Kirk and Callahan: Done

Red(s)HawksFan

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The early hour combined with the Belichick-ization of nearly every player on the roster makes pretty much any "Patriots Friday" interview a painful listen. They might as well skip it, but I think they're contractually obligated. I'm sure the player, be it McCourtey or Ninkovich or someone else, would rather be doing a hundred other things rather than a radio interview that early in the morning, but someone has to do it. Unwilling/uninterested participants make the worst interviewees.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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Pretty fun interview with Brady this morning. Liked how they got him going about Johhny Football and the way he watches the games. Brady is so perfect and calculated with his answers in general, which I like, but it's nice to hear him actually get interested in a question and let his pretty clear love for the game shine through.

Also, he said Bledsoe could take him in the 40, but that he'd like his chances against Peyton.
 

Corsi

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Kevin Winter was fired as the sports update anchor on WEEI's "Dennis and Callahan" morning show Monday, just six weeks after his debut as the replacement for Jon Meterparel.
According to industry sources, Winter was called into program director Jason Wolfe's office following Monday's program and told that the chemistry between him and hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan wasn't working.

Winter's energetic style seemed an odd fit with the more cynical Dennis and Callahan from the beginning. But he was hired after a prolonged search to replace Meterparel, who held the job for more than a decade before leaving in mid-October when his contract expired to pursue a career in play-by-play. There is no indication at this time that a return by Meterparel is a possibility.
http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2013/02/kevin_winter_out_at_weei.html?camp=twit:tatb&dlvrit=845880
 

Rusty13

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Wow.  That was a QUICK axing of Winter.  There must a be a number of shakeups on the horizon.  This is only the first.
 

HomeBrew1901

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So is it because he didn't kiss Callahan's ass often enough or that he often had a different and more informed opinion about something?

The few times I listened to the show I actually liked Winter, I didn't think he was great but he was new and definitely brought a different element that Meter didn't or couldn't bring.
 

Rusty13

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HomeBrew1901 said:
I think it was an attempt to liven up and bring some fresh air into the show and D&C didn't like it.
 
Probably.  Do they now go begging Meter to come back after he "resigned"?  Or is it going to get worse with say Mikey Adams and/or Sheppard? 
 
Meanwhile, I just saw this on twitter.  I remember reading about this focus group last week.  Sounds like they threw money down the drain.
 
Dave LaPointe
‏@dave_lapointe


. @GlobeChadFinn It's funny how firing Kevin Winter flies directly in the face of everything we talked about at the focus group last month
 

lostjumper

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Up in NH, 98.5 no longer comes in for some reason, so occasionally I would tune into D&C in the am on the way to work. Winter was actually very likable. I found he was more informed than Dennis especially, and his updates were really good. Wolfe has managed to fire the one guy who seemed to enjoy working on that show and the only one who was listenable to. Its amazing Wolfe has a job...
 

the1andonly3003

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If he were fired because D&C didn't like him, and wanted him gone, there is nothing Jason Wolfe could have done.  This probably means D&C aren't going anywhere either.  If major changes are coming, then either Dennis or Callahan would have went instead of Winter.
 

NortheasternPJ

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the1andonly3003 said:
If he were fired because D&C didn't like him, and wanted him gone, there is nothing Jason Wolfe could have done.  This probably means D&C aren't going anywhere either.  If major changes are coming, then either Dennis or Callahan would have went instead of Winter.
 
It amazes me every day that Jason Wolfe continues to have a job. 2-3 years into getting their ass handed to them in ratings they've done nothing of significance. If this was TV, multiple shows would have been canceled on WEEI. 
 

weeba

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Corsi said:
I liked how it was phrased in the official press release:
 
WEEI today announced that effective immediately, Kevin Winter has stepped down from his position on the Dennis and Callahan Morning Show. Winter, who was working exclusively for ESPN Radio before being hired in early December, said “I appreciated the opportunity to join WEEI, but my time commitments at ESPN Radio were just too consuming for me to continue in both roles. I wish John and Gerry and the entire team the best going forward.”
 

Corsi

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stormmon said:
who did the flash this morning?
Not sure who did it this morning, but my good friend Scott Sudikoff will be doing it the rest of this week.
 

weeba

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MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:
So, where did the "fired" come from? Is it possible Winter really did essentially say, "fuck these clowns"?
 
Chad Finn's article has reference to him being fired in the body; but still ends with the quote saying he stepped down.  Maybe Chad can chime in?
 

Patriot_Reign

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MyDaughterLovesTomGordon said:
So, where did the "fired" come from? Is it possible Winter really did essentially say, "fuck these clowns"?
If you follow Winter on Twitter or Facebook you'll see that he was fired.
 

Helmet Head

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I wonder if Meterparel is coming back.   He hasn't really done much since leaving, besides calling BC games.   I can't imagine that pays very well.  
 

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He was fired. I included the press release out of respect for one of the p.r. people. But he was absolutely fired. My sourcing couldn't be better. Thought it was funny they tried to make it seem like he left on his own volition to return to a PART-TIME job he'd had for nearly 10 years.
 
