Story will be up later, but WEEI is going ahead with plans to do the talk-show format during its Red Sox broadcast. Saw the job posting sent to staatalentDOTcom subscribers last night.Unbelievable. ... While I could see someone rubbernecking her way past this accident for maybe five minutes (actually, that's probably being generous by about four minutes, forty seconds), I have to think fans would abandon Red Sox radio broadcasts in droves if this truly happens. It would make Dave O'Brien and Steve Lyons sound like Vin Scully in his prime, by comparison. What possible market research could WEEI have done to even half-seriously consider such an shitty idea?
That Finn tweet was at 8:15 AM. Then the discussion began.
Joe Zarbano, WEEI's program director, 8:24 AM:
This is not true. If you checked with me I could've told you that. The only thing I sent to StaaTalent was a reply confirming that the job was open and people can apply.Finn, 8:29 AM:
It says in the email: "STAA knows these plans to be true. WEEI wants to drop the concept of a conventional radio broadcast to make the game sound more like a talk show. WEEI PD Joe Zarbano is eager to receive applications ..."Zarbano, 8:36 AM:
Ok well STAA is wrong too. Again, you could have checked with WEEI and we would've told you that. We do not want the Red Sox broadcast to sound like a talk show and anyone reporting that is spreading misinformation.Finn, 8:42 AM:
Reply to my email. Glad to add your comments. What would you like it to sound like?Zarbano, 8:48 AM:
We will post the job later today on our website. @AlexReimer1 will have a story up shortly on http://WEEI.com.Alex Reimer, WEEI writer, 9:04 AM:
FWIW, @RedSox spokeswoman Zineb Curran tells me the team "does not plan any format changes to our (radio) broadcast." Will have more on this later.Finn, 9:09 AM:
Two weeks ago, they told me Tim [Neverett] was staying.And:
Lou Merloni:
The @GlobeChadFinn story was misleading. It will not be a sports talk radio broadcast. He probably should have talked to someone at the station before he wrote itFinn:
The story isn't up yet.UPDATE: Now it is. Reporting by both Finn and Reimer.
Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports:
A few well-done exceptions aside, there is nothing more annoying than sports talk radio. It tends to be constant, empty chatter about controversies real or imagined and overheated either way. ... It's almost always boorish narcissism masquerading as "analysis." ... My thoughts and prayers go out to Red Sox fans who listen to the games on the radio.
5 comments:
I listen to *at least* 20 more games a year than I watch. I'll be apoplectic if this happens. NESN and WEEI seem hell bent on doing everything possible to alienate their fan base.
The only game I watch is one a year n person at Fenway. If I have to subscribe to MLB to hear the radio feed of the opposing team, I will not be happy.
Trying to wrap my head around how this could work / what they might be thinking in a devil’s advocate sort of way, the last few seasons there seem to have been more guests in the booth than normal (Here’s Mike Lowell for 2 innings; here’s Mike Greenwell; here’s someone from the front office; here’s the CEO of a random sponsor; here’s a Jimmy Fund kid).
They also have had a few more “stunts” (Roger Clemens subbing for Joe for the Houston series; Joe switching places with John Sterling for an inning; Dave O’Brien is back for 1 game; the telethons; etc).
Sometimes they fall flat, but other times they are interesting and compelling. Done right with intelligent vetting of the guests and not interfering with the play by play could turn into a cool way to handle the early/middle innings of a weeknight, lower stakes, non-rivalry sort of matchup.
That said, it’s definitely a slippery slope that could just as easily / almost certainly run off the rails if done wrong.
I'm a "meat and potatoes" guy when it comes to radio broadcasts. Tell me what's happening on the field, period. I'd rather just hear the play-by-play with a light sprinkle of color commentary. Honestly, why can't these station owners and program directors get it through their thick skulls that most radio listeners want it to be as simple as that?
If they really turn this into a talk-show format, than I can guarantee that I will not be listening to future Red Sox radio broadcasts; it will be more NESN broadcasts with the sound muted.
If they really turn this into a talk-show format, than I can guarantee that I will not be listening to future Red Sox radio broadcasts; it will be more NESN broadcasts with the sound muted.
Ditto.
NESN and WEEI seem hell bent on doing everything possible to alienate their fan base.
You can add MLB to that list, too.
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