Blog: Favre

I left my contract with CBS because of lingering bereavement, nothing more or less. I desperately needed to get my post-Freda life started without work getting in the way.

I left, and forefieted lots of $$$'s. That is ok. Lots of folks seem to think I'm still drawing paychecks from CBS. Not so.

My longing to return is not financially motivated. I love radio, and am lucky enough to have made my hobby a career.

CBS has no place for me, yet they will not allow me to work, for them or anyone else. I want to get back more than ever, for pure spite. I'd love the chance to take em on as a competitor. Cause I didn't quit over a contract dispute or dumb radio rules, yet they are treating me like Michael Vick.

So what's that got to do with Favre? Diffenent situation, but he thought he was burned out. Turns out he wasn't, and GreenBay said tough shit. Even though he would have gone back. And they wouldn't let him go to a rival. Even though they had "moved on".

CBS is just dicking me over, cause they're mad I quit. Cause I was losing my mind, and they'd rather have a flawed me than no me.

After trying to break away numerous times after Freda passed, they always said, "70% of you is better than zero."

One year later. I'm healed, and ready to work, but can't. Cause they're still pissed at me. Sorry my wife dying screwed up your plans, CBS.

Same deal with Favre. GreenBay was sick of his on again off again off seasons. Fair enough. Let him go, if you don't want him.

Odd parallel. Not that I'm comparing an all time NFL great to a lowly deejay.

But Favre wants to prove a point, and isn't afraid of failing or tarnishing his rep. I can relate.

Go Favre. I have a grudge, too. My Vikings will be there in Oct 2010. Hope Favre is still playing when I get back!

Stay Safe!
d.
May 6 2009
400pm
Sent from my iPhone

May 06, 2009

m_j_m said...

Good stuff (and way to quash the rumor mill -- again -- with straightforward candor). Listening for DG in '10.

birdymama said...

Right on, Don. We (the true fans) know why you did what you did.
It sucks that CBS has no heart. The cold corporate machine. It's wrong, but it's something we all have to deal with at some time in our lives, in one way or another.

Keep on fighting the good fight.

The world will wait for you, and Favre.

said...

GO DON!!!! We, your true fans, are with you 100%. I walked away from a huge paycheck for almost the same reason. I know how you feel. Stick to your guns and morals. They will last longer than CBS ever will.

vegascable said...

Ok not to sound cheesball but is there anybody a fan could perhaps call or write or even invite out for a cup of coffee to maybe see things a bit more clearer?
I also wanted it noted whilst the lovely Miss Janet was clicking away and all the jokes were made at your expense, I was the only one concerned about you and your fair skin.

alan rich said...

Don Geronimo back to pass, sees his receiver down field and unloads a bomb over the outstretched fingers of the CBS defenseman....TOUCHDOWN GERONIMO! Give that man a contract.

I definitely see the parallel. Both games are better for having you (and Favre). You me (and a lot of us) sane in our cubicles for years. Can't wait for your triumphant return!

BOtheBU said...

We need to make up some bumper stickers with the exact expiration date in 10/10, like the anti-Bush ones with just plain old "1/20/2009" you saw all during 2008.

qofoxtrot said...

Hi Don.. I just joined this site, but have been listening to you since you came to Wichita with your old show. I don't pretend to "know" you personally, but I do feel like I know your "public personality" and appreciate all that you share and mostly agree with you (enough ass kissing for now). Congrats on your nupitals, and your son's progress, and I can not wait to hear you on the air/internet some day. Even IF you play music.... IT will be MY kind of music, and I know that you won't talk over the music, but will talk your heart out between the one or two songs per hour that you manage to squeeze in! Thanks for all you have shared, and can't wait for you to come back. With my respect, Dave in Wichita

mhzdog said...

Go get em Donnie G. much like Farve your still at the top of your craft and as a fan' Glad your back Boyyeee.

Doni! I just found your blog, and it's so great to hear/read you. Big fan of the old show, miss it, long time-first time, yada, yada. So glad I can keep up with your shenanigans, and like the above poster wrote, whichever format you get back in the biz with, radio or internet, it will be great to hear your voice again.

donifan said...

Miss you horribly....can't wait for you to be back on the air. Wherever, whenever, I'll be listening!

LaVikinga said...

