Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time

[TFP]

And now with the B's just one win away from the Stanley Cup, "Felger and Mazz" are now the "hockey show." Can you really imagine listening to Holley and Ordway today? I mean, I'm sure the hockey talk on EEI is somewhat similar to what Felger and Mazz are giving us, but the perception now is that Felger and Mazz know hockey and the folks at EEI don't. Brilliant move by Felger and 98.5.

Overall, it's been the most brilliant move by TSH since its inception. This market was starved for hockey talk, and they have absolutely cleaned up now that the Bruins have become relevant and successful. WEEI is an absolute joke when it comes to anything hockey related, and I honestly don't think anyone would even think for a minute to turn over there for anything meaningful.

And to address the bolded, that's not even close to true. People may think Felger is an idiot, but he does follow hockey, and while his opinions and stances are bombastic, over the top, and sometimes controversial, they are definitely rooted in his hockey knowledge and the fact that he's watched all the games. Hell, I disagree with over 50% of what he says, but I do enjoy listening to him talk hockey. No chance in hell WEEI could touch the quality of his talk.

Despite all that, Toucher in the morning and DA at night know more hockey than F+M, and they do a great job bringing on guests like Haggs, McAdam, Beers, Gaucher, and Jack Edwards. Add in the Chiarelli, Bergeron and Neely regular interviews, and TSH is producing the best hockey talk Boston sports radio has ever seen in my lifetime. It's a treat for someone like me to actually look forward to listening to sports radio the day after big Bruins games to get TSH's take on it.

They deserve all the credit in the world for embracing it, and I'm glad it's paying off.

 

[Phenom]

Overall, it's been the most brilliant move by TSH since its inception. This market was starved for hockey talk, and they have absolutely cleaned up now that the Bruins have become relevant and successful. WEEI is an absolute joke when it comes to anything hockey related, and I honestly don't think anyone would even think for a minute to turn over there for anything meaningful.

And to address the bolded, that's not even close to true. People may think Felger is an idiot, but he does follow hockey, and while his opinions and stances are bombastic, over the top, and sometimes controversial, they are definitely rooted in his hockey knowledge and the fact that he's watched all the games. Hell, I disagree with over 50% of what he says, but I do enjoy listening to him talk hockey. No chance in hell WEEI could touch the quality of his talk.

I was exaggerating my point...it's very clear that Felger is a huge hockey fan and knows the sport better than most in the market. But he's now billed as the "hockey guy" and that's more of a commentary on how starved this market was for Bruins talk than anything else. Which again speaks to the point that Felger and TSH execs made a brilliant decision when they decided to become the REAL home for the Bruins rather than just air their games.

And as others have mentioned, TSH has signed up all of the other hockey voices in the market. Haggery is now a regular guest on 98.5 and McAdam is being used as a hybrid baseball/hockey guy (he's pretty much solely talked hockey on his last few "Gresh and Zo" appearances). If I'm Jason Wolfe, I root really hard for the B's to bow out. The longer they play, the more EEI will get absolutely CRUSHED by "The Sports Hub." I have a feeling that this spring ratings book is going to be a massacre in a lot of key demos, just as the April book was.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

They deserve all the credit in the world for embracing it, and I'm glad it's paying off.

98.5 is the flagship station for the Bruins. They pretty much had to embrace hockey talk, right? They own the local broadcast rights, after all. Coincidentally, they piss all over the Celtics and basketball, and don't happen to own their broadcast rights. Their hoop talk is just as uninformed and unlistenable as EEI's puck talk.

What I will give The Hub credit for is that they are very often irrationally critical of the Bruins, despite owning their radio rights. There is not a lot of Bruins ballwashing going on over there. Hell, they still want Claude fired.

 

[Sparky Lyle]

The ironic thing is Sean McAdam probably knows more than anybody on the station.

Well, he should Jack because he was the beat reporter for the B's at the ProJo before he was the beat guy for the Sox. As much as I don't like him, he knows his shit, in both sports.

 

[Sparky Lyle]

98.5 is the flagship station for the Bruins. They pretty much had to embrace hockey talk, right? They own the local broadcast rights, after all. Coincidentally, they piss all over the Celtics and basketball, and don't happen to own their broadcast rights. Their hoop talk is just as uninformed and unlistenable as EEI's puck talk.

What I will give The Hub credit for is that they are very often irrationally critical of the Bruins, despite owning their radio rights. There is not a lot of Bruins ballwashing going on over there. Hell, they still want Claude fired.

This is very true. Which is just fine for me since basketball sucks. I hate it. Felger knows nothing about it, admits it, and admits his hatred of the stupid fucking game. Just like me. I know nothing about it. McAdam feels the same way, by the way.

