodle and no real “leg” to stand on. Yea, our city has setbacks–but you sewage swill couldn’t even hack it up here anyways. Oh yeah, you couldn’t hack it in the hood where ya live…yeah, so much for you scrubs who sit in your momma’s basement playing doom all day in the dark, while you scarf down doritos and pop zits. Hahahahahahahahhaah!
disgusting!! the whole freaking interview! it should be qualified like nazi campaign.
osuyssu: if that malicious sh#th0le of a reporter is your example of pride, culture (not talking about respect, but reading the comments, little seem to have any of the above) – I pitty you and your fellow citizens. Lucky for yur fellow citizens, I think better of them then what some “people” are writing here.
That reporter should be fired immediately – anyone who thinks he is a mayor or self proclaimed god because he is an anchor on a small local station should be kept away from the normal society. (btw, some of those self proclaimed Gods on national tv should better be put away too – it would boost our safety all accross the nation)
The biggest difference between Cleveland and Atlanta is passion. Clevelanders support their teams through thick and thin. Atlanta folk, if there is such a thing, arrive during the second quarter and have to leave during the third so they don’t get mugged on their way to the suburbs.
Oh, and don’t even start to compare your puppies to our Buckeyes.
Atlanta public school teachers must be very proud of the grammar posted on this page!!
Um…the Cleveland guy acted like quite a douche…Bradley did say that the Braves and Hawks were “lucky”. Meanwhile the self-proclaimed “mayor” threatened a guy who never threatened to retaliate. Meanwhile, Bradley says nothing negative about Cleveland on-air, and the “mayor” says “Waffle House” and rips on the airport and traffic jams repeatedly…Quite an interesting interview. However, Bradley seemed to be failry calm, while the mayor was acting the fool. Even his co-anchor was uncomfortable of that pitiful macho display. “Let’s meet on the playground after school and I’ll beat you up” is basically what his words amounted to. What a loser!
Bill Martin is THE MAN!!!!!! i love this…. Bill was joking around, this guy didn’t know what to do. Bill took it to him, hard!
Wow, Bill Martin and his Co-anchor didn’t even realize how they were mocked by a much smarter guy during this interview. Pretty self-defeating, Martin’s tirade.
Martin: We’re much happier up here.
Bradley: … we’re glad that you’re up here too.
Plus the people standing outside of the frame with Bradley laughing when he pretends he took the interview seriously and the Fox anchors still don’t get his satirical tone. Martin is to Bradley as the Hawks are to the Cavs.
dunno…seemed like the atlanta guy was in on it too.
I’ve been to both cities (I live in neither), but despite the warm weather, I would prefer to live in Cleveland (& I hate cold weather).
What’s the mark of a great city? The people, culture, things to do, convenience, climate, among others. Atlanta possesses ONE of the listed items- climate (even that’s debatable due to the humidity)! By the way, in-bred hicks, NASCAR doesn’t count as culture. Have you seen the education statistics coming out of the great city of Atlanta? They are laughable. Probably the same people who planned the city sit on the board of education.
Conversely, people from Cleveland are friendly, inviting, understand different viewpoints, show class, and are forward-thinking. They have passionate fans (baseball, football, and basketball) that support their team through thick and thin. They have the Rock-n-Roll Hall of fame, 2 stadiums within walking distance of each other, the Cleveland clinic, waterfront, and great suburbs. All and all, aside from the climate, what does Atlanta have over Cleveland? If Atlanta were a cold-weather city, would ”Yankees” flock there? Probably as likely as the Hawks winning the series.
That said, Bradley clowned Martin. Fox’s own Bill Martin looked like a fish out of water during that tirade. He had very little to no idea that Bradley was killing him. By the way, Bill Martin defenders, Billy wasn’t going for satire, for that would require intelligence. Martin had so many opportunities to demonstrate that Cleveland is superior to Atlanta, but that bozo went to the fight card? Billy should really stick to reading from the cue cards.
You know what Clevelander’s have? Big dicks. Big freakin dicks man