espn radio syracuse personality Brent Ax was fired after nearly 10 years with the station over the weekend after the affiliate’s ownership said it had become increasingly critical in its coverage of the university’s athletics program.

Ed Levine, president and CEO of Galaxy Media Partners, which owns the affiliate station, told Syracuse.com on Sunday that Ax was fired because he had «a problem with the content of the show» he was hosting.

Syracuse Orange players enter the field before the game against the Florida State Seminoles on November 19, 2016 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

«I’m a fan of SU. Sorry, but I bleed Orange. I’m not going to apologize for that, and I think a fair reading of Orange is appropriate. I understand (Galaxy has) a business relationship (with Syracuse), which Coach (Jim) Boeheim and I are personal friends and he is an investor in my company,» Levine told the outlet.

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«I understand and acknowledge all of that. We’ve called it pretty fair, and I’d say we’ve been tough on SU when events on or off the pitch warrant it. I just think in the last six months it’s taken a different tone and it’s become too much. dark and negative. I don’t think that’s what Syracuse fans want to hear.»

The Syracuse Orange logo on Jim Boeheim Court inside the Carrier Dome before a Miami Hurricanes game on January 4, 2017 in Syracuse, New York.

The Syracuse Orange logo on Jim Boeheim Court inside the Carrier Dome before a Miami Hurricanes game on January 4, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. (Rich Barnes/Getty Images)

Axe, who also works full-time for Syracuse.com, told the outlet that he felt it was «fair» during his broadcasts, seemingly taking issue with Levin’s characterization.

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«I had a responsibility to give an honest, fair and complete opinion to my audience,» he said. «I certainly wasn’t perfect, but I don’t regret a thing about the show’s approach. We put listeners on the air and gave them a chance to say what they had to say. I don’t regret a thing.» .»

His firing came just a day before Levine announced that the former men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim, who apparently retired after Wake Forest knocked Syracuse out of the ACC Tournament, would now appear «regularly» on the radio station.

Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim during the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against the Duke Blue Devils on March 10, 2022, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Syracuse Orange head coach Jim Boeheim during the ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against the Duke Blue Devils on March 10, 2022, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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According to Syracuse.com, Boeheim has criticized Ax in the past, but Levine told the outlet that the two decisions were unrelated despite his ties to Boeheim.

«I put it on Facebook to get the timing,» Levine said. «That deal was made a full year ago. They’re not related. Two completely separate items.»