Al Dukes was downsized - a tediously long conspiracy theory Part 1

[Anthony Natoli]

And so was Joe Poo.

It was all a bit, nothing but an elaborate bit, despite Al Dukes drop, screaming and angry. Consider the following.

Some basic principles:
1. Only the Management of WNEW controls employment, not the talent (R&F).
2. The lousy economy, before and after 9/11, affected all industries, including radio.
3. The R&F Show and all of radio (except news) are ENTERTAINMENT; that is, mostly fake.

First, R&F can abuse anyone in the studio all they like and surely have some input into employment changes, even if the job is affected by a bet or supposed sporting match. However, in the end, only Management of the station and the Infinity Broadcasting network give final approval for any dismissal. Also, just three months ago, Al Dukes pulled rank over Billy and Joe Poo with the paycheck incident, and Al Dukes was the producer of the entire R&F show, so Al Dukes could probably keep his job if he welched on the loser leaves the show bet last Friday. Also, in this economy and all the on-air criticism of Al Dukes and his producer credentials which would affect his job searching, why would Al Dukes (with his Masters degree and education) or anyone risk their current job over a silly bet, especially with Al Dukes and his 0-2 losing streak in boxing matches?

Second, look at the change in personnel on the R&F show over the past year. R&F have had so many people in the studio, handing off to handle the phones and pull music to run the show over the past year. Last year, with Joe Poo, Al Dukes, Rory, Billy, Hawk, Earl, and at least two interns, besides R&F, they had at least 10 people on or involved with the show. Now, two are gone - Joe Poo and Al Dukes. That is 20 % of the show staff, which is comparable to the massive layoffs in the U.S. over the past year. It would be foolish to think that WNEW and Infinity Broadcasting was not affected by the economy, lost advertising revenues, and layoffs.

Third, Al Dukes is an on-air character. Remember that the R&F Show and other WNEW shows are (usually) ENTERTAINMENT, people! Nearly everyone on the show and in non-news radio, as well as this message board, have aliases and pseudonyms. Fez, Joe Poo, Rory Hamptons, Billy Staples/Skakels, Opie Hughes, Don Geronimo, Buzz Burbank. Is Ron Bennington a nom-de-radio? Here is a tell-tale sign that Al Dukes is a pseudonym: Al was in three headlining boxing matches, putting his dukes up. Get it? Dukes = fists. Al Dukes could not use his dukes, and supposedly lost his job due to his dukes.

[Anthony Natoli]

Part 2 <P>
Why would a producer go on the air regularly, in a room filled with pseudonyms, accept relentless abuse, drops, and criticisms, if he was not in on it? Al Dukes was a comedic straight man (ignore the gay pun, please). He was Zeppo Marx to Ron as Groucho and Fez as Chico. In fact, R&F stressed how much Al Dukes was dull, bland, boring, ignorant of what everyone was saying and doing, and look at his months of bland reaction to the gay drops. <P>
Besides, when it comes to the R&F Big Ass Nights of Fights, do any of you really believe Billy won the Diggstown Challenge? Even Ron expressed in his voice that the outrageous rulings of the judges giving each match to Billy were stretching credibility. <P>
Here is what I think really happened: despite the rocky yet increasing ratings, this spring, WNEW wanted to cut jobs, and it got very stressful behind the scenes with salaries and jobs being cut. Around the Al Dukes check incident with Billy, pay cuts and staff reductions were being implemented, and Joe Poo decided it was not worth it and quit, but Billy (with a divorce coming) caved and gave the on-air apology to keep his job, possibly with a pay cut. Joe Poo and his departure was never really explained. <P>
As to Al Dukes, I suggest that, to avoid being laid off, Al was offered a generous severance package from WNEW and (despite R&Fs on-air criticism) very favorable letters of reference from Management, the real people whose opinions would be valuable to get a new job. In fact, Ron mentioned on Monday that Jeremy Coleman would be helping Al out to get a new job. <P>
So what was the loser leaves the show fight? A grand act, perpetrated by R&F, those experts in professional wresting, allowing Al Dukes to leave the show fighting, but according to script, requiring Al to act one last time to get his severance package. What about Al whining to not fight in the first hour due to the rain and ring conditions? Well, he quickly changed his tone when Gay Randy finally showed up. I submit that R&F and Al were waiting for Gay Randy to show up as part of the act. Alternatively, Al exaggerated the whining about the rain and waiting for it to stop since he sincerely did not want to get completely soaked and/or slip in puddles and smash his head against a bike rack. <P>
Also, if it was really two men enter, one man leaves, the Al vs. Rory fight should have been discontinued when Gay Randy was allowed to enter and leave the ring without fighting. Did you see Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome? When Blaster was killed, midget Master entered the ring, and the crowd wanted Mad Max to kill Master by chanting two men enter, one man leaves, causing Aunty Entity (Tina Turner) to jump in and demand the spin of the wheel. <P>
No, the loser leaves the show, including the Gay Randy stinkface maneuver, was exactly like a scripted wresting match, with the Al Dukes lousy producer character being retireed, while the real person of Al Dukes (whatever his name) was just laid off. <P>
I feel bad for Al Dukes. Some friends and I were laid off and out of luck, having many months of depressing unemployemnet. We were lucking in eventually getting new jobs with less money. This economy sucks. <P>
I hope Al Dukes succeeds. I enjoyed his interactions in the studio with R&F. Abuse, real or exaggerated, can be funny. He should have his own radio show. Good luck, Al. <P>

