Slaten fired, blames bosses.

Kevin Slaten, fired as a sports host on KFNS radio after putting Cardinals Pitching Coach Dave Duncan on the air over his objections, blamed station management for bowing to pressure from the team. He also said his freedom of speech was trampled.

Duncan said he had told a producer at KFNS he didn't want to be interviewed but then received a telephone call from Slaten. Duncan again said he didn't want to be interviewed and told Slaten he was a "nasty man" for the way he has maligned the team in recent years.

Slaten accused Duncan of slandering him and told him, "You're on the radio."

Duncan replied, "Well, I hope not," and hung up shortly thereafter.

Duncan told the Post what Slaten did was "unethical and probably unlawful."

Slaten was fired a week later but blamed his bosses for "currying favor from the Cardinals ... if you say what the Cardinals don't like, this is what's going to happen to you," Slaten was quoted in the Post.

Stephen Shapiro, co-president of Big League Broadcasting, which owns KFNS, told the Post Slaten "crossed the line ... there are certain times when you cross the line, we do what's right as a company. That's what we did here ... For Kevin to say the First Amendment is under attack is ludicrous."

Meanwhile, Slaten has filed a lawsuit seeking damages over his dismissal.