Craig Carton

The "Mac Man" was unplugged yesterday on WIP (610-AM). Jody MacDonald, the noon-to-4 p.m. host on the station, abruptly vanished from the radio dial because his contract has expired, according to program manager Tom Bigby. Glen Macnow, the new 10 a.m.-to-noon host, stayed over and worked with Craig Carton until 3 p.m. MacDonald's absence wasn't mentioned at the beginning of his normal shift. Asked if he is optimistic that MacDonald will sign a new deal with WIP, Bigby said, "I like to think so. " MacDonald was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Flyers forward Dainius Zubrus yesterday was suspended for two games by the NHL for high-sticking Chicago's Chris Chelios in the second period of Tuesday night's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks. Zubrus, who received a match penalty for the incident, was fined $1,000, the maximum allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement. The suspension will be served without pay. Zubrus cut Chelios above the left eye, an injury that required four stitches. Zubrus sat out last night's game against Los Angeles and will miss tomorrow's game against Florida.

What's the best revenge against a talk-show host? Silence. That's how acting New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey should have fought back against schlock jock Craig Carton. Carton, who broadcasts on New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM), said some lousy things involving Codey's wife, who has shared her past struggle with post-partum depression publicly and generously. Carton decided her personal grief was fair game on his show The Jersey Guys, and so his lips moved the air. Next day, Codey, as many married men would have done, confronted Carton in the radio station's halls and offered to take him outside.

FORMER WIP host Craig Carton and former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, who cohost a sports talk show on New York's WFAN radio, are taking some flak for a print ad promoting their show. The ad, which can be seen on trains in the New York subway system, reads: "Always offer your seat to a pregnant woman. Unless she's wearing a Red Sox Hat. " As expected, the politically-correct crowd is riled by the insensitive nature of the ad. Some websites are actually conducting polls, asking if readers think the radio station crossed the line.

If the Flyers can negotiate their way out of their contract with radio station WIP, the 76ers will be right behind them. "Obviously, we want no relationship with WIP," said Ed Snider, chairman of the Comcast-Spectacor ownership group that oversees the Flyers, Sixers, Phantoms, CoreStates Spectrum and CoreStates Center. "If and when we discuss that, [the Sixers] will be part of it. " The Flyers are suing the radio station in the wake of talk-show host Craig Carton's report that star captain Eric Lindros was held out of a game Feb. 15 because he was hung over.

Whether or not the Flyers win their libel suit against WIP (610-AM) and host Craig Carton, they have accomplished something. Taking on the station publicly, standing up for team captain Eric Lindros, has certainly closed any gap that might have existed between the organization and No. 88, who will be working on a new contract with the Flyers this summer as he approaches the final season of his original six-year deal. Lindros emerged after yesterday's practice to tell reporters he was "feeling a lot better today.

Flyers chairman Ed Snider said yesterday that the club was looking into severing ties with its flagship radio station, WIP-AM, because the station reported last week that center Eric Lindros had missed a Feb. 15 game against Pittsburgh with a hangover. The Flyers vigorously denied the report. "This was WIP at their worst again," Snider said. "I don't know what we can do with the radio rights, but we are looking into it. " The Flyers have one year left on their contract with WIP (610)

Ed Snider, the Comcast-Spectacor chairman who last year said, "obviously, we want no relationship with WIP," today has a new five-year marriage with his least favorite radio station. The Flyers and the CBS-owned station yesterday announced an agreement that will make 610-AM the NHL team's radio home through the 2002-03 season. If you think something isn't right with this picture, join the club. Snider, whose Comcast-Spectacor firm owns the Flyers, 76ers, Phantoms, CoreStates Center, CoreStates Spectrum and SportsNet cable outlet, and WIP have not been pals in recent years.

Finally, it's official. The Flyers announced the settlement of their lawsuit against radio station WIP for alleging that team captain Eric Lindros missed a game last season because he was hung over. The settlement between the team and Infinity Broadcasting Corp. was reported as imminent a little more than a week ago. It contains an apology, which the Flyers said would be broadcast by WIP, and the contribution of an unspecified amount of money to a charity of Lindros's choice. "I am happy for a bad situation to turn into something positive," Lindros said in a statement released by the team.

The Flyers said yesterday that they had sued WIP radio for reporting that center Eric Lindros missed a game with a hangover. "We're seeking damages for libeling of this organization and to Eric Lindros," said Flyers chairman Ed Snider. The suit, which does not seek a specific damage amount, was filed against Infinity Broadcasting Corp. and talk-show host Craig Carton in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, said Phil Weinberg, general counsel for Comcast-Spectacor, owner of the Flyers.

