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Sports Radio Boston News – Senator Curt Schilling Makes his Pitch on WEEI

sportsradioboston — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:40:46 +0000

Schilling Pitching for Kennedy’s Seat?

Appearing on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan Thursday morning, WEEI.com’s Curt Schilling called the chances of him running for the Massachusetts’ vacant Senate seat “slim to none” but still wouldn’t rule out the possibility, stating that the decision would come down to the feelings of his wife, Shonda, and family.

Talking about the prospects of actually winning the seat if he did run, Schilling said, “I wouldn’t even remotely consider it if I wasn’t planning on winning it.”

Schilling also addressed some of his critcs, who say that he doesn’t have the credentials to run for office, saying, “My credentials are I have no baggage. I have no special interest, I have no ties.” He then added, “I wouldn’t call them credentials as much as I would call them advantages.”

More about Senator Curt Schilling from the D.C. WRITEUP

Posted By adamsylvain

In the wake of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy’s death last week, reports have been circulating about who may fill his seat. The Associated Press broke a story Thursday revealing that former major-league pitcher Curt Schilling may be considering a run for the seat.

When asked about his political future, Schilling was non-committal, but did say, “I do have some interest in the possibility.”

A registered independent, and an outspoken Republican supporter, Schilling has made his voice heard in politics before. He was especially vocal in the past two presidential elections as he supported Republican candidates John McCain and George W. Bush. Schilling has also been forthright on issues such as steroids in baseball, and has been a steady advocate for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Schilling further discussed his future Thursday morning on the Dave & Callahan Show, a Boston-based, sports-radio show. Confirming the notion he wouldn’t be holding his tongue, Schilling said, “You can make an argument that everybody wants fresh blood and somebody who doesn’t know how to play the game. But what people say and what actually happens are often two very different things.” Schilling admitted he would likely take some heat for his support of Bush in the 2004 election. “I supported Bush. I supported Bush is the number one reason. That’s the reason people wouldn’t vote for me.”

Schilling has been on a World Series winning team three times. He earned his first ring as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, and went on to win two more with the Boston Red Sox, in 2004, and 2007. Schilling is famous for pitching on an injured ankle in game 6 of the 2004 American League Championship series with blood soaking through his sock. The Red Sox would go on to win game 7 and the World Series, breaking an 86-year World Series drought.

As for a timeline on a decision? “I don’t know. I don’t know. It will be based on a lot of things. There has to be some things done by specific dates. I’m not sure of all the rules and regulations because I haven’t looked into them. We’ll think through it and when the time comes to talk about it, we’ll do that as well. Obviously, it will have to be in relatively short order.”

Article from THE D.C. WRITEUP: http://www.thedcwriteup.com

URL to article: http://www.thedcwriteup.com/2009/09/schilling-pitching-for-kennedy%e2%80%99s-seat/

The Massachusetts Dilemma: Curt Schilling (R) For Senate

Article Courtesy of: NPR

As a long-suffering Yankees fan — have I reminded you we haven’t won the World Series since 2000??! — I still have this image ingrained in my head: Curt Schilling, he of the bloody Red Sox and the legendary Bloody Red Sock — shutting down the Yankees, part of the team that came back from an 0-3 deficit against New York and then went on to sweep the 2004 World Series.

Schilling is now talking about possibly getting in the race for the Senate seat left vacant by the Aug. 25 death of Edward Kennedy.

Schilling is a god in much of Red Sox Nation, mostly (but not only) for his gritty performance in the ’04 playoffs in bringing Boston its first World Series since Woodrow Wilson was president.

But here’s the rub: Curt Schilling is a Republican. Or at least, a conservative. And Massachusetts is as blue a state as they come. Barack Obama carried it with 62 percent of the vote. The governor, both senators, and all ten House members are Democrats. No Republican has won a Senate seat here since 1972. No Republican has succeeded a Democratic senator since 1946.

Officially, Schilling is registered as an independent. But he campaigned for President Bush in 2004 — when he was opposed by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry — and John McCain in 2008 (neither of whom was what you might call “popular” candidates in the state). Were he to run, it would be interesting what would be more significant — his red and white uniform, or his red and white politics.

Schilling, in an interview with the Boston Herald, had this to say: “We’ve got a political system and a group of people that suck, and that needs to change.”

Levi Johnston couldn’t have said it better himself.

Other potential Republican candidates include former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, who served under then-Gov. Mitt Romney, and state Sen. Scott Brown.

