Boston Mag Q&A with Greg Bedard

[Uncle Rico]

I thought this was pretty good, a rare insight into how an actual sports writer does his job.

Boston's Most Cerebral Football Columnist | Boston Daily

Bedard's been a nice addition to the local media scene. I like the way he covers the team: he does his homework, states his opinions and analyses firmly and snark-free. From the Q&A:

I have no interest, ever, in hurting any competitive advantage the Patriots might have. They have a job to do, to win games, and I would never want to get in the way of that. I think there’s a happy middle ground where the Patriots, especially Belichick, can share some of the unique aspects of the game to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the fans, without giving away any competitive advantage or come across as, “We’re smarter than you are.†I love those kinds of stories, and from the reaction I got, fans do as well. It was easier to write those stories covering the Packers, but I’m hoping to do more on the Patriots. Hopefully I’m establishing myself as a guy who’s here for the long haul, one who’s not looking to make a name for myself at the expense of the team. I just want to report on the game fairly and accurately so fans can understand the game and team more

Love how hungry he is to learn about the game, and share with readers. I hope he can maintain and build on that approach and not let the trappings of media success — the talk shows, the TV appearances, the pack-hack chippy angle thing — throw him off track.

 

[Jackson 2]

I thought this was pretty good, a rare insight into how an actual sports writer does his job.

Boston's Most Cerebral Football Columnist | Boston Daily

Bedard's been a nice addition to the local media scene. I like the way he covers the team: he does his homework, states his opinions and analyses firmly and snark-free. From the Q&A:



Love how hungry he is to learn about the game, and share with readers. I hope he can maintain and build on that approach and not let the trappings of media success — the talk shows, the TV appearances, the pack-hack chippy angle thing — throw him off track.

I always enjoy his work, even when it may be news I don't particularly like to hear. I think he's agenda-free, fair and neither a homer nor a hater. Bedard, along with Tom Curran, is a breath of fresh wafting through a media cesspool containing the likes of Borges, Felger, Massarotti, Shaughnessy, etc. I'm glad he returned here.

 

[Rob0729]

I always enjoy his work, even when it may be news I don't particularly like to hear. I think he's agenda-free, fair and neither a homer nor a hater. Bedard, along with Tom Curran, is a breath of fresh wafting through a media cesspool containing the likes of Borges, Felger, Massarotti, Shaughnessy, etc. I'm glad he returned here.

I love Bedard's stuff, but you can't lump the radio guys with the print guys. Felger and Mazz need listeners 4 hours a day and to generate callers who are interesting. Most radio guys (not just sports) don't show their real opinions and give extremist points of views (political talk show hosts are the worst at this). Most radio sports show hosts are either extreme homers or contrarians.

 

[Jackson 2]

I love Bedard's stuff, but you can't lump the radio guys with the print guys. Felger and Mazz need listeners 4 hours a day and to generate callers who are interesting. Most radio guys (not just sports) don't show their real opinions and give extremist points of views (political talk show hosts are the worst at this). Most radio sports show hosts are either extreme homers or contrarians.

I lump them all as media members and I believe I'm entitled to do that if I wish. Plus, Felger was a print guy and Massarotti still is a print guy (Globe/Boston.com.) Also, though they're not hosts, Shaughnessy is a regular weekly for 2 hours on 98.5 and Borges is on radio periodically. Finally, I wouldn't describe Holley, Merloni, Gresh, Mutnansky or Zolak as "extreme homers", particularly when it comes to all four major pro sports. Some of them are dopes, I'll grant anyone that.

 

[Rob0729]

I lump them all as media members and I believe I'm entitled to do that if I wish. Plus, Felger was a print guy and Massarotti still is a print guy (Globe/Boston.com.) Also, though they're not hosts, Shaughnessy is a regular weekly for 2 hours on 98.5 and Borges is on radio periodically. Finally, I wouldn't describe Holley, Merloni, Gresh, Mutnansky or Zolak as "extreme homers", particularly when it comes to all four major pro sports. Some of them are dopes, I'll grant anyone that.

You can lump them anyway you want. It is my opinion that radio guys are different than print guys. That was my point.

Felger was pretty fair when he did print. Mazz is the same douche in print when it comes to the Pats. So you got a point there.

I do think guys like Gresh and Zo, although not extremist homers all the time, frequently take the extremist homer point of view. I also said most guys take one extreme or another, not all of them.

