Finn: Ordway gets the boot; Replaced by Salk

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
A seismic shakeup at sports radio station WEEI is apparently imminent, with longtime host Glenn Ordway being replaced on its afternoon drive program by Mike Salk, a Boston native who has co-hosted a program on 710 ESPN in Seattle since 2009.

Multiple industry sources have said that Salk, a Buckingham Brown and Nichols graduate with previous Boston radio experience at 1510 and the now-defunct ESPN 890, has been heavily pursued by WEEI to replace Ordway, a staple on the Boston sports radio scene since the '70s, and that he will accept the job.

Salk did not respond to a request for comment. It is uncertain when the change will take place.

According to sources, Ordway was called in for a meeting with program director Jason Wolfe Tuesday night to discuss the situation.
http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2013/02/sources_weei_to_replace_glenn.html?camp=twit:tatb&dlvrit=845880
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
Boston.com story
 
Multiple industry sources have said that Salk, a Buckingham Brown and Nichols graduate with previous Boston radio experience at 1510 and the now-defunct ESPN 890, has been heavily pursued by WEEI to replace Ordway, a staple on the Boston sports radio scene since the '70s, and that he will accept the job.


Salk did not respond to a request for comment. It is uncertain when the change will take place.

According to sources, Ordway was called in for a meeting with program director Jason Wolfe Tuesday night to discuss the situation.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
Where does Ordway go from here? Does Comcast expand his role on the TV side? I can't imagine he'd want to share the stage on on Sports Tonight with Felger.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Wow.

Great to see them shaking things up over there, would love to see improvement on the late night and midday shows as well.

Assuming Ordway has a contract beyond right now, I wonder if they'll make him take fill in roles or what.

And hopefully for Glenn, he's saved enough money to not have to work for awhile . . . or ever. He's over 60, so retirement might be an option.


Edit: Per wikipedia, he signed a 5 year deal in January 2009, so he's got one year left if nothing changed.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
Lose Remerswaal said:
Wow.

Great to see them shaking things up over there, would love to see improvement on the late night and midday shows as well.

Assuming Ordway has a contract beyond right now, I wonder if they'll make him take fill in roles or what.

And hopefully for Glenn, he's saved enough money to not have to work for awhile . . . or ever. He's over 60, so retirement might be an option.


Edit: Per wikipedia, he signed a 5 year deal in January 2009, so he's got one year left if nothing changed.
The article says that Ordway's contract has out-clauses if certain ratings benchmarks aren't met, though it doesn't specifically say that WEEI/Wolfe will/can exercise these clauses.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
This makes me want to tune in at 2:00 just to see if or how they address this report.  The article doesn't set a timeline for Ordway's departure or Salk's arrival.  Lame-duck Ordway might (and I stress might) be an interesting listen.
 

Rusty13

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 3, 2007
5,351
Patriot_Reign said:
Of all the people, how the hell does John Dennis still have a job
 
 Chad Finn has previously said that D&C have "iron clad" contracts based on their extension that went into effect with the NESN simulcast in 2010. 
 
They don't have similar out clause language or "ratings based" performance options like Ordway's contract.  EPIC Fail by Entercom on those deals!
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 21, 2007
46,769
Hartford, CT
Red(s)HawksFan said:
This makes me want to tune in at 2:00 just to see if or how they address this report.  The article doesn't set a timeline for Ordway's departure or Salk's arrival.  Lame-duck Ordway might (and I stress might) be an interesting listen.
 
 
He probably wants to still work, be it for WEEI or CSN or whoever, so I doubt he scorches Earth.
 

Andy Merchant

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2010
1,653
Wow, ballsy move by EEI that sorely needed to made but I didn't think they had the intestinal fortitude to actually follow through with.  I have not listened to The Big Show since 98.5 has been on the air, but I would definitely give a Salk/Holley show a shot.  Next up is to do something about Dennis & Callahan and save me from having to listen to Andy Gresh from 10-2.
 