Reading this made my heart hurt for you. So glad Janet came your way. You're so lucky to have found another great woman who can go toe to toe with you. Lucky you! Tell her I loved the photoshoot she did. You guys are just too cute.

jfrasure said...

Don, I look forward to your return and if it means waiting till cbs gets off it's high horse, I know you've probably answered this but when does CBS get off your a$$ about this?

Well, I am a big fan but come on. Can we get real? Me thinks the real reason they won't bring you back is purely $$. Nothing more, nothing less. They are probably thinking of dumping O'Meara & crew anyway and adding double salary (whether with him or one a show of your own) just doesn't make sense. It is a shame they won't let you out of the contract though - that sucks! They Probably know you'll destroy whatever pipsqueak they have on against you. It'll just make the buildup of your return next year even bigger! Good luck - can't wait to hear you again!

mcsmack said...

I wonder if CBS thinks when the time comes all they will have to do is offer you an insane amount of cashe. In my dream world if this happens I hope you make some CB Fucking S heads roll in the DC market as part of the deal. I won't name names............Michael Hughes............Chris Kintard....F it. These guys wouldn't know a good programming decision if it stuck em in the ass. I really don't think they know your the only one who could currently ressurect that rotted stinking corpse their responsible for creating in the year since you left. If there's a God in heaven you'll make em pay! andpay F-ing BigTime!...............................................Dammit.

In coclusion lets just take a peek at their 1yr performance

http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/CBS_(CBS)

If I was a share holder I'd be pissed.

tommythecat said...

Don,I have been listening to Mike,Buzz and Robb since you left,but damn I miss you. I hope that the healing is going well and that you and Janet find true happiness in your love and lives together. CBS is a bitch for not letting you come back to the radio. We miss and need you.

Hey Don I just want you to know that i would trade in the hours of good podcasts I listen to for three hours a week of your programming genius. I am so pumped that youre getting the itch again. Hang in there!!!!!

May 07, 2009

yankenica said...

DG, you know what you're doing. That you love radio is obvious when you're on the air. Is satellite radio a possiblity? IMO your type of personality-based show is better on terrestrial radio.

xtg1281 said...

Saw your post on DCRTV. I understand your frustration. However, if CBS would have pulled your contract from under you (without the dead wife scenario) I bet you'd cry foul. Never really liked your show, just isn't that good. Only reason I comment here is that your line "Sorry about my wife dying screwed up your plans..." is a bit pathetic. If I'm not mistaken your wife dying has screwed up your plans, not theirs.

Irish Pints said...

The Donnie G Army will waiting for ya. Best wishes and Cheers!

bigben said...

we have mike. we want don. the great unwashed will wait for you to do what you got to do for your happiness. we will move to where the food is when the food is on the air. @ xtg1281 your a winner

Finsperfect72 said...

Really, what does CBS have to lose by letting you back on the air? It does sound like spite and that's insane. It's bad enough they insisted on keeping you on the air despite the fact that you were spiraling downward in unbelievable grief. And now they're insisting on keeping you off the air when you're raring to go and feeling healthy and strong. It makes less than no sense. We'll be here whenever and wherever you return, DG. In the meantime, keep tweeting and blogging. We're happy to know you're around!!!

Sounds like typical suits with an ax to grind....leave it up to a corporate monopoly like CBS to keep a brother down. Keep the faith Don and just write more of the book until 2010.

lioness823 said...

My brother's wife passed away unexpectedly nearly 5 years ago (it'll be 5 years next week). It took him time to be able to move forward and he did it with a 2 and half year old boy. So, I kind of understand why you felt you needed to stop the world for a while. (I haven't lost a spouse so I don't completely understand that level of pain.) I think you did the right thing and it took a lot of courage to know you needed to do it.

It's too bad that CBS can't understand that. I can't wait to be able to listen to you on the radio or via podcast again whether it's this year or next. I hope you'll keep Tweeting and posting blogs in the mean time.

EmptySuit ProgramDirector said...

Don You gotta get a better agent bro. CBS cannot deny you the ability to earn a living. I realize lawyers cost money but you are losing tons everyday. Look at Stern. They sued him and he and Buchwald ended up with his masters. I am sure CBS has the D&M masters too. Go after them, then get away from testicle radio and jump to satelite. The show you left is tanking on FM and going back to that crap will break your spirit. Good day to you sir....

