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Johnny Byers Wake Tonight Dello Russo Funeral Homehttps://medford.vod.castus.tv/vod/?video=576e83a4-b964-419e-bc13-6ecd7e676681
Where was Adam Knight when Mr. Byers was being harassed by TV3? Nowhere to be found.
A Euology...of sorts...regarding Adam Knight talking about Johnny last Tuesday at the City Council
Johnny Byers had spirit. He had good energy.
I honestly felt that Johnny would recover and be back to his old self, giving his smart opinions on sports.
John considered himself a "savant" on all things Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, Patriots.
He made clever predictions and was beloved by many in the Boston sports arena
Johnny also faced bullying by small-minded people at a now defunct non-profit. It was severe bullying. He had now-national radio host Damon Amendolara on his program at 5 High Street...and he had written to Bob Kraft, Larry Lucchino etc. to be on his show.
Then came Dirty Talk Live which imploded his plans...TV3 was in the news for all the wrong reasons.
May 25, 2011 I got John a press pass for an expo at the Hynes Auditorium where he got to interview then President and C.E.O. of the Red Sox Larry Lucchino - the man TV3 said he couldn't get an interview with, where he met Stephen G. Pagliuca, managing partner and co-owner of the Boston Celtics, and he intermingled with other top executives which we didn't get on camera. Johnny was proud of his badge.
I get press passes on a DAILY basis on weekdays - have been for decades. For my act of kindness let's look at the other bullies beyond TV3, the Medford City Council
The city council of Medford had Paul Camuso, Adam Knight, Rick Caraviello frequently abusing me asking where my "press passes" are.
These abusive individuals were reported to Neil Osborne who blamed Muccini-Burke when nothing happened "It goes up the food chain, Joe." Right.
Mr. Knight in particular has shown cruelty when a Jeannie Martin spoke about Medford history and native Americans, Knight tearing up paper in the microphone, futzing with his drawer, juvenile, sophomoric nonsense unfit for a council that demands it be called Honorable! Honorable? Not so much with Fred Dello Russo, Jr. slamming doors when a former councilor speaks.
I wore my David Bowie dogtag to a council meeting...with old press passes, and got a mean-spirited letter from Mark Rumley.
Think about it.
So when a member of the public - Jeanne Martin, Dr. Storella, Bob Penta, Andy Castagnetti, Joe Viglione get ridiculed by buffoons, it shows the low grade local politicians that we are dealing with, a distinct lack of character.
It was appalling to have Adam Knight give a eulogy of sorts this past Tuesday.
Mr. Byers accepted Adam into his home out of courtesy, but Johnny knew exactly the type of person this city councilor is.
For Mr. Knight to USE the DEATH of my friend for political points is reprehensible.
Where was Mr. Knight when John was being bullied?
Nowhere to be found.
Adam Knight didn't have the decorum to back away from this one...and this is personal for me.
You want to bully me, Mr. Knight? Go right ahead, I'll chew you up and spit you out in a debate any day of the week.
Then again, I know how to use a microphone, you do not.
But to say nice things about someone that you were NOT there for is shameful.
I picked Johnny up and brought him to meet Gilbert Gottfried. The A-list guests who are happy to be on my show get mocked by a Medford City Council that didn't lift a finger to let the residents be on TV3, though many of them - Marks, Maiocco, Camuso, put themselves over the cable TV ratepayers.
The video we created a the Hynes auditorium was replayed by one of the WEEI or WBZ-FM Sports Hub jocks on a podcast. They loved Johnny Byers.
Why didn't Adam Knight invite one of the DJ's to come up to the council and give the eulogy?
Because that would be too much work, and Knight seeks votes - uses our grief to score political points with the public and that is just plain wrong.
And before ANY of you criticize my commentary here, know this: what I'm saying is EXACTLY what
Johnny would want me to say.
Because we WERE friends and he shared his thoughts on the council with me, night after night after night.
The passing of John Byers is yet another hit as I get older, losing so many people, another very close friend this past Dec. 18.
It gets that those of us who survive end up talking about how many people we have lost...not the kind of conversation anyone wants to have...ever.
Adam Knight's attacks on people are painful.
This time Knight went ever further past dignity than I ever thought him capable of.
Isn't it time that this city council start behaving itself? Stop tearing up paper when an army veteran is speaking, Mr. Knight. Stop slamming doors, Mr. Dello Russo, if you come back and you don't like a speaker
A kind thing I can say about Frederick N. Dello Russo, Jr. is that he was a TRUE FRIEND to Johnny Byers,
and Mr. Dello Russo has my respect for that. I wish that he had come back Tuesday night to give the eulogy.
Johnny Byers was a special person. His life was tougher than any of you know.
I know Johnny appreciated co-hosting my TV program Visual Radio with his Johnny Byers Sports Report
I am proud to call him friend.
Joe Viglione