[Death Metal Moe]

SNORE - Wee wee wee wee BORING.

YOU EXPECT ME TO READ ALL THIS SHIT??

You know, when you have THIS MUCH to say about a theory you have about the show, I think you're thinking too much about the show.

Just listen, go to occasional events, post here for fun, and keep those posts SHORT AND TO THE POINT!!!!

EVIL REIGNS!!!

Sig Pic is FUCKING BUSTED!!

www.unhallowed.com

[ADF]

You know, I think you're onto something. You should contact Oliver Stone... I think you've got a movie script in the making.

<img src= http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/fuzzybuttsig.jpg>

[ChrisTheCop]

Well, Bro..at least u got one thing right; the title. Wow.

<img src="http://rfcop.50megs.com/images/bladerunnersig.jpg"> Sigpic by wintersembers

[Death Metal Moe]

Anthony Natoli=Al Duke's mom??

YOU DECIDE!

EVIL REIGNS!!!

Sig Pic is FUCKING BUSTED!!

www.unhallowed.com

[Rev]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...
oh shit! i'm sorry. did someone post?

xoxoxo,
Rev

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[KoHigh]

that was the worst post ever. id rather be watching ants.

spark it up, what are you waiting for? kohigh

[Hosp]

It was Col. Mustard in the Library with the lead pipe!!!! I'm sure of it!

So "Al Dukes" went by that name for over a year just so he can lose his job in a boxing match thus then making his name Ironic?

I hope you ran that past Shaggy and Velma because you may have solved the mystery.

<center>http://members.hometown.aol.com/good2goguynyc/images/sigpic4rent.jpg</center>
<center>Bad Words From Around The World</center> <center>Fuck</center>
Spanish:Follar, tirar
German:Fick
French:Baiser
Dutch:Rampetampen
Japanese:yah-loo

[CruelCircus]

AN-

Not an uninteresting idea. Always like to hear what others are thinking. I too, was toying with the prospect that it was just a work, though nothing nearly as elaborate as you laid out. Nice job.

Oh, and don't worry, most of the members here aren't afraid of a few words. Intelligent folks can handle a little bit of reading.
Short doesn't equal good or funny, and long doesn't necessarily mean boring or bad. Keep posting!



<br>Shit! Goddamn! Get off your ass and Jam!
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
- George Clinton
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I'm back, baby.... I think.

[cozmokramer]

Whenever you make a comparison between Fez and Chico , you gotta know to shut the hellp up. I'd rather listen to Billy's standup then read all that shit.

<IMG SRC="kramer.jpg" BOARDER="0" ALIGN="Top"">

[RF Godfather]

No offense there AN but I ain't reading this.

Could you make a Cliff Notes or a write a synopsis for those of us with no attention spans?

Maybe throw in a hot chicada on your post and we'll check it out, lol.

Gotta love the ballbusting on RonFez.Net!

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Kickin' it old school! YOINK!
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[TomPoo]

I like it.

It reminds me of a young Jim Eggers post.

I think he is right on, and this needs more investigation.

<IMG SRC="http://tompoo.50megs.com/images/tompsig3.jpg" width=300 height=100>
There is nothing more exhilerating than pointing out the shortcomings of others, is there?
---Tom Poo

(thanks Fallon for the sig!)

