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.

[DreamWeaver]

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

Going down the toilet ? It's already there, I'm just waiting for the BIG flush, by the Man upstairs.

[JZoback]

Going down the toilet ? It's already there, I'm just waiting for the BIG flush, by the Man upstairs.

I think we need a real good cleaning and probably some serious scrubbing to get rid of the ring of filth around the water line, but I still have hope.

God, please don't flush.

[apackof2]

Dear Samuel Adams,
It is inconceivable to me that any company would sponsor such a morally
reprehensible act as what occurred at St. Patrick's Cathedral. And the fact that your own Jim
Koch, chairman/spokesman, was actually present--and apparently enjoying himself is beyond
any sane conception.

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.

Furthermore I am participating in an online international boycott of your product.

Your only hope of redemption in your Publicly-held brewery is to:
1. FIRE Mr. Koch
2. Immediately issue a apology to every Catholic in the country.
3. Fire everyone in your marketing dept.

Very, very sincerely,
(My name)
Michigan

[ex-snook]

Now if they only went into an abortion clinic and described an abortion. If people think what a pedophile does to a child is bad, wait till they know what an abortionist does. Great for TV too.

[JimVT]

the WNEW-FM hosts

Boy..this event is really symptomatic of today's 'anything goes' philosophy.

'BJ'ers in high school hallways are awarded badges of honor these days.

To have WNEW associated with this crap is really disheartening for an old radio fan like me.

I once built a radio in RI so I could pick up WNEW "Eleven three oh in New York" after sunset (even with their 50KW).

William B. Williams, "The Milkman Matinee", Jazzbeau Colins, Ted Brown and EVEN Julius LaRosa...those were the days, my friends.

For those who want a taste of what those days were like try:

WNEW

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Well put.

[DreamWeaver]

God, please don't flush.

Oh, I needed that laugh, thanks :):):):)

[catonsville]

Jim, I was New York City kid during and after the WWII Years.
The "Make Believe Ballroom" with Martin Block on WNEW made us all feel better during those trying times. WNEW was the best station ever ( with WQXR for classical) for great music.

So different today: The music is awful, the radio personalities are thuggish and demeaning, their attitudes cynical and derisive.

I am not a Christian. But when blasphemy becomes just an inconvenience for public fornication and something to be ridiculed. than we are ALL in trouble.

[JimVT]

WNEW was the best station ever ( with WQXR for classical) for great music.

Amen.

I lived in Jackson Heights for a few years after Korea and when I didn't have any $$$ to hit 52nd Street I listened to William B et al for Sinatra, Bennett, Cole, Clooney, Dorsey, Flanagan, etc.

Later I got hooked on QXR and that 5 to 6p.m. show with a guy whose name I can't remember but with a great voice.

Cripes.... even the ads were good.

[cubreporter]

Yep that's the truth. Oh the damage Clinton did to this country both morally and physically during his 8 years will be with us for a long time yet to come. God forgive him 'cause I can't nor I won't and Hillary is as much to blame. Neither one belonged in that White House...him or her! They abused the Presidency, this country and everything holy. Shame on them both.

[xJones]

Now if they only went into an abortion clinic and described an abortion

They'd be stoned to death by feminists. And just imagine if this had taken place in a NYC mosque? But these idiots that put this on have no fear of the Living God, nor any decency of any kind.

[NYCVirago]

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

I hope that's not true. Ever since WNEW, where rock once lived, changed it's format, Q104 has been the only classic rock station in NYC. I'd much rather listen to music than these idiots.