Meanwhile, one bit of news today: state Attorney General Martha Coakley announced she will run in the special election to succeed Kennedy. The other Democrats whose names have been bandied about are apparently waiting to see if a Kennedy gets in the race, specifically ex-Rep. Joe Kennedy. But Coakley, the only Democratic woman on the list, seems to be in it regardless of who else decides to run. She also has less campaign money than many of the other would-be candidates, and perhaps needed more of head start.

Upcoming dates to keep in mind:

Sept. 9 — Mass. state legislature holds hearing on whether to change Senate succession law (which currently does not allow the governor to make an interim appointment in the event of a vacancy).

Dec. 8 — Special Senate primaries.

Jan. 19 — Special Senate general election.

Sports Radio News- WEEI Interview with Tom Brady – Show Me Where it Hurts Tommy

sportsradioboston — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:55:04 +0000

Pats QB Tom Brady on if his shoulder will allow him to play in the opener: “I’m certainly expecting that.”

Tom Brady just finished up his weekly interview with WEEI Radio, and this Monday’s edition was a little more action-pacted. Plenty of issues to discuss, including his ailing shoulder, his status for the Bills game, Tedy Bruschi’s impending retirement, and Kevin O’Connell being released.

But first, the guys from the Dennis & Callahan Show asked him about the opener and if he believes he’ll play.

“I’m certainly expecting that,” Brady said. “It was fun to be out there last Friday night against a very talented team. The team palyed well in some aspects and in some ways, we still have plenty of room for improvement. As for my shoulder, I just fell awkwardly. Anytime a 350 pound man lands on you, most people would be a bit sore, which I was. A lot of players on the team have bumps and bruises and I have bumps and bruises. But I’m expecting to be out there.”

Brady said he’s looking forward to the prepration for this week’s exhibition game against the Giants and for gearing up for the Bills. While he said he’d love to play this week, that decision is up to coach Bill Belichick, “and traditionally he doesn’t let us play.”

We believe that Brady is out this week, but you can undertsand him saying what he did. As for making a definite prediction about his shoulder, he asked, “We don’t play for two weeks. What does it matter how confident I am? You wait for Sept. 14.”

There were a bunch of other topics addressed, so here is a rundown…

Brady, on that alleged conversation with Chad Ochocinco: “Yeah, I don’t remember talking to him. I think Ochocinco can be a little bit evasive at times.”

Brady, on his first thoughts after Albert Haynesworth hit him: “Damn, that guy was heavy. That’s what I was thinking. Albert Haynesworth is one of the best defensive lineman we play against. He kind of drifted a little bit, I think I drifted into him. He made a good play, and I just landed awkwardly on the ground. Coach made the decision at halftime, and that was the last time I was out there.”

Brady, on if he immediately freaked after the hit: “I don’t think so. Last year, when I got hit (in the knee) — and this is going back a long way — I knew it was bad. The pain didn’t go away. It was a lot of trauma to that injured area, and it lasted for a long time. … I couldn’t avoid it, but there is an art to taking hits. Part of conditioning is to be strong and flexible to be able to withstand hits.”

Brady, on O’Connell’s release:” We’ve been away from the team for 48 hours, and I haven’t talked to anybody, but you see the reports and if they’re true… I really enjoyed Kevin. He’s a great person, a very talented player, and it’s a very competitive position. Kevin worked very hard, and he does have a bright future. It’s really always tough this time of year when guys who you have a lot of respect for don’t end up being part of your roster.”

Brady, on if he had an MRI or X-ray: “I always rely on our doctors and trainers. It’s just part of getting hit. When you get hit, you get sore, and when you get sore in the shoulder, as a quarterback, you take a little precaution. It’s apparently, progressing, I’m confident. … I know when a 350-pound man falls on me, I can handle it. That gives me confidence.”

As for what Brady said about Bruschi… that needs its own entry.

Sports Radio Boston – WEEI Press Release

sportsradioboston — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Red Sox Radio Broadcasts Return to WEEI

Courtesy of: Fang’s Bites

August 25, 2009 (Boston) — Entercom New England announced today that, effective with the team’s game against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday evening, August 26th, all future Boston Red Sox games will be carried on WEEI 850 AM in Boston, the flagship station of the WEEI Sports Radio Network.

From 1995 to 2006, Red Sox games were carried exclusively on WEEI. In 2006, the games were shifted to Entercom sister station WRKO AM 680.

