Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas. FOTM Jeff Marek was in Vegas for the NHL Draft and as part of the Rogers Sportsnet broadcast crew, was privy to who teams were drafting a couple of minutes before the official announcement. As revealed in The Athletic, Jeff was sharing this inside intel with a bud who apparently shared the scoops on the app formerly known as Twitter.
This, apparently, is a big no-no, especially in Vegas. There's zero evidence Jeff was placing any bets on who would be drafted, but this was a third rail and Jeff Marek was terminated and sent home.
I first met Jeff Marek though Humble and Fred. Jeff was their news reader when they were on Mojo Radio. Jeff was a wrestling expert, hosting Live Audio Wrestling, but soon pivoted to hockey co-hosting Leafs Lunch with Bill Watters and the rest is history.
Just yesterday I was talking to Jeff Woods on Toronto Mike'd about his mentor Bob Mackowycz, who happened to be Program Director at The Fan 590 when he gave his son FOTM Bob Mackowycz, Jr., and his buds George Stroumboulopoulos and Jeff Marek overnight airtime on a show they called The Game. That's really where it all begins for that trio.
Speaking of Toronto Mike'd, one of my all-time favourite episodes was when Jeff Marek visited in the early days. It was over a decade ago, episode 74, and I remember thinking I should wrap up when Jeff asked me to play Rheostatics so we could continue to shoot the breeze. It was an important episode for me in defining the purpose and future of Toronto Mike'd.
Cream always rises, so this isn't the end of Gentleman Jeff Marek.
