Philly reporters mix it up

On Tuesday, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News got into a Twitter-style pissing match, as chronicled by the folks at CrossingBroad.com.

On Wednesday, the dispute took on a new dimension, with Bowen and McLane getting into a physical altercation at the team’s facility.

Howard Eskin of NBC 10 and WIP reports via Twitter that Bowen “connect[ed] 2 the head” of McLane, and that the two had to be separated.  The pair had to be separated.

We’ve had minor scuffles with each guy in the past (actually, all three — even though Howard is now a friend of PFT), but we can’t imagine verbal/written spats ever taking on a physical component.  Whoever made the first move needs to be fired.

[Editor’s note:  The photo accompanying this story is not from the incident.  It was the most tasteful depiction of a lame fight we could find, without infringing on any copyrights held by the show South Park.]

67 responses to “Philly reporters mix it up

  1. McLane – “Vick is the 4th best QB in the NFC East”……Bowen – “he’s the 3rd”……McLane – “he’s the 4th”…….(punch, slap, scratch)

  2. At least these guys fight. The team they cover has no fight. Love the way Nnamdi whiffed on that girly style tackle attempt on Sunday!

  3. McLane is a young guy and a hack who gets it wrong more than a professional reporter should. He’s just trying to take a swing at Daddy.

  4. Back and forth the battle raged. Just when you thought McLane was out of it from that first bitch slap from Bowen, he sank his teeth into his opponents calf and wouldn’t let go. Then there was the scratching, the clawing, and some brutal hair pulling. A nearly full frappachino was flung, man purses were swung, and the screams from both sides are still echoing from the spot.

  5. Awesome!!

    Now we need to see this take place between athletes and three of ESPN’s biggest jackasses: Colin Cowherd, Skip Bayless (yuck, I even have a hard time writing that name), and Cris Carter!!!

  6. “The photo accompanying this story is not from the incident. It was the most tasteful depiction of a lame fight we could find, without infringing on any copyrights held by the show South Park.”

    Just google “slap fight” and look a the first result

  7. “and that the two had to be separated. The pair had to be separated.”

    Did they have to be separated?

  8. If only the defense could fight like this, we may win a game! But on a positive note: The Eagles replaced Casey Matthews with Brian Rolle. Things may look up…well…for Casey Matthews being the scapegoat for all things wrong with the Defense of the Eagles.

  9. Ehhh theyre arguing over sources? Mclane is the same douche who reported a couple years ago that the Mcnabb to Oakland trade was a done deal. Dude sucks.

  10. These are their moronic fans’ role models. Can’t blame their classless fans when they have no better example than these hacks, and loudmouths like Eskin who still berates Ricky Watters’ “for who, for what?!” comment 15 years later.

    SO EXPECTED.

  11. You have got to be kidding me. An embarrassing incident to be sure.

    Did one of the reports gag himself so that he would puke on the other…still one of my favorite Philly fan moments.

  12. pretty sure that’s not a picture of a fight, but instead just John Kerry playing awkward football in boston. i think that’s just a photo of a cluster**** in the secondary as kerry looks for the ball.

  13. Bringing to mind that classic bout between The Tiny Greek Tank Commander and Long Gone John captain of the Not So Swift Boat.

  14. Howard Eskin of NBC 10 and WIP reports via Twitter that Bowen “connect[ed] 2 the head” of McLane, and that the two had to be separated. The pair had to be separated.

    Was there any word as to whether they had to be separated or not?

  15. actually Les Bowen should go back to covering hockey(a sport he KNOWS a little about) and i beleive that McLane would be better suited as a gossip columnist.

  16. cjjetsfan says:
    When did John Kerry and Michael Dukakis get into a fight? (with Elian Gonzalez breaking it up)
    —————————————————
    I was going to post the same thing!!!!
    beat me to it.

  17. “whoever made the move first needs to be fired”

    That is the most ignorant thing i’ve read on this site.