“We have a tremendously close partnership with the Red Sox, and are very excited to bring them back to WEEI,” said Jason Wolfe, Entercom New England’s Vice President of AM Programming. “This move will add consistency to our lineup, whereby all of our sports assets will be consolidated in the same place. There’s no better compliment to the Boston Celtics, Patriots Monday and Patriots Friday, Sunday Night and Monday Night NFL football, the Super Bowl and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, than adding Red Sox baseball back to nation’s biggest sports radio station.”

Added Julie Kahn, Entercom New England Market Manager/VP: “We’re delighted to bring the Red Sox back to their original home on WEEI. The Red Sox and WEEI have a long history together and it’s a partnership that’s a win for all – WEEI, the Sox and the Boston sports fans.”

“Our partnership with Entercom ensures that Red Sox fans know where to go for the best, most compelling sports news and features on radio,” said Red Sox President and CEO Larry Lucchino. “Today’s announcement marks a return home for us, and now all of Red Sox Nation will know they can turn to WEEI to catch every Red Sox game all season long.”

WEEI is the nation’s highest rated sports radio station, a three time Marconi Award Winner, and home to Dennis and Callahan, Dale and Holley, The Big Show with Glenn Ordway and Planet Mikey with Mike Adams. The WEEI sports radio network includes the following stations:

WEEI-850 AM      Boston, MA
WEII-96.3 FM      Cape Cod, MA
WEEI-103.7 FM   Providence, RI
WVEI-105.5 FM   Springfield, MA
WVEI-1440 AM    Worcester, MA
WPEI 95.9 FM     Portland, ME
WEEY-93.5 FM    Keene, NH
WAEI-AM-910 AM / WAEI 97.1 FM    Bangor, ME

Sports Radio Boston News – Bye Bye Big Show?

sportsradioboston — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:33:24 +0000

98.5 The Sports Hub: Bye Bye, Big Show

With the advent of a new sports talk radio station in Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub, long time WEEI listeners including Bleacher Report writer BHL will finally have another listening option for the afternoon commute.

Long tired of Glen Ordway’s The Big Show, a yahoo and fat slob-centric shouting fest, Bleacher Report writer BHL is highly excited that 95.8 will feature Comcast SportsNet’s Michael Felger in the weekday 2—6 p.m. time slot.

Felger, a favorite of some for his objective view of the Boston sports scene, and his lack of fear when making assertive and unique viewpoints, will be a refreshing treat for sports crazed Bostonians each afternoon.

On the whole, The Sports Hub appears to be the first strong competition for WEEI in recent memory. The station has put together a respectable cast of sports radio personalities. The morning show, with former WBCN jocks Toucher & Rich, would appear to be the only shortcoming on the new station.

Note: For a similar analysis written by BHL of WEEI’s daily programs, please see BHL’s February 2009 article, “How to Improve the #1 Rated Sports Station in the Country”.

BHL’s analysis on a show-by-show basis:

6—10 a.m.: Toucher & Rich will most likely fail in their attempt at competing with Dennis & Callahan. This would not be a surprise.

10 a.m.—2 p.m.: Rumors have it that the mid-day show on 98.5 will include Gary Tanguay, long associated with Comcast SportsNet’s coverage of the Boston Celtics. Alongside Tanguay will be Scott Zolak, former backup quarterback of the New England Patriots.

In BHL’s opinion, Dale & Holley is seemingly the best show on WEEI. With that established, Tanguay and Zolak will have a difficult time competing for listeners. Given that each Tanguay and Zolak are established and well-versed personalities, this should be an interesting and competitive battle.

2—6 p.m.: Upon Michael Felger’s decision to join 98.5, WEEI removed all traces of Felger from their website and from their radio programs.

While the fallout at WEEI from Michael Felger’s departure was a tad bizarre if not immature, it also points to how strong the competition between these two stations will be.

The Big Show’s usual “the Yankees are in shambles, they’re done” party in June, followed by the “we never said the Yankees were done, we never said that” denial festival in August, will now go unheard by at least a few.

Pete Sheppard’s apologist viewpoint of the New England Patriots is mildly entertaining, and this appears to be all The Big Show has going for it. If Sheppard could be shifted to 98.5 to sit with Felger, this would be the ultimate show.

Felger’s debut in the 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. slot will mean that Bleacher Report writer BHL will have listened to the Big Blow for the final time.