You're balls-on-chin right about the lack of Bruins suckballing. It's refreshing.

 

[Haunted]

Correction.

Felger hates basketball. Rich is a huge C's fan and DA talks about it often (often enough that I change the station when he does).

 

[Curtis_Lesspanic]

This is very true. Which is just fine for me since basketball sucks.

And just might be fixed. EEI should get the radio rights for the WWE at this point.

 

[Jack Sox]

Felger is just killing Mike Murphy right now. Really good stuff.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

The discussion between them and Willie McGinest about Magic Johnson and AIDS was one of the most uncomfortable moments ever.

 

[TFP]

That's Jermaine Wiggins, not Willie McGinest.

Edit: Do they all sound the same to you?

 

[underhandtofirst]

Felger is not letting Wiggins talk much. That's a good thing.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

That's Jermaine Wiggins, not Willie McGinest.

Edit: Do they all sound the same to you?

Indeed it is. My bad. They mentioned McGinest so I assumed that was him.

Yes. Yes they do.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

I had to turn it off. Simply unlistenable with Wiggins there.

edit: Jack Edwards on EEI 3-5

 

[Dalton Jones]

And listening to Felger yesterday using tortured logic to blame Sean Thornton for what happened to Horton (don't ask) was enough for me to switch to 'EEI and listen to Edwards.

 

[Jack Sox]

And listening to Felger yesterday using tortured logic to blame Sean Thornton for what happened to Horton (don't ask) was enough for me to switch to 'EEI and listen to Edwards.

He wasn't really solely blaming Thornton's antics for causing the injury to Horton. He was just saying that it played a role in firing up Rome enough to make the hit. He was basically echoing what Don Cherry said the night before on Coach's Corner. I don't necessarily agree with Felger's point, but I don't think this line of thinking is that far out there.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Exactly. He repeated that point at least 5 times and numerous callers blamed him of the same thing. He was absolutely not blaming thorton. He was blaming the NHL for letting it get this far. They lost control after game 1.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

Exactly. He repeated that point at least 5 times and numerous callers blamed him of the same thing. He was absolutely not blaming thorton. He was blaming the NHL for letting it get this far. They lost control after game 1.

Yes. And to elaborate on his point, he said that after the guy wasn't suspended for biting the finger, (and the same guy scored two goals the next game while taunting Bruins players) the league sent a message that it was up to the players to settle this, and that was one of the reasons he theorized Thornton was put into the lineup. And what resulted was Horton getting knocked into next week, and the game degenerating into players shoving fingers into each others mouths. I found his position completely reasonable.

 

[Dalton Jones]

It was typical Felger bullshit. Correlation is not causation. And as usual he beat the theme to death for four straight hours.

 

[TFP]

It was typical Felger bullshit. Correlation is not causation. And as usual he beat the theme to death for four straight hours.

No, it wasn't. He was very clear about his point, he was very clear about Cherry's point, and he certainly didn't beat it to death for four straight hours. Of course you couldn't possibly know that since you already admitted you switched to WEEI early on in the show.

I didn't completely agree with his argument/point, but it was certainly reasonable and not anywhere close to what you are portraying. I think they've done an admirable job in the last couple weeks with the Bruins. Mazz has done a solid job playing the straight man to Felger's complaints, and while it's not all perfect it's definitely better than listening to Sox or Celtics talk right now.

The real crime is hearing Wiggins on the radio. Man is he bad.

 

[H78]

I love how people continue to take Felger's bait. There's little doubt in my mind that he's Boston's best radio personality at the moment. The guy is really, really good at what he does, and you can see proof of that throughout these pages. He doesn't get into things that tend to leave people bitching about his show (unlike The Big Show/D&C), he gets people bitching about his opinions, which further drives interest in the show. He really does have a pretty brilliant mind for sports radio.

 

[Dalton Jones]

No, it wasn't. He was very clear about his point, he was very clear about Cherry's point, and he certainly didn't beat it to death for four straight hours. Of course you couldn't possibly know that since you already admitted you switched to WEEI early on in the show.

I didn't completely agree with his argument/point, but it was certainly reasonable and not anywhere close to what you are portraying. I think they've done an admirable job in the last couple weeks with the Bruins. Mazz has done a solid job playing the straight man to Felger's complaints, and while it's not all perfect it's definitely better than listening to Sox or Celtics talk right now.

The real crime is hearing Wiggins on the radio. Man is he bad.

