Gresh out in Sports Hub shakeup

[james87654]

A large group of us Pats fans have a hard time when anyone criticizes our team to even the smallest degree. We're a prideful and overly-sensitive group. I am sure this is common with most pro-sports teams. Felger tweaks this group, it brings in ratings.

Aside from that I honestly don't think he's that extreme. I just think people get pissed enough over #2 that they don't see clearly through their rage.

bingo............

 

[Kdo5]

Not sure how I would feel about Zo/Beetle. Might work, might not. I'm kinda meh on Beetle.

Meanwhile I would really like to have Felger/Holley. Though that wouldn't happen if Felgy/Mazz have a new contract. I say get Mazz out and send him to where he belongs which is 'The Baseball Reporters' or whatever that show is called.

 

[Kdo5]

You are setting up a false dichotomy. It isn't like only choices are "total homer!" and "spout out a bunch of negative ******** to rile people up because you either can't or don't want to engage in reasonable discourse." There is more than enough room in the middle to set up camp if you are so inclined.

Felger's act works because pissing in people's faces will always get a reaction, but it is lazy and embarrassing.

It isn't lazy as you make it out to be. Being a lazy contrarian doesn't equate to the top rated sports talk show in the region. I choose to give him credit.

When you get past being sensitive about the sometimes contrarian talk, the show can be quite funny and more entertaining to listen to than WEEI.

 

[Oswlek]

It isn't lazy as you make it out to be.

Yes, it is. The fact that it works has nothing whatsoever to do with how lazy the tactic is.

If you fall for it, that's too bad for you.

When you get past being sensitive about the sometimes contrarian talk, the show can be quite funny and more entertaining to listen to than WEEI.

Who is being sensitive? I don't listen to Felger's horseshit, nor do I come running to this board after every nonsensical bit. I'm simply stating the facts.

 

[Kdo5]

Yes, it is. The fact that it works has nothing whatsoever to do with how lazy the tactic is.



Who is being sensitive? I don't listen to Felger's horseshit, nor do I come running to this board after every nonsensical bit. I'm simply stating the facts.

So you don't listen to him (or the show?). How would you know it is lazy horse ****?

It has the highest ratings, and it's funny. I'm a Pats fan and I don't particularly enjoy hearing people talk badly about the team but I still find the show worth listening to in rush hour traffic. It's not always negative either. They will credit the team and gush when they win big games or sign certain guys etc.

 

[Oswlek]

So you don't listen to him. Then how do you know if the show is lazy?

You act is if exposure to Felger is only possible between 2-6... or that someone couldn't have listened in the past and stopped after recognizing dumbassery-in-action.

If Borges had a show, would you need to be a dedicated listener to know his schtick?

 

[patsfaninpa]

You pretty much supported the reason why Beetle is perfect for the job




Yea for listeners over 40 who have first hand knowledge of sports moments from the 70s and 80s that are looking for someone to relate to hes not the guy for us. However, for the 25-35 demographic the choice makes sense. I don't have a strong opinion of him. Seem innocuous to me. Now those who have called in during the Big O days and say , "You Fat Bastard!" can call in again.

When you're 45, you'll realize that you are a lot smarter at that point in your life than you were at 25.

 

[Rob0729]

It's funny. Three years ago, I hated Gresh and liked Felger. I thought Gresh was a bafoon and Felger, although a contrarian, was really good at making the show entertaining. Three years later, I think Gresh has turned into a decent broadcaster and Felger has fallen into the same trap that Ordway did (find a formula that works and then bastardize it by letting his ego get in the way and overemphasizing what originally worked but has become an annoyance).

 

[Kdo5]

You act is if exposure to Felger is only possible between 2-6... or that someone may have listened in the past and stopped.

So be it. You don't like him, you think his opinions are terrible. A lot of Pats fans hate him.

I have three buddies who listen to 98.5, none are Pats fans (but general Boston sports fans) and they think the show is really good and funny. Just because you hate his guts doesn't make you right about how the Felger/Mazz show is a bunch of lazy horseshit.

 

[Oswlek]

Just because you hate his guts doesn't make you right about how the Felger/Mazz show is a bunch of lazy horseshit.

You have the causation reversed. I don't like Felger's act because his show is lazy horseshit, not the other way around. Considering that even his supporters say he is "contrarian", there really isn't much debate on this either. Felger just says whatever riles up the most people, whether he believes it or not.

I have no idea why this offends you so much. If you enjoy that type of thing, by all means don't stop listening on my accord.

 

[Kdo5]

You have the causation reversed. I don't like Felger's act because his show is lazy horseshit, not the other way around. Considering that even his supporters say he is "contrarian", there really isn't much debate on this either. Felger just says whatever riles up the most people, whether he believes it or not.

I have no idea why this offends you so much. If you enjoy that type of thing, by all means don't stop listening on my accord.

It doesn't offend me. You are entitled to your opinion, it just isn't some fact that his show is lazy. If the show was merely a lazy contrarian shtick, I wouldn't listen to his show.