6 p.m.—11 p.m.: The nighttime shows on 98.5 have not been announced, but just about anything can succeed in gaining listeners over WEEI’s Planet Mikey (weeknights 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.).

Along with the daytime talk shows, 98.5 will include game coverage of the Patriots and the Boston Bruins. This matches WEEI’s Red Sox and Celtics game coverage.

All in all, 98.5 appears to be a well-rounded sports station, save for the morning slot. Let’s just hope the same regurgitated callers don’t pollute the new station. Frank from Gloucester, Steve from Fall River, Angelo in Everett, you name it. One can only hope they have not heard the news that a new location to receive their diarrhea phone calls is now in existence.

Note: It has been strangely difficult to find press releases related to 98.5′s debut, as well as the personalities on each show, so any inaccuracies noted above may be attributed to this very issue. SPORTS RADIO BOSTON AGREES!!!

Sports Radio Boston – Bar Stool Sports Scores!

sportsradioboston — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:55:37 +0000

Bar Stool Sports & Julie Kahn

Bar Stool Sports

That psssssst sound you just heard was Julie Kahn pissing herself because she just found out I’m going to be on Toucher and Rich tomorrow at 9am.

Courtesy of Bar Stool Sports Boston

And the first salvo in the Sports Hub Vs. WEEI war for the Stool has been fired!

Advantage Sports Hub.

My guess is that if I dominate this appearence, like I’m sure I will, I’ll probably get my own late night show and have to go head to head against Mikey Adams which would kind of suck since he’s my favorite guy on WEEI.

But what are you going to do right?

I don’t get paid to pick who I fight. I get paid to knock them out.

Sports Radio Boston – Sports Hub vs. WEEI

sportsradioboston — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:47:28 +0000

CBS tunes out ’BCN to take on WEEI with new ‘Sports Hub’

We will rock you!

By Jessica Heslam | Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | http://www.bostonherald.com

It’s war on the Boston sports radio airwaves as CBS Radio shutters rock giant WBCN [website] next month and aims its big guns straight at Entercom powerhouse WEEI with a new FM sports talk station.

“We say bring it on,” said Entercom Vice President Julie Kahn of the launch of WBZ-FM, the first major challenge to WEEI-AM (850), which has long ruled Hub sports talk. “WEEI has taken on a lot of competitors. We’re very confident in our brand.”

CBS Radio announced yesterday that it is switching off the ratings-challenged WBCN-FM (104.1) after four decades as the city’s legendary rock station and plans to launch the Hub’s first FM sports talk station, “98.5 The Sports Hub.”

Debuting Aug. 13 with the famed WBZ brand call letters, the station will broadcast Patriots [team stats] and Bruins [team stats] games on 98.5 FM. Red Sox [team stats] games air on WEEI and sister station WRKO-AM (680), while the Celtics [team stats] are broadcast on WEEI.

’BCN duo Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb will host a revamped morning-drive show on the new FM sports station, facing off against WEEI’s popular John Dennis and Gerry Callahan.

“Who? Never heard of them,” said Callahan of the “Toucher and Rich” duo.

“I am speaking to you from under my desk right now because I am so scared. I’m afraid to come out,” the Herald columnist quipped.

Toucher said he wishes Dennis and Callahan the “best of luck.”

“We’re definitely a different sort of show than what we’ll be up against at WEEI,” Toucher added.

There already is one WEEI defection: Mike Felger, who will be hosting an afternoon show on WBZ-FM.

Felger declined comment, but Callahan said, “There’s been at least three stations that have tried to take us down in the last seven years. If I’m not mistaken, Felger was part of at least a couple of those.”

Comcast SportsNet’s Gary Tanguay and Felger plan to host their own shows, with Tanguay competing with midday WEEI hosts Dale Arnold and Michael Holley and Felger taking on Glenn Ordway in afternoon-drive, sources said.

“They all start on my show. We send off the spin-offs,” said Ordway, noting Felger started doing radio on “The Big Show.”

CBS Radio exec Mark Hannon said, “With Boston being the sports-crazy town that it is, and one existing on AM and one existing on FM, I think there’s plenty of room for both of us.”

Meanwhile, another big name lurks in the background. Former WBZ-TV (Ch. 4) sports anchor Bob Lobel said he spoke with his agent about the new station yesterday. “That’s where it stands for me,” Lobel said. “I love doing radio.”

The new FM sports station also plans to compete with WEEI in cyberspace with a new Web site.

