Least Essential Boston Sports Media Personality?

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

We're too late for a March Madness style bracket challenge, but who is the least essential sports media personality in Boston? Not the least liked, because Dan Shaughnessy is a lot of things, but he isn't inessential. If this was ten years ago, I'd have lead off with Craig Mustard, Larry Johnson, Steve Burton or Butch Stearns, but these guys are rarely on my radio anymore. They're completely marginalized. 
 
I'd have to go with Garry Tanguay. 
 
Aside from a rich baritone voice, I'm not sure what he brings to the table. It's not nuanced sports discussion. It's not a sense of humor. He's often flummoxed by requests to explain himself, he constantly trips over his words, his point of view is set on either "CONTROVERSY" or "HOT SPORTZ TAKE". 
 
Maybe people are starting to take notice because he is no longer doing the Patriots pre and post-game stuff, but he's still on Comcast. 
 
What's your hot sportz reporter take?

 

[Corsi]

Maybe he's not high profile enough, but Adam Jones is wretched.  The voice, the cadence, the horrible takes.  It's brutal radio.

 

[Leather]

Eric Wilbur?  
 
He's a less strident, milquetoast, version of Shaughnessy and Borges.  Like their little troll brethren.  He adds nothing.

 

[Dummy Hoy]

Least essential- Burton. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Butch Stearns.

 

[Corsi]

I'd have to go with Garry Tanguay. 
 
Aside from a rich baritone voice, I'm not sure what he brings to the table. It's not nuanced sports discussion. It's not a sense of humor. He's often flummoxed by requests to explain himself, he constantly trips over his words, his point of view is set on either "CONTROVERSY" or "HOT SPORTZ TAKE". 
 
Maybe people are starting to take notice because he is no longer doing the Patriots pre and post-game stuff, but he's still on Comcast. 
 
What's your hot sportz reporter take?

 
I was watching that Early Edition show (aka HOT TAKE NATION) on CSNNE with Gary Tanguay and Kirk Minihane the other night and Gary was reading the promo for the upcoming SportsDesk (or whatever it's called) show that was airing next and he mentioned that Dalen Cuff was hosting and both he and Kirk chuckle and go "who???" like they were these fucking bigshots.  Pissed me off to no end.  
 
Not that I am any huge Dalen Cuff fan (though he is pretty solid when he's not forced to read off a teleprompter), but who the FUCK are Gary Tanguay (fired from literally every job he's ever held) and Kirk Minihane (seemingly showed up out of nowhere one morning) to big league someone?
 
Made me sick.
 
Honestly, can anyone tell me Minihane's backstory?  He's this 180-pound punkass who deserves an atomic wedgie from Fred Toucher.

 

[Koufax]

I like Adam Jones.  He prepares for his show, he's got something to say each time and it's pretty interesting.  I was impressed that, three years ago, he was urging the Celtics to draft Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo, and lo and behold who did they draft?  Not that it has turned out well for the Celtics, but he was on the same wavelength as Danny, which is pretty impressive.
 
Larry Johnson is still on the radio on the weekends, and that's when I'm out running errands with the radio on, so he's in my universe, and he's dreadful.  So he gets my vote.

 

[MillarTime]

Maybe he's not high profile enough, but Adam Jones is wretched.  The voice, the cadence, the horrible takes.  It's brutal radio.

 
 

Butch Stearns.

 
Double bingo. Tanguay isn't particularly talented or interesting and Mike Adams is buffoon who has been mailing it in for years, but neither approach the pure terrible-ness of Jones or Stearns,

 

[FelixMantilla]

So many choices....

 

[teddykgb]

It's Stearns or Tanguay.  Stearns was on the radio last weekend or the weekend before.  They just aren't interesting and they can't help it.  I'd probably give the nod to Tanguay because he persists with being on so many mediums, I just can't avoid the guy.

 

[Snoop Soxy Dogg]

Mike Adams.
 
I've never taken to the sophomoric humor and shtick. One thing I must say is behind that silliness is a pretty sharp guy, but I just can't bring myself to listen to him. 

 

[The Napkin]

Haggs has to be up there

 

[HomeBrew1901]

 
I was watching that Early Edition show (aka HOT TAKE NATION) on CSNNE with Gary Tanguay and Kirk Minihane the other night and Gary was reading the promo for the upcoming SportsDesk (or whatever it's called) show that was airing next and he mentioned that Dalen Cuff was hosting and both he and Kirk chuckle and go "who???" like they were these fucking bigshots.  Pissed me off to no end.  
 
