D & C locked out of WEEI, might be an opportunity for a Pats Apologist...

[DarrylS]

Seems that D & C have worn out their welcome, not sure if it is because of their politics or contract problems.. anyways if they go, might be the opportunity to turn this back into a sports show with some politics.. and might be an opportunity for an announcer with a Pats leaning to get an opportunity... personally would like to see someone like DeOssie get the chance, but needs a strong partner as his views of the other sports are painful..

http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/

If you got up and turned on your radio this morning to WEEI, you found out that Dennis and Callahan were once again not on the 850 airwaves. It seems that Entercom has decided to play hardball with the duo, and perhaps trying to avoid a repeat of the Howie Carr fiasco over at company owned WRKO, has "locked out" D&C until their contract situation is resolved.

At this point, the pair will not be on the air for the biggest day on the WEEI calendar, this week's Jimmy Fund Radiothon. John Dennis, quoted in today's edition of Scott's Shots, says that "Gerry has an important story to tell this year" which would seem to strengthen rumors that have come into BSMW over the last few months that said that Callahan was suffering from throat cancer.

This episode could be Jason Wolfe's Waterloo with Entercom, following as it is right on the heels of the WRKO mess. As mentioned, David Scott has a longer write-up on the situation over at Shots, with John Dennis on-the-record. In the Herald, Jessica Heslam and Laurel J. Sweet have the story, with the Entercom PR firm denying that a "lockout" is in place. The Herald does not have quotes from their colleague, Callahan.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

I would love to see John Rooke (sp.?) get that morning job. He's the stadium announcer in Foxboro and used to be the play by play guy for BC football. He also had a morning show in Providence with Andy Gresh.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Gresh and Zo moving to EEI , it could be.. Or they could sign a Imus again when he returns in the fall..

 

[DarrylS]

Gresh and Zo moving to EEI , it could be.. Or they could sign a Imus again when he returns in the fall..

I hope it is not Gresch, he is painful to listen to.. Zo does not impress me either.

 

[Patjew]

Maybe They'll Sign Borges.

 

[JoeSixPat]

That's too bad - I thing D&C, although going off into politics far too much, had a good rapport with each other and certain brought some biting humor and incisive sports analysis to the airwaves.

I'm a RIer and want the Score to survive but Zo and Gresh are amateur hour. Actually of all the Score personalities I'd say the afternoon guy Scott Cordishi does the best job (Bryan Morry, not so good as a personality but he does have good Patriots contacts so he's ok in my book too).

I tend to think John Rooke, while a nice guy and a great voice, doesn't seem to be all that insightful when it comes to sports either, even though he's been covering local sports for a long time.

But generally I'd say its just not the morning drive without D&C - hopefully they reach an accord.

 

[Rob0729]

Gresch has been doing nights on ESPN Radio and has been horrible. He seems ok in the WBCN pregame show, but there are three or four guys on at once. I don't listen to him on 790 because the signal is too weak in my area.

One positive would be that there would be more Pats talk with Gresch and Zo.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

There has been speculation in media circles that this is a publicity stunt and Jason Wolffe will move the duo to WRKO morning drive once it becomes a well known story. Honestly, their political slants are better suited for that station. I understand morning drive is different than daytime/night time radio. Listen to just about any station and it sounds different in the morning from 5-10 than any other time during the day. For example, music stations talk more and play less music. They do gimicky things like prank calls and have silly games. You don't hear that as much from 10 AM-midnight. It holds true on sports talk radio as well. The same "sound" during the day is different than in the morning. Instead of sports talk with some "real life" mixed in, it is flipped on its backside.

I, for one, would welcome the change. When I put on sports radio in the morning, I am listening for sports talk, not for a sportsflash sandwiched between political, right wing rants (nothing against right wingers, I have some views from the right myself). It is the same reason I stopped listening to WAAF in the mornings a few years ago. They were the only rock station that played music but the music content dwindled while the political commentary expanded.

D&C have a loyal fanbase that will follow them, as will the ratings. I wish them luck because they are great at what they do. It just may be time for them to move on, however. I just hope that Meter-Parell (sp?) does not get the morning show gig. His whiny voice and "I told ya so" attitude about life is an annoyance. He fits his role as the pawn/lapdog very well. He should stick to it. You do need a host with an edge in the morning slot. However, that edge cannot be condescending, which is what Callahan had become in recent years. There is no one on the current staff who fits that bill, though Sean Rooke has been on recently and did a great job. He would be an admirable co-host to go along with someone with a little more sports cache. Personally, I think Sean McDonough would be a great host. He is from here, he knows the lay of the land. He is a name and he is NOT afraid to speak his mind. People can identify him with the Red Sox and his father. He still has great contacts both here and nationally from his work with ESPN and CBS.