Your the one stating that Felgers show is lazy horseshit but only because he plays the role of contrarian at times. They make people laugh with some of the things they say. I like squeaky Mazz. I liked when they had Wiggy and Bedard on. Yeah there are elements of the show that I find entertaining. Thus I think the show is successful because of a variety of elements, not solely about Felger's tendency for contrarian views.

 

[Deus Irae]

So you don't listen to him (or the show?). How would you know it is lazy horse ****?

It has the highest ratings, and it's funny. I'm a Pats fan and I don't particularly enjoy hearing people talk badly about the team but I still find the show worth listening to in rush hour traffic. It's not always negative either. They will credit the team and gush when they win big games or sign certain guys etc.

It's a horse **** show. And, yes, Felger's schtick is the lazy approach.

 

[rochrist]

Felger and Mazz signed a five year extension a couple of days ago:

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/...ulti-year-extension-with-98-5-the-sports-hub/

Michael Holley's contract is up next month. I wonder if 98.5 would make an aggressive move and grab him and put him on opposite those two to give a counter to their contrarian aarguments. I always thought Felger and Holley would be a good show, but Mazz sucks.

Holley signed an extension a couple of days ago too I believe.

 

[goheels22002]

Tanguay really shot himself in the foot this year with his stance that the Pats we saw in the first Jets' game is the real Patriots. For a month after that game, he would dismiss any Patriots win and vigorously debate people stating that the Pats who barely got by the Jets and couldn't stop the the Jets' offense were what the Pats really were.

He also deserved to get dumped from any Patriots coverage for agreeing with those idiot talk show hosts in Baltimore that Tom Brady was some sort of a diva. Brady is the greatest quarterback since Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana, and Tanguay should have hammered those guys for criticizing Brady.

 

[Rob0729]

Holley signed an extension a couple of days ago too I believe.

According to Chad Finn, both sides said the negotiations are going well but nothing is signed. I looked and I do not see that he has re-signed. Dale Arnold announced he re-signed a deal a few days ago though. Maybe that is what you are thinking of.

 

[IcyPatriot]

More here: http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/

Bruce Allen speculates that Gresh's apparent departure is a combination of his contract expiring and the station wanting to see what Bertrand can do in a featured role.

I love Bertrand ... he's got game ... is insightful and humorous.
I don't want a know it all host like Felger and Mazz.

I want a host who fields the calls and runs good interviews - which is why I like Dale & Holley.

None of these guys offer anything we cannot get expertly elsewhere ...

I really hate Felger and Mazz but when at my desk I watch them ... in the car I listen to WEEI.

 

[RobertWeathers]

According to Chad Finn, both sides said the negotiations are going well but nothing is signed. I looked and I do not see that he has re-signed. Dale Arnold announced he re-signed a deal a few days ago though. Maybe that is what you are thinking of.

Always liked Dale. So glad he was able to squeeze in some sports talk every now between culinary critiques and Hot Dog Safari plugs during the time he was paired w/ Eddie.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Tanguay is out, according to the Globe, from the Patriots coverage. Good.

He sucks ....

 

[Joker]

Have loved sports talk radio for 3 decades...that being said, I TRIED to listen to Felger and Scumbaggarotti more than a few times but it's no use. I have no time for haters from another zip code setting up shop on local broadcasts and I certainly cannot stomach a little squeaky voiced bigmouthed punk that did serious damage to a franchise that I'm passionate about in 2007. I'm supposed to forget what this bug did ? The sound of his voice induces rage almost immediately.

You can have a couple of friends that DO NOT follow the Patriots say they like their "act". I agree, THAT is who they're aiming at. For me and the TENS OF THOUSANDS of die hard Pats fans that scrabble around to listen to sports broadcasts, WE can say we DO NOT like their act.

 

[lurker1965]

I remember the insufferable Gresch from the old days on 79 The Score, when his sophomoric humor would often lead me to change the channel.

He has grown and can now tolerate him about 60% of the time, sometimes he is still insufferable.. but the alternative is worse. Of all the radio personalities am surprised; Mazz, Felger, Merloni, Benz all seemed like they would go first.

Not sure why 98.5 would mess with this, EEI has an opportunity to make its move.. but they will remain the same... we deserve better.

Yep. We know it wasn't due to job performance or ratings. It is reasonable to speculate that this was a contract issue that could not get resolved. Gresh overplayed his hand.

I can't imagine fatty Bertrand and Zo having any chemistry. I'll bet Zolak hates this change.

I agree with you all, but here is my theory below.

Radio rarely lets anyone say goodbye.
One has to be a heavy hitter(which Gresh isn't, even though I like him) to get that to happen.

If this is true and now that the cat is out of the bag do they do this to start Monday ?

Gresh is in on it. Either he is going to another show with a bump in pay or he is leaving the market with a bump in pay. My theory, actually a hypothesis, is he replaces Beetle on Felger and Mazz.

Oh and all of you miss one part of Bertrand's experience. He hosts the Patriots pre-game social and the Patriots post game show on Patriots.com. Before you claim it is small time, ask some people here if podcasts <cough 4th and 2 cough> are worthwhile?