WBMX-FM (98.5), the CBS-owned music station currently on the new sports station frequency, will keep its format but is moving to 104.1. WBCN can still be heard online.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1184964

RIP: Big Mattress, WBCN
/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1185782

Root of ’BCN’s woes
/news/opinion/letters/view.bg?articleid=1185421

Format switch symbolic of talk ‘invasion’ on FM dial
/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1184965

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‘Sports Hub’ dialing up a challenge for WEEI

By Chad Finn, Globe Staff | July 17, 2009

Well, now we’ll find out.

With Tuesday’s revelation that a game of radio musical chairs will result in a new all-sports station, WBZ-FM “98.5 The Sports Hub,’’ debuting Aug. 13, we will finally begin to get an answer to one of the lingering questions in Boston sports media: Is sports radio behemoth WEEI 850’s dominance and popularity based on some common appeal of its bottom-scraping, self-proclaimed “guy radio’’ formula? Or has the station succeeded because of its wide-ranging AM signal (not to mention its nine regional stations throughout New England) and lack of a powerful competitor?

While the belief here is that WEEI has long been an unworthy and often ungrateful beneficiary of the region’s unquenchable thirst for its uncommonly successful professional sports teams, it’s repeatedly been made clear that WEEI views its success as an irrefutable confirmation of its own collective brilliance.

“The Sports Hub’’ has a reasonable chance to prove otherwise. While WEEI has essentially vanquished all supposed challengers, notably the still-airing-but-rarely-considered WAMG 890 and WWZN 1510, in recent years, the longtime heavyweight champ has never faced a challenger as capable as “The Sports Hub.’’ WAMG has limited local programming, a signal that fades to static within city limits after dusk, and has never fully utilized its affiliation with ESPN.

WWZN debuted its sports format in October 2001 with promise, hiring former Red Sox television voice Sean McDonough as its drive-time host and vowing “to raise the bar,’’ a direct shot at WEEI’s sophomoric approach. But WWZN, which owned Celtics broadcast rights until the end of the 2004-05, quickly proved no match for WEEI; the station continues to be plagued by poor reception in the evening.

“The Sports Hub’’ has crucial advantages previous would-be WEEI competitors lacked. The station already has a degree of established and respected brand recognition with the iconic WBZ call letters. It owns the broadcasting rights to the Patriots and Bruins, which is pretty close to a wash with WEEI’s deals with the Red Sox and Celtics. It has the backing of powerful ownership in CBS Radio, which also owns such prominent stations as WFAN in New York. There is synergy with the Patriots, who have significant ties with CBS as well as WBZ Channel 4. And, of course, there’s the potent FM signal.

While there has been no formal announcement, “The Sports Hub’’ lineup is beginning to take shape. There are encouraging signs the station intends to position itself as a compelling alternative to WEEI rather than as an imitation, even as it makes former WEEI staffer and jack-of-all-media Michael Felger its franchise player.

Felger – who according to a source close to the situation will go head to head from 2-6 p.m. daily with a show on which he used to appear, WEEI’s powerful “The Big Show’’ hosted by Glenn Ordway – is a savvy choice by “The Sports Hub,’’ even considering his WEEI roots. The former Boston Herald sportswriter already has a strong local profile, hosting “Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight’’ and “Sports Sunday’’ on Comcast SportsNet, though he will not continue to host CSN’s “The Baseball Show,’’ which is simulcast on WEEI.

(One source with knowledge of the situation indicated Comcast SportsNet is “likely’’ to eventually simulcast “The Sports Hub,’’ programming, though it was also noted that the network is always open to considering such partnerships elsewhere, including with WEEI.)

Felger, who hosted an afternoon show on 890 until returning to WEEI last July, typically plays the role of a contrarian, and he’s best balanced by a co-host who will challenge him – his recent pairing with Michael Holley on WEEI’s midday show was particularly enjoyable. But Felger’s self-effacing sense of humor serves to temper his brash opinions enough to make him a genial host.

What will be telling is how “The Sports Hub’’ stocks the rest of its roster. Both Felger and Gary Tanguay, his “Sports Tonight’’ counterpart who will host “The Sports Hub’’ midday show, most likely from 10-2, will have a regular co-host. The “Toucher and Rich’’ morning show will slide over from the departed WBCN 104.1, filling the 6-10 slot. While the depth of hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb’s sports knowledge is yet to be determined, they did feature an entertaining weekly segment with the Bruins’ Aaron Ward this past hockey season, and they already are proving to be much more adept at conversing entertainingly about “water-cooler topics’’ than their WEEI counterparts, John Dennis and Gerry Callahan.