 

[MDD]

Perhaps the end is near for two awful, awful people.

Hey Gerry, lord works in mysterious ways.

 

[MDD]

Sory - "edit" is not working. I wanted to add that Gerry Callahan is an EXCELLENT sports columnist.The right wing hateful rantings had to come to an end though.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

That's too bad - I thing D&C, although going off into politics far too much, had a good rapport with each other and certain brought some biting humor and incisive sports analysis to the airwaves.

I'm a RIer and want the Score to survive but Zo and Gresh are amateur hour. Actually of all the Score personalities I'd say the afternoon guy Scott Cordishi does the best job (Bryan Morry, not so good as a personality but he does have good Patriots contacts so he's ok in my book too).

I tend to think John Rooke, while a nice guy and a great voice, doesn't seem to be all that insightful when it comes to sports either, even though he's been covering local sports for a long time.

But generally I'd say its just not the morning drive without D&C - hopefully they reach an accord.

I couldn't stand their politics based show. if I wanted to listen to politics I would have tuned into a different station. They're a major reason I stopped listening plus WEEI in the morning is half commercials.

 

[patsgo]

Perhaps the end is near for two awful, awful people.

Hey Gerry, lord works in mysterious ways.

ya, now that he will be hopefully partially un employed hell realize the battle for the working man, if both are off the air thats good for the city of boston and the region, put someone in that concentrates on sports who dont pretend to be know it alls and shock jock wannabes

 

[Deus Irae]

Those of you complaining about it being non-sports on a sports radio station should probably get out more. Browse the other major Sportsradio Stations in the country and you'll find morning hosts like Imus (pre controversy), Evan Roberts, Neil Rogers, etc...

Not every sports station formats like WIP, and with good financial reason.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

When they first came on air they tried the sports only concept, it didn't work. The average commuter wants to discuss issues that happened the day before, and their audience is a commuter audience.

Their politics aren't even that extreme, although in Massachusetts anything right of Sister Theresa is "Hateful", the fact that he is usually correct in his assessment has no effect on the overall impression.

In the end, they wil either re-sign or the morning ratings will go down. My guess is they are just about to make a decision, but this will not help. One thing for sure, Craig Mustard is the worst, worse than one trick Mikey.

 

[RayClay]

Rush Limbaugh can do sports.

Nixon's dead. He loved football, though.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

When they first came on air they tried the sports only concept, it didn't work. The average commuter wants to discuss issues that happened the day before, and their audience is a commuter audience.

Their politics aren't even that extreme, although in Massachusetts anything right of Sister Theresa is "Hateful", the fact that he is usually correct in his assessment has no effect on the overall impression.

In the end, they wil either re-sign or the morning ratings will go down. My guess is they are just about to make a decision, but this will not help. One thing for sure, Craig Mustard is the worst, worse than one trick Mikey.

Add the point that other cities 'sports' stations also feature news & political talk in the morning drive time slot. Howie Carr may move to drive tim on 96.9 so there is still a market for a sports oriented (but not exclusively sports) morning drive time show. Aren't D&C the ratings leaders in the morning? Finneran's show is awful. And Imus will be dead soon of old age.

 

[MDD]

the fact that he is usually correct in his assessment has no effect on the overall impression

I see, so the escaped gorilla WAS a Metco student.

And yes, I have a sense of humor, but when you tell "jokes" like that over public airwaves, you have awful judgment at best, and you're a bigot at worst.

 

[bakes781]

I think Pete Sheppard has earned a shot at hosting his own show. I don't know if the morning slot is best suited for him, but he is very good IMO.

 

[Real World]

They're rated #1, D & C that is, and have been the top rated show in their slot for a number of years now. This is all about contract $$, and the value of them as a pair. The word is that some at the station feel that the C portion of the duo is expendable since he's been MIA for 4 months, and the show is still rating as usual. D & C are trying to secure themselves as a package, and not as individual hosts. Personally, I enjoy their show, and think they'd have a tough time replacing their success. Neumie might be decent, but with who? Mustard/Johnson/****erson are terrible. There's a rumor that ESPN Boston might look to pick them up. That'd be interesting, and would certainly give them a boost versus EEI.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

Good riddance to D/C. Callahan is a racist and Dennis is just an idiot. They should have been bounced long ago. The ONLY reason why their ratings have been high is because of the success of the local sports teams during their tenure. People were going to listen to WEEI no matter who hosted that show these last few years. They owe their success to the Red Sox and Patriots.