FORMER WIP host Craig Carton and former Jets quarterback Boomer Esiason, who cohost a sports talk show on New York's WFAN radio, are taking some flak for a print ad promoting their show. The ad, which can be seen on trains in the New York subway system, reads: "Always offer your seat to a pregnant woman. Unless she's wearing a Red Sox Hat. " As expected, the politically-correct crowd is riled by the insensitive nature of the ad. Some websites are actually conducting polls, asking if readers think the radio station crossed the line.

The Attorney General's Office yesterday said it would review the conduct of the head of the state troopers union, who threatened to release the home addresses of two well-known radio shock jocks in retaliation for broadcasting a story he says was irresponsible. A spokesman for Attorney General Stuart Rabner said the matter had been referred to the Office of State Police Affairs, which examines trooper practices. "We are reviewing the entire incident," said spokesman David Wald.

ANYONE WHO'S ever taken a creative-writing course knows that the key to good drama (or any celebrity "news" magazine) is conflict. When real conflict (like the Brad and Jen divorce) rears its ugly, head that's a gossip goldmine, but when nothing much is going on, you have to goose the conflict any way possible. Take the new issue of Celebrity Living that features the big story (actually the photo is bigger than the story) "Brad and Angelina BATTLE OVER BABY!" Here are the battles: Brad allegedly wants the baby to be born in a Malibu hospital.

What's the best revenge against a talk-show host? Silence. That's how acting New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey should have fought back against schlock jock Craig Carton. Carton, who broadcasts on New Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM), said some lousy things involving Codey's wife, who has shared her past struggle with post-partum depression publicly and generously. Carton decided her personal grief was fair game on his show The Jersey Guys, and so his lips moved the air. Next day, Codey, as many married men would have done, confronted Carton in the radio station's halls and offered to take him outside.

WIP radio host Mike Missanelli was suspended for two days last week for criticizing Flyers management, sources at the station say. The suspension was based on a clause in the sports-talk station's contract to broadcast Sixers and Flyers games that prohibits "personal attacks" on the teams, their players, and management. Some WIP hosts, who pride themselves on their outspoken comments in the free-flowing talk format, say the clause represents an attempt by the station - owned by Infinity Broadcasting, a CBS subsidiary - to muzzle them and is part of a broader effort by the Flyers to obtain favorable coverage.

Ed Snider, the Comcast-Spectacor chairman who last year said, "obviously, we want no relationship with WIP," today has a new five-year marriage with his least favorite radio station. The Flyers and the CBS-owned station yesterday announced an agreement that will make 610-AM the NHL team's radio home through the 2002-03 season. If you think something isn't right with this picture, join the club. Snider, whose Comcast-Spectacor firm owns the Flyers, 76ers, Phantoms, CoreStates Center, CoreStates Spectrum and SportsNet cable outlet, and WIP have not been pals in recent years.

Finally, it's official. The Flyers announced the settlement of their lawsuit against radio station WIP for alleging that team captain Eric Lindros missed a game last season because he was hung over. The settlement between the team and Infinity Broadcasting Corp. was reported as imminent a little more than a week ago. It contains an apology, which the Flyers said would be broadcast by WIP, and the contribution of an unspecified amount of money to a charity of Lindros's choice. "I am happy for a bad situation to turn into something positive," Lindros said in a statement released by the team.

Flyers forward Dainius Zubrus yesterday was suspended for two games by the NHL for high-sticking Chicago's Chris Chelios in the second period of Tuesday night's 3-2 win over the Blackhawks. Zubrus, who received a match penalty for the incident, was fined $1,000, the maximum allowed under the collective-bargaining agreement. The suspension will be served without pay. Zubrus cut Chelios above the left eye, an injury that required four stitches. Zubrus sat out last night's game against Los Angeles and will miss tomorrow's game against Florida.

Flyers center Eric Lindros will receive an apology and money for a charity of his choice from WIP-AM to settle a claim filed after a talk-show host reported that Lindros had missed a game because he was hung over from drinking the night before. Details of the settlement are expected to be worked out by the end of the month, according to those familiar with it. Part of the settlement will stipulate that it will not be discussed by on-air personalities or callers to the radio station, which is known for boisterous sports talk.

The Flyers just completed their second game of the Stanley Cup, and this morning, WIP-AM (610) will be buzzing with postgame comments. That's the same WIP that was sued in March by Flyers owner Ed Snider. That's the same WIP that has a contract to air all of the team's Stanley Cup games. It's a good bet that even with the sticky relationship between the two sides, WIP will make mad dollars off the Flyers and the Cup - whether the team wins or loses. Despite their strife, the two seem to be stuck with each other in a relationship that the Flyers would no doubt like to end. Tom Taylor of M Street Journal, a trade magazine, said yesterday that he didn't think the Flyers have a choice.