SPECIAL EDITION:
- Epstein's end
- Eddie's exit
Turnabout has not been pretty for Theo Epstein
Maybe Theo Epstein now knows how Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez
felt. The erstwhile Red Sox GM was given the money he wanted by Red Sox
ownership, but still walked away from the team, clearly because of a lack of respect
and an unsatisfying work environment. In short, it wasn't about the money.
The media response is gusting at hurricane force with Boston Globe
columnist Dan Shaughnessy in the eye of the storm. The Globe's business ties to
the Red Sox have understandably come into question, but Shaughnessy has been
treated unfairly. Who among us would not have written the story he penned
last Sunday? If the information is available and accurate, you run with it.
If we are going to hammer Shaughnessy for getting access due to his paper's
business relationship with the Red Sox, then we better get a big mallet, and we
can start with WEEI's Red Sox ties.
Shaughnessy appeared on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" show and John
Dennis jumped right into the conflict of interest question. Shaughnessy threw
the question right back to Dennis and WEEI, the station that holds the team's
radio rights. It's interesting that Shaughnessy has been consistently vilified
in the media for being anti-Red Sox, always drumming up negative curse talk,
yet, in this latest affair, he is now seen as a Red Sox puppet. Which one is
it, guys?
In the end, Shaughnessy's critics have no credibility. Is Shaughnessy
a shill? Does he have an agenda, or do you just disagree with him in this
particular case? The fact is that if Theo Epstein was swayed by anything in a
newspaper column, he is not as smart as we all think he is.
Gerry Callahan said of Theo Epstein, "He's a hero. He's a god."
Funny, at one time, Garciaparra and Martinez were both of those things in
Boston, too. Things change when the contracts are up. Larry Lucchino has been
accused of initiating a "smear campaign" against Epstein. Well, turnabout is
fair play.
While Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino gets most of the blame, Epstein did
nothing to stop a smear campaign against Garciaparra. Why is Nomar getting
injured so much? Look how big he's gotten! He turned down $60 million over
four years!
Earlier this week, WEEI's Dale Arnold questioned the Globe's use of
the word "rejects" in describing Epstein's refusal of a $1.2 million per year
offer from the Red Sox. Arnold stated that it's the first offer and you never
take the first offer as part of negotiation. Hmm, maybe Garciaparra figured
that the $60 million deal was a first offer and that negotiation would
continue. Of course, the Red Sox next move was to publicly humiliate Garciaparra
by going after Alex Rodriguez. Publicly humiliate. Sound familiar, Theo?
Pedro Martinez talked a lot about respect as the reason he left Boston.
He got a better deal from the Mets and it bothered him that the Red Sox
would not match it. Martinez said it wasn't about the money. Before him, Mo
Vaughn, the target of a huge smear campaign by Dan Duquette, said the same
thing when he left for the Angels. It was about respect. Theo Epstein has too
much class to say it publicly, but he is leaving also because a lack of
respect, not a lack of money.
Maybe Theo more fully understands what athletes are saying when they
use that word respect or when they talk about not being comfortable with what
the fans or media view as a seemingly perfect situation. When Martinez left,
Callahan questioned the pitcher's intelligence in leaving Boston. Why isn't
he wondering the same thing about Epstein? Simple. Callahan likes Epstein.
He isn't a threat to Callahan's ultra white linen world where an outspoken
Latino (Martinez) is a frightening proposition.
Of course, no topic would be complete without hearing from WEEI
staffer/Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. On Wednesday, he implied that the Epstein
departure might make players wary of coming to Boston because they might view
the organization as unstable.
He also said that Shaughnessy's version of the botched Colorado deal
from this past summer is incorrect and that most of the Red Sox dislike
Shaughnessy. Schilling also stated that Epstein has "way too much integrity" to
take another GM job in baseball and that closer B.J. Ryan would "look good in a
Red Sox uniform."
If you are keeping score, Schilling questioned the reputation of his
employers, played beat reporter, imposed his own biased view of a writer on his
whole team, implied that if Epstein took another baseball job he would somehow
lack integrity and made teammate Keith Foulke feel really loved by saying that
the team should get another closer. What a guy!!!
Last season, Schilling was responsible for more runs than bad panty
hose at a Victoria's Secret shoot, yet he still finds time to stick his arrogant
nose in other people's business. No wonder ex-teammate and ESPN analyst John
Kruk says that some of Schilling's Philly teammates still "want a piece of
him." By the way, Schilling's money deal with WEEI is supposed to be about
ALS. I did not hear that subject come up once in the interview.
Epstein is leaving because he does not want to work for the Red Sox
anymore. Good for him. Someday, a Red Sox championship team will probably
visit President Theo Epstein at the White House. Like Martinez, a lot of money
was here. Like Garciaparra, a lot history was here, but as with both of
those men, the respect and happiness were not. Epstein probably gets that now.
Eddie's epilogue
Eddie Andelman will broadcast his final AM 1510 program from the
Soldiers Home, Rt. 16 in Chelsea, Thursday (November 3) from Noon-3:00 p.m.
Fittingly, Andelman will use his last day on the 1510 airwaves to help others.
Governor Mitt Romney will be a guest as Andelman raises money for the Soldiers
Home.
Former "Diehards" Anthony Pepe and Jon Anik will sit in with Andelman.
