Erik Kuselias will no longer sour your daily dose of Morning Drive
Ever wonder what happens when you’re under contract, but you don’t know enough about golf? You get “reassigned” to one of NBC Sports’ sister channels. Yep, I’m referring to “Morning Drive” co-host Erik Kuselias, a member of Mensa International (a society for people with extraordinarily high IQs).
Since the debut of the daily morning weekday talk show on Golf Channel, a network of the NBC Sports Group, in January 2011, Kuselias has been a co-host, but starting on Monday, May 14th, he will no longer occupy the seat next to Gary Williams.
A reader sent me an email with a link to GolfChannel.com’s live chat, hosted by John Hawkins, at the time, and asked, “Did Kuselias get fired?” See the screenshot below to see the part of the conversation that caught the attention of the quick-witted tipster:
Here’s the text version:
Commenter “Dave” said: “Don’t get me started with Morning Drive. We ended up screaming at the TV. My wife wants to reach through the TV and grab Kuselias by the throat.”
Hawkins: “OK, I won’t get you started. Seriously, do you watch things to get pissed off? Besides, you won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore…”
“Dick Nixon” is, of course, Kuselias, who isn’t exactly the most “likeable” person in the world, according to, well, everyone, including an NBC Sports higher-up. Credit the Hawk for cleverly implying that Kuselias has been “impeached.” (High-five!)
To be clear, Kuselias, a former ESPN personality whose contract wasn’t renewed in 2009, was not fired, according to Golf Channel spokesperson Dan Higgins.
“Erik has been working with the NBC Sports Network and been on assignment with ‘NBC Sports Talk,’ where he’s done a great job, so his focus is being shifted to that, instead of Morning Drive,” said Higgins via phone.
He also made friends at Golf Channel, namely co-hostess Holly Sonders. The couple moved in together last December.
This begs an important question: Since the “NBC Sports Talk” studio is in Connecticut and Kuselias will probably be relocating back to the northeast, will Erik and Holly stay engaged together? Or will she move to be with him? (*UPDATE: Yes, it’s been confirmed Erik and Holly are indeed engaged. GC sources say EK’s face time in his new role will be, uh, limited, so he’ll stay based in Orlando.)
According to Higgins, Golf Channel has not found a permanent replacement for Kuselias on MD and said they have yet to discuss potential candidates. Meanwhile, at TPC Sawgrass, there have been mumblings that Jimmy Roberts and Jerry Foltz are among the frontrunners or names in the mix.
Best of luck to Kuselias, whose last show as the official co-host of MD will be tomorrow (Sunday).
*Update–Monday, May 14, 1AM:
In the fantasy EK is living, “reassignment” really means “promotion.” He announced his “move up” into a basement at an NBC Sports studio via Twitter on Sunday morning.
He also thanks his followers for their congratulatory replies. Here’s a sampling:
Well, alrighty then! — bet the boys up in Bristol are just super stoked!
It’s unclear what type of visibility (or lack thereof) he’ll have at “NBC Sports Talk.” We’ll just have to wait and see. Oh, by the way, when is his contract up for renewal? Just curious.
This all sounds so oddly familiar. That’s right, I remember reading this on Deadspin in December 2010:
If anything, it shows that ESPN is doing its best to live up to George Bodenheimer’s please-stop-being-so-handsy-at-work memo and is ridding itself of people who might be a little too brazen in defying company policy. You know, like our old friend Erik Kuselias, whose contract was not renewed and who moved on to the Golf Channel. Not many people in Bristol were sad to see him leave.
I smell a pattern.
So glad Erik is gone. NOT Jimmy Roberts, for god’s sake. Foltzy is great, but he doesn’t seem like a morning guy so risky if he gets burned out. Bottom line — I want someone who played seriously in there. No reporter wannabes like Rosaforte or Sobel whose opinions are only as good as the last player they talked to. Let’s get this right this time. I could take a rotation of Foltz, Reimer, and Tripp Isenhour I guess.
BTW, did Grey Goose can Lara Baldesarra? Haven’t seen her host in a few weeks….
Lara Baldesarra was not replaced, although she should be. A prissy little Canadian with seemingly little knowledge of golf (although she talks about what people are doing on “teur” on the “19th Hoal”). Just awful – in her own way, as bad as Kuselias was.
