Los Angeles sports radio legend Joe McDonnell died on Friday at 58, leaving many saddened and eager to share their memories of “The Big Nasty.”
Many of us grew up listening to McDonnell on the radio. He was a fixture hosting afternoon drive sports talk for years, mainly on KSPN, the local ESPN affiliate. I used to listen on my way home from school, while countless others listened on their way home from work.
Though his nickname on the air was “The Big Nasty,” the truth is the guy was a sweetheart.
I first met Joe in 2004 inside the Dodgers press box and was surprised to learn he was actually a pretty good guy. Years later I worked with him when he was a weekend host for Sporting News Radio around 2008/2009. He was one of the kindest guys in the office and always a pleasure to talk to. The funny thing is he was never really cut out for the job; this was national radio, and McDonnell’s heart always lied with the local LA sports scene. He was always at his best talking Trojans, Bruins and all the other local teams, and he frequently brought conversations back to that because he was so knowledgeable about it. He also regularly went out into the field and got his own soundbites from star athletes like Kobe Bryant because of his good relationship with them.
He also had an eye for talent, too.
Joe knew I went to UCLA, so one of the first conversations we shared came when the Bruins were playing. He told me how much he liked running back Johnathan Franklin, who was a freshman at the time. I shrugged it off because I didn’t think much of those .500 Bruins under Rick Neuheisel. But Joe was right; years later Franklin went down as the leading rusher in school history.
How much did McDonnell mean to the LA sports scene? The Dodgers reportedly are paying part of his funeral costs.
The Dodgers are going to pay a portion of the funeral costs for Joe McDonnell, the L.A. sports-talk legend.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) March 13, 2015
When news of Joe’s death emerged, the tributes flooded Twitter. We will post them below. Take note of how all of them express the same theme, one that differs greatly from his characterization as a “nasty” personality.
RIP to my radio mentor Joe McDonnell. One of a kind in LA sports
— Beto Duran (@DuranSports) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell, long-time LA radio personality, fixture on the SoCal sports scene, friend to all.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell, a great guy and a damn good journalist.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 13, 2015
I'm going to miss Joe McDonnell terribly, Great radio host. Great resource for all things Lakers/LA sports. And a great man
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 13, 2015
RIP Big Joe McDonnell. I was lucky enough to work with him and he was a real amazing human being
— Dino DeMilio (@dino101) March 13, 2015
The #TrojanFamily is saddened to learn of the too-soon passing of Southland sports radio icon Big Joe McDonnell. May he rest in peace.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) March 13, 2015
RIP, my friend. A SoCal radio icon. Big Nasty, Joe McDonnell. @joeontheradio I will miss him… pic.twitter.com/HjZB3PPe5G
— Darren Chan (@415dc) March 13, 2015
Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of @joeontheradio. Really enjoyed talking with him over the years. RIP, my friend.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) March 13, 2015
Rest in peace, @joeontheradio. He was always one of the nicest people in the press box
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 13, 2015
Deeply saddened by loss of my friend for close to 40 years, the great Joe McDonnell. So many memories. RIP, amigo.
— Lyle Spencer (@LyleMSpencer) March 13, 2015
RIP Big Nasty. Joe was a friend and great guy. I'll miss our conversations.
— Mark Gubicza (@Markgubicza) March 13, 2015
RIP @joeontheradio. Always had a smile, wasn't afraid to ask tough questions and persevered through a lot over the years. Very sad news.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 13, 2015
Shocked to hear @joeontheradio has passed. Interned for him in '94. Worked with him again in '08. As gracious as they came. RIP.
— Marcas Grant (@MarcasG) March 13, 2015
My first college internship was working for @joeontheradio & Pete Rose. Sorry to hear of Joe's passing. I wish he'd have written that book.
— Andrew Ungvari (@DrewUnga) March 13, 2015
Joe McDonnell was as nice to a pestering 14-year-old who called his show as he was to a fellow Dodgers reporter. I was both. RIP, Big Joe.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) March 13, 2015
Don't want to believe it, but our great friend and colleague Joe @joeontheradio McDonnell is no longer with us. A fabulous human being.
— manolo hernandez d. (@beisbolporgotas) March 13, 2015
Saddened to hear of the passing of LA radio personality Joe McDonnell. Always upbeat, and he loved sports. Rest in peace.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) March 13, 2015
RIP, @joeontheradio – Great talent. Incredibly plugged in. And when I was the new guy in town, "Big Nasty" couldn't have been more kind!
— John Hartung (@_JohnHartung) March 13, 2015
RIP LA sports radio legend Joe McDonnell. I interned for Joe at KMPC in 1992 at the origins of sports talk. He got it. Boy did he get it
— David Locke (@Lockedonsports) March 13, 2015
Having a hard time putting into words what Joe McDonnell meant to be growing up in L.A. Beyond saddened to learn about his passing.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) March 13, 2015
Sad to hear of Joe McDonnell's passing. An institution in SoCal sports, press boxes. Big Nasty never was. End of an era for LA sports scene
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) March 13, 2015
Joe McDonnell was an L.A. radio original. Nobody did it like he did. He will be missed.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 13, 2015
So sad to hear about the passing of Joe McDonnell, a one-of-a-kind sports personality in Los Angeles and a reporter at heart. RIP.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 13, 2015
Incredibly saddened to hear of passing of LA radio personality Joe McDonnell. Terrific person and helluva battler. We lost him way too soon.
— Mike Swanson (@Swanee54) March 13, 2015
Heartbreaking to hear Radio icon Joe McDonnell passed away. I was blessed to sit next to him at many games! RIP Joe pic.twitter.com/Sk41DdMoOA
— Curt Sandoval (@ABC7Curt) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell. If you grew up in LA he was a sports radio icon.
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell. A fixture in the LA sports media landscape, a man who always stopped to say hello. I'll miss you Big Joe
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) March 13, 2015
Blessings and farewell to Joe McDonnell, a well-sourced LA radio man who also made sure to say hello when I saw him at Staples Center.
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) March 13, 2015
RIP @joeontheradio .. Thanks for all you did for @FoxSportsWest
— Pete Stella (@PeteStellaFOX) March 13, 2015
RIP @joeontheradio. Took this photo of Joe McDonnell & @Angels manager Mike Scioscia last season. Joe's happy place. pic.twitter.com/I7LGlXCM2E
— Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) March 13, 2015
I love you Big Nasty. My brother. RIP
— Eric Kay (@EKayAngels) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell. Radio legend. Great dude. Joe and Doug had me on KSPN early in my career, my first radio hit. #RIPBigJoe
— A.J. Perez (@ajperezsports) March 13, 2015
RIP to Big Joe McDonnell –the guy EVERY athlete in LA always wanted to talk to no matter what he said about 'em. #respect
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) March 13, 2015
Scioscia got a call midgame that Joe McDonnell had passed. Knew him since rookie year in '80. "Joe's a good friend. He's gonna be missed."
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 13, 2015
Damn, just seeing colleagues tweet that Joe Mcdonnell has passed away:( Joe was a friend to everyone and such a great radio host. RIP Joe
— Patrick O'Neal (@Patrick_ONeal) March 13, 2015
RIP Joe McDonnell — he embodied the essence of sports "talk radio" and was as gracious as he was tuned into the SoCal sports scene.
— Frank Burlison (@FrankieBur) March 13, 2015