[opack1]

dude sum that up in like 3 sentences and maybe people will read it....the only tedious thing is your post

you got knocked the fuck out

[Garfield]

Anthony Natoli=Al Duke's mom


Dont worry Mrs Dukes, its gonna be OK. Al will be fine, hes a big boy now and he can take care of himself, besides he can always get a job as a slam poet. It s gonna be OK Mrs Dukes, just relax, no need to go on rambling on endlessly.

<IMG SRC="http://www.carisi.com/garfugly.gif">

[JustinR]

I'm probally the only one who read that...i do think they scripted it too.

But fake or not, it was pretty entertaining.

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[FMJeff]

SNORE - Wee wee wee wee BORING.

YOU EXPECT ME TO READ ALL THIS SHIT??

You know, when you have THIS MUCH to say about a theory you have about the show, I think you're thinking too much about the show.

Just listen, go to occasional events, post here for fun, and keep those posts SHORT AND TO THE POINT!!!!


Moe, why don't you let the mods tell the users what they can and cannot post...

Curb the attitude pal, it's getting obnoxious. You can be the resident bad boy on other boards if you want. Its wearing thin on this one.

And Natoli, good post. Good content, a solid arguement backed up with points to support it.

Jeff Shain
WebMaster
http://www.foundrymusic.com

<img src="http://members.aol.com/sabanj666/ass.gif">

[Anakin Skywalker]

When your telling these stories, here's an idea: Have a point, it makes it so much easier for the reader!

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/RnFSkywalker/Anakin">
I shall be the most powerful Jedi EVER!!!!

[Michael Fury]

Well, I heard Al left because he's pregnant.





Pray for Mojo.

[wilee]

I also find it highly unlikely that Al would leave voluntarily in this economy. And with his record in the ring - scripted or not - he would have realized his chances of winning were slim to none. While the details may be sketchy, I believe there's more to this challenge than meets the eye.

<IMG SRC="http://cwjr.home.infi.net/rocket.jpg">

[TomPoo]

I can't believe people are tooling on this guy cause he wrote a long post...

message board posters these days... all they want is a qick joke or a "please die" response...

what ever happened to appreciating those young soles who put some time and thought into posting something for all of us to read and enjoy???

I blame MTv for this

<IMG SRC="http://tompoo.50megs.com/images/tompsig3.jpg" width=300 height=100>
There is nothing more exhilerating than pointing out the shortcomings of others, is there?
---Tom Poo

(thanks Fallon for the sig!)

[Michael Fury]

Bart: Nothing you say can upset us. We're the MTV generation. Lisa: We feel neither highs or lows. Homer: Really? What's it like? Lisa: Ehh. [shrugs] <P>




Pray for Mojo.

[Butters]

I think anthony natoli ran away this is why i dont post new topics anymore and..er..um anthony you cant post good ..... stupid wasp get away for that meatball

BUTTERS capable of making non-sense of any conversation

[TheMojoPin]

Great, GREAT post...and definitely possible, but you bring up "massive layoffs" in the assumed group of about 10 people...why fire the supposed producer? And it's not like interns are paid or anything...or at least I never was when I was one...firing someone like Poo makes sense, and you'd think Billy would be gone way before Al...

"Women cry for it...men DIE for it!"

"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."

-TMP

[Red Rocket]

SNORE - Wee wee wee wee BORING
I second that. Why would they be looking for someone to replace Al if your theory is correct???

<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/shore187/rfsig.jpg">
Your The Man Now Dog
NEVER FORGET

[ChickenHawk]

Hey, I read it because I CAN.
And if you're afraid to read a long
post, don't complain about it, just
skip over it and don't read it at
all... It's amazing how such a
"bad" post gets 26 replies in less
than a day. Kinda like a caller
who listens to the whole show,
calls in, waits on hold, all to say
how much the show sucks. If it
sucks, why are you listening... or
in this case, posting.

[FezsFiance]

FoundryMusicJeff you're hott! <P>



I live in Ontario, Canada
It's true, It's true
Soon to be Mrs.Fez Watley

[fezident]

I don't totally disagree with the original post in this thread. I definitely don't think this was huge elaborate bit, but I do think that everyone involved played it to the hilt.
Al Dukes has had that nickname for a loooong time. I can't really believe that they knew he was going to use his fists all those months ago. YOu've also got to consider that no-one could've predicted Septembert 11th and the insuing economic turmoil. I mean, if they are letting people go because of sagging advertising after the attacks, then how why would they have nicknamed al "Dukes" months before that?
Also, ignore the haters and continue to post. There is always alot of negativity on these boards that is unwarranted. Just ignore it and look around for the funny stuff. PACE!!!

Fez 4 Prez!!