Not that I am any huge Dalen Cuff fan (though he is pretty solid when he's not forced to read off a teleprompter), but who the FUCK are Gary Tanguay (fired from literally every job he's ever held) and Kirk Minihane (seemingly showed up out of nowhere one morning) to big league someone?
 
Made me sick.
 
Honestly, can anyone tell me Minihane's backstory?  He's this 180-pound punkass who deserves an atomic wedgie from Fred Toucher.

You're an angry young man

 

[TFP]

Haggs has to be up there

 
He's a really interesting case. I used to think he was all over the Bruins beat report (hell I think he's a member here and did a Q+A once, which was cool) and then I started hearing how the entire Bruins beat hates him. And it's subtle, and not always apparent, but now that I know that fact I pick up on all the digs they leave out there sometimes. He is really not well liked at all, and while it's not a job requirement it's interesting to note. 
 
The Bruins beat reporters* are an interesting group though. They're incredibly active on twitter, and spend a ton of time socializing together (which I actually like). There definitely seems to be a public camaraderie among them, which is unusual. It can be a bit much, but overall I prefer that than people being at each other's throats or being humorless. But, Haggs is definitely NOT part of that camaraderie, despite supposedly being one of the highest profile beat writers. Take it for what it's worth.
 
*For these purposes, I'm referring to DJ Bean, Joe MacDonald, Fluto Shinzawa, Amalie Benjamin, and now Pete Blackburn. Probably a couple others too.

 

[ifmanis5]

Larry Johnson.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

So many choices....

 
This.  It would be easier to assemble the list of "essential" Boston sports media personalities.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

 
He's a really interesting case. I used to think he was all over the Bruins beat report (hell I think he's a member here and did a Q+A once, which was cool) and then I started hearing how the entire Bruins beat hates him. And it's subtle, and not always apparent, but now that I know that fact I pick up on all the digs they leave out there sometimes. He is really not well liked at all, and while it's not a job requirement it's interesting to note. 
 
The Bruins beat reporters* are an interesting group though. They're incredibly active on twitter, and spend a ton of time socializing together (which I actually like). There definitely seems to be a public camaraderie among them, which is unusual. It can be a bit much, but overall I prefer that than people being at each other's throats or being humorless. But, Haggs is definitely NOT part of that camaraderie, despite supposedly being one of the highest profile beat writers. Take it for what it's worth.
 
*For these purposes, I'm referring to DJ Bean, Joe MacDonald, Fluto Shinzawa, Amalie Benjamin, and now Pete Blackburn. Probably a couple others too.

 
Why is he not well liked? He's kind of snarky but whatever.
 
Also, he seems to have too high of a profile in the hockey world to be least essential. He's on Marek vs Wyshynski a lot (I guess I'm defining this as the hockey world) and does radio spots in Montreal an awful lot. I don't think I've ever seen any other Boston hockey writer on a national show, except for KPD. 

 

[DourDoerr]

Because he obviously is completely uninterested in sports and itches to talk his version of politics - Obama equals Satan - I'd go with Gerry Callahan.  
 
I think a sports media personality who actually avoids talking about sports is the least essential.  And when he does talk about sports, his denial is fascinating.  Whining about losing Revis, he wonders again and again why the Pats didn't bite the bullet and pay him what he wanted.  When it's pointed out several times that to do so would have future consequences like losing Jones, Hightower, Solder and Collins in some combination he doesn't even offer a "but still" and just simply goes quiet.  A half hour later, he's back on why the Pats couldn't have extended themselves and signed Revis.
 
So he's not only uninterested, he's uninformed and resistant to a good argument.  A triple threat.  And yes, I know I'm wasting my time.  I'll work on it.

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

How about the Dirt Dog?  I don't think I've been to his site since shortly after the trade for ARod.  I only thought of him because someone referenced his Price "prank" yesterday.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

We're too late for a March Madness style bracket challenge, but who is the least essential sports media personality in Boston? Not the least liked, because Dan Shaughnessy is a lot of things, but he isn't inessential. If this was ten years ago, I'd have lead off with Craig Mustard, Larry Johnson, Steve Burton or Butch Stearns, but these guys are rarely on my radio anymore. They're completely marginalized. 
 
I'd have to go with Garry Tanguay. 
 
Aside from a rich baritone voice, I'm not sure what he brings to the table. It's not nuanced sports discussion. It's not a sense of humor. He's often flummoxed by requests to explain himself, he constantly trips over his words, his point of view is set on either "CONTROVERSY" or "HOT SPORTZ TAKE". 
 
