A legendary voice of the Toronto Raptors is facing a firestorm of criticism in his current city, with a prominent Chicago radio host launching a scathing personal attack. Chuck Swirsky, the beloved play-by-play announcer for the Raptors from 1998 to 2008, was labelled a "rat" and a "bad dude" by ESPN 1000 host Mark Silverman in a blistering on-air rant this week.
The Tweet That Sparked the Feud
The controversy ignited after Swirsky, who now calls games for the NBA's Chicago Bulls, publicly criticized Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. The coach had uttered an expletive-laced phrase about the rival Green Bay Packers following a playoff win on Saturday, January 10, 2026. Swirsky posted a tweet calling out Johnson's language, which he later deleted. This action provided the fuel for Silverman's explosive response on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
"People don’t realize what a bad dude he is," Silverman declared on his show. "He is a guy that will shake your hand and stab you in the back. He’s one of the worst people out there." Silverman dismissed Swirsky's critique of the football coach as hypocritical, accusing the announcer of never criticizing the powerful owner of the Bulls and White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf.
Allegations of Backstabbing and Office Politics
Silverman didn't stop at the recent tweet. He dug into past grievances, alleging a pattern of deceitful behaviour from Swirsky behind the scenes. He claimed Swirsky tried to get fellow radio hosts fired in 2009 following the departure of colleague Dan McNeil.
"Swirsky was the first guy to call the bosses telling them to get rid of Jurko and Harry," Silverman stated, referring to hosts John Jurkovic and Harry Teinowitz. He also accused Swirsky of complaining to management about the airtime given to former NBA champion Bill Wennington, who has been Swirsky's broadcast partner since 2008.
"I finally had enough of him. He would shake my hand and stab me in the back. I’ve experienced it," Silverman said, claiming Swirsky would show team owner Reinsdorf critical social media posts about the Bulls. "What a rat. What a bad person."
Swirsky's Legacy in Toronto and Terse Response
The vitriol stands in stark contrast to Swirsky's celebrated tenure in Toronto. For a decade, he was the energetic voice of the Raptors, famous for enthusiastic catchphrases like "Onions, baby, onions!" for clutch three-pointers and "Salami and cheese!" to signal a sure victory. He also hosted a popular radio show on The Fan 590 before leaving the city for family reasons in May 2008.
When contacted by the Chicago Sun-Times for comment on Silverman's allegations, Swirsky offered a brief, diplomatic reply. "I respect your question. I hope you respect my answer. No comment," he told the newspaper. The public silence from Swirsky has left the explosive accusations from the Chicago airwaves unanswered, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the announcer in his adopted sports town.
