Sportscaster Giangreco's Future Unknown After 'Ditzy' Comment

Chicago IL

04 March, 2021

11:44 AM

Description

CHICAGO — Sportscaster Mark Giangreco, who has been a broadcasting fixture at ABC 7 for nearly three decades, may be on his way out after using the word "ditzy" in a comment he used on-air about colleague Cheryl Burton during a newscast in January. Giangreco has not been on the air on the network's 10 p.m. newscast for more than a month and, according to reports, his bosses at the ABC-owned station had not explained his absence. But on Wednesday, reports surfaced that the latest controversy involving the veteran broadcaster had to do with the incident on a Jan. 28 newscast involving his colleague. In the segment, Giangreco, 68, showed video of Canadian hockey player Spencer Jenkin painting his house while on roller blades. Multiple reports stated that Giangreco made the comment, "Gotta get him a show on the DIY Network. We'll call it 'House Fix With Sticks' and Cheryl (Burton) can play the combative interior decorator. I've got it all worked out." Burton reportedly complained to management at the station following the segment, Chicago media critic and reporter Robert Feder reported. Giangreco has 18 months remaining on his contract and the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that he and the network are working on a separation agreement that would end his tenure with the station. On his network bio, Giangreco is described as someone who has "earned a reputation for being a sports anchor that even non-sports fans enjoy watching, delivering sports with humor, wit and an interesting spin." Giangreco has won five Emmy awards during his career, which also includes stops in Louisville, Kentucky, and Dayton, Ohio. In 2017, he was named Illinois' Sportscaster of the Year. Giangreco has been with the station since 1994 and after beginning with NBC 5 in 1982. The January incident is the latest controversy involving Giangreco, who was suspended for a week without pay in 2017 for a remark on Twitter in which he referred to former President Donald Trump as a "cartoon lunatic" and characterizing the United States as a "country full of simpletons." In 1999, Giangreco referred to former Bears running back Walter Payton and Pro Football Hall of Famer as looking like Gandhi, not knowing that Payton was suffering from liver disease. The Sun-Times reported that Giangreco apologized profusely for the comment and that Payton phoned the broadcaster to forgive him. In 2004, Giangreco showed black and white footage of fires burning after the Detroit Pistons won an NBA title and said it was a "typical night in Detroit." The Sun-Times reported that Giangreco – who is reportedly one of the nation's top-paid and Burton have been at odds for years. Burton has been with ABC 7 since 1992, anchors the station's 10 p.m. newscast. The network, Giangreco's agent and Burton have all declined comment on the incident and the sportscaster's status with the station, according to the reports.