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

[JCizzle]

I completely forgot about the Welker/Reiss thing and it brings up another issue lately. Felger used to be able to admit he was wrong when faced with evidence. His take on Marchand being the most prominent I can remember. He turned it into a joke at his expense and it was a breath of fresh air. When you have those "hot sports takes" at least be able to admit when you're totally wrong.
 
Lately he just continues to bang home his points with zero reasoning. 
 
-The Iginla trade where Chiarelli went so far as to hold a press conference to explain what happened. Felger continues to blame Chiarelli
 
-The Welker signing where Reiss felt the need to call in to defend himself and his article. Once he was off air Felger continued his rant.
 
-The Soderberg problem where there have been articles released saying the Bruins did everything by the book and Sweden is just being petulant. Felger continues to say Chiarelli needed to do more and it's his fault.
 
It is getting tired as are the celebrity callers. If they never let Mike in Attleboro on again it would improve the show greatly. Who thought it was a good idea to give him a column on csnne?

Right. Felger was a good listen when he'd take strong opinions, but later admit he was wrong when that became apparent. Now it seems like he's brushed off all attempts at reality and is just full bore troll/contrarian. That gets really stale and is pretty boring in my opinion.

 

[HomeBrew1901]

Right. Felger was a good listen when he'd take strong opinions, but later admit he was wrong when that became apparent. Now it seems like he's brushed off all attempts at reality and is just full bore troll/contrarian. That gets really stale and is pretty boring in my opinion.

This is a very good point that I hadn't considered when I couldn't put my finger on what had changed with the show.   

 

[Phenom]

I'm very curious to hear how they cover the bombings.  Felger usually likes to ignore current events, but they can't ignore this, can they?  (I agree with Felger not wanting to dip his toe into current events, as sports talk radio is an escape for many.  Still though, I can't see how they can talk about anything else today.)

 

[drtooth]

I think Felger just hung up on a WBC member. The guy started his "Offended God" rant and Felger put him on hold and Mazz told him to move on.

 

[TheRealness]

I think Felger just hung up on a WBC member. The guy started his "Offended God" rant and Felger put him on hold and Mazz told him to move on.

 
Yeah, it seemed that way. Felger seemed to want to give him a piece of his mind. Wise choice just making sure he doesn't get any spotlight. 
 
And that anthem, oh my. I love this country.

 

[Corsi]

Not sure where else to put this.
 

Sports Hub was No. 1 overall, mornings, middays, afternoons and nights among men 25-54 during winter ratings. Will have numbers tomorrow.

https://twitter.com/GlobeChadFinn/status/324284626602450945

 

[SoxScout]

Did you know the biggest news story since they went off air on Friday night is that Drew went 1-7 this weekend?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Stephen Drew is a terrible player, not worth $9.5 million, and Jose Iglesias should be in Boston if Drew is not hitting.
 
Same old, same old.

 

[lostjumper]

Stephen Drew is a terrible player, not worth $9.5 million, and Jose Iglesias should be in Boston if Drew is not hitting.

You're absolutely right mike!

 

[soxfan121]

Stephen Drew is a terrible player, not worth $9.5 million, and Jose Iglesias should be in Boston if Drew is not hitting.
 
Same old, same old.

 
I find the resumption of normal to be somewhat comforting. 

 

[joe dokes]

I find the resumption of normal to be somewhat comforting. 

 
If the fact-free, mindless, contrarian bitching stops, then the terrorists have won.

 

[soxfan121]

If the fact-free, mindless, contrarian bitching stops, then the terrorists have won.

 
The guy who called up to complain about Comcast's overuse of graphics was serviced. "Clean it up Comcast!" and then "What a thing to call about today." <"you're right, Mike">

 

[shawnrbu]

Disappointing to see Bertrand on Comcast Sports Tonight parroting many of Felger's talking points.  Felger goes off the rails saying Napoli didn't have an injury and it was just the Red Sox dinking around with him ("They should have dinked around with Victorino's contract and never signed Stephen Drew.") and neither Bertrand nor Tanguay challenge him on it.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Didn't Napoli wind up fully admitting he's got that issue with his hip?

 

[Gambler7]

Yes, and I even believe his agent said he was concerned his career would be over.
 
I agree on Bertrand, even on twitter, he has turned into a mini Felger.

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

Felger's gotten to the point where not only do I not listen to his show, but I now don't even bother watching any of the CSNNE shows because there's a good chance he's going to be on there polluting them too.

 

[judyb]

Bertrand has always insisted there's nothing wrong with Napoli, if anything, Felger stole that particular bit from him, so there's no way he'd challenge him on it.

 

[bozzs]

I used to be able to stomach his show, but he seemed to full of himself and I moved along

 

[erfus]

Yes, and I even believe his agent said he was concerned his career would be over.
 