The temptation is to suggest the new station should resist any notion of plundering WEEI beyond Felger, who filled in on various WEEI programs while serving as a signature writer on the station’s website. (All evidence of Felger’s existence was wiped off WEEI.com by Wednesday afternoon.) But WEEI does have some appealing co-hosts, among them baseball writers Sean McAdam and Steve Buckley, and former Red Sox utilityman Lou Merloni, as well as unsung “The Big Show’’ producer Andy Massaua.

What the fledgling station should not take from WEEI is the reliance of “celebrity’’ callers or the dependence on sycophantic sidekicks who don’t dare to call the host on mistakes. Rather than stealing any ingredients in the WEEI formula, “The Sports Hub’’ should aim to find co-hosts and contributors capable of providing insight and humor, as well as at least a cursory knowledge of the sports world outside of Boston. In a sense, it’s too bad ESPN finally recognized it had a rising star in Ryen Russillo, recently pairing him with “SportsCenter’’ anchor Scott Van Pelt on its syndicated midday radio show. The former 1510 host and frequent Comcast SportsNet contributor has long deserved a more prominent role in the Boston market.

It should also be noted that there is mutual interest in having the Boston Globe’s sportswriters appear on the station. While Globe writers remain banned from WEEI programming – editors stopped permitting staffers to appear on “The Big Show’’ or “Dennis and Callahan’’ in 1999, and WEEI responded by not allowing them on any other programs – sports editor Joe Sullivan said staffers would be allowed on “The Sports Hub,’’ provided that the topics were related to sports.

No matter how “The Sports Hub’’ completes its staff, this much is certain: It is in for a fierce competition, and WEEI already has begun a predictable campaign of patronizing rhetoric. On Wednesday’s program, Ordway said he “welcomes the war,’’ while noting “they all start on my show.’’ It’s difficult to comprehend how insufferable WEEI will be if “The Sports Hub’’ fails, though Ordway’s words suggest that even WEEI knows it’s different this time.

On Tuesday, Julie Kahn, vice president and market manager of Entercom New England, told the Globe, “This is the third effort to come after us at ’EEI. The best content will win.’’

We can only hope she’s right, even if she misses the irony.

When content is the main factor in determining the winner of a battle for Boston sports radio supremacy, it will be the first time.

Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com.

Sports Radio Boston – Bad Karma at WEEI?

sportsradioboston — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:11:22 +0000

Sports talk radio-active

Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff February 26, 2009

"You Can't See the WIZARD... Now Go Away!"

We don’t change the station, and so the station sees no need to change. Ratings are huge, possibly even as huge as the station claims. Its primary demographic has tremendous appeal to advertisers. And New England’s fanatical dedication to the professional sports teams that the station’s hosts bloviate about in four-hour blocks is seemingly endless.

And so there you have it: WEEI. Your sports-radio leader. A perfect storm of arrogance.

What’s that adage about pompous silver-spooners? He was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple? That fits certain WEEI hosts as comfortably as a Bloomin’ Onion–stained Tommy Bahama shirt. They think the station’s success somehow reflects on them, that we tune in for their shrill banter, contrived characters, and prefabricated opinions. We don’t — never have, never will. We listen because we love sports, our beloved teams are enjoying a remarkable run of success, and WEEI happens to have both access and broadcast rights. Most of all, we listen because there is no other decent local alternative with a signal stronger than that of a ham radio.

Now, I’m not suggesting all WEEI programming beats your eardrums into submission. Dale and Holley are engaging in the midday, and Mut and Bradford make those weekend chores pass quicker. But it is telling that the two smartest sports radio shows in the city in recent years — Michael Felger’s drive-time program on ESPN 890 and the Ryen Russillo/Jon Anik/Anthony Pepe crew on WWZN 1510 — were broadcast elsewhere on the dial. If only either had owned a signal that didn’t turn into a French-language station a mile from the Zakim Bridge, they might have gained the appropriate audience.

So to feed our unquenchable sports jones, we have no choice but to suffer the WEEI banshees. But that doesn’t stop us from longing for something better, something not only entertaining but intelligent, passionate, and insightful.