No phone calls will be taken on the show, but Andelman is encouraging
people to come to the remote broadcast and contribute anything from monetary
donations to phone cards, hats, t-shirts and books for the soldiers.
"This is the last stop in a series of veterans' homes," says Andelman.
"We've already gone to Bedford, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. These
guys are the real heroes, not Manny Ramirez. I was never able to serve my
country, so this is my way of doing that. The world has gone crazy with athletes
as role models. Athletes don't even like the fans. These veterans don't
have money to make phone calls or enough clothes. How does this happen? It'
s a national disgrace."
Andelman is candid in discussing his time at AM 1510, "The Zone was
good to me. I left WEEI over moral issues. There is room in Boston for two or
three sports stations, but AM 1510 never had a good morning show and you can'
t have a station without that. I am going to use all my contacts to help the20
Zone guys get other jobs."
Former "Diehard" Ryen Russillo, who had a couple of on-air run-ins
with Andelman, is included in the veteran radio host's good will. He states, "
If our conversations came across as anything more than debate, I am sorry.
Ryen is the hardest-working guy I've ever been around. He does more pre-show
work than anyone I've met in the business. He's tremendous."
Andelman says he told AM 1510 last year that, in 2006, he would not be
working from after Super Bowl XL until the Red Sox season opened. "I'll be
vacationing in the Orient at that time," says Andelman. "I have been
contacted by a television station and several radio stations to do shows, but I am
not ready to jump into anything now. I may redo my old "Sports Huddle" show
with Bill Fairweather who I think is the next superstar in Boston radio."
Andelman's annual "Hot Dog Safari" will be on June 4, 2006. He
passed title on that event to his sons five years ago. Regarding his future in
media, he states, "I'm not sure I want to do strictly all sports anymore.
With ticket prices the way they are and the way these owners operate teams, there
is no fun. I may want to de-emphasize sports. The sports business has
lost its sense of right and wrong. Paying guys to come on the air and things
like that. Guys on WEEI have side businesses selling Super Bowl and Patriots
tickets.
"I'm sick over the Theo Epstein thing. John Henry is better than the
Yawkeys, but anyone would be. Half the world thinks Boston is racist
because of the Yawkey family. Larry Lucchino is in and out of the State House like
it's his own house. He has kicked out street vendors and added $275 seats
to a ballpark that is a dump. Instead of a bar in right field, why don't they
get Budweiser to give money to fix playgrounds in Boston?"
Andelman continues, "Has anyone ever checked into John Henry's
business practices? These guys developed Epstein's skills and he was ready to lead
the team for the next 25 years, now they are killing him."
When Andelman left WEEI in late 2001, he said that one person he did
respect is Ted Sarandis, who recently left WEEI. Says Andelman, "Glenn Ordway
tortured Johnny Most behind his back and did the same thing to Ted. If I had
one thing to take back in my career, I wouldn't have given Ordway his first
job. He came crying to my house. My wife made me hire him. Ordway would
never pick on anyone who can defend himself, like me. Ted was treated unfairly."
Last week, Media Blitz quoted two WEEI sources saying that Mike Adams
would be named the new host in the 7:00 p.m.-midnight slot vacated by Sarandis.
The next day, in an email, WEEI GM Julie Kahn confirmed that the station is
"in discussions" with Adams, but would not give a timetable or further
comment.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, Anthony Pepe would like to tell everyone
that reports of AM 1510 The Zone's death are greatly exaggerated. He and Jon
Anik remain on staff at the beleaguered Sporting News Radio (SNR) station. As
of last Friday, Pepe's "Diehards" show and Andelman's show were cancelled.
"John and I are running the station with an engineer," says Pepe, the
station's marketing director since 2001. "It's business as usual. All of
our purchased block shows will remain on the air and we encourage those who
want to buy time to get in touch with us. The station is the same except with
national programming."
Pepe says that AM 1510 will finish out its Harvard football season and
jump into Harvard basketball. New England Ringside programming and NASCAR
remain status quo. He also states that the station is not for sale. Celtic
Pride, one of AM 1510's purchased shows, has been picked up by AM 1320 in
Providence, an SNR affiliate that carries Celtics' games.
Pepe refused to comment on the long-term future of the station, but an
SNR source told Media Blitz, "Sporting News Radio made the moves at AM 1510
because they just don't have the time right now to focus on Boston. Corporate'
s main concern is building the network and, specifically, KNPC, their Los
Angeles affiliate. KNPC is home to USC football and the San Diego Chargers.
Within six months, I know that SNR will refocus on Boston. They want the
market because it is important for advertisers."
Says Pepe, "Our job now is to continue to bring in revenue for AM 1510.
It is mostly paper work for Jon and me. Everyone in Boston is asking, "Who
's in charge, who's the GM?' Well, I'm the G and Jon is the M. For a
long time, people have been saying that we suck and that we are shutting down.
That simply is not the case. Last week was tough. I lost some friends,
but I'm glad I'm still here."
John Molori's columns are published in The Boston Metro, Patriots Football
Weekly, The Providence Journal, Boston Sports Review, New England Hockey
Journal, New England Ringside Magazine, ColdHardFootballFacts.com, TheRemyReport.com,
PatsFans.com, BostonSportsReview.com, BostonPressBox.com,
BostonSportsMedia.com and MethuenOnline.com. Email John at JOMOL3@aol.com.
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