Boston Sports Media Watch

There’s no other way to put it.

The Bruins came out last night and just laid the wood on the Pittsburgh Penguins, dominating them throughout (though Felger said he was “frustrated” with the Bruins in the 2nd period.) in a 6-1 victory to go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Steve Conroy has the Bruins making it look easy last night. Fluto Shinzawa says the Penguins can’t be counted out just yet, but the Bruins are making them look like paper tigers thus far. Joe Haggerty has the Bruins making good on their vow to be even better in game 2. Mike Petraglia says that the only thing that can stop the Bruins now is overconfidence. James Murphy has the Bruins using brawn with brains to beat the Penguins. Jesse Connolly looks at an excruciating, humiliating loss on home ice for the vaunted Penguins. Scott Cordischi has Crosby, Malkin, Iginla < Krejci, Marchand and Horton.

DJ Bean has the Bruins exposing the Penguins in more ways than one. Stephen Harris says that the Bruins couldn’t have imagined a better start to the game than they got last night. Kevin Paul Dupont examines how the Penguins have lost their way. Joe McDonald has the Bruins determined not to get ahead of themselves or compare this to 2011. Haggerty says that the Penguins were no match for the Bruins. Dupont also says that the NHL failed when it gave Matt Cooke a pass.

Christopher L. Gasper has the Bruins showing that they never should’ve been labeled underdogs in this series. Bill Burt says that the Bruins are in complete control of this series. Steve Buckley has the Penguins B-dazzled in game two.

Michael Hurley has Brad Marchand showing that he’s more than just a pest. Michael Vega has Marchand getting an early jump on Pittsburgh. CSNNE has the Nose Face Killah with his best game of the postseason. Matt Kalman has Matt Bartkowski handling things well after having to sit in favor of Andrew Ference. CSNNE says it had to be a bitter pill for Bartkowski. CSNNE also has Torey Krug adjusted to a different style of play in this series. Harris has number 3 goalie Niklas Svedberg looking forward to his shot next season. Kalman has Jaromir Jagr making an impact.

The Globe Bruins Notebook has more on Jagr’s contributions. The Herald Bruins Notebook has Tuukka Rask with a fairly stress-free evening.

Nancy Marrapese-Burrell says that the Penguins have a goalie crisis on their hands heading into game three. Chris Adamski has Sidney Crosby stumbling right out of the gate in this one.

NHL release: Morning Stanley Cup of Joe – June 4, 2013

A few other links:

Sports talk’s Wilson looks to reverse disturbing trend – Bill Reynolds has Chuck Wilson looking to make an impact on sports outside of radio.

An enduring relationship between an icon and city: David Ortiz’s ties to Boston run deep – Alex Speier looks at how Ortiz was the most impactful free agent signing of the offseason.

Enough! Time for Major League Baseball to embrace comprehensive instant replay – Former Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler weighs in on the need to get calls right.

Impact player possible for Red Sox’ first draft pick – Peter Abraham looks at what the Red Sox might be considering with the 7th overall pick in this months MLB draft.

Tyler Seguin has not been an offensive force in this postseason. We can say he’s underachieved in terms of what he’s capable of doing offensively. No problems with saying that.

I just find it a bit distasteful that every time I’ve turned on the radio since the Bruins 3-0 win over the Penguins Saturday night that I’m hearing a discussion about how bad Tyler Seguin is.

No matter how good things are going, people need something to complain about, I guess.

****

I’m amused at the methods Nick Cafardo uses in his continued season-long stance that  Jose Iglesias should be the Red Sox everyday shortstop.

Red Sox have tough decision to make at shortstop

The funny part to me, is that he is taking an almost completely opposite stance to the one he took a decade ago when Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe. Now obviously the example isn’t a perfect one, as Bledsoe was a fixture here, and had just signed a $100 million contract.

Some of the quotes:

The new issue for the Red Sox, who gave Drew a contract for $9.5 million this season, is do we continue to make Iglesias a utility player? The Sox seem to have a policy that the veteran doesn’t switch positions for the rookie, and it appears they’re stuck in that mind-set.

Back then, Nick insisted that protocol dictated that a veteran couldn’t lose his job to a younger player because of injury. Now the Red Sox are “stuck” in the mindset that a veteran should keep his job.

That’s why this is tricky. When the team is winning, why fix what’s not broken? Yet if you want to put your players in the best position to succeed in the best interest of the team, then you stick by your guns — the best shortstop (offensively and defensively) should play shortstop.

Bill Belichick was crucified by Nick for sticking to his guns when he kept Brady as starter because he was the best quarterback for the team and they were winning with him.