I agree on Bertrand, even on twitter, he has turned into a mini Felger.

 
Felger is Josh Beckett to Bertrand's Jon Lester?
 
Gasper keeps him honest fairly well on Saturdays, I don't notice it as much on their show. 

 

[Helmet Head]

This show would be much better if they just didn't talk Celtics.  It is the same narrative every time.  
 
Green Teamers!
Ronda is overrated
You smell that Green Gas Mazz?
Jeff Green is soft. 
 
repeat
 
I am having a hard time listening to this show lately
 
They were at their best during the Bruins cup run a couple years back.  I wish we could get back to that. 

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

This show would be much better if they just didn't talk Celtics.  It is the same narrative every time.  
 
Green Teamers!
Ronda is overrated
You smell that Green Gas Mazz?
Jeff Green is soft. 
 
repeat
 
I am having a hard time listening to this show lately
 
They were at their best during the Bruins cup run a couple years back.  I wish we could get back to that. 

Some guy called in and called them out, asking MF, when you say "you guys" WHO are you talking about?  Felger literally had no response and tried to brish it off.  Mazz did his Boston accent thing and the caller got cut off a few times and hung up.  So long, of the days Felger accepted he might be wrong sometimes.

 

[Helmet Head]

Some guy called in and called them out, asking MF, when you say "you guys" WHO are you talking about?  Felger literally had no response and tried to brish it off.  Mazz did his Boston accent thing and the caller got cut off a few times and hung up.  So long, of the days Felger accepted he might be wrong sometimes.

 
I don't know how Felger could have watched game 1 of the Knicks series and not think missing Rondo was a major issue.  Their ball handling and passing sucked.   Then again, he probably didn't watch. 

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Who is the producer on Felger and Mazz, is his name Jimmy? Every once in awhile he comes on and says something and he seems like a decent enough guy, however he sounds exactly like this:
 

If you don't know who that is, it's Tina from "Bob's Burgers". The guy is a dead ringer for her voice (which is also a dude's voice, BTW). AND you should be watching this show, it's awesome.

 

[Corsi]

Yep, Jimmy Stewart.
 
Featured through this clip:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQs2jIXNBNU
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwYdU3h9lHk

 

[RedOctober3829]

What did they say about PeteAbe?

 

[Corsi]

I missed it, but I see this:
 

 

[teddykgb]

it's like a douche off.
 
We all lose.

 

[Byrdbrain]

I haven't listened to these guys in weeks and I'm better for it. I have no idea how people can listen to the same BS talking points all the time.
I also stopped following Bertrand on Twitter, who for a while was the only decent one on there, when he tweeted something about Iglesias getting to the line drive Drew didn't get to on Saturday then retweeted some other idiots agreeing with him.
 
I guess Betrand sees how well being a no fact contrarian a-hole has worked out for Felger so he is trying to follow that path.
 
I'm enjoying the Salk and Holley era so far.

 

[soxfan121]

I haven't listened to these guys in weeks and I'm better for it. I have no idea how people can listen to the same BS talking points all the time.
I also stopped following Bertrand on Twitter, who for a while was the only decent one on there, when he tweeted something about Iglesias getting to the line drive Drew didn't get to on Saturday then retweeted some other idiots agreeing with him.
 
I guess Betrand sees how well being a no fact contrarian a-hole has worked out for Felger so he is trying to follow that path.

 
Do what you want but Bertrand is far from the only person to express that opinion. It's all over the game thread with lots of usually baseball smart people agreeing. 
 
I don't twitter, so I have no idea if you're talking about misuse of the medium or the message. But the message isn't ridiculous. Iglesias would have gotten to that ball.

 

[Byrdbrain]

Do what you want but Bertrand is far from the only person to express that opinion. It's all over the game thread with lots of usually baseball smart people agreeing. 
 
I don't twitter, so I have no idea if you're talking about misuse of the medium or the message. But the message isn't ridiculous. Iglesias would have gotten to that ball.

He might have and the opinion is legitimate I was mainly just talking about the constant repeating of the same talking points of which Iglesias over Drew is their Sox one at this point.

 

[NickEsasky]

Now Felger is ruining Comcast SportsNet for me too. It's awesome that Napoli has a buttload of RBI early on in the season - despite being a rate dependent stat and all that. Of course Felger takes that to mean the Sox will regret "dinking him over" with the contract and he doesn't actually have a hip condition. He's a troll and nothing more. 

 

[Billy Jo Robidoux]

Toucher and Rich do a pretty funny impersonation of Jimmy Stewart, usually ending with something like, "...and I want to kill your cat."  They liken his strange, monotone voice to that of a serial killer.

 

[Corsi]

Mazz in rage mode right now.