    One of the main things you cry about on this sight is teams firing equipment managers and field crews and people losing pay during the lockout.

    Look at the sport they are covering….FOOTBALL. Kind of a physical activity if you ask me. So a two punch “fight” should not mean some one gets fired.

  18. One veteran reporter disgustedly compared the fight to watching a couple of middle aged liberal lefties try to play football.

  19. Jeff Mclane is an arrogant clown and I for one having listened to his baseless reporting for too long wish I could have slugged him. Thank you Les for doing what we wish we could have done ourselves

  20. Oh man! I hope its Les Bowen they fire, he is slightly worse than McClane. On another note, any Eagles fan who knows whats up, reads Sheil Kapadia’s analysis of the Birds, not these two clowns.

  21. cjjetsfan says: Sep 28, 2011 1:54 PM

    When did John Kerry and Michael Dukakis get into a fight? (with Elian Gonzalez breaking it up)

    Solid Solid Comment. +1. Bravo.

  22. Conflicting reports are emerging from the scene. It’s difficult to get accurate information as the Philly media room is under lockdown and the SWAT team won’t allow reporters past the barricades. “Especially reporters”, growled a helmeted, baton wielding cop.

  23. After a brutal brawl like that I imagine a substantial amount of ensure was required to energize the pugalists enough to put on a fresh pair of depends.

  24. Actually, Bowen started it, because when McLane published an article entitled” Sources: Vick likely to play Sunday” ; Bowen ridiculed it on Twitter. THEN McLane responded with the stuff about Bowen being an old hack who steals quotes from hard working reporters and it was ON!!! There is some hilarious stuff from Asante Samuel in the background of a serious interview Vick was trying to give, where he was offering a prize to the best fighter, etc.

  25. They should be fired? What a soft, pansified society this has become. Human males in today’s society are the weakest and most inept in the history of the human race. Pathetic.

  26. Mr. Wright 212 says: Sep 28, 2011 2:16 PM

    These are their moronic fans’ role models. Can’t blame their classless fans when they have no better example than these hacks, and loudmouths like Eskin who still berates Ricky Watters’ “for who, for what?!” comment 15 years later.

    SO EXPECTED.
    ==================================

    A “moronic fans” blast from the likes of you makes even the pot and the kettle laugh.

  27. favreforever says:
    Sep 28, 2011 2:00 PM
    Back and forth the battle raged. Just when you thought McLane was out of it from that first bitch slap from Bowen, he sank his teeth into his opponents calf and wouldn’t let go. Then there was the scratching, the clawing, and some brutal hair pulling. A nearly full frappachino was flung, man purses were swung, and the screams from both sides are still echoing from the spot.

    cjjetsfan says: Sep 28, 2011 1:54 PM

    When did John Kerry and Michael Dukakis get into a fight? (with Elian Gonzalez breaking it up)

    ————————————————

    I actually laughed out loud. Pretty good!

  28. They should be fired? What a soft, pansified society this has become.

    It’s intriguing how some people will act, knowing they don’t have to fear a good old-fashioned @ss kicking.

    On the rare occasion that it happens, it’s amusing to see the look on the face of the person who just met the wrong guy.

  29. Snowballs at Santa is one thing; but forcing yourself to throw up on another fan is what makes Philly fans so special!

  30. As always, this has given the “clueless” a chance take yet another shot at Philly fans. Its amazing to me how after hearing whats going on with other stadiums, that ppl still take jabs at Philly. Hmm was it in Philly where fans have been stabbed ? Was it in Philly where fans were shot ? Was it in Philly where a young female fan had someone try to rape her ? Etc Etc Etc Oh and by the way…does everyone enjoy being patted down extra now at games ? I n case ya don’t know why, its because a jets fan used a Tazer on someone.
    Instead of using this story to make moronic statements about Philly fans, you should be laughing you ass off , as I did.

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