Chad Finn: Underrated

Chad Finn

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Ha, thanks, man. My 15-year-old self wouldn't have believed I'd ever do something like that. My approach was just to point them in a direction and let them go. Forgot to get to Manny, though. Would like to argue with Shaughnessy about advanced stats someday. But that wasn't the time.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
19,271
Not sure if this should go in the T&R thread or here, but Chad, what are your thoughts on the future of T&R? Fred's said a number of times over the last few months that he wants to be syndicated nationally. Part of their original TV deal was get syndicated, which never happened. He also seems to despise driving to Dorchester on a daily basis.

Seems like Fred wants his big pay day and wants to break out of a single market. I can't imagine Beasley would walk away from T&R with the numbers they've put up since they were on TSH.
 

Jeff Van GULLY

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Jul 13, 2005
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Former Pats beat writer Nick Underhill, lastly covering the Saints for the Advocate, is returning to Boston. Not sure his exact role or which outlet yet. I’m sure Chad knows.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Jul 22, 2006
8,232
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I've heard The Athletic.
Is this another "everyone works for the athletic" joke?

Also, great job on the Sox' BP Annual team write-up. Was that piece available anywhere else? I mean, everyone should get the BP Annual, but if they don't, they still should get to read your article.
 

Chad Finn

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Is this another "everyone works for the athletic" joke?

Also, great job on the Sox' BP Annual team write-up. Was that piece available anywhere else? I mean, everyone should get the BP Annual, but if they don't, they still should get to read your article.
Thanks. Buying the book is recommended, of course, but Deadspin ran it a few weeks ago too.
 

joyofsox

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Jul 14, 2005
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I agree. Also, we need those 800 words that were cut - and any other "outtakes" or "bonus tracks".

Eck needs to write a book.
 

gingerbreadmann

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Mar 11, 2008
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On the other hand, I thought this follow-up was unnecessary at best. I would have guessed the author was Shaughnessy if I didn't see the byline. Defending Eckersley (and taking shots at Price) so thoroughly right after writing the glowing profile on him appears blithe to me. For one, the public opinion is already very anti-Price, making this a flame-stoking piece, and Eck is no stranger to saying things that deservedly get him in hot water. If Chad was set on chiming in on this topic, I think it would have been more interesting to examine Eck's role in it.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/07/17/david-price-still-has-clue-what-dennis-eckersley-all-about/Y7uLlVrO6qUvfppTOg7OGK/story.html
 
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Van Everyman

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Apr 30, 2009
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Worth noting that Chad is taking serious heat online right now -- mostly bc of the way WEEI has stoked anger and resentment amongst its listeners over the last few years. Chad has periodically been in the crosshairs ... and this week it's kind of come to a head:
  • First, you had the 'EEI crowd harboring a grudge against his (somewhat favorable) piece a few years ago on Felger represents some grand conspiracy on the Globe/Henry's part to "stick it" to 'EEI.
  • Then, there was the Callahan mouth breathers flaming him for his (accurate and relatively mild criticism) of Gerry's lack of empathy for people with different worldviews in the midst of a short commentary discussing how otherwise terrific he was at sports talk radio.
  • Now, following this latest reaction piece, he's got Lou Merloni torching him for (rightly) pointing the finger at WEEI for drumming up interest in Eck's comments on Price -- and pointing out that Price is actually mischaracterizing Eck's lack of support from past teammates.
All in all, not good.

T&P, @Chad Finn
 

Chad Finn

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Worth noting that Chad is taking serious heat online right now -- mostly bc of the way WEEI has stoked anger and resentment amongst its listeners over the last few years. Chad has periodically been in the crosshairs ... and this week it's kind of come to a head:
  • First, you had the 'EEI crowd harboring a grudge against his (somewhat favorable) piece a few years ago on Felger represents some grand conspiracy on the Globe/Henry's part to "stick it" to 'EEI.
  • Then, there was the Callahan mouth breathers flaming him for his (accurate and relatively mild criticism) of Gerry's lack of empathy for people with different worldviews in the midst of a short commentary discussing how otherwise terrific he was at sports talk radio.
  • Now, following this latest reaction piece, he's got Lou Merloni torching him for (rightly) pointing the finger at WEEI for drumming up interest in Eck's comments on Price -- and pointing out that Price is actually mischaracterizing Eck's lack of support from past teammates.
All in all, not good.