Everybody knows what nobody wants to say — that Iglesias is the best shortstop on the team. The Sox could try to pretend he isn’t and stick to veteran protocol, keep Drew in place, and wait for those great days amid the 0-for-17s.

Let’s try that paragraph again:

Everybody knows what nobody wants to say — that Iglesias Brady is the best shortstop quarterback on the team. The Sox Patriots could try to pretend he isn’t and stick to veteran protocol, keep Drew in place, and wait for those great days amid the 0-for-17s 18-28, 2INTs.

The old Nick would NEVER write that paragraph.

I think Nick is just scared of getting burned by backing a Drew again.

My own thoughts are that thing will sort themselves out. I don’t Iglesias is going to continue hitting as he is, but if he does, the Sox can trade Drew, he’s on a one-year deal, and wouldn’t be too hard to move. Or, you *gulp* trade Iglesias while his value is so high.

Meanwhile Alex Speier writes about Iglesias without all the unnecessary speculation and drama:

For Jose Iglesias, a long, hard road to acceptance

*******

Despite them joking about it this morning, WEEI has not replaced Mike Mutnansky with Tom Caron. Caron is filling in this morning, and he and Lou Merloni had their own intro for the show today, and joked about Chad Finn reporting weekly that the station was considering replacing Mut with Jessica Moran (which they have considered) or something else.

Alleged comedian Dane Cook has lower ratings than Dennis and Callahan this morning after stiffing an on-line audience out of his performance on the Boston Strong benefit last night.

Boston Herald Patriots reporter Jeff Howe led the charge against Cook on twitter last night, earning him a round of attaboys from his fellow sports media members. Howe was on Toucher and Rich this morning to talk about what he did.

I understand the outrage over the principle involved here – Cook is a moron for doing this – but I’m a little baffled that people are actually complaining about *not* being able to see Dane Cook.

NESN fill-in for Jerry Remy adjusting on fly – Chad Finn talks to Rob Bradford about filling in on Red Sox TV, and chimes in on Bill Simmons’ MLK reference to Memphis, addresses some WEEI rumors and looks at NBC’s coverage of Bruins/Penguins.

Bruins’ radio voice Dave Goucher high on youngsters – Bill Doyle talks to Goucher about the Bruins young defensemen and about the club as they head into the Conference finals.

Torey Krug an unlikely hero for Bruins – Fluto Shinzawa has a feature on the electric rookie.

Bruins-Penguins preview: B’s will put up a long fight – DJ Bean previews the series.

Cream rises to top in 2013 Cup playoffs – Joe Haggerty looks at how the NHL has its best four teams (and last four Champions) still playing.

Ellsbury ‘changed the game’ against Phillies – Sean McAdam looks at the big performance on the basepaths by the Red Sox centerfielder last night. Gordon Edes also looks at the night, which ended with the Phillies giving Ellsbury second base.

Not everyone was impressed though.

And not a single one led to a run “@matt_hartley_: 5 SB for Ellsbury. Club record game. We know @TonyMassarotti won't think much of this."

— Tony Massarotti (@TonyMassarotti) May 31, 2013

Earlier this week, Massarotti stated that a ball dropped in between Ellsbury and Stephen Drew over the weekend because they are both Scott Boras clients on one-year deals and are trying not to get hurt in a contract year.

Fast forward to this afternoon, when even money has Massarotti saying Ellsbury is selfishly stealing bases to pad his stats in a contract year.

ESPN announced yesterday that they have signed a multi-year deal to broadcast New England Patriots games on ESPN Radio outside of the New England market. The Patriots radio network flag-shipped by 98.5 The SportsHub will still have exclusive rights in this market, but Patriots fans who live outside of New England will get more opportunities to hear the Patriots on the radio.

Similar deals have been signed with the New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins by ESPN Radio.

ESPN NFL analysts Herm Edwards, Bill Polian and Damien Woody will each work several of ESPN Radio’s national broadcasts.  Additional commentators and the complete schedule will be announced at a later date.

Remy Ailing

NESN announced yesterday that Red Sox analyst Jerry Remy is suffering from seasonal allergies and will miss the next few games. Remy himself tweeted yesterday to assure fans “have no fear-that’s all that it is.”

Dennis Eckersley filled in on the broadcast last night, and will also be in the booth on Friday night when the Red Sox travel to New York to take on the Yankees. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford will fill in tonight and tomorrow night in Philadelphia.

CSNNE, Celtics hold Boston Strong Auction (Last Day Is Today)

Comcast SportsNet, NECN and Boston Celtics are joining to auction 10 
tickets in the Comcast SportsNet luxury suite to the Boston Strong concert
on May 30, 2013 at the TD Garden. Night would include 10 tickets to the concert plus complimentary food and beverage.