As for Meter, he's not coming back. I asked.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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What a shit-show. That conversation must have been brilliant:
 
"Soooo, we'll kick in a little severance if you'll allow us to quote you wishing the best to John and Gerry."
 
"The fuck? You guys just fired me after SIX WEEKS. And I'm wishing them the best?!?!?"
 
"Well, I guess otherwise we could just say you sucked too badly to continue to employ..."
 
"Fine."
 
"Great. We'll pay you for your time today and you can have a couple of these John and Gerry bobbleheads."
 

the1andonly3003

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John Chandler did the Flash this morning.  I think he is a NESN guy right?  Good choice for the day after, since I thought it was still Kevin Winter doing the flash (high pitched voice).
 

bd11

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The guy knew more about sports than most of if not all of their flash boys.  The three didn't mesh right away but you would think the station would know that it would take more than 6 weeks to build the relationship.  Really weird and likely symptomatic that there are bigger issues there.
 
Pure prediction with no inside dope: one of Dennis, Mutt or Ordway is gone before opening day.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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The D&C crew departed for Fort Myers today to do their show from spring training.  Perhaps they didn't want to spring for Winter's ticket and hotel?  Bit of an extreme measure if that's the case, though.
 
But seriously, I wonder if the timing of his being let go (whatever the conflict or reason) has anything to do with the Fort Myers trip.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Red(s)HawksFan said:
The D&C crew departed for Fort Myers today to do their show from spring training.  Perhaps they didn't want to spring for Winter's ticket and hotel?  Bit of an extreme measure if that's the case, though.
 
But seriously, I wonder if the timing of his being let go (whatever the conflict or reason) has anything to do with the Fort Myers trip.
 
Seriously? Like they would rather fire the guy instead of pay his air and hotel accommodations?
 
I highly doubt it. 
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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John Marzano Olympic Hero said:
Seriously? Like they would rather fire the guy instead of pay his air and hotel accommodations?
 
I highly doubt it. 
 
Sarcasm radar not working?
 
Though I think if they were having strong doubts about the whole thing working out (particularly in terms of chemistry), a remote in Florida is probably something they wouldn't want to do with the whole crew still intact.  If one of or both D&C was uncomfortable with Winter, better to axe him now than let him go to Fort Myers.  Saving money on the trip certainly wasn't the motivation (hell, the plane ticket may have already been bought and was non-refundable), but saving sanity might have been.
 

pedro1918

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Helmet Head said:
I wonder if Meterparel is coming back.   He hasn't really done much since leaving, besides calling BC games.   I can't imagine that pays very well.  
 
 
You are forgetting his hard hitting high school sports reports for Boston.com.
 
http://bcove.me/ysooiwcb
 
By the way, Meter, you are talking about Malden Catholic boys hockey team, not the "Malden boys hockey team."
 

Bleedred

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John Meterperel seems like a decent guy, but IMO, he's a pretty terrible play by play guy. If he's offered a full time, paying gig at WEEI, I'd jump if I were him. He's not going anywhere beyond BC (and he may not last there if they ever get good).
 

bd11

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pedro1918 said:
 
 
bd11 said:
The guy knew more about sports than most of if not all of their flash boys.  The three didn't mesh right away but you would think the station would know that it would take more than 6 weeks to build the relationship.  Really weird and likely symptomatic that there are bigger issues there.
 
Pure prediction with no inside dope: one of Dennis, Mutt or Ordway is gone before opening day.
 
Thanks for the props Pedro1918
 

mandro ramtinez

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Bleedred said:
John Meterperel seems like a decent guy, but IMO, he's a pretty terrible play by play guy. If he's offered a full time, paying gig at WEEI, I'd jump if I were him. He's not going anywhere beyond BC (and he may not last there if they ever get good).
At least with Ted Sarandis, it was clear that he loved college basketball and knew the game, the landscape and the history.  With Meter, calling BC hoops is just a job, a job he performs terribly.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Did John Dennis call him Pedro the Punk?
 
Becuase if he did (and I would wager my entire house on it that he didn't) I may have a crumb of respect for Dennis.
 

YTF

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Rudi, thanks for the link. Was able to catch most of the interview this morning and enjoyed having the chance to just listen to it again uninterrupted. Really great that Pedro wants to be involved and wants to share his knowledge in the same way that others shared with him. Great as well to have him as part of the organisation again. The guy has a lot to offer and I hope some of the veterans as well as the kids look to him as a mentor. He mentioned that he thought that he along with the entire staff could turn Daniel Bard around. That alone would be worth whatever they are paying him. Decent job by D&C as well would like to see more of this stuff out of them.   
 

Steve Dillard

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Just teased that tomorrow will be an interesting show when they return to Boston.  "We will not be mailing it in."  I wonder whether the station changes also include them, but that they were locked in to the Ft.Myers trip. Although everyone laughed at the theory that they axed Winter before the trip to save money, but perhaps they made major changes but could not change the main guys yet because of the Ft.Myers commitments to NESN/Red Sox.   
 