We’re not here today for the purpose of holding a sports radio fantasy draft, but for a moment consider the station you could build — and the one ESPN Boston should have built — with roster depth that included the best of the Globe and ESPN, underrated talents such as Russillo and Mike Giardi, as well as the requisite WEEI refugees. (Remember Steve DeOssie after he skipped over to 1510? Thoughtful and articulate. On WEEI? An overgrown Scut Farkas.)

Maybe I’m naïve. Maybe the average Boston sports fan is less sophisticated than I want to believe. But I’m convinced that provided with an equal signal, some savvy program director could build what WEEI claims to be: the premier sports radio station in the country. And just in case such a benefactor happens to have read this far, at no charge we offer you a thinking fan’s guide to the real dos and don’ts of sports radio in Boston.

Have a well-considered opinion and the knowledge to defend it in an entertaining manner: No, passing yourself off as some sort of insider because of an association with the Celtics two decades ago does not count, particularly when there is mounting suspicion that you haven’t watched more than a handful of out-of-market NBA games since the days of short shorts and sky hooks. In a related note: Yelling the loudest doesn’t make you right. Didn’t your mom ever teach you that?

After you’ve beaten a story to death, please resist the temptation to beat on the corpse daily for another several weeks: Wait, wait, wait … you’re telling me Manny Ramirez quit on the Red Sox? And they traded him? When did this happen? How come you never mentioned this, Mikey? HOW COME YOU NEVER MENTIONED THIS??!!

No more celebrity callers …: Call it the Glenn Ordway Corollary: The more obnoxious the caller, the more airtime he gets. It’s a cornerstone of the lucrative business of pandering to the lowest common denominator. But I can’t be the only one who lunges for the scan button as soon as “Angry Bill” and his miserable brethren begin spewing their first word of venom.

… or sycophantic co-hosts: Ah, another Ordway self-preservation tactic. Surround yourself with a couple of knowledgeable co-hosts, then fill out the rest of the cast with talking-head lightweights and cronies who will argue with you only to the point where you say zip it, refuse to point out your factual missteps, and, for the sake of a paycheck, willingly play clichéd characters appropriate for a failed soap-opera actor. That way, you’re irreplaceable, since there’s no obvious successor to the throne. Brilliant! Also: Unlistenable!

In order to qualify for airtime, a co-host has to be able to put two consecutive syllables together without his tongue tripping over his mustache: Don’t worry, big guy. You’re halfway there.

Hosts are not permitted eight-part questions so long and windy that they require a syllabus and stretch from one commercial break to the next: That means you, Dennis … Denito … Dentillo …

Talk politics or the news story of the day when the moment calls for it: Credit where credit is due: WEEI was riveting radio in the days after September 11. The tone was sincere, heartfelt, and human. Since then, however, the tone regarding politics and world matters has become so extreme that certain hosts make Dick Cheney look like a beatnik. Worse is the increasingly snide disregard for those with different circumstances, views, and — the case certainly can be made — pigment. It’s one thing to be provocative, but too often that crosses the line to irresponsibility. Sure, a certain element is enthralled — hillbillies and cavemen, mostly. Others are simply waiting for the inevitable repulsive comment that leads to your downfall.

Enough with the drop-ins from comedians who’d bomb at the Ha-Ha House of Whiskey and Waffles: And if some clown named Shecky does find his way into the studio — either as a guest or as your nighttime host — have some dignity and refrain from hee-hawing and chortling and racing to laugh loudest as if he’s the reincarnation of George Carlin. He’s not. He’s a D-lister with a captive audience, and his best jokes wouldn’t make the cut for the Whiner Line. Which, by the way, is the best thing you have going. We might note the material comes not from you, but from the listeners. We’re going to assume you miss the irony of that.

“You Can’t See the Wizard… Now Go Away”

OT columnist Chad Finn is a sports reporter for Boston.com and can be reached at finn@globe.com

Sports Radio Boston – The Chad Finn Report – Boston Globe

sportsradioboston — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:51:42 +0000

‘Sports Hub’ dialing up a challenge for WEEI

GLENN ORDWAY is Ready to RUMBLE

By Chad Finn – Article Courtesy of the Boston Globe

Well, now we’ll find out.

On Tuesday, Julie Kahn, vice president and market manager of Entercom New England, told the Globe, “This is the third effort to come after us at ’EEI. The best content will win.’’

We can only hope she’s right, even if she misses the irony.

When content is the main factor in determining the winner of a battle for Boston sports radio supremacy, it will be the first time.

Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com.