 

[Rusty13]

Mazz is frothing at the mouth and just sticking to his talking points about how he disagrees with trading down "philosophically".  What a joke. 

 

[soxfan121]

He sounds like a brain-damaged caller. Just awful. 
 
Felger, predictably, says you can't judge anything now because it takes 3 years to grade a draft. 

 

[Corsi]

Wow, and he's totally not grasping the concept 70% of the production for 40% of the cost.  BRUTAL.

 

[Corsi]

Boggles the mind that a team that has been on top for going on 13 years STRAIGHT still has their philosophy questioned.

 

[lostjumper]

Yeah, I listened to the first 15 minutes of the program. Pretty much what I expected, so I'm done with them for the weekend. 
 
Mazz: Pats care more about the business and winning trades than players.
Fleger: I hate trading down because the better players are at the top of the draft. But, we can't judge this years draft so far(hey, that sounds fair). Let's see how trading down in 2009 worked out for them. It sucked!!! So trading down doesn't work. (Pssst, what about 2010 and 2011...)

 

[lostjumper]

Boggles the mind that a team that has been on top for going on 13 years STRAIGHT still has their philosophy questioned.

 
"As soon as #12 leaves we'll see the Patriots philosophy doesn't work. The rest of the team is just average" Wow...

 

[tim mccarver]

LOL Douchebagging.  

 

[soxfan121]

Wow, and he's totally not grasping the concept 70% of the production for 40% of the cost.  BRUTAL.

 
It's all the more frustrating because Mazz has SUCH a baseball-centric analysis of the draft and has less football knowledge than most callers. 
 
Mazz: "Why would they trade up if they traded down from 29?" 
 
Beetle: "Accumulating more picks? So you can get the same guy tn picks later and get another player later?"
 
Mazz: "They should just take him at 29!?1!!!!!1!"
 
<Click>
 
Beetle, my sympathies. Both of your "superiors" are irredeemably stupid.

 

[TheRealness]

It's formulaic narrative crap. I think it's safe to say we all expected it, and I think we've heard these rants before. It's contrived crap. 
 
Salk and Holley are solid so far, FWIW. They're actually talking potential targets and players in the draft instead of frothing at the mouth about "value" etc. 

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

He sounds like a brain-damaged caller. Just awful. 
 
Felger, predictably, says you can't judge anything now because it takes 3 years to grade a draft. 

 
 
Sounds like Mazz is just playing the wrestling heel role at this point. I find it hard to believe he actually believes what he's saying.

 

[Rusty13]

I feel so bad for Beetle.  He needs to get out of there. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING

 

[H78]

Wow, and he's totally not grasping the concept 70% of the production for 40% of the cost.  BRUTAL.

 
Or, if the player they want, or a similar player, is still likely to be available to them later anyways, 100% of the production for 40% of the cost (plus additional picks).

 

[Corsi]

Say what you will about Jerry Thornton from Barstool, but he's owning these two knuckleheads with his draft knowledge right now.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Say what you will about Jerry Thornton from Barstool, but he's owning these two knuckleheads with his draft knowledge right now.

Then Mazz asks about Te'o.  That shows you how much Mazz knows or cares about the draft.

 

[soxfan121]

Sounds like Mazz is just playing the wrestling heel role at this point. I find it hard to believe he actually believes what he's saying.

Then Mazz asks about Te'o.  That shows you how much Mazz knows or cares about the draft.

 
Felger plays the heel. Mazz doesn't try or care. 
EDIT: this is especially apparent when watching on CSNNE, Felger nods along to the "intelligent" takes from Beetle or a caller and rolls his eyes, stares and the ceiling and looks at Mazz with resigned disgust.

 

[H78]

I really just wish Mazz would cool it. It almost seems like the only approach he knows how to take is the over-the-top negative, super bitchy, "I-want-this-to-make-squeaky-Mazz-on-Friday" approach.
 
Mazz, I'd bet anything the guys over at The Sports Hub read these boards. At the very least, I would bet a lot of money that Beetle does. I know you have a cush job, Mazz, that really doesn't require much of you. I know you take full advantage of that by constantly showing up with obnoxiously negative opinions because they're much easier to form than researched, well-thought-out opinions.
 
But for the love of God, the listeners, and the long-term health of your radio show, please try harder at your job. Start trying to research things. Start trying to see things from different perspectives. Just TRY a bit and you might, MIGHT still have a job there in 3-5 years. You're bringing aspects of the old WEEI to The Sports Hub and whistling by the graveyard in the process. Before someone that signs your check has to tell you this, please just take this advice from one of your humble listeners - COOL IT and TRY at your job.
 
If you think I'm just being an internet message board prick, consider reading this thread from beginning to end. You guys had a lot of people who liked you for a while who are now tired of you. What are you going to do to change that?