Good Luck Don... I'm sure everything will work out in the long run. You and Mike were my favorites at WJFK.

bakersfield said...

Jeez, constant drama. It's gotta be tough being you.

uiwwildthing said...

Don, miss hearing you on the air and hopefully you can get back on soon! If it hasn't been said before, thanks for the years of laughs that you and Mike provided on the Don & Mike show

xtg1281--go fuck yourself, ok?

I'm completely baffled by people who are going crazy-psycho-angry over Favre's possible return. The guy might want to play another season. Why do so many people act like that's a personal attack on them?

CBS, on the other hand...to me it seems they're cutting off their nose to spite their face, or whatever that old cliche is. Some suits have a personal problem with you -- and that's what it is; they feel they don't get along with you, right? Has nothing to do with actual business? -- and so they'll throw away the revenue you've proven you can bring in an effort to avoid it. Great businessmen.

By the way, heard what they did with 94.7FM? ...neither has anybody else!

djgirl said...

I feel your pain..ex-cbsr.

May 08, 2009

Hey Don, great post. If you return to radio I hope you'll lure Mike, Robb, and Buzz to broadcast with you again. Don't get me wrong --I'd listen to you either way and I continue to enjoy Mike's show, but there's simply nothing more entertaining than the four of you together in a live broadcasting studio.

Hey Eric Seat I put those odds at zero point zero

Don Geronimo said...

To those few who don't understand, walk a mile in my shoes. Everyone deals differently. The drama never ends, be it good or bad. For all of us. Even the assholes. :)

Oh and one sidebar: I signed a shitty release deal from CBS that gave me no rights, no leverage, no money. Because it was the ONLY way they would consider letting me go. Even though I was going nuts right in front of their eyes. It's a total shit deal. And it sucks they won't let the past be the past. But I will abide by the papers I signed. What choice do I have? Zero. But they certainly made sure that IF I left, I'd be totally shut down. That was the only way I could get out, to get my life together again. But I DID sign it. But THEY wrote it. If I had to do it again, I'd have just walked and let em sue me. And then I'd take my info to a trial lawyer and sue their asses right back. But what's done is done. They still suck major ass. Thanks for all the replies, even the haters.

May 11, 2009

chmick said...

Agree with all the positive comments above, thanks for all the laughs and entertainment for many many years Don. You have many friends here in the DC metro area, more than you will ever know. Can't wait to hear you back on the air!

jtaylordirect said...

Doni,

Don't let the a-holes get you down ... although I'm sure it is hard not to. When the stupid suits at CBS go to sleep at night, what do they have to comfort them? Their dwindling piles of money? You have the stone-cold knowledge that there are countless people out there who LOVE you and are with you all the way. Count me in that number ... now and forever.

keyzersoze37 said...

way to go don, we all miss you, even cbs does with 22nd,and 17th rated shows, we want you back buuudddyyyy

May 12, 2009

they were scared their number one guy would go off to one of their competitiors and beat the pants off them. Sounds like despite the tumultuous relationship you had with CBS management, they respected your considerable talent (as do we, your fans) enough that they had to tie you down for a few years so they could try to find someone to fill the talent hole you left. Enjoy the time off. I wish I could take a two year sabatical.

Eilert Pilarm said...

Don--when exactly are you out from under the CBS 'thumb'?
I'm guessing sometime in 2010, just from my memories of you talking about contractual obligations on the old DNM show. CBS can just eat one for effing with your return to radio, podcasts, or whatever. btw, I love your new blog.

May 14, 2009

tnydncr84 said...

I'm really glad I read this...you're such a good man :0) and I love the blog

rvm said...

[Michael Corelone voice] This is the smart move [/Michael Corelone voice]. CBS blew up the entire L.A. Free FM station, even though it was doing very well, to save money. If Don comes back they have to pay him his big salary. This way they don't have to pay him *and* keep him off a competitor's station. Looks like another year of vacation.

Anyway, I've been a fan since day 1 at WNEW (even with the Scott Shannon stories). Then I used to catch the show from Philadelphia whenever I was in central NJ, then the internet feed. I'll follow Don when he reappears somewhere (of course, this assumes the radio industry isn't totally bankrupt by then)...

michael’s posterous

Blog: Favre

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