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17 mum on Moncure By all indications, Geraud Moncure's days at WPHL-TV (Channel 17) are over. Moncure has not been on the air the entire week. Monday and Tuesday nights, news anchor Scott Engler read the sports, and on Wednesday night, weekend sports anchor Matt Biondi did sports. When Biondi was introduced, Toni Yates did not say "In for Geraud Moncure." She just said, "Here's Matt with the sports." Reached on his cell phone, Moncure referred all inquiries to news director Chuck Carter. Carter did not return the message left on his station voice mail. Station spokesperson Sabrina Pacifico only would say "no comment" on the matter. Moncure began at WPHL in October 2002. He originally was hired to be the weekend sports anchor, but became the weekday anchor when Mike Missanelli and the station could not come to terms on a contract. In May 2003, Moncure was suspended after an altercation with WPHL executive producer Rachel Sparrow. Sources say Moncure was suspended again last month. Readers' choices Here are some of our readers' choices for Philadelphia sportscasters, who in the spirit of ESPN's reality series "Dream Job" should be cut: "There are too many choices at Comcast SportsNet. To be honest, a few of the contestants on the show are better than Mike Rodgers, Lance Crawford, Shawn Murphy and Matt Yallof. But if I had to cut one anchor, it would definitely be Leslie Gudel!" (Gudel received several votes.) "My vote for the cut is Don 'He's a Good Guy' Tollefson." "Cut Scott Palmer. He is too bland and boring and seems afraid to ever voice anything controversial about an athlete or coach." "The first sportscaster that has to go is Don Tollefson. This guy comes across as a phony on every level. Fake enthusiasm, softball questions, run-of-the-mill opinions and a cheerleader for every event that he covers make him impossible to watch. The next guy that should take a bus to Toledo is Steve Coates. Quite simply, he insults your intelligence when he is on the air. He is a guy who loves to hear himself talk. He explains the same point three, four or five different ways, as if fans can't understand 'he lifted his stick.' His loud voice, animated style, and wild hand gestures make him high on my list of sportscasters who get in the way of the game rather than enhance it." "Harry Kalas should be cut. He is getting too much of an ego demanding someone [Chris Wheeler] not be allowed to broadcast with him. Since Richie Ashburn died, Kalas is BORING!!!" "One of the sportscasters that I will like to cut is Garry Cobb. I think he stinks. He stumbles through everything, and he seems like he has no clue what the heck is he talking about while doing the sportscast. I think the sportscasters on 'Dream Job' are much better than Cobb. Another sportscaster that I will gladly cut is Howard Eskin. Why is this guy on TV? He is a dope." "The absolute worst sportscaster I ever heard was Andy Musser. Unfortunately, I had to wait 25 years for the Phillies and Sixers to get him off the air."DisplayAds Others receiving votes were Beasley Reece, Phil Andrews, Chris Wheeler, and Scott Graham. "Dream Job" will determine its "final four" on ESPN at 10 p.m. Sunday. I predict that Aaron Levine, Casey Stern, Mike Hall and Kelly Milligan will make it. Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. She can be reached at bradyresident@aol.com. March 19, 2004 7:05 AM |