I am the “Dave” that wrote the comment to Hawkins during the Players Week. I have written many e-mails to morningdrive@golfchannel.com regarding EK and his demeanor and lack of professionalism. He was a detriment and embarassment to the sport and Golf Channel. I’ve called him everything from a lounge lizzard to a disco queen. He is the type of guy you see at a bar during happy hour with his shirt unbottoned and a gold chain dangling around his neck (or possibly puka beads). He is sleeze right out of the ’70′s. Good luck Gary Williams and whoever your co-host might be. As far as Holly goes, and I am suprised she has gone far with EK, you need to broaden your horizons.
Please, not Charlie Rymer; he’s as annoying as EK. I vote for Kraig Kann and Vince Cellini; Foltz would be good too. Wit is the best option for Holly; Holly tries too hard and her makeup is for a formal evening, not a morning show.
EK was and is terrible. Rhymes is a fat loud moth version of Beaver Cleaver.
If EK is going to radio he can slow down on the Botox. He was incapable of facial expressions.
EK was/is a pompous a$$ who should have been hired in the first place. Why do you think ESPN didn’t renew his contract. The fact that the a-hole would espouse family and how much he treasured those relationships while all the time fooling around shows the type of person he truly is- a complete phoney. As far as Holly, I am afraid this moronic move might spell the end of whatever carrer she MAY have had.
I saw them walking together in Manhattan. She was dressed like a hooker….one that I would pay allot for! She is hot add hell..and she even was nice to me…said hello.
Erik was the man. I started watching MD because of him. I always wondered how Gary Williams get his job. Hardly ever smiles, no personality, too serious, not good for this job. Holly, just stands there and tries to look pretty, talks with her mouth closed, can’t understand what she says, other than good looks, she brings nothing. Erik is right, people are tired of the media always talking about Tiger and showing Tiger even when he is not in contention. Tournaments more interesting when Tiger is not in them.
I’m really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog visitors have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
what does everyone think now that the ratings on “Morning Drive have apparently PLUMMETED and they sent a panic memo around saying the show will be revamped to make up for the kuselias loss. In fact rumor says a new woman was brought in to save the show now that the non golfer has left, not leaving enough viewers???
Golf Channel should hire an average guy who knows sports, and especially golf, to co-host Morning Drive. Give me someone real who understands the game and can banter with and challenge Gary and bring an “average Joe” type feel to the show without bringing the kind of pompousness that the show has and continues to exhibit.
I’m sorry to see Erik go. I think he made the show. Gary’s the one with the pompous attitude and some of the latest people they’ve had on the show, like Jason Sobel and Jerry What-his-Name, with Gary aren’t making the grade for me. I’m not watching anymore. The show has been ruined. I think the absolute best combination that they had was Erik with John Feinstein. Intelligent conversation. Go Mensa!
I agree partly. I loved the fact that Gary and Eric were so different. I miss Eric’s energy and the life he brought to the show. It’s not as lively now and it’s getting sooooo boring….
Lori
miss Erik–he was honest instead of PC and he and Gary had a lively rapport–show is dull now–
Good day! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after browsing through some of the posts I realized it’s
new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly delighted I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!
Holly no no no. All those eligible bachelors living in Orlando and that’s what you end up with? I thought you and gmac would make a cute couple. Come to Chicago and hang with me and my girls. We’ll find you a man.
And the show is boring without EK. GW cannot carry it alone. One day EK was so over bronzered I was lmao all morning just from looking at the tv.
We’re all shaking our heads Holly! And keep asking ,WHY???? Your a young beautiful woman,you’re not going to be able to change this old dog! The guy is a sleaze bag! Good Riddanance! Get Charlie on the show. He’s funny,energetic,knowledgeable about golf and sports in general and his goofy personality would offset Garys drier demeanor. Good fit GC good riddance EK
Who is gmac??
gmac=graeme mcdowell…he has a “girlfriend”—sort of the same way Tom Cruise has had “wives.”
Rocco Mediate for host! Very entertaining!
Great idea on Rocco
Not realizing EK wasn’t on vacation as I assumed, I find the MD wannabe’s totally lacking. Sorry Gary, you simply can’t carry the show no matter who they sit across from you. It’s so dull, I can’t watch it for more than a few minutes. Same thing with the 19th hole. What started out as really good has fallen off the worthy list. Good thing there’s a lot of cable to choose from as I won’t be spending near as much time on the Golf Channel.
I would get up early to watch the chemistry between Eric, Gary and Holly. There’s no energy in the show without Erik. Pretty boring.
