Podolak Off Iowa Broadcasts

Ed Podolak, the popular color commentator on Iowa radio broadcasts since 1982, has stepped down from the post. The story was first reported Tuesday night by WHO-TV in Des Moines and Iowa officials released a statement Wednesday confirming Podolak's retirement. The move came after three unflattering photos surfaced of the former Hawkeye and Kansas City Chief player partying during Iowa's Outback Bowl trip to Tampa.

The photos appeared first on an message board of rival Iowa State and were then posted last Friday on the Wiz. Word quickly spread to other sites, including The Big Lead and Awful Announcing.

According to Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Podolak, 61, decided to call it quits after Iowa officials urged him "to seek alcohol treatment and then be welcomed back to the Iowa football radio booth this fall for a 28th consecutive year as an analyst." Technically, Iowa doesn't have the contractual right to remove Podolak, an independent contractor for Learfield, which owns the broadcast rights. However, Iowa does retain the right to approve who is in the booth for Learfield.

"I am embarrassed by the pictures," Podolak told the Des Moines Register over the weekend. "It was late in the evening at the hotel. But I am responsible to represent the university and I am embarrassed by my actions."

In 1997, Iowa City police charged Podolak with public intoxication and interference with official acts after campus police found him sleeping in the grass on the University of Iowa Pentacrest. He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.23, nearly three times the level at which a person is considered intoxicated.

Iowa officials said at the time of the 1997 incident that another arrest on similar charges could prompt them to dismiss Podolak from the radio broadcast.

The news of Podolak's departure will not go over well with Hawkeye fans. His popularity actually skyrocketed since the 1997 arrest, which for many fun-loving Iowa fans was considered a badge of honor.

Comments

[Mike McGill]

Well that sucks. Podolak was a great announcer. Ultimately it's his fault for putting himself in that position, but to hell with fucksticks that take these pictures solely to put them on the internet. We all have skeletons in our closet. Best to leave them there.

[Sean]

Really impressive Wiz. This site has become total garbage. I used to like it but now it's just junk. I'll be moving on. I'm not an Iowa fan or anything...you've just lost a reader with this crap. And your constant linking to anti-BCS stories is pretty annoying too. Goodbye...find your way again.

[Hans Gruber]

Heaven forbid someone should have a good time at a bowl game.

He'll be working again, just like Marv Albert. Like Marve, Ed will have to do his 'time'. This society has totall gone ass-backwards.

[chitownblue]

What "position" did he put himself in. Show me one straight male who, when drunk, hasn't flirted with a woman with large breasts.

They're both of age, and consenting. What. Ever.

[Steve]

Blaming the messenger does no one a service, but the messenger is the easiest target. Keep up the excellent reporting Wiz, even when you know the infomation won't win you any popularity contests. You have the guts to show it like it is.

[Gilberto]

Hmm, the breasts aren't that large in relation to the woman. I give him -1 for taste.

[wiz hater]

Yeah great job Wiz fighting the good fight. Unbiased reporting, just doing your job. This is stupid.

[Bob]

Umm... Why are you blaming the guy who posts the pictures? Shouldn't Ed have to take responsibility for his own actions. Probably hard for you name-callers to understand, though.

[Johnny Canucklehead]

See, once you lose your playoff all-purpose yards record to Darren Sproles, everything goes all to hell in a prairie breadbasket.

[Sports in Glass Houses]

Wow, not one person in favor of such a bullshit story. I am shocked. Although I am not shocked deadspin picked up this trash like it fucking matters.

[Sean]

"Keep up the excellent reporting Wiz, even when you know the infomation won't win you any popularity contests. You have the guts to show it like it is."

It takes absolutely ZERO guts to post pictures of a man drinking that were first posted on an Iowa State message board. And he didn't do it to win a popularity contest, but he did it specifically to start controversary and get hits.

There's a reason good media and good blogs don't make themselves the news or part of the story. It's a complete and total embarassment that he posted these pictures in a clear effort to garner attention. And he used to be a journalist. Now we know why he was expendable at the paper. A travesty.

[Andy]

I dont see anything wrong with the pics as long as it doesnt become a regular thing

[ex wiz fan........]

Damn hate the fact that this guy is human. Suppose it would have been better for the Iowa State Fans if he was peeking down a guys shirt instead.... GO HAWKS!!!! Too bad Iowa State isn't in anything but the Toilet Bowl..........

[Mike]

As an unbiased WVU fan, this is incredibly lame. Who gives a damn what the dude does in his off-time? What kind of lame-ass fanbase focuses their energy towards trying to get their rival's announcer fired?

[My panties aren't in a bunch, yours shouldn't be either]

Its okay Corn-eyes, you travel well so ol' Eddy Po-drunk-ass shouldn't be outta work for long!!!!!

[Steve]

There's a reason good media and good blogs don't make themselves the news or part of the story. It's a complete and total embarassment that he posted these pictures in a clear effort to garner attention. And he used to be a journalist. Now we know why he was expendable at the paper. A travesty.

The man is a public figure you FOOL! You know nothing about jounalism.

[Matt in Cincy]

This has nothing to do with journalism. This is strictly sensationalism. Let's pretend he's just a welder blowing off some steam at the end of the day. Anybody care? No. Sure he's a quasi-public figure, but does that mean he has to quit living? It doesn't look like the girl was complaining.

[HFMR]

I hate even being on this crapass blog to post this utterly meaningless comment, but nothing about posting those pictures was "reporting" and nothing about it was "news."

This site is a f'ing tabloid. Wiz can eat a big bowl of diks.

[Kurt]

I hate even being on this crapass blog to post this utterly meaningless comment

You're right about one thing: Your comment is utterly meaningless. But you forgot infantile.

[A Drunk is a Drunk]

That's too bad for Eddie. He was one hell of a tough "old-school" athelete. But, everyone knows that in today's society when you are in the public spotlight, you can't fart without people on the other side of the world smelling it. After his '97 incident, another incident losing his wallet in a bar (because he was smashed) and his latest escapade, it's a wonder he hasn't been forced to seek treatment before now. His job is to represent the Hawkeyes in a respectable manner. Nothing wrong with tipping a few back, but go to your room (and take the nice lady with you) and finish your drinking escapade. Personally, I never cared for his scratchy voice that was horse most Saturdays because he was out getting crocked at the Hawkeye Huddle on Fridays. Too Bad, Oh Well! Excuse me, I've got to go take an Ed and wipe my Podolak!

[Skip Bell]

I've known Ed for over 25 years. He spends time in my restaurant-bar and I have never seen him act inappropriately; drunk occasionally, but never inappropriate. Give a guy a break. I'm sure that whoever took the pictures has never acted like a jerk. RIGHT!