WIP Radio Signs Deal With Flyers

WIP Radio, which six months ago settled a lawsuit with the Philadelphia Flyers over allegations involving center Eric Lindros, Thursday reached agreement to broadcast the team's games for five more years.

The new agreement runs through the 2002-03 season. WIP has broadcast Flyers' games every season since 1977-78.

"We are pleased to be able to continue our relationship with WIP in a new and positive spirit of cooperation," said Ron Ryan, the team's chief operating officer. "We believe that we now have an agreement in place that will provide our fans with comprehensive and objective coverage of the Flyers for the next five seasons."

Last year, Flyers officials talked of ending the team's relationship with WIP after talk show host Craig Carton reported Lindros sat out a February 15, 1997 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins because he was drunk or hung over.

LINDROS HAD SUFFERED a back injury two days earlier and the team filed a libel suit against station owner Infinity Broadcasting March 5, 1997, charging that Carton's allegations were "a continuation of a pattern of reckless sensationalism."

Last April, WIP and the Flyers reached a settlement that called for the station to issue an apology and make a contribution to the Children's Miracle Network.

Carton no longer is employed by the station.

"We couldn't be more pleased to have reached an agreement with the Flyers to broadcast their games for the next five years," said Cecil R. Forster Jr., WIP vice president and general manager. "The Flyers are a first-class organization and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship."

Referring to last year's incident, Forster said, "We'd like to look at it has having an ongoing relationship with (the Flyers) instead of looking at the past."

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