[Earth2RON]

and scene......

jeff really is eye candy:)

Sunshine i wanna lap dance on my tongue
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"I am willing to do anything to
calm the storm that is with-in your heart"

"If you dont intend on letting me eat your
puss* dont put it in my face"

[Butters]

I loves this show no wait i love this one but that ones good to why must i choose.........and scene.....ooo the taco

BUTTERS capable of making non-sense of any conversation

[Drudge Jr.]

i'm a big conspiracy fan, but i'm going to have to doubt that. ron and fez are not your average wacky radio show... wnew in general panders to a higher audience and they rely less on bits and more on reality, that's why i doubt this was a bit, plus al's not that good an actor, i doubt he good make me that convinced that "THIS IS NOT A BIT"

http://drudgejr.com
aim sn: drudgejr

[ragin remy]

Hey drudge, "wnew panders to a higher audience", i got two words for you MONEY SNATCH!!.

But as for the post that started all of this i too think it was a "bit", not that it is a bad thing. But if anything you can deffinatly say that the last 2 weeks were real entertaining, and if you thing about it that is all this show is, entertainment.

By the way i think your just a little to wrapped up in the show man, but it don't make you a bad person.

[fitzpth]

Good post. Anything is possible.

Check the Grassy Knoll for Billy
Staples. He might be a patsy.



I want to believe...so I do

[EffMeBoobs]

Al, is this you?

<img width=300 length=100 src=http://publish.hometown.aol.com/lqqieee/images/effme2.gif>
Thanks JerseyRich for his wondrous sig pic making skills!

[Anthony Natoli]

Was the first Big Ass Night of Fights before 9/11? Dukes as a nickname may have been a long term bit idea from the beginning, and was not necessarily anticipating getting rid of him, just to have him fight in one or more audience events. And boy, you came in droves, eh? <P>
Hmm, who prodded Al to enter three different fights? Ron? <P>
As to Al Dukes and why they would get rid of the producer, lots of companies are dumping high level people to hire cheaper people. And R&F have survived two days without an official producer. <P>
Here's a challenge - has anyone ever seen the driving license of Mr. Dukes, and checked his name? Until then, ironic nickname is still possible. <P>
I will post my other ten pages of ideas in the near future. Ooo, you cannot wait, can you? <P>
Good luck to Al Dukes!!!!! If not encouragement, at least pity the guy. <P>

[Anthony Natoli]

Maybe I will recreate the scene of Spartacus near the end, stand up as one of the downtrodden, the laid off or unemployed peons, and shout (falsely) I AM AL DUKES!

Or at least shout IN ALL CAPS on this message board.

But I only like oysters, not snails.

[Anthony Natoli]

Gee, I think I am even boring myself as well.

[ADF]

Naw, this isn't a bit. Al didn't think things through as well as he should of.. but he'll find a new job and land on his feet. I'll miss his presence on the show.

<img src= http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/fuzzybuttsig.jpg>

[SushiChef]

#1 yes management controls staffing i.e $$$

#2 it's a show so you can bust on someone but....there is also the fine line of being harrassed...

#3 Can you say supersize it!

#4 complain but hey! happy to have a job in this still crappy economy!

[SushiChef]

#1 yes management controls staffing i.e $$$

#2 it's a show so you can bust on someone but....there is also the fine line of being harrassed...

#3 Can you say supersize it!

#4 complain but hey! happy to have a job in this still crappy economy!

[MrMarcus]

My guess is that the fight was staged. Al was going down even before Rory hit him. Al probably got another offer to work somewhere else in Infinity a long time ago and was on his way out.

Here's the giveaway. Last year when Dumpy left, I recall Ron saying that Dumpy just quit to go to Australia, and that if Ron knew ahead of time they would do some kind of big match where Dumpy would lose his Women's Wrestling Championship.

p.s. Help me. Help me. I need a life!

[Butters]

And the weasels jump out and lacth onto my face and start biting me all over nnagagrgrs ................ why is it poland spring if it is from maine

BUTTERS capable of making non-sense of any conversation

[Death Metal Moe]

I never saw myself as "Badboy", nor did I every try to be. I was just posting my opinion that this thread was too long, and the topic was not to my liking.

But I am obnoxious. That's my subtle charm. It's like a musk I secrete through the messageboard. But not a nasty musk, one of those nice musks that gets turned into a clolgne.

I smell great.

EVIL REIGNS!!!

Sig Pic is FUCKING BUSTED!!

www.unhallowed.com