Courtesy Des Moines Register

(March 23, 2009) Listeners of Des Moines sports radio station KXNO heard a profane argument between broadcasters Marty Tirrell and Larry Cotlar on Friday morning that included Tirrell's use of the "F-word" at least a dozen times.

The argument — apparently over media credentials used during last week's Iowa high school boys' basketball tournament — took place just moments before the beginning of an NCAA basketball preview show.

An audiotape of the tirade obtained by WHO-TV showed that Tirrell began his rant by mentioning an official with the Iowa High School Athletic Association who deals with credential requests and angrily arguing with Cotlar over an issue relating to use of credentials for the state tournament.

At one point during the argument, Tirrell ordered Cotlar out of the studio. Moments later, Tirrell said, "I'm going to (F-word) clock you."

Tirrell, contacted Friday night, declined to comment except to say, "I get along with Larry fine." He directed any additional questions to Joel McCrea, vice president of WHO/Clear Channel Radio in Des Moines. McCrea could not be reached for comment.

Bud Legg, who oversees the distribution of credentials for the IHSAA, was referred to in the tirade and acknowledged Friday that he had "some differences of how people were using credentials, and I dealt with them on an individual basis."

"I am not going to say who it was with. The discussion was between me and them. It's not a public thing."

The audible portion of the argument, which lasted at least 75 seconds, could be heard over commercials and promotions being broadcast at the same time.

The exchange happened just before the NCAA basketball show featuring Tirrell, along with broadcasters Jon Miller and Ken Miller. The show followed Cotlar's regular morning drive-time show.

Cotlar and Jon Miller, reached Friday, declined to comment on the circumstances behind the argument.

Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit the use of profane language in broadcasts between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Profane language is defined by the FCC as "so highly offensive that their mere utterance in the context presented may, in legal terms, amount to a nuisance."

In addition, FCC officials have warned broadcasters in the past that, depending on the context, it would consider the "F-word" and those that are as highly offensive to be profane language.

FCC rules also say that the base fine for any violation of the profanity restrictions is $7,000 per violation, but that the commission may charge as much as $32,500 per violation based on a variety of factors, including the nature and circumstance of the violation.

Enforcement of FCC rules can only begin after a complaint is filed with the commission.

Tirrell yelled at Cotlar during the exchange that "you caused a (F-word) hornet's nest. You're jealous of us."

Later, Tirrell said Cotlar "embarrassed Clear Channel." Cotlar responded: "You used something that's not yours and I embarrassed Clear Channel?"

Legg told The Des Moines Register that no one outside the state association approached him with concerns about credential use. "Any differences of opinion we had with people have been handled," he said.

The on-air incident is the latest in a series of controversies involving Tirrell, who is often credited with bringing 24-hour sports talk radio to Des Moines.

The latest happened last year, when Tirrell was suspended for one day from broadcasting on KXNO (1460 AM) after he named an individual and that person's occupation in a derogatory way related to events on a trip to the U.S. Open golf tournament. Tirrell apologized for the incident, but never provided specific details of the incident.

Tirrell has been employed by KXNO since February 2006, when he and Ken Miller began a three-hour radio show on Saturdays. The format was later expanded to five days each week, from 4 to 7 p.m., as well as Saturday mornings.