 

[shmessy]

Great stuff.

Bedard as an X's and O's writer is top shelf.

His Aqib Talib column, however, was bush league and amateur. He violated his own rule with that one - - the one in the Boston Mag piece where he says he should stick to the football on the field and not stray. He violated that one big time and hurt his credibility that time. He's not good at the human interest stuff - - let others who know how to handle that do it.

I did not read it at the time (was out of town), but the last few weeks have been hearing the name "Chip Kelly" here and there. So I read this that was linked in the Boston Mag article - - it is a MUST read:

Patriots no-huddle relies on power of one - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[BTTA]

You can lump them anyway you want. It is my opinion that radio guys are different than print guys. That was my point.

Felger was pretty fair when he did print. Mazz is the same douche in print when it comes to the Pats. So you got a point there.

I do think guys like Gresh and Zo, although not extremist homers all the time, frequently take the extremist homer point of view. I also said most guys take one extreme or another, not all of them.

There is an important distinction between those who started in print and then used that notoriety to move to the radio, and those who got their media potty training in radio. The way these two groups think, and their skills sets, are totally different.

Almost all of the recent additions to the radio shows have come from print guys, and that's one reason the radio shows s&ck so much. They have no allegiance to any semblance of a set of professional standards.

 

[Jackson 2]

You can lump them anyway you want. It is my opinion that radio guys are different than print guys. That was my point.

Felger was pretty fair when he did print. Mazz is the same douche in print when it comes to the Pats. So you got a point there.

I do think guys like Gresh and Zo, although not extremist homers all the time, frequently take the extremist homer point of view. I also said most guys take one extreme or another, not all of them.

I also thought Felger was very fair when he was a print guy. Look, I generally agree with your points as a rule and I probably responded a little defensively. As far as Gresh and Zo are concerned, I think they are homers often when it comes to football and hockey, much less so when it comes to baseball and basketball. In fact, with the Celtics/basketball and Red Sox/baseball I think it's because they really aren't big fans of those sports.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I also thought Felger was very fair when he was a print guy.

Like when he badgered BB during the whole Brady/Bledsoe situation in 2001? Felger is at his best by throwing something out there and getting a rise out of people. I have a personal experience with him and that is exactly what he does. Hes not a bad guy. He just likes getting a rise out of people.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Like when he badgered BB during the whole Brady/Bledsoe situation in 2001? Felger is at his best by throwing something out there and getting a rise out of people. I have a personal experience with him and that is exactly what he does. Hes not a bad guy. He just likes getting a rise out of people.

Sounds like a bad guy to me.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There is an important distinction between those who started in print and then used that notoriety to move to the radio, and those who got their media potty training in radio. The way these two groups think, and their skills sets, are totally different.

Almost all of the recent additions to the radio shows have come from print guys, and that's one reason the radio shows s&ck so much. They have no allegiance to any semblance of a set of professional standards.

Depends on the personality. Eddie Andelman, The Fabulous Sports Babe and JT The Brick are pure radio people that were/are entertaining and not vicious towards the listener/caller.

You have your next layer down which are the play by play/broadcasters like Big O, Dale Arnold and John Dennis who know how to deliver content and bring in an audience. Felger has evolved in this area. Holley has as well. I don't think Mazz has really but thats my opinion..

 

[shmessy]

Folks this is a thread about Bedard, however it is getting hijacked to another of the usual WEEI-Felger-Massarooti, etc. rant.

Please stay on subject.

Thanks.

 

[Danger Zone]

Great stuff.

Bedard as an X's and O's writer is top shelf.

His Aqib Talib column, however, was bush league and amateur. He violated his own rule with that one - - the one in the Boston Mag piece where he says he should stick to the football on the field and not stray. He violated that one big time and hurt his credibility that time. He's not good at the human interest stuff - - let others who know how to handle that do it.

I did not read it at the time (was out of town), but the last few weeks have been hearing the name "Chip Kelly" here and there. So I read this that was linked in the Boston Mag article - - it is a MUST read:

Patriots no-huddle relies on power of one - Patriots - Boston.com

Completely agree with everything you said though I personally condemn his Talib-Patriots-Can-Never-Be-Called-Classy-Again article a bit harsher than merely bush-league. It really came across to me as a bridge-burning hatchet-job/middle-finger to the whole Patriot organization and fanbase.

But Bedard is good enough at what he does that I can pretend it didnt happen.