I beg to differ. I returned several times to his show, but each time I did he was pounding home the same stupid logical fallacy. He does this all the time. It makes for excellent ratings because it's extreme. His point was that the mere act of putting Thornton on the ice was sufficient incitement to make Rome do as he did, all in the context of refs and the league losing control of the series. This is bullshit. And then when anyone challenged him on it he claimed he was not making a causal connection but saying it's possible, wink, wink. And since when is Don Cherry in his latter day role as superstar commentator a source of reasoned analysis?

 

[Dalton Jones]

I love how people continue to take Felger's bait. There's little doubt in my mind that he's Boston's best radio personality at the moment. The guy is really, really good at what he does, and you can see proof of that throughout these pages. He doesn't get into things that tend to leave people bitching about his show (unlike The Big Show/D&C), he gets people bitching about his opinions, which further drives interest in the show. He really does have a pretty brilliant mind for sports radio.

You're one hundred percent right. He's a ratings whore and will say anything to keep up the interest.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

You're one hundred percent right. He's a ratings whore and will say anything to keep up the interest.

Thats horsehockey. I think his opinions are genuine and he's pretty damn consistant. You may disagree with just about everything that comes out of his mouth, but that doesn't mean its dishonest. His tone can often be sarcatic, inflamitory, and bombastic, which is what I think what your confusing with "ratings whore". I call it "entertainment".

As far as guy who will say anything........Glen Ordway changes his opinions depending upon which way the wind is blowing in Boston from day to day. I wouldn't know what that guy thinks about ANYTHING. Felger? I know exactly where he stands on EVERYTHING.

 

[teddykgb]

The reason why Felger works is because he doesn't come off as a ratings whore, he actually seems passionate about his sometimes out there opinions. Maybe he's really scheming behind the scenes, but it never feels like controversy for controversy's sake, I honestly believe they are actually his opinions. That they prove controversial and draw ratings is why he has a job, more or less. He's also exceptional at eating crow when his opinions go entirely wrong, which is both rare and fun, because while listening you know there's a chance all of this will absolutely backfire and he'll own it and you get to have a good laugh, who hasn't been irrational on some point and had it blow up in their face?

 

[PBDWake]

Thats horsehockey. I think his opinions are genuine and he's pretty damn consistant. You may disagree with just about everything that comes out of his mouth, but that doesn't mean its dishonest. His tone can often be sarcatic, inflamitory, and bombastic, which is what I think what your confusing with "ratings whore". I call it "entertainment".

For the most part, I agree whole heartedly with this. He might be hyperbolic for the purpose of ratings, and he might pound home whichever opinion of his generates the most calls, as opposed to which he thinks is the most important, but I think that everything he says comes from something he actually believes. I honestly think that if you locked Tony Mazz in a room and hooked him up to a polygraph, he might change his tune on Teix, and a number of other things he's said. But Felger changes his mind with changing evidence. If you can prove to him that he's wrong, he'll admit it and change his mind. If he were ratings whoring, he'd keep defying people a la Tony Maz in an attempt to keep the phone lines lit up.

 

[Dalton Jones]

I agree with both Rocco and teddykgb up to a point. Despite all my criticism, I DO find myself compelled to listen to the guy. I agree completely that he admits when he's wrong, which definitely distinguishes him from Ordway. And I'm not defending the Big Show. It sucks. Ordway's a blowhard. And Felger may very well believe passionately in everything he says. But he's a professional. He's been in radio for a while now. He knows what works and what doesn't. They do show prep I assume. He knows what will push buttons (including mine, obviously) and I have trouble believing he doesn't craft his opinions in part at least with these considerations in mind. Either that or he's a moron.

 

[Pepper03]

I really wish Felger would pronounce Tyler Seguin's last name properly. It bugs me that he doesn't.

I thought I was the only one this bugs! Sometimes he gets it right though-so he must know the right way-he must have a mental block or something. Funny the little things that can drive a listener crazy.

I haven't been listening to much lately since it is almost all hockey-which is fine-I just am not a hockey fan so after an hour or so I have had enough.

 

[TFP]

I thought I was the only one this bugs! Sometimes he gets it right though-so he must know the right way-he must have a mental block or something. Funny the little things that can drive a listener crazy.

During the final word yesterday, Bertrand and Mazz actually had it out with him on all his mispronunciations (Seguin, Zdeno, Boychuk, etc). It was pretty funny because it sounded like Felger had no idea he is pronouncing them wrong.

 

[Scoots McBoots]

Felger also worked that into the next Dragon NaturallySpeaking ad as well.

