Joe McDonnell, radio host and sports lover, has died at the age of 58. McDonnell, who has been around the Los Angeles radio scene for almost 40 years, passed away on March 13 at the Good Samaritan Hospital. Many organizations including the Los Angeles Lakers are mourning McDonnell.
Joe McDonnell, radio host, who worked for various stations in California since the mid-70s, has died. McDonnell’s publicist, Steve Brener, issued a brief statement that revealed that the 58-year-old died on Friday March 13 at the the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
According to Mr Brener, the cause of death of has not been determined. But according to several sources, at the time of his death, Joe McDonnell was battling an illness.
Few years ago, Joe Joe McDonnell weighed more than 740 pounds. McDonnell underwent gastric surgery and lost more than 400 pounds. Joe McDonnell, who was also known as Big Joe and the Big Nasty, was born on August 30, 1956, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
He went to Alemany High School in Mission Hills and L.A. Valley College. He began working on the radio as a teenager for KGIL from 1975 to 1982. He later worked at KFI, KMPC, KMAX, KABC, KXTA, KFWB and KLAC.
From 2002 to 2005, McDonnell Douglas was a host on KSPN with writer Doug Krikorian. The pair reunited in 2012 for a short-lived Internet show.
Krikorian, who loved his broadcast partner, had the following to say about him:
“He is loud, opinionated, obnoxious, irreverent, outrageous, unpredictable, knowledgeable, brash and, most of all, entertaining.”
Erik Braverman, one of McDonnell’s former sports-talk radio bosses, revealed:
“He was as tapped into the Los Angeles sports scene as much as anyone I’ve ever seen, in any market, ever. He epitomized the Los Angeles sports fan.”
More than a radio host, McDonnell was widely known and beloved by several sports team. Los Angeles Lakers President Jeanie Buss issued a statement that read:
“For more than 35 years, Joe has been a regular at Lakers games and press events.Known for his quick wit and strong opinions, Joe’s love of and support of the Lakers has always been appreciated. Over all these years, our players, coaches and staff have enjoyed working with and knowing Joe. He will be sorely missed.”
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said:
“I’ve known him since I first came up with the Dodgers. He’s a good friend who will be missed. It’s sad.”
McDonnell is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who has not yet revealed the date and location of the funeral.
He’ll be missed at the Dodgers Press Box.RIP