The Boston Strong concert features performances from legendary Boston recording artists Aerosmith, Boston, J Geils Band, New Kids on the Block, and James Taylor; major recording acts Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, Dane Cook, Extreme, Godsmack, and Carole King; and Boston comedians Dane Cook and Steven Wright.

To enter the auction, visit www.celtics.com.

The auction ends at 5:00pm today, Opening auction bid: $2,500

All proceeds from this auction will benefit the Richard Family Fund, c/o the St. Mark’s Area Main Street, 1914 Dorchester Ave. Dorchester, MA 02124. Visit Richardfamilyfund.org for details on the fund.

WEEI Offering “Ultimate Fenway Experience”

WEEI is giving people a chance to have the “Ultimate Fenway Experience” while helping the Pan-Mass Challenge. The prize includes four dugout seats to the June 19th game, a tour of the park including on-field access during batting practice, dinner for four at the EMC club, and a tour of the WEEI broadcast booth. Raffle tickets are only $2.00 each, and can be purchased here.

The drawing will be held on May 31st.

Get To Know Salk

The Boston Magazine website has an interview with WEEI afternoon host Mike Salk. He explains his philosophy on sports talk:

I don’t typically have the same opinion as the majority of people. I don’t view myself as a contrarian, and I never take a position just to argue it, but I think it just kind of happens. You don’t need to take a false position just to generate controversy. I don’t like that. You’re trying to relate to listeners and have a conversation with them that is something that you might have with your buddies at a bar. Adding an intellectual take on it is what I think makes it fun. Hopefully you say, “Oh, I never really thought about it that way.”

I’d like to see this show succeed, but the early returns haven’t been good.

A few days off, some actual sunshine yesterday, has put me into a much better mood to open up the week. While last week I was cranky and took it out on the local sports media, today, we’ll turn it around and look at some positives:

I like it when Dennis and Callahan (featuring Kirk Minihane) have a sports-related guest that they actually treat with respect and take seriously. They can do a great interview when they approach it right.

I like it when Fred Toucher goes on an angry rant against the sports lodge.

I like when Toucher and Rich talk to Brian Scalabrine and he shoots down everything they say about the Celtics.

I like when Lou Merloni uses his experience as a Major League player to give the audience a piece of insight that other hosts would not be able to provide.

I like when Gresh and Zo get serious about football. When they’re breaking it down and talking the game, there’s no one better on local radio.

I like when Michael Felger goes off on a (non-sports related) conspiracy theory. He can be pretty funny without even trying to be.

I like when 98.5 plays the squeaky, angry helium-voice Tony Massarotti clips.

I like that Mike Salk has pissed so many people off at WEEI.

I like the non-angry approach of Michael Holley.

I like when the Red Sox or Celtics are playing and Mike Adams has the night off.

I like Pete Sheppard’s show on 1510 NBC Sports Radio Boston. It’s the same old Pete, someone who actually enjoys sports and isn’t looking for every opportunity to point out a negative or cause for worry.

I like reading just about anything written by Alex Speier. The guy is thoughtful, intelligent, knowledgeable and can write. Why is he a sportswriter again?

I occasionally enjoy when Dan Shaughnessy goes off on a team like the 2012 Red Sox.

It’s early, but I like the new Globe hires of Baxter Holmes (Celtics) and Ben Volin (Patriots/NFL). Young, hungry guys who have showed an analytical side in the early going, and seem pleasant enough.

I like all of the Herald’s beat coverages. They’re all solid, and writers like Steve Bulpett, Stephen Harris, Michael Silverman and Karen Guregian are all seasoned professionals who know their sport and don’t get caught up in petty agendas.

I like that Tom E Curran has taken to challenging some of the ridiculous #hotsportztakes that his colleagues put out there.

I like Brian MacPherson and Tim Britton covering the Red Sox at the Providence Journal.

I like Chad Finn as a media reporter, but I like him even better when he’s writing about sports. Too bad management at the Globe isn’t more appreciative of his style and talent in that area.

I like Johnston and Flynn on the weekends and as fill-ins on 98.5, as long as they’re not talking Celtics.

I still like the Globe Sunday notes sections, as formulaic as they can be at times, they’re still a Sunday morning staple.

I like that Bob Ryan is still a presence in the Boston sports media.

The best Twitter follow of the radio side of  WEEI is @AndyWEEI

I like that Mike Reiss keeps at it on the Patriots blog, (along with Rodak and Yates) even on days where there is nothing happening, there are still multiple posts during the day to satiate those looking for any bit of Patriots news or analysis. Every post may not be a hit, but the consistency is admirable.

