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Don Orsillo Returns To NESN Through 2015; Heidi Watney Reportedly Out

November 16, 2011 By

Just breaking now, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has tweeted that Don Orsillo will return to NESN as Red Sox voice through 2015. He had reported back in May that Turner Sports was making a run at Orsillo. However, with the latest news, Orsillo will remain as voice for the next four seasons.

Yesterday in a throwaway line in his column, Dan Shaughnessy reported “through sources” that reporter Heidi Watney would not return after four years with NESN.

Filed Under: Ken Fang, Media News
About Ken Fang

A former award-winning radio reporter, Ken Fang lives in Rhode Island and blogs at Fang's Bites and Fang's Bites at BSMW. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook. In addition to sports media, he is addicted to The Amazing Race and Mad Men.

  • bostonsportsmediafan

    Heidi to the mothership?

  • bholmes

    Any provisions in the contract if don develops drug and marital problems?

  • todd

    NESN had started asking Heidi to pay her own way on Red Sox road trips. Not surpised she's leaving…

  • Doc Michaels

    Boo to the renewal of Don & Rem Dawg through 2015. Orsillo does a serviceable job but he's a straight company man and brings nothing to the table in terms of insight — I mean, what's his distinguishing characteristic, laughing at Remy's commentary during innings of one-sided games? I'm sure he's a nice guy, but he adds nothing at all to the broadcasts. I will say that Remy did an unusually frank job in studio at the end of the season during the Francona/Epstein pressers but he seldom brings that type of commentary during the regular season. The NESN Sox broadcasts have really felt bland and toothless much like the station itself over the last few years and could use an overhaul — but it doesn't look like it's happening in the next few years.

    As far as Heidi goes, it was just a matter of time. Attractive, inoffensive, did a perfectly nice job — they'll be hard-pressed to find anyone on her level most likely.

    • bostonsportsmediafan

      NESN could hire John Sterling to make things interesting on the sidelines? D+C on the radio just "joked" that they're gonna put Linda Pizzuti in there this morning? Are you serious?

  • Eddie

    Todd- I think your facts are mixed up…NESN made Jack Edwards pay his way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Why would they charge Heidi for traveling to do her job?

  • rich cerasale

    i bet they will replace heidi with a man

  • SnuffySmith

    Bring back Tina. Heidi may be a nice person, but Tina had sparkle.

  • blackstonevalleykettlebells

    Don Orsillo is awful. He can't go 2 batters without commenting on pitch count. When he gets excited it sounds like a beast in pain. NESN has become a shadow of a shadow of its former self. I have to watch the games on mute now
    See you Heidi, and do yourself a favor, don't date guys on the team.

  • HighWireNickEsasky

    Kobe's gonna love her.

  • http://twitter.com/awesomeneil @awesomeneil

    Yeah, I agree. Orsillo is BORING! Who wants a guy who simply calls the action and doesn't make himself part of the game? Absolutely right, you guys! Great point! They should fire Orsillo and Remy, and get a couple of yahoos who refer to the players by their first name or even better, NICKNAMES! and use a lot of tired catchphrases every inning no matter the score or situation, and generally just put themselves ahead of the game they're calling! Oh joy! That'd be the day! Then we'd be happy! Oh wait, no we wouldn't. We'd bitch and moan about these new clowns in the booth and long for the days of Ned Martin and Bob Montgomery.

    Idiots.

    It's not Orsillo's fault the team is dangerously unlikable right now.

    …. although I could stand to see Remy replaced with Eck.

  • http://twitter.com/awesomeneil @awesomeneil

    Yeah, I agree. Orsillo is BORING! Who wants a guy who simply calls the game and doesn't make himself part of the story? Absolutely right, you guys! Great point! They should fire Orsillo and Remy, and get a couple of yahoos who refer to the players by their first name or even better, NICKNAMES! and use a lot of tired catchphrases every inning no matter the score or situation, and generally just put themselves ahead of the game they're calling! Oh joy! That'd be the day! Then we'd be happy! Oh wait, no we wouldn't. We'd bitch and moan about these new clowns in the booth and long for the days of Ned Martin and Bob Montgomery.

    Idiots.

    ….. although I wouldn't be sad if they replaced Remy with Eck.

  • Chris

    I like Don Orsillo. But because he's a media hack, he's dumb as a rock. Here's what he said several days ago when this story was still a story: "Dale Sveum is in line to become Terry Francona's 'predecessor.'"

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