 

[Dave Stapleton]

The other thing that make Felger listenable is that he is not afraid to admit when he is wrong or when he has an "agenda". In his case, however, agenda mean a strongly held broad opinion on which he won't budge. While this is a seemingly contradictory statement I think it captures Felger well. For example, he doesn't like Claude as a coach and thinks he has many failings. While he is willing to admit when Claude makes a good decision or has a good game, he is not likely to change his opinion of him overall.

 

[TFP]

The Marchand/Marshmont highlight reel set to the music of the NHL History is Made commercials was the most entertaining eating of crow I've ever heard in my life. My god that was amazing.

 

[Senator Donut]

Mike Felger needs to call out Nathan Horton for embellishing his injury in order to draw a suspension on Rome. If he were really concussed he would not have attended a loud hockey game seven days after the hit, much like Max Pacioretty should not have seen Hall Pass six days after his injury.

 

[Sparky Lyle]

Mike Felger needs to call out Nathan Horton for embellishing his injury in order to draw a suspension on Rome. If he were really concussed he would not have attended a loud hockey game seven days after the hit, much like Max Pacioretty should not have seen Hall Pass six days after his injury.

What?

 

[nickandemmasuncle]

What?

Simple. Felger (and, frankly, a buttload of other B's fans, along with some of the players) repeatedly hammered MP for being a fraud and suggested that the severity of his injuries was falsely trumped up because he was able to attend a movie so soon afterward.

The same logic would presumably apply to Horton.

 

[Sparky Lyle]

The same logic would presumably apply to Horton.

No. It wouldn't.

 

[Scoots McBoots]

Personally, I think it's one thing to go to a movie, and another to a Stanley Cup game your team is playing in. Who knows what kind of shape Horton's in today?

 

[Haunted]

We're also forgetting that we were all told that MP was nearly killed, that his career was possibly over, that he may never walk again, ad nauseam. I heard no such things with Horton.

 

[Blacken]

Mike Felger needs to call out Nathan Horton for embellishing his injury in order to draw a suspension on Rome. If he were really concussed he would not have attended a loud hockey game seven days after the hit, much like Max Pacioretty should not have seen Hall Pass six days after his injury.

There is no comparison whatsoever between the two situations. Are you embarrassed for this post? Because you should be.

 

[Senator Donut]

There is no comparison whatsoever between the two situations. Are you embarrassed for this post? Because you should be.

How are these situations no similar?

Mike Felger called the Pacioretty and the Canadiens orginazation fakers, based on this evidence:

1. A stretcher was taken on to the ice, even though concussion victims usually just skate off the ice. (Never mind that Pacioretty also had a fractured vertebra.) Horton also was taken off on a stretcher, while Mason Raymond made it to the locker room with just the help of his teammates despite a broken vertebra.
   
2. Montreal lobbied hard for supplemental discipline for Chara and was disappointed when none came. Boston was in a a better position than Montreal to benefit from supplemental discipline because they were three games into a series with Vancouver.
   
3. Max Pacioretty attended Hall Pass six days after his injury. Concussion victims are often advised to avoid such activities. Horton attended a sporting event seven days after his injury.

Of course, Horton and Pacioretty weren't faking injuries. It just demonstrates exactly how absurd it was to reach this conclusion.

 

[TFP]

How are these situations no similar?

The responses of the organizations and the fanbases is the main difference. Which was Felger's point the whole time. He was not accusing Pacioretty of faking, he was accusing Montreal of playing up the injury and riling up the fanbase and media to influence the supplementary discipline that never came.

If you don't see the difference in tone and content in the teams' reactions to the two incidents, I really don't know what to tell you.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I was excited to hear Felger today. He's been great the past few weeks (Mazz has been his usual garbage self when talking hockey) and I was interested to hear the start of the show. That was until they re-introduced "Wiggy Wednesday". Ugghhh. I'm sure Felger will dominate the conversation and Wiggins will be gone in a couple hours but if there was one day I'd like to hear Felger talk hockey w/ guys like Pierre Mcguire it was today. But instead we might get some "Magic Johnson never really had AIDS" talk from a back up tight end.

 

[HomeBrew1901]

I was just coming in here to post about how bad Wiggy is, especially with Bruins talk in such a huge game. What a fucking bad decision to let him on the air today.

 

[TFP]

I was excited to hear Felger today. He's been great the past few weeks (Mazz has been his usual garbage self when talking hockey) and I was interested to hear the start of the show. That was until they re-introduced "Wiggy Wednesday". Ugghhh. I'm sure Felger will dominate the conversation and Wiggins will be gone in a couple hours but if there was one day I'd like to hear Felger talk hockey w/ guys like Pierre Mcguire it was today. But instead we might get some "Magic Johnson never really had AIDS" talk from a back up tight end.