I like the work Chris Price did on WEEI.com leading up to the NFL draft. A lot of work there.

I like all of our radio play-by-play teams, and am interested to hear Bob Socci on Patriots broadcasts this fall.

I like that Tommy Heinsohn is still at it, and is still 100% invested in the home team.

I like that we have TV voices the quality of Mike Gorman, Don Orsillo and Jack Edwards. The three couldn’t be more different in styles, but they’re all top notch at what they do and add to the games.

I like that Jessica Camerato has grown into a writer capable of putting out great features on players such as the one she wrote on the struggles that Keyon Dooling went through.

I like how Jamison Coyle operates on NESN Daily. Leah Hextall too.

I like the Patriots practice/workout recaps that are done by the Patriots Football Weekly staff. They unfailingly provide the most detail.

I like that we live in an area where sports are so passionately followed and covered and that our professional teams are competitive most of the time.

Ugh.

Death, Taxes and Boston sports radio. About the only things in life which are completely predictable.

The Bruins take a 3-0 series lead, and then drop game four in overtime. Ergo, since they once blew a 3-0 series lead and lost a series after losing game four in overtime, this MUST be history repeating itself. This is your local radio programming until the Bruins close the series.

Or you’re a columnist who made a boatload of money on some fictional curse involving a local baseball team. What do you do? Naturally you made any connection you can to this situation.

Hagelin hits a Mookie Wilson-esque soft backhander — do I hear Vin Scully saying “Behind the bag! And the Mets win!!”

— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) May 24, 2013

The media columns today look at the postseason coverage of the Bruins.

NESN, CSNNE compete for Bruins coverage – Chad Finn.

For Pierre McGuire, rinkside beats the booth – Bill Doyle.

It was also a rough night for the Red Sox, as Terry Francona made his return to Fenway Park as an opposing manager. His Indians walloped the Sox 12-3.

Tribe a tribute to Terry Francona

John Tomase says there are two camps when it comes to Francona.

On one side are those who can’t say his name without intoning that he’s The Greatest Manager in Red Sox History, as if it’s an official part of his title. He won two World Series, nearly reached a third, and oversaw the rebirth of the franchise. It’ll take more than one bad month to undo that.

On the other are those who will never forgive him for the collapse of 2011, the fact that he basically skated on it in the court of public opinion, or for employing the player-friendly style that let it happen. The Sox won on their ridiculous talent, which he managed not to screw up. Beatification proceedings can wait.

I’d be curious to know the percentages in each camp. I personally really don’t know anyone in the second camp, though I know they exist. They’re the ones who mockingly called him “Francoma” when they called in to sports radio. I’d have to imagine it is a very very small club.

WEEI can’t be looking forward to the release of the latest ratings numbers. A sneak peek of April and the first week of May reveals that 98.5 is again #1 in their demo for mornings, mid-days and afternoons, while WEEI hovers between 6th and 7th in those same time slots.  According to the numbers I was given, (which I have not been able to confirm, but I have no reason to believe are inaccurate) the first week of May broke down like this:

May week 1

Males 25-54

T&R 13.3 #1 D&C 5.1 #6

G&Z 8.1 #1 M&M 2.6 #12

F&M 12.9 #1 S&H 4.6 T-6TH

Last year, you’ll recall that WEEI won the afternoon drive in May.

It’s over.

I remember the last time that Rask was part of a 3-0 lead in the semifinals.

— Mark Feldman (@Feldman985) May 22, 2013

I’m always amazed at the ability of some people to immediately hone in on the negative. In sports media, it’s the people involved with sports radio and television who feel the need to create something negative out of a very impressive performance by the Boston Bruins last night.

Whether it is the play of Tyler Seguin and Chris Kelly (last night on CSNNE) or Dennis and Callahan and Minihane trying to create some sort of controversy this morning around Brad Marchand and Shawn Thornton (suggesting Marchand should fight his own battles, and that Thornton resents having to come to the aid of a punk like Marchand – a suggestion Thornton himself thoroughly debunked when he appeared on the show in the 9:00 hour.

Enough of that.

Claude Julien’s plans turning to gold for Bruins – I really enjoyed Kevin Paul Dupont’s column today.

The Bruins fourth line was the difference last night, probably to the chagrin of those who complain about Julien’s insistence on rolling all his lines out there with regularity.

Fourth line carries Bruins to win over Rangers, 2-1 – Joe Haggerty says the fourth line showed they are much more than grinders.

Fourth line has first-rate showing – Joe McDonald looks at the energy and offense the unit brought last night.