Maybe people are starting to take notice because he is no longer doing the Patriots pre and post-game stuff, but he's still on Comcast. 
 
What's your hot sportz reporter take?

I can't decide. mustard, Johnson and Sterns (who at times are all on the radio at once) are just useless. I can't believe they're on the air but Mr BBWAA said there was an uproar at one point when they were removed.

I'd nominate the B in MFB.

 

[ifmanis5]

No one said Corsi yet. Epic fail.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

I'm absolutely stunned that we're 22 posts in and nobody has yet nominated Tony Massarotti.

 

[Buffalo Head]

Whoever is the Red Sox sideline reporter. Completely non-essential. 

 

[SoxJox]

nm

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Eric Wilbur?  
 
He's a less strident, milquetoast, version of Shaughnessy and Borges.  Like their little troll brethren.  He adds nothing.

Just now on Facebook Boston.com is advertising Wilbur's latest column as "The Red Sox won't be good this year."
 
He's by far the most useless member of the local media and that includes Shank and Borges and Mazz.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I'm absolutely stunned that we're 22 posts in and nobody has yet nominated Tony Massarotti.

 
Guys like Massarotti, Callahan and their ilk aren't inessential. They're unliked, but just because you don't like them doesn't mean that they aren't needed. Mazz is a member of the most-listened to radio show in New England. Most of that is probably attributed to Michael Felger, but Mazz does have some influence. Callahan is loved by thousands of bigots in the state, so there's that. Each has their own view points, they bring something to the table. 
 
I'm talking about people like Tanguary who do nothing except yell and take up space. That anecdote that Corsi brought up is a perfect encapsulation of Gary Tanguay. I'm on Comcast New England, I'm a big deal in this town. Cram it Tangy. 

 

[CoolPapaBellhorn]

Cafardo. He pretty much defines non-essential.

 

[cshea]

 
Why is he not well liked? He's kind of snarky but whatever.
 
Also, he seems to have too high of a profile in the hockey world to be least essential. He's on Marek vs Wyshynski a lot (I guess I'm defining this as the hockey world) and does radio spots in Montreal an awful lot. I don't think I've ever seen any other Boston hockey writer on a national show, except for KPD. 

Joe had a Twitter spat a year ago with Amalie Benjamin. I can't remember the specifics, but Benjamin, who was fairly new to the Bruins beat, tweeted some "news" with some qualifiers ("sources say, possibly, not 100%, etc). It was something that every reporter has used in the past to hedge against missinformation from sources. Haggerty then posted a tweet where he quoted her qualifiers and responded with "wow, what journalistic conviction" which led to a Twitter spat. I don't care much for Benjamin the Bruins reporter (she seems nice and I liked her on the Red Sox beat, I'm just not sure hockey is her thing) but Haggs was a real douche in the exchange and that sort was the straw that broke the camels back for me and I think others.

 

[Corsi]

Joe had a Twitter spat a year ago with Amalie Benjamin. I can't remember the specifics, but Benjamin, who was fairly new to the Bruins beat, tweeted some "news" with some qualifiers ("sources say, possibly, not 100%, etc). It was something that every reporter has used in the past to hedge against missinformation from sources. Haggerty then posted a tweet where he quoted her qualifiers and responded with "wow, what journalistic conviction" which led to a Twitter spat. I don't care much for Benjamin the Bruins reporter (she seems nice and I liked her on the Red Sox beat, I'm just not sure hockey is her thing) but Haggs was a real douche in the exchange and that sort was the straw that broke the camels back for me and I think others.

 
Was that Benjamin or Heidi Watney?  Or perhaps both?
 
We had a thread on the Haggs/Heidi spat back in 2011: http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/68635-heidi-watney-vs-joe-haggerty/
 
edit: apparently Haggs actually commented in that thread himself.

 

[TFP]

There's also the etiquette breaker move of barging in on people's 1 on 1 interviews that he does a lot, and I think there's a lot of resentment to the amount of publicity things he does as the face of the Bruins beat (like all the stuff Bonger mentioned) when he doesn't even travel with the team all the time. 
 
Not saying it's all correct or justified, it's an interesting dynamic though.

 

[soxfan121]

Cafardo. He pretty much defines non-essential.

 
This. 
 
Tanguay at least has a good voice and without him, Toucher & Rich lose a valuable source of bits (that GT doesn't understand, but that's more than half the fun). True, he's otherwise an empty vessel and painfully stupid, but he has one discernible quality. 