HomeBrew1901

Has Season 1 of "Manimal" on Blu Ray
SoSH Member
I never like to see anyone lose their job but for years Ordway treated up and coming talent like big time college coaches treat their players. Do what I say and maybe just maybe if I like you we'll give you a shot to get on the air, but don't dare step out of line or you'll be gone. Then at the same time he fed the starving sports masses shit and told them that is what they really want and by the time he realized he needed to change it was too late.

No idea where he goes from here but I won't be crying for him.
 

wutang112878

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 5, 2007
6,066
Rusty13 said:
 Chad Finn has previously said that D&C have "iron clad" contracts based on their extension that went into effect with the NESN simulcast in 2010. 
 
They don't have similar out clause language or "ratings based" performance options like Ordway's contract.  EPIC Fail by Entercom on those deals!
 
I remember hearing the same thing, but they still should replace D&C.  I dont remember specifically what the ratings were, but I thought the gap between D&C and T&R was greater than that of the afternoon shows.  If thats the case the bigger problem still isnt being addressed
 

H78

Fists of Millennial Fury!
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2009
4,613
Wow.
 
I would have much rather seen D+C go, as most people who hate EEI (such as myself) seem to point to those two assclowns as the reason why. If nothing else, at least this puts D+C on notice. I would have to assume there's no way they're reupped whenever those contracts do finally expire.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
Mystic Merlin said:
He probably wants to still work, be it for WEEI or CSN or whoever, so I doubt he scorches Earth.
 
I agree, I doubt he scorches earth, but if he already knows he's on the way out, maybe the filter comes off a bit.  Maybe he's more apt to take a stand on something rather than fence sit and waffle.
 
I was certainly among those unhappy to see Dale Arnold replaced by Mutnansky, but it did seem to change Dale for the better.  He got a bit more forceful in his opinions and dare I say, a tad more colorful.  He became a better listen.  Part of it might simply be not having to grind out 20+ hours a week of talk...quality increased as quantity decreased.  But I think he got a bit of an edge as a result of losing his day job.  Maybe Ordway goes the same way in the interim before Salk takes over, presuming Ordway stays on the air beyond today or the end of the week.
 

Brickowski

Banned
Feb 15, 2011
3,755
I enjoyed Mike Salk on the old 1510 A.M. when he had that show with Ryen Russillo and some other guy whose name I can't remember.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
I'm sitting here trying to figure out which Lannister Felger is.  Lots of scalps accumulated over at TSH, always thought Ordway would be the last to go at EEI.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
SoSH Member
Nov 17, 2010
14,427
I'm going to listen just to help with the ratings. Hopefully this works out for WEEI, and they realize that the station needs new talent.
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
Going to be fascinating to see how this is handled.

Ordway is a pro and understands how this works. Beyond that, although I have not a clue how he stands financially, it's worth pointing out that he has a young child and that while he is well worn, Ordway is not geriatric. There is a potential future for him, somewhere. All of this points to Ordway handling this in a high class, professional way.

But ... but media outlets are terrified of this situation. Network execs have about the thinnest skin of anyone on this planetl; they tend to be very worried about on-air personalities going off on their way out. If memory serves, even Dale was yanked a couple of days before his announced departure date.

So what happens? Stay tuned.

By the way, when is it Jason's turn on the gurney? It seems that at this network, at least, the GM is coated in teflon while the hired help gets the ax. That's the way professional sports teams used to be, but are not in the main anymore.
 

Youkilis vs Wild

New Member
Mar 30, 2009
352
Boston, MA
I'd love to see this result in a quality product that shifts the ratings war to the point that TSH dumps Mazz and we get two good shows.