T&P, @Chad Finn
Ah, it's really not a big deal to me. The response to the Eck story has been incredible in a good way -- it was posted for a full day before the Price snipped was aggregated, and I got a lot of nice feedback. I'm used to the other stuff, and I don't see much of it anyway due to blocking/muting noise reduction.
 

Chad Finn

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On the other hand, I thought this follow-up was unnecessary at best. I would have guessed the author was Shaughnessy if I didn't see the byline. Defending Eckersley (and taking shots at Price) so thoroughly right after writing the glowing profile on him appears blithe to me. For one, the public opinion is already very anti-Price, making this a flame-stoking piece, and Eck is no stranger to saying things that deservedly get him in hot water. If Chad was set on chiming in on this topic, I think it would have been more interesting to examine Eck's role in it.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/07/17/david-price-still-has-clue-what-dennis-eckersley-all-about/Y7uLlVrO6qUvfppTOg7OGK/story.html
I asked him about why he hasn't done one. Said he never will. Would have to get way too deep and personal, because you have to be honest. I actually had a publisher reach out about doing one yesterday. Shaughnessy has asked him to do one before.
 

j-man

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Dec 19, 2012
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ofcorse hindsight is 20-20 but price should had went to st louis being near st louis i know how soft their media is
 

Van Everyman

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Agreed, that was top notch. I wasn’t living in Boston around then so had no idea. The McDonough stuff was fascinating.

Sometimes I still wonder whether there’s room to “raise the bar.”
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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Sep 10, 2017
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Agreed, that was top notch. I wasn’t living in Boston around then so had no idea. The McDonough stuff was fascinating.

Sometimes I still wonder whether there’s room to “raise the bar.”
I think podcasts have now taken this lane, so it is probably even less realistic for terrestrial radio now than it was then.
 

TheRooster

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Aug 3, 2001
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Guilty. Terrific piece Chad. Weekly pickup has quickly moved to the top of my list of things I miss most.
 

terrynever

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Chad better watch out because he has reached veteran status as a scribe. His column on 1980s NBA made us old geezers stand up and applaud.
 

Chad Finn

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the1andonly3003

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Jul 15, 2005
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Thought it was pretty gentle given that his show copies Patrick's format but lacks the authentic camaraderie. I've tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, in part because Brockman is a Maine guy, but it's at best a mediocre replica.
well I'm a fan of the weekly Higher Register bit
 

bankshot1

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Feb 12, 2003
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where I was last at
Cliff diving, demolition derby from Islip, wrist-wrestling from Petaluma, barrel jumping from the Catskills, and the Globies. Vivid memories.
Its amazing, when I saw the headline about WW of Sport, immediately, and I mean immediately, I thought of cliff-diving from Acapulco, wrist wrestling from Petaluma, demolition derbies, and barrel jumping. And when I saw those all mentioned in the same graph, it cracked me up. WWoS was must see TV on those long ago Saturday afternoons. Nice job Chad.
 

fiskful of dollars

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Same. Amazing stuff. It was so different, right? EVERYONE had the same three channels +/- UHF. Everyone saw the same shows and had the same collective experience. News, sports, TV shows. How funny. I think I might have been a great barrel jumper...hard head, bendy, decent speed (in a straight line) on skates. I missed my window. Dammit all!

Edit: I forgot the bullet catch guy with the metal teeth - Jesus!
 

edoug

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Jul 15, 2005
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Its amazing, when I saw the headline about WW of Sport, immediately, and I mean immediately, I thought of cliff-diving from Acapulco, wrist wrestling from Petaluma, demolition derbies, and barrel jumping. And when I saw those all mentioned in the same graph, it cracked me up. WWoS was must see TV on those long ago Saturday afternoons. Nice job Chad.
All sports Fonzie mastered as well.