LISTEN: Arkansas radio host pulled from airwaves after rant about Razorbacks catcher

An Arkansas radio host has been pulled from the airwaves after a venomous rant in-which he verbally attacked a member of the Razorbacks baseball team.

Over the weekend, ESPN Arkansas radio host Derek Ruscin had some choice words when speaking about Arkansas player Michael Turner.

Northwest Arkansas radio host Derek Ruscin called an Arkansas player a “stupid ass”, “disgrace”, “loser”, ETC. there is absolutely no room for this in Arkansas radio. You’re disgusting and deserve to never have a job on the airwaves @ESPNRuscin pic.twitter.com/YZLfzxFcnn

— Josh Teeter (@joshteeter01) May 28, 2022

“I’ll say it — and I wouldn’t say it about a young player, but Michael Turner is a fifth-year graduate guy from Kent State, he’s a stupid a–,” began Ruscin. “The catcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Listen to this guy.”

Then, Ruscin played an answer from a post-game media scrum featuring Turner. Evidently, Ruscin wasn’t thrilled with the answer the Razorbacks catcher came up with.

“First of all, you’re not a Razorback — you’ve been here one (year). You’re a rental player, and you’ve sucked, so thanks for nothing,” stated Ruscin. “Secondly, as a rental player, you do not get to come in here and criticize this fanbase, not a chance. The question was about what’s wrong with the team, and you used the entire answer to take a swing at this fanbase?

“You’re a disgrace, Michael Turner. You’re a disgrace! You should not get to wear that uniform again. What a loser. You know why they’re losing? Because you’re a loser, and you’re the catcher. You’re in-charge of this whole thing on the infield. You’re a loser, and a disgrace, and you can’t get out of this program soon enough.”

After some warranted backlash, Tommy Craft — ESPN Arkansas Market Manager — added that Ruscin will be taking time away from his role for the time being.

Statement from ESPN Arkansas market manager @tommycraftespn pic.twitter.com/mIRLWIpW6O

— ESPN Arkansas & HitThatLine.com (@HitThatLineAR) May 29, 2022

“Derek Ruscin will be taking time away from his afternoon role on ESPN Arkansas stations,” wrote Craft. “His comments during Friday’s show concerning Michael Turner went too far and did not meet our companies’ standard for quality content. ESPN Arkansas works every day to provide honest, fair and passionate sports talk programming for all of our listeners. Our commitment to that standard will not change.”

Radio hosts have long criticized athletes, but the vigor in Derek Ruscin‘s words when speaking about Michael Turner was unacceptable in the eyes of ESPN Arkansas. Nevertheless, the Razorbacks aren’t focused on his ramblings — they have bigger fish to fry now that the road to the College World Series is slated to begin.