But sadly, based on what I've heard, I'm worried Holley is too far gone. Lost in WEEI discussions is how boring he got when paired with O. Hopefully just a chemistry thing...
 

weeba

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
3,537
Lynn, MA
dcmissle said:
Going to be fascinating to see how this is handled. Ordway is a pro and understands how this works. Beyond that, although I have not a clue how he stands financially, it's worth pointing out that he has a young child and that while he is well worn, Ordway is not geriatric. There is a potential future for him, somewhere. All of this points to Ordway handling this in a high class, professional way. But ... but media outlets are terrified of this situation. Network execs have about the thinnest skin of anyone on this planetl; they tend to be very worried about on-air personalities going off on their way out. If memory serves, even Dale was yanked a couple of days before his announced departure date. So what happens? Stay tuned. By the way, when is it Jason's turn on the gurney? It seems that at this network, at least, the GM is coated in teflon while the hired help gets the ax. That's the way professional sports teams used to be, but are not in the main anymore.
Finn's article had him making $1m a year on his new contract, which was then knocked down to $500k based on some ratings numbers.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
Ordway promises "the 4 most honest hours of radio I've ever done."
 

Phenom

as if andy gresh and gary tanguay had a baby
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
998
Ordway has nothing to complain about here ... he gave us the same product for two decades, and didn't change until it was too late.
 
What, did Jason Wolfe force him to give us four hours of Larry Johnson and Bill Burt?
 
Dale got a raw deal, as he was leading in the ratings when he was fired.  Ordway's been trailing Felger for close to three years.  He wasn't wronged.
 

HomeBrew1901

Has Season 1 of "Manimal" on Blu Ray
SoSH Member
Stopping all of the BS...
was going to approach it his own way but got sidetracked because it got leaked to Finn...
He sounds pissed that it was leaked...
Pissed that the Kevin Winter story was leaked and wasn't fair to him...
No problem with decision made in canning him...
 

SeanBerry

Knows about the CBA.
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2003
3,599
Section 519
Corsi said:
Ordway promises "the 4 most honest hours of radio I've ever done."
I love that's be been lying for the last 25 years.
 
Glenn Ordway is 62 years old.
Glenn Ordway has a 4 year old daughter.
 

Rusty13

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 3, 2007
5,351
Listening right now.  Gotta say: he's handling it with class.
 
UPDATE: nevermind.  He is pissed that someone leaked it and all of a sudden sounds bitter.
 

Bleedred

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 21, 2001
9,966
Boston, MA
 
Corsi said:
Ordway promises "the 4 most honest hours of radio I've ever done."
 

I don't really know what this means, but to me, he's just indicted himself unwittingly. That is, if he hasn't been totally honest up to now, then it's his own fault that his show got boring and he is being shown the door. When you are handed a big contract like he was, you have the liberty to be "honest." I'm not suggesting you bite the management hand that feeds you, or the teams that purchase time on your station, but you can certainly take hard positions of principle, to the extent you have any. I believe Ordway has principles, but you rarely got to know it on the air. I know his fence sitting was a running joke (not a funny one), but he really morphed into a guy who didn't want to take any hard position, unless it was the conventional one. Not an untalented or bad guy, but a classic example of getting fat and happy in lieu of effort and interest.
 

Scoots McBoots

nothing Sinista here
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
2,832
Worcester, MA
Ordway's not complaining about anything with this other than how the news got out.  I have no problem with how he's handling this so far.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
Yeah, he's being a professional about this. Still 3:45 to go though...
 

Carmine Hose

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 2, 2001
5,046
Dorchester, MA
He goes back to harping on the "#1 ratings" and how it wasn't just him but also the other "amazing talents" that he's worked with.  Yet again, he puts the success squarely in the studio and never acknowledges that the passion of the local fans and the amazing success these teams have had over the last 10 years is what truly propelled WEEI.  It's not his "work" that's done this, because in honesty, his work has been lazy and uninspired.
 
I mean, the Sports Hub launch is the proof that it's the teams and the fans that make these ratings happen.  Sports Hub hosts have done a better entertaining job than WEEI and that's why they're ahead.  But could you drop the Sports Hub or WEEI lineups into Minneapolis and get the same result?
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
Yeah, so what if these guys started on EEI? TSH saw guys that were marginalized on EEI and put them front and center. It's an indictment on Wolfe that he let all these guys go to begin with.