Steve Burton also has one terrific skill: the pre-season, on-field interviews with Belichick are GOLD. The questions are always needlessly complex and vapid but Bill liked Steve's dad so much he actually tries to give him decent answers. But most of the time, is unable to make chicken salad out of Burton's chicken shit questions. 
 
Meanwhile, Cafardo brings literally nothing to the table. No skill that makes him stand out, no connection that enables him to keep his job. Nope, Nick is tenured and can't be fired, puts in little effort, doesn't know shit about the sport, doesn't care, regurgitates whatever he can get from "sources" and treats a job most people would kill to have like it is a burden. He actively harms the knowledge of his readers - reading Nick Cafardo literally makes you stupider. It isn't even fun to hate him, or his shitty effort, any longer because it has gone on so long. And with Speier on-board, there's a reason to read baseball in the Globe - so long as "Cafardo" isn't in the byline.

 

[ifmanis5]

At least with Cafardo he's providing material for one of the great threads in Internet history. So he's got that going for him.
 
It is always funny to see Nick being interviewed as an expert on national networks like ESPN and MLB Network every once in a while. They actually treat him with respect and give him a ton of credit for being an insider. It's Kabuki theater meets Punk'd.

 

[cshea]

 
Was that Benjamin or Heidi Watney?  Or perhaps both?
 
We had a thread on the Haggs/Heidi spat back in 2011: http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/68635-heidi-watney-vs-joe-haggerty/
 
edit: apparently Haggs actually commented in that thread himself.

Here's the Benjamin exchange: It was in the wake of the Thornton/Orpik incident last season (12/13/13). I'm having a hard time bringing up the original tweets, but Benjamin reported that it "seemed very likely" that there wouldn't be a suspension decision that day. Haggs, without retweeting, tweets "Wow. "Seems very likely" is certainly standing on some strong journalistic conviction." It was kind of a drivebye too, unless they worked it out in person, he didn't reply to her on Twitter. Seemed unnecessary and Haggstook some shit for that.

I just don't care too much for Haggerty. He seems to have become the national face of the Bruins beat report by default. KPD is grumpy and doesn't travel with them (speaking of unessential....) I'm a big Shinzawa fan. I wish he'd get more exposure, but he seems happy doing the features, Sunday notes and taking the occasional game story duty from Benjamin. McDonald is good but he splits time working the Red Sox beat too.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Wasn't it Haggs that filled in for someone on the Sox beat for one game (or maybe one series/road trip) and wrote something about Lackey "double-fisting" beers in the clubhouse?  This during his TJ recovery season and thus he was not an active player.  I seem to recall he got ripped by the beat regulars for that.

 

[TFP]

Wasn't it Haggs that filled in for someone on the Sox beat for one game (or maybe one series/road trip) and wrote something about Lackey "double-fisting" beers in the clubhouse?  This during his TJ recovery season and thus he was not an active player.  I seem to recall he got ripped by the beat regulars for that.

 
Yep, that was him. He also submitted a gem after a Montreal game and blamed it on his editor. Here's a plug for our favorite Chad Finn, who wrote about that column situation. It was really odd.
 
Link

 

[redsoxcentury]

Larry Johnson.

Mustard and Johnson are tied.

 

[mabrowndog]

I agree that Cafardo is the likeliest answer, with some pairing of Tanguay, Haggerty and Johnson rounding out the medal stand of inconsequentiality.
 
But Michael Holley needs to at least be in the discussion. I used to enjoy him as a Globe columnist. Patriot Reign was a solid book. His early work replacing Neumy on EEI to become half of the first incarnation of Dale and Holley 10 years ago had its high points.
 
Now? Other than bringing much-needed ethnic/racial diversity to the Boston sports media landscape, I can't recall the last informative or entertaining thing he's said on the radio. He's been shuffled around and matched up with a cavalcade of partners, but nothing's worked. And sadly, if Michael Holley were to be unceremoniously replaced today without so much as a word of mention from anyone, I doubt a single soul outside that station's walls would notice or care. Except maybe Chad.

 

[WenZink]

Haggs has to be up there

 
Haggs has to be Mr. Non-Essential.  All I can think of when I see him on air, is "Fat Man in a Little Coat.

 

[TheoShmeo]

I'm not in Boston but I do read the Globe, Herald and WEEI's site nearly daily, and I do watch a lot of NESN and CSNNE programming.   
 
My answer is Ron Borges.  He's the loud town crier, standing angrily on a soap box, who no one listens to or cares about.
 
As much as I dislike the CHB, many people still seem to pay attention to him.  The athletes are certainly aware of him and what he says.
 
