More Information On what happened At St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Smoking Gun web site | August, 2002

[catonsville]

We don't usually agree with the Catholic League, but moronic shock jocks Opie and Anthony got just what they deserved for broadcasting last week's stunt involving the Virginia couple arrested for having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia were canned yesterday for the August 15 incident that resulted in the arrest of Brian Florence and Loretta Harper for public lewdness. Opie and Anthony flunky Paul Mercurio--who provided listeners with a running account of the St. Pat's incident--was also arrested. Florence and Harper--dubbed the "Juicy Lips" team--were one of several couples entered in the radio show's "Sex for Sam" contest, where participants were given points for having sex in public places like St. Patrick's (25 points), Trump Tower (15 points), and Central Park (10 points).

They were also awarded points for specific sex acts, with the WNEW-FM hosts gleefully reporting when couples completed a "two-point conversion" or "balloon knot," Opie and Anthony slang for anal sex. At one point, Hughes announced what the Virginia couple earned for the St. Patrick's stunt: "Oh my God, 25 points, a two-point conversion, and eternal damnation."

Contest winners were to be awarded a trip to Boston for a music festival sponsored by Samuel Adams. In fact, Jim Koch, the publicly-held brewery's chairman/spokesman, was actually present--and apparently enjoying himself--in the Opie and Anthony studio as the sex contest occurred and official "spotters" like Mercurio called in with updates from the field. Koch, referred to as the event's "Grand Marshal," described the participating couples as "awesome, all of 'em, better teams. The quality gets better every year." Since Opie and Anthony dubbed Koch a "celebrity," a sex act occurring before the corporate boss was worth 30 points. Five couples attempted to perform in front of Koch in WNEW's studio, though only two succeeded in earning points. The results of last year's "Sex for Sam" contest--and the corresponding points list--are no longer available on WNEW's web site, but can be viewed by on The Smoking Gun site.

............ Mercurio, a belligerent, odious guy ... appears most responsible for the St. Patrick's sacrilege. On the tape, Mercurio is heard lying to cops and cathedral security guards, claiming that Florence and Harper--who were referred to on-air by false names--were friends who he was accompanying on a tour of Manhattan (Mercurio said the trio was in St. Patrick's looking for a bathroom). According to the misdemeanor complaint filed against Florence and Harper, the couple was spotted having sex in a church vestibule, "rocking their pelvises back and forth." Harper, with her back to Florence, was found naked from the waist down and "her genitals were open to view by the public." For his part, Florence was spotted placing "his hands in his genital area and was touching his genital area.

[catonsville]

I thought additional information on the incident was needed. I am against such sleaze and will oppose it when I see it. I am not a " Puritian" because I am appalled at what occurred. I believe actions have consequences ,that the Opie and Anthony's of the world debase the moral currency, and that it is my obligation to show the damage they have caused.

[badfreeper]

I'm sure they're having second thoughts. They got fired Thursday.

[Tom D.]

Those slimeballs are too stupid to have a first thought, let alone second thoughts.

[stands2reason]

boycott Samuel Adams bump

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

boycott Samuel Adams bump

All ready emailed them, title: "What Were You Thinking". I've had my last Sam Adams. Send to:

response@samadams.com

[07055]

http://www.bostonbeer.com/visitors/comment-new.cfm?companyid=sam

You can tell the Boston Beer Company what you think about Mr. Koch by going to the above website.

[stands2reason]

Thanks for posting the link. They've already heard from me on this. I told them what they already knew--I DON'T need their product.

[07055]

I told them to please tell me that the Smoking Gun article was inaccurate and that they had nothing to do with this sick contest. It will be interesting to see what kind of spin they come up with---they probably just put Carville and Begala on retainer.

[JZoback]

Where is the FCC when you need them?

A simple phone call to the owners of the station with a threat to pull their license probably would have been enough to stop this nonsense before it got out of hand.

BTW, these are some sick people. No wonder the country is going down the toliet.

What once was considered too sleazy to see the light of day, now is shouted from a 50,000 watt radio station for the world to hear.

[peteram]

Well, here's something that got my attention: I heard on the news yesterday that these Bozo's have to be paid the remainder of their contracts - some 5 million dollars - even though they've been canned. I guess Infinity was too stupid to include a clause that would get them out from paying under these circumstances.

[aristeides]

There can be implied terms in contracts. If Viacom had integrity, they would make these guys sue for their money.

[JZoback]

Letter from the FCC to the satation

It is an Acrobat file.

[fporretto]

Outrages of this sort seldom exist in isolation. For further thoughts, please see:

Isolating The Issue

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[stlrocket]

I heard that they just changed their name.

NEW NAME FOR SAM ADAMS BEER

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

Rumor has it that they have already been picked up by another new york radio station Q 104.

[JZoback]

To: The swill you call beer

Say goodbye to a customer.

Lots of good beers on the market that can figure out how to market beer without supporting morons who insult people of faith.

Your company stepped over the line with the ad hoc approval of this outrageous stunt and now you are going to pay.

Maybe if you get the head bonehead CEO to offer an apology to the people of the Catholic faith, you stock won't drop into the toilet, there your sense of community is.

[apackof2]

Another example of the left's utter hatred of religion.
Boycott Samuel Adams bump

[ncpastor]

My letter just went out:

Dear Samuel Adams:
Well, you guys really blew it (pardon my vernacular).

Whomever had the bright idea to be part of the latest Opie and Anthony ill-fated fiasco ought to be publicly spanked (how about in the middle of Fanuiel Hall?), but Mr. Koch, you appear the stupidest of all to actually buy into the publicity scheme. Where is your brain? What moral compass were you using?

One can only conclude that there is something in Samuel Adams products that actually causes devolution, and that the brain cells rapidly and exponentially diminish with repeated ingestion of said product.

Therefore I've had my last Sam Adams product of any kind and will advise my family and friends to do the same. It doesn't appear safe to continue do so.

A closing suggestion - perhaps you should put an addendum to the federally required warning label on your alcholic product - "WARNING: with repeated use this product will eat your brain cells and cause the drinker to behave like an animal, possessing no ability to make judgments of any kind."

One more thought - you might adopt a new publicity slogan closer to the truth:
Sam Adams - great beer, stupid company.

[cubreporter]

Isn't it the truth? These things used to be considered by the public as wrong and would not be tolerated. Today it is normal behavior. Yes, no wonder the country is going down the toilet. Children in school learn about everything except what they should so, what can you expect from people anymore?