Fighting Words: Pats, Sox & the Boston Media - New England Patriots Forums

***jmt57*** · 09-11-2009, 12:22 PM

Jerry Beach has just written a book called Fighting Words: The Media, The Red Sox and How Boston Finally Won It All. The book focuses on the relationship between the Boston Red Sox and the Boston media but was originally going to be about the Boston media and all four pro sports teams. What may be of interest to Pats fans is that there was originally going to be a chapter devoted to the relationship between the Boston media and the Patriots. That ended up not being included in the book, but the author does talk about what he was prepared to include on his blog/website: Fighting Words The Director's Cut: The Patriots Chapter (Part One)

Quote:

Only in Boston could a record-shattering NFL team play in the shadow of a baseball team that went more than 80 seasons between world championships. On Sept. 19, 2004, the Patriots, who had just won their 17th game--two shy of the NFL record--shared the dominant front page photo in The Boston Globe with the wild card-leading Red Sox, who had just lost their second in a row to the Yankees to all but fall out of contention in the AL East.

The headline inside the box—17 IN A ROW…TWO IN A ROW—made it seem as if the Sox’ losing streak and Patriots’ winning streak were equally significant feats.

This was a remarkably bizarre situation to the rest of the country. “That’s another thing that mystifies people from outside of New England,” Boston Herald Red Sox beat writer Sean McAdam said. “If you look around and look at the numbers—and I’ve occasionally done this exercise with other people in the business—and asked how many markets in America does baseball hold sway over football still, and the general consensus is that, at tops, it’s less than a half dozen.”

Although it is a somewhat lengthy column, I thought it was very good read. Interesting to note at the very end of the column was a quote by the Globe's Nick Cafardo - he had Mike Reiss' position with the paper before the Globe hired Reiss - about how Bill Parcells would spend time with reporters in off-the-record sessions after press conferences. Cafardo goes on to talk about how Parcells was "very entertaining" and "would always fill up your notebook."

Following in Parcells footsteps, it's not a surprise that the media excoriates Belichick; they lust for another Parcells.

Armchair Quarterback · 09-11-2009, 01:01 PM

I think it's more of a generational thing more than anything. Everyone I know 40 and under prefers football to baseball and Patriots to Red Sox. The problem with the older sportswriters/sportscasters in Boston besides being the ugliest group of social misfit mopes on earth is all they ever cared about was the damn Red Sox therefore the only thing ever covered was the damn Red Sox. Patriots rarely got any coverage untill the Parcell's years and even then it paled in comparison to the RS.

***jmt57*** · 09-11-2009, 01:17 PM

Fighting Words The Director's Cut: The Patriots Chapter (Part Two) focuses on Belichick in Cleveland and his dealing with the media there, up to Robert Kraft hiring him to coach the Pats. If you ever wondered why the national media doesn't care for BB, look no further than the media in Cleveland. If I'm not mistaken I recall Michael Holley saying something to the effect that so many Cleveland writers spoke so badly about BB, that he (Holley) already formed a negative opinion about Belichick before he had coached his first game. Their dislike for him was so strong that they actually contacted Kraft to try to convince him to not hire Belichick.

Quote:

Belichick’s image was further soiled in October 1993, when he cut quarterback Bernie Kosar—a native of nearby Youngstown who directed the Browns to three AFC title game appearances in the 1980s and was enormously popular with fans and media alike—in favor of recent signee Vinny Testaverde.

Belichick’s instincts were eventually proven correct: Kosar was never again a regular starter in the NFL while Testaverde directed the Browns to the playoffs in 1994 and a wild card win over Parcells’ Patriots. The Browns were expected to contend for the Super Bowl in 1995, but they fell apart after Modell announced he planned to move the franchise to Baltimore. Belichick was fired amid nearly unanimous roars of approval from fans and writers alike after a 5-11 season.

“There were people who made it personal,” said Patriots vice president-player personnel Scott Pioli, who was a member of the Browns’ personnel department during Belichick’s tenure.

borg · 09-11-2009, 01:29 PM

The Globe owns a piece of the Saux...what more needs to be said

***jmt57*** · 09-11-2009, 01:30 PM

Fighting Words The Director's Cut: The Patriots Chapter (Part Three) takes a look at BB and the injury report, dealing with the media post-spygate, and the Patriots organization as one that has been ahead of the curve with their website - in order to control the messages that were made public.

Quote:

In 2003, Felger wrote the Patriots believed the Philadelphia Eagles’ openness about game plans and injuries helped the Patriots beat the Eagles, 31-10. The Eagles announced the Tuesday prior to the game three defensive starters would likely sit due to injury. Later in the week, their defensive coordinator announced the replacements and admitted the team would cut back on its original game plan.

The Patriots exploited the Eagles’ three new starters in their lopsided win. Meanwhile, the Eagles were almost certainly surprised to see rookie Eugene Wilson playing safety for the Patriots. Wilson spoke to Felger for 15 minutes two days prior to the game and never indicated he would move to safety against Philadelphia.

09-11-2009, 01:31 PM

I've lived in MA for my whole life and I've always disliked the Red Sox and found the ridiculous attention they get annoying, especially during years when the Patriots are so great.

***shmessy*** · 09-11-2009, 01:32 PM

I can't wait to read this book. I saw something about it a few weeks ago, and evidently, the author is an out-of-town guy (NY?) so he comes to the subject from a fresh perspective.

That being said, I think the story had mentioned that the book does center on the Sox and the media - - and that he tried to get Belichick to interview, but was rebuffed - -therefore, less on the Pats.

***Tunescribe*** · 09-11-2009, 01:34 PM

The whole Bankofamericasox vs. Patriots argument is old and tired and not as "real" as the agenda-driven mediots want it to be. Baseball is an anachronism clinging to stale life in a very in-bred parochial city. Outside Boston city limits the Patriots rule all of New England.

Satchboogie3 · 09-11-2009, 01:34 PM

I understand football is huge right now, but lets not forget that this is and HAS always been a baseball city. The Sox have been the big team in this town for over 100 years. The Patriots haven't been around even half that long and have only been great in the last decade. Let's not blow this out of proportion.

BradyManny · 09-11-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

I think it's more of a generational thing more than anything. Everyone I know 40 and under prefers football to baseball and Patriots to Red Sox. The problem with the older sportswriters/sportscasters in Boston besides being the ugliest group of social misfit mopes on earth is all they ever cared about was the damn Red Sox therefore the only thing ever covered was the damn Red Sox. Patriots rarely got any coverage untill the Parcell's years and even then it paled in comparison to the RS.

Good point I hadn't thought of. When you think of the Globe old-timers and how little they know about football, it does explain something.

I'm a huge Sox fan, but I've grown weary of "Sox-nation" and its self-importance. Honestly, once we won the Series in 04, everything changed and it never will be the same. The truth is as I see it: football is a more entertaining sport, the Patriots are a better team to root for, and now that the obsession w/ breaking the curse is over, its a little less exciting rooting for the sox.