Bruins go fourth with well-rounded effort – Stephen Harris looks at as good an all-around game as we’ve seen from the Bruins this season.

Merlot Line Proves Worth For Umpteenth Time And Other Leftover Bruins Thoughts – Michael Hurley touches on the officiating and many other items from last night.

Bruins defense a major source of offense in playoffs – DJ Bean looks at the production of the defensemen to the Bruins charge.

Good stuff.

For some reason, I’m a foul mood today. Don’t know why.

It might be what passes for sports radio/TV in this town these days. Nothing but faux controversies and studio-gangsters talking tough. Here’s a partial list of things I’m not interested in these days:

I’m not interested in Dennis and Callahan talking about eating feces, sodomy or Callahan’s questions about why can’t we just blow up tornadoes with a laser.

I’m not interested in the Dennis and Callahan producer somehow trying to compare Rob Gronkowski with Larry Bird in terms of being a career disappointment.

I fear that kids now may view Gronk’s career as I did Larry Birds.

— Chris Curtis (@_ChrisCurtis) May 17, 2013

If the Patriots win three Super Bowls and Gronk is a three-time MVP and a Hall of Famer, I won’t be disappointed.

I’m not interested in hearing Fred Toucher’s impression of Jaromír Jágr ever again, though I know I will.

I’m not interested in hearing Jon “Bonafides” Wallach get some basic sports fact wrong again.

I’m not interested in counting how many times Lou Merloni says “damn” in a 20-minute segment.

I’m not interested in Andy Gresh’s opinion that Rajon Rondo is the most hated athlete in Boston.

I’m not interested in Scott Zolak’s ham salad sandwiches and coffee that he got at Cumby’s on the way in.

I’m not interested in hearing how Mike Mutnansky can ramble his way into the next break. Example (Courtesy of Scott@PD):

Faced off with Salk, TC, there on NESN, went at it in the Twizzle, Celtics, rebuild, keep the core together, debated that thing, there on NESN, after the post-game show, great job done there on that, followed up with that debate, Salk wants to blow it up, couldn’t defend it, kicked his *ss there on NESN and had no problem doing it, want to mix that thing in there along with your Bruins, Red Sox calls, I see you lined up there, Steve in Fall River, Russ in Walpole, great callers. Ortiz, questions now, on something, see Shaughnessy in the Globe, asking the tough questions, agree, topic worth exploring Lou Merloni, Bruins, a little gamesmanship there on the faceoffs, getting the benefit of the doubt on those things, Michael Holley says now he doesn’t see the Bruins losing another game in this series, interesting, Holley, bold, I had the Bruins losing this series TC, we’ll explore that after this break.

Even so, I’m not interested in the prospect of Jessica Moran (though I like her on CSNNE) replacing Mutt.

I’m not interested in seeing how Dan Shaughnessy can make himself the story this week, and then take a victory lap on Gresh and Zo and on the weekend TV shows and any national outlet that will have him and promote him as the face of Boston sports.

I’m not interested in hearing how Mike Felger can blame Tom Brady for Peter King’s puff piece on him in this week’s MMQB.

I’m not interested in in hearing Tony Massarotti declare that everything SUCKS, unless it’s something that Felger came up with.

I’m not interested in Mike Salk try to “interpret” comments made by a guest such as Danny Ainge and then try to create some sort of story about a rift between Ainge and Doc Rivers. Or talk about how John Farrell really isn’t a clone of Terry Francona, and because of that, is he really any different than Bobby Valentine?

I’m not interested in Michael Holley floundering hopelessly as he tries to save his own job as he realizes that since Salk is Jeff Brown’s guy, Holley would be next out the door.

I’m not interested in anything Mike Adams has to say. (How many Mike’s are there on Boston radio, anyway?)

I’m not interested in hearing the Felger and Massarotti show repeated almost verbatim during the evenings on 98.5 by Adam Jones.

I’m not interested in hearing Larry Johnson tell everyone on the weekends how people like Dan Shaughnessy and Dennis and Callahan and everyone is doing such a great job.

I’m not interested in the Yankee-programming on that same show.

I’m not interested in Jen Royle’s tweets of herself in bed with her dog, and utilizing Butch Stearns as her new radio coach and mentor. Butch Stearns????

I’m not interested in yet another review of the 2009 season on the ESPN Boston Patriots blog.

I’m not interested in seeing the new guy at the Globe retweeting Mike Florio.

I’m not interested in hearing the Boston media fawn over John Tortorella while waiting hopefully for an explosion out of him.

I’m not interested in seeing how Chris Gasper can find creative ways to shoehorn $100 words into his column. Fustigated? Lugubrious?

/Rant over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.