Edit, of course after the Media roundtable they did say they would be back next year for the show.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Something tells me that if Dennis and/or Callahan were getting the boot but the move was being withheld until after the Ft Myers trip, they wouldn't be teasing it at all.  Didn't Dennis as good as admit he couldn't be as professional about being fired as Ordway was last week were he in the same position? No way would they be playing up the "tune it tomorrow for big news" angle if the news was they were going to be out of work.
 
New flash guy would be my guess, and it's probably Minihane.  Dale Arnold kinda hinted at that during his Sunday show with him, saying something to the effect that we were going to be hearing more of Minihane on sports radio soon.
 

teddykgb

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Minihane could be really good with Callahan. Like others, I remember the Felger Callahan pairing and how good it was. Minihane is like a more arrogant less intelligent version of Felger, if they let him go at Callahan a bit it may make for great radio
 

drtooth

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Steve Dillard said:
Just teased that tomorrow will be an interesting show when they return to Boston.  "We will not be mailing it in."  I wonder whether the station changes also include them, but that they were locked in to the Ft.Myers trip. Although everyone laughed at the theory that they axed Winter before the trip to save money, but perhaps they made major changes but could not change the main guys yet because of the Ft.Myers commitments to NESN/Red Sox.   
 
Edit, of course after the Media roundtable they did say they would be back next year for the show.
Switch to RKO??  I'm not sure they would make the "not mailing it in" comment for a new flash guy.  They could still return as a show next year even if on a different network. 
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Just teased that tomorrow will be an interesting show when they return to Boston.  "We will not be mailing it in."
 
 
Maybe they're getting jobs with the US Post Office as a wacky, cross-promotional stunt between two dying industries?
 

Phenom

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teddykgb said:
Minihane could be really good with Callahan. Like others, I remember the Felger Callahan pairing and how good it was. Minihane is like a more arrogant less intelligent version of Felger, if they let him go at Callahan a bit it may make for great radio
 
Is a "more arrogant, less intelligent version of Felger" a good thing?
 
I don't get the allure with Minihane.  Yes, he isn't afraid to express his opinions and challenge his co-hosts.  He's a decent talk show host.  But I've never been "wowed" by him.  He's not very funny, and never says anything that interesting.  In comparison to Dale, he's colorful.  But, well, that's Dale...
 
There's nothing wrong with Minihane.  But would a Minihane/Callahan show really cause you to turn over from Toucher and Rich?  WEEI needs to think a little bigger than that.
 

teddykgb

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Phenom said:
Is a "more arrogant, less intelligent version of Felger" a good thing?
 
I don't get the allure with Minihane.  Yes, he isn't afraid to express his opinions and challenge his co-hosts.  He's a decent talk show host.  But I've never been "wowed" by him.  He's not very funny, and never says anything that interesting.  In comparison to Dale, he's colorful.  But, well, that's Dale...
 
There's nothing wrong with Minihane.  But would a Minihane/Callahan show really cause you to turn over from Toucher and Rich?  WEEI needs to think a little bigger than that.
 
I certainly didn't mean to suggest that a Minihane/Callahan show is going to get me to turn over from Toucher and Rich.  I just think that if they're really going to have to ride out the D+C contracts, throwing someone like Minihane in who forcefully argues and won't back down easily to the two morning bullies might really bring out the best in Callahan that we can hope for.  I flip back and forth on the commercials and D+C have just done a complete mind meld at this point, never disagreeing on anything.  Winter wasn't strong enough to be let into their party, Minihane probably isn't either but his work to this point at least proves that he doesn't seem to acknowledge or care.
 
And the "more arrogant less intelligent version of Felger" line is definitely not intended to be a compliment, but it is probably a relatively accurate description of his style. 
 

ForKeeps

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Minihane is not perfect (and I hate his writing schtick), but he is an upgrade over anyone on that station besides Merloni.
 

Phenom

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teddykgb said:
I certainly didn't mean to suggest that a Minihane/Callahan show is going to get me to turn over from Toucher and Rich.  I just think that if they're really going to have to ride out the D+C contracts, throwing someone like Minihane in who forcefully argues and won't back down easily to the two morning bullies might really bring out the best in Callahan that we can hope for.  I flip back and forth on the commercials and D+C have just done a complete mind meld at this point, never disagreeing on anything.  Winter wasn't strong enough to be let into their party, Minihane probably isn't either but his work to this point at least proves that he doesn't seem to acknowledge or care.
 
And the "more arrogant less intelligent version of Felger" line is definitely not intended to be a compliment, but it is probably a relatively accurate description of his style. 
 
Okay, I can see how putting Minihane in as the third man in the booth would be effective.  You're right; he has a strong personality and D&C wouldn't drown him out.  
 
It's a challenging spot, though.  Dennis knows he's on the way out, and seems like one of the most acerbic guys working today.  Minihane, or anybody else who is thrown into the show will have his work cut out for him.
 
Meter worked well, because Dennis and Callahan knew he didn't have higher aspirations.  A guy like Minihane could intimidate them, and then they'd resort to bullying.  It should be some interesting radio nonetheless.