Mark Giangreco's Exit at ABC-TV 7 Chicago

Article by Steve McEwen

“It’s been a great run. Working at Chicago’s top station, in the country’s greatest sports town with some of the best people in the business, would be a perfect trifecta for any sports anchor. I’ve had all that and more. But I assure you I’m still going to be having fun doing other things. I want to especially thank my colleagues at ABC 7. You have made this such an incredible ride. I’m deeply grateful to all of you.”

-Mark Giangreco

Mark Giangreco is the greatest sports anchor in Chicago TV history...period.

Articulate, witty, sarcastic and bold. As the late great Chicago TV anchor, Dick Johnson said of him, “He’s the complete package.” A man’s man with an Al Pacino swagger, Giangreco fit in perfectly in a no nonsense sports town like Chicago.  

I had the privilege of working in the same ABC building at 190 N. State Street, as the Sportscaster for Kevin Matthews Radio Show from 1998-2000 and with 94.7 The Zone from 2001 to 2004.

I would stop by the ABC-7 TV studios occasionally as Mark was prepping for his nightly sports cast. My old college roommate even filled in as his sports producer on a short term basis. People don’t understand the hours poured into his two to three minute sportscasts capturing the perfect sound bite, the right highlight and creative dialogue that made him a million dollar entertainer.

Watch the “Last Dance” documentary and you can see Giangreco owned Michael Jordan’s first retirement press conference.  MJ trusted him and Giangreco had street cred as well as professional respect in our industry.

Mark was gracious enough to meet me for lunch at Smith & Wolensky when I told him my dream of becoming a TV sportscaster. He told me the truth of the hard journey I would have to take, gave me some great advice and I will always be grateful for that experience. By the way, walking down State street with Mark Giangreco is like walking with a rock star. Almost every Chicagoan, whether they were blue collar, white collar, you name it, would greet Giangreco.  

Giangreco may have crossed the line again. And it cost him his job. What's tragic is the media critics who point out three suspensions in a forty year career and do not talk about the accolades, ratings or awards. Think about it. Two nightly sportscasts. Five days a week. Take two weeks off per year and you're still left with 20,000 sports casts in a stellar career. We all would have said something that offended someone. Mark Giangreco deserved better.

Regardless of what happened between Giangreco and his colleague, that is between the two of them. I hope that grace will be given and we can appreciate the talent and the moxie Giangreco embodies. He’s a Chicago legend and nobody did it better.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Steve McEwen is a former Broadcast Journalist having worked at CBS Radio, ABC Radio, 101.9 The Mix & Q101 Radio Chicago. Currently, Steve is one of the "Founding Agents' with @properties. Steve leads the Steve McEwen Group, awarded by the Chicago Association of REALTORS, "Top Producer Team" from 2007-2020, with over $250 Million in Residential Real Estate Sales.* (source: MRED, Total Sales Volume).

Steve McEwen | 312.307.9470. | [email protected] | SteveMcEwen.com