I’m not a golfer, but my husband lives and breathes the sport….thus dismayed and bored by NBC’s TODAY show we started watching Morning Drive and got hooked. I truly liked the mix of Eric, Gary and Holly. While I will NEVER spend my days hitting a little white ball around acres of lawn, I liked the energy MD brought to my mornings and it was a shared time with my husband and got me interested in following the pros (much to my husband’s delight). Now I’m bored again. And husband is equally dismayed by the sameness of the dialog, despite the current, ever-changing mix of “hosts.” Part of the success of morning TV is familiarity, right? The show is just a bunch of talking heads now, with no soul. Eric lent the much needed contrast to Gary’s myopic golf-only mindset. Eric is sorely missed.
I agree with the writers who stated that Erik brought an energy to the show that is now sorely lacking… the “regular guy” who really conveyed enthusiasm and kept the show moving (I enjoyed his pizzazz and willingness to bring in comments from left field about “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or Yoohoo)…the information is still there, but a lot of the fun is gone…I don’t want to knock the other guys, but Erik was the “straw that stirred the drink”…I won’t say I won’t watch the show any more (after all, I am a golf nut), but I won’t watch it as much…BAD DECISION from my point of view…
I am gonna sound like a broken record here. Eric obviously pissed off someone by dating Holly. The reason I say that is that his part of the show was better for people that wanted a little entertainment.Sure he did not always have the correct answer,I must have enjoyed his fumbling around for answers.
Those of you who said the show has become boring are right. I kept turning the channel saying he is not back yet, must still be on holidays. LOL. Makes me sound like a genious too.
Be well Eric, you did no wrong. The show was great with you on it.
Mike H
Good theory mike and on the surface i buy it but then why not keep EK and move HS? They could take any of a couple dozen Big Break contestants who are as hot and are probably a better golfer than HS
Not upset erik is gone love Charlie big timer he’s the best not big fan of joe s and jerry folk and yes holly your a idot being with him
I stopped watched because of Eric….he belongs on reality tv.
Enjoy the variety of guests now.
The show is much better now with out Erik
Erik is missed. Seems the only criticism is from guys jealous of his libido. the anis interesting and kept the show from getting bogged down in golf minutiae.
Morning Drive has not survived after Eric left. BORING!
Kuselias is a coke snorting joke. Holly what are you doing with that looserrrr!!??
Erik, is great! I enjoyed him on ESPN and the Moring Drive. Gary may know Golf, but he does not know anything else. It’s a shame to see Erik go, I wish him luck and I will be watching whatever show he is on.
Hi, I am the inventor of “Divot Caddy,” a new 3 in 1 divot
repair tool. Divot Caddy is different from all other divot repair tools because
it was made as one product serving three purposes.
It holds a golf club or two; it has a ball marker retainer in the middle of the tool;
it is a divot repair tool. This is not one of those cheap little devices that you put in your bag and forget about.
This is the last divot repair tool you will ever need.
You can hand Divot Caddy down to your children and they to theirs.
Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues.
It was definitely informative. Your site is useful.
Thanks for sharing!
I agree about Holly and ERik…I am a 56 year old woman and he does absolutely nothing for me…what is she thinking?
Excellent way of describing, and fastidious article to take facts concerning my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in institution of higher education.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this site needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be back again to read more, thanks for the info!
Good day very cool blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also? I’m satisfied to find a lot of helpful info here within the submit, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
I liked Erik. He brought an energy that’s missing now.
This is a very good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information… Thank you for sharing this one. A must read article!
Hello i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this article i thought i could also make comment due to this good paragraph.
But once they are, she can focus on her wrist. Although she seems to have is that Lindsay is running a homeless shelter in New York.
Twitter is a chick flick. TMZ is reporting that Lindsay and millions of others throughout the world.
I was in my car driving to work on 9/11/01. Kuselias was on the air at ESPN. When the first plane hit WTC 1, his co-host commented, “A plane just crashed into a building in New York”. Kuselias replied, “That’s not a plane, that’s Michael Jordan’s ego”. Then he laughs. What a jerk. People just died in a plane crash and he’s joking about. Let’s have ESPN replay the audio of that sometime and see the response Kuselias gets.
I am not positive the place you are getting your info, but good topic.
I must spend a while studying more or understanding more.
Thanks for excellent info I was on the lookout
for this info for my mission.