I actually think Mazz has been really good throughout the playoffs, he's been a great foil for Felger when it comes to the Bruins. It's one sport where they take differing opinions and go at each other, and it makes for great talk. I've been very impressed with how far Mazz has come in his hockey knowledge since the beginning of last season. He's 100% better.

But to your point, I was crestfallen when I realized it was Wiggy Wednesday. He will ruin the first half of the biggest show in Felger and Mazz's short history.

 

[smastroyin]

I was just htinking to myself I was wicked sad to have forgotten to bring headphones so I could listen at my desk.

Now, not so much.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I actually think Mazz has been really good throughout the playoffs, he's been a great foil for Felger when it comes to the Bruins. It's one sport where they take differing opinions and go at each other, and it makes for great talk.

Maybe I'm in the minority or maybe I just missed it but I've rarely heard Mazz say anything original. He just starts it out with, "Mike,..." then makes the exact same point Felger just did, only he says it emphatically as if that gives him credibility.

Meh, you might be correct. I've just grown to hate him. I still can't get past him laughing about not watching the entire games last season (including playoffs) and this year complaining about the Bruins trades...only to later admit it he never heard of Peverley or Kelly. And now he's suddenly talking about the sport like he's Don Cherry. I realize it's his job to analyze but I just can't take anything he says seriously. Especially since I've yet to hear something original and different from Felger. But again, maybe it's just me.

 

[TFP]

Maybe I'm in the minority or maybe I just missed it but I've rarely heard Mazz say anything original. He just starts it out with, "Mike,..." then makes the exact same point Felger just did, only he says it emphatically as if that gives him credibility.

Meh, you might be correct. I've just grown to hate him. I still can't get past him laughing about not watching the entire games last season (including playoffs) and this year complaining about the Bruins trades...only to later admit it he never heard of Peverley or Kelly. And now he's suddenly talking about the sport like he's Don Cherry. I realize it's his job to analyze but I just can't take anything he says seriously. Especially since I've yet to hear something original and different from Felger. But again, maybe it's just me.

I dunno, him and Felger have been going at it all season. Felger's been on him from Day 1 for having the cones out for the parade because Mazz was disagreeing with him about whether this year's team is different. He's not perfect, but I think he's done a really good job with the hockey talk.

 

[dcmissle]

Bleak landscape this morning. Seven titles in 10 years, although not a record, is pretty damn good -- and titles in each of the four sports in seven years must be a record. The locals definitively don't suck.

"But my point is that they should have had more, Tony, they should have had more ...."

"Yeah Mike ... and don't forget Teixeira has 21 bombs ..."

Good for them that 'EEI does suck.

 

[Dalton Jones]

I'm a broken record on this but I've got nothing to do so let me start.

Great that Felger made hockey the number one topic on his show. He killed 'EEI with that and he pumped Bruins hockey from day one of his show. Major props. But how much does he actually know about hockey?


I want some help here. I want to compile a list of every wrong opinion Felger had about the Bruins this season.

1. Tuuka Rask should be in goal.

2. Tim Thomas doesn't have it and chokes in the playoffs.

3. Marchand is a nice little fourth line forward but nothing to get excited about.

3a. The GM whiffed on the trades.

4. Claude Julien is an okay coach but his system will damn him in the end.

5. Julien shouldn't suit up Thornton in game 3.

 

[scottyno]

I'm a broken record on this but I've got nothing to do so let me start.

Great that Felger made hockey the number one topic on his show. He killed 'EEI with that and he pumped Bruins hockey from day one of his show. Major props. But how much does he actually know about hockey?


I want some help here. I want to compile a list of every wrong opinion Felger had about the Bruins this season.

1. Tuuka Rask should be in goal.

2. Tim Thomas doesn't have it and chokes in the playoffs.

3. Marchand is a nice little fourth line forward but nothing to get excited about.

3a. The GM whiffed on the trades.

4. Claude Julien is an okay coach but his system will damn him in the end.

5. Julien shouldn't suit up Thornton in game 3.

chara is a choker that can't win a game 7 has to be in there somewhere too

 

[smastroyin]

Except his job isn't to be right, his job is to get discussion going. He's not an analyst. And you know, he took his licks yesterday like a champ when people called him out on those very things.

A bunch of douchebags being afraid to be wrong wouldn't make for very entertaining radio. But I get it, you guys don't like him, so the first thing on your mind when the Bruins win is suck it Felger.

BTW, unlike a lot of people who are smarter than him, you at least have to give him credit for not being a nancy in this Cup Finals.