Borges?  Is ANYONE aware of ANYTHING he writes or says? 
 
PS: Wilbur is a good choice for similar reasons.  And he's ALWAYS been irrelevant.  Borges had a period of relevance, even if he was loathed.  I used to read Borges fairly regularly and now truly never do.  Part of it is because the Herald's site is clunky and always slows down my computer.  But most of it is because Borges is a little slice of death.  But for consistency reasons, Wilbur has Borges beat.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Just now on Facebook Boston.com is advertising Wilbur's latest column as "The Red Sox won't be good this year."
 
He's by far the most useless member of the local media and that includes Shank and Borges and Mazz.

I gotta go with Wilbur too. He's just this sad troll that cant manage to get anyones attention and who's role- local sports columnist troll- is already filled by the GOAT in that regard. Has anyone ever met anyone that reads him? CHB is like that scene in "Private Parts" where people who loathe him read him even more, but why would you read Wilbur when you could read CHB? Or at all really.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

 
Guys like Massarotti, Callahan and their ilk aren't inessential. They're unliked, but just because you don't like them doesn't mean that they aren't needed. Mazz is a member of the most-listened to radio show in New England. Most of that is probably attributed to Michael Felger, but Mazz does have some influence. Callahan is loved by thousands of bigots in the state, so there's that. Each has their own view points, they bring something to the table. 
 
I'm talking about people like Tanguary who do nothing except yell and take up space. That anecdote that Corsi brought up is a perfect encapsulation of Gary Tanguay. I'm on Comcast New England, I'm a big deal in this town. Cram it Tangy. 

 
It's possible to be both unliked and inessential.  In this case, though, "unliked" doesn't apply.  Tony has a solid reputation for being a pretty nice guy, and he seems to score highly in fan polls of "favorite personalities", for whatever that is worth.  His ratings also do not disqualify his inessentialness, otherwise Glenn, Fred, Steve, and Meat from the Big Show would rate as essential listening for a decade strong.
 
Tony is inessential because he doesn't bring anything to the party.  He often doesn't even watch the games he's paid to comment on, which to his credit he even acknowledges on the air.  That doesn't prevent him from going on to offer a weak, kneejerk opinion in a high-pitched, grating whine.  Why should anyone listen?  He's happy to ride shotgun on the Felger freight train to good ratings and fat paychecks, and that's fine if he's satisfied professionally with that.  I do not begrudge him his great gig, but nobody would miss out on a scintilla of compelling sports insight if Tony suddenly disappeared from the Boston media landscape.  
 
I'm certainly not defending Tanguay, who is a worthless cipher and not nearly as likeable as Massarotti.  Tanguay is the least essential, followed by Benz, then Mazz.  Tony absolutely belongs in the discussion, if we must have it.

 

[Corsi]

Haggerty making a run for #1!
 

 

[WenZink]

Haggerty making a run for #1!
 

 
That's a my boy!

 

[YTF]

Isn't that "CSN Bruins Insider" Joe Haggerty?

 

[Corsi]

How the heck did we forget Greg Dickerson?  He's been the most irrelevant member of the Boston media for more than a decade.

 

[PBDWake]

How the heck did we forget Greg Dickerson?  He's been the most irrelevant member of the Boston media for more than a decade.

 
The fact that we forgot him is probably the most glaring indictment on his relevance we could offer.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

How the heck did we forget Greg Dickerson?  He's been the most irrelevant member of the Boston media for more than a decade.

 
I believe Dickerson is dealing with pretty severe Tourette's and OCD, plus epilepsy and dyslexia. I wonder if those have cut down on the amount of work he could potentially do.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I'm not sure if he even qualifies since he's a nobody but it has to be Danny Pichhhhad. Does Weei even pay their weekend hosts?

 

[Vinho Tinto]

 
I believe Dickerson is dealing with pretty severe Tourette's and OCD, plus epilepsy and dyslexia. I wonder if those have cut down on the amount of work he could potentially do.

 
I can confirm the Tourette's from seeing him at the old media table during a Celtics game. I don't know what he does to keep it under control while on camera.

 

[CouchsideSteve]

I'm not sure if he even qualifies since he's a nobody but it has to be Danny Pichhhhad. Does Weei even pay their weekend hosts?

Oh my god, this x100.

The first time I heard him on WEEI, I just assumed it was one of those deals Ordway used to run, where a "celebrity caller" would get the mic for an hour. (Here's Danny from Southie!)

Mind-numbing sports takes, and an accent that would make Affleck's character in Good Will Hunting stick a nail in his ear.