Chicago’s 670 The Score sports radio station has been through considerable drama over the years, the most recent being the March firing of long-tenured host Dan Bernstein after he threatened a social media critic questioning his fish pictures. This incident is just one of many challenges highlighted by former station host Dan McNeil on a Barstool Chicago podcast. McNeil, who was let go during his third stint at 670 The Score in 2020 due to a controversial social media comment about Maria Taylor’s outfit on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, has often been part of discussions surrounding the station, including Bernstein’s dismissal.
Following Bernstein’s firing, McNeil expressed on social media, “It’s a mistake to think any unrest at 670 The Score delights me,” acknowledging his positive feelings about the station despite airing grievances over the years. He elaborated on his experiences in a conversation with Barstool Chicago’s Barstool Eddie and White Sox Dave on their podcast The Stretch:
During the podcast, McNeil shared his thoughts on his second run at the station (2009-2014), noting, via Barrett Media: “I wound up going back to The Score in 2009 for a second run with (Matt) Spiegel in mid days. That was a pretty comfortable run, but it was also the worst culture I’ve ever worked at any radio station in my life. … The Score was an absolute disaster. From a culture standpoint, every show was on an island. The Morning Show wanted nothing to do with us. I should say ‘Mully’ (Mike Mulligan) wanted nothing to do with any of the rest of us. He didn’t want to do transitions at nine o’clock for ten minutes and took offense to me making a joke about him being a Europhile. … Terry (Boers) wasn’t around very often, and ‘Bernsey’ (Dan Bernstein) was really putting his signature on the radio station around 2011-2012, influenced by events like Penn State. The old frat house evolved into something different; it became a think tank.”
McNeil left the station in 2014 over a contract dispute but returned in 2018. His tenure at 670 The Score has been marked by ups and downs, including clashes with colleagues and critics. Observers note that while McNeil has had his own role in these tensions, his candid remarks about internal divisions during his second stint illuminate significant challenges. Such issues of isolation within media companies are not uncommon, as seen in larger organizations like ESPN. Nonetheless, McNeil’s characterization of the disconnect at 670 The Score raises questions about the overall working environment there.
