Running on fumes: discussions of WEEI

the1andonly3003

New Member
Jul 15, 2005
5,043
3/4 Chicago, 1/4 Boston
Your post is actually very interesting. You are 30 and grew up on the worst of sports radio possible with Ted and then Planet Mikey. Then when you got a car you listened to EEI on AM radio and not TSH. I’d expect you to be 60 instead of 30

I get the negative on sports radio but locally Toucher & Hardy, Beetle & Zo and even Jones and Keefe don’t bottom feed. I can’t speak to Hillman and I’m assuming Felger and mazz do because they’re awful.

Leroy & Cerrone are good, Barths football previews are good. Arcand is great when he’s not with Hart. Matt McCarthy loves baseball and is passionate.

I feel like Felger and Mazz (who are the absolute worst but highly rated) paint it all in a broad brush. I believe sports radio in Boston is at its peak except for the afternoon slot, but that’s because I hate F&M

Give me 2024 Boston Sports Radio over 2004 or 2014. 2009 sports radio was an all time low and why WEEI isn’t the #1 IN THE COUNTRY
Hey, they told good bedtime stories. I fell asleep to their soliloquys quite a bit!
 

grimshaw

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May 16, 2007
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WTF is Ted Johnson going to talk about in July? Is it just going to be all Patriots all the time? Good lord I hate the NFL.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
2,646
WTF is Ted Johnson going to talk about in July? Is it just going to be all Patriots all the time? Good lord I hate the NFL.
What do you mean what will he talk about in July?

He will talk about the Patriots and his hatred of all things BB.
 

the Trotman cometh

New Member
Jul 18, 2019
17
What do you mean what will he talk about in July?

He will talk about the Patriots and his hatred of all things BB.
Ted Johnson sucks as a media member, but if someone I believed to be responsible for repeated head injuries was also as beloved as he was I would be as pissed as Ted is!
 

Curt S Loew

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Your post is actually very interesting. You are 30 and grew up on the worst of sports radio possible with Ted and then Planet Mikey.
You can't ever take away the fond memories of driving back to The Cape after a Sox game and listening to Sarandis take calls. It was epic. Especially after a loss.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
5,842
Sarandis cracked me up.

“I NEED to hear from the BC Eagle fans!”
I still remember the "I apologize to you, Dakota!! I'll get on my hands and knees! I MISSPOKE!" that they used to play on the intro the Whina Line all the time. Classic.
 

Bigdogx

New Member
Jul 21, 2020
328
I still remember the "I apologize to you, Dakota!! I'll get on my hands and knees! I MISSPOKE!" that they used to play on the intro the Whina Line all the time. Classic.
That is another factor imo with the decline of sports talk radio is that the callers today are beyond terrible for the most part.

No longer do we get the normals who use to be basically characters for the shows, yes some sucked but many were hilarious at times, especially on Wfan with Mike Francesa.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
5,842
That is another factor imo with the decline of sports talk radio is that the callers today are beyond terrible for the most part.

No longer do we get the normals who use to be basically characters for the shows, yes some sucked but many were hilarious at times, especially on Wfan with Mike Francesa.
The Big Show at its peak from circa 1999 to 2005 was full of these type of callers and characters. It was fun and entertaining for a while until it became a parody of itself and just got stale. But do I miss Butch from the Cape, Al from Canton and the Dye Dye Dye Guy? Yes. Yes I do.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
20,879
That's a bummer. I thought the Riches Shertenlieb and Keefe could have done a good show together.
I know everyone hates Jones, but the Keefe & Jones show is really good IMO. I posted earlier, but Jones isn't nearly as negative as he used to be and less a Felger wannabe.

It's a good mix of actual sports talk, some good segments and doesn't seem to take itself seriously. Even the major "issue" over in the F&M thread, Keefe was funny handling it. He thinks he's right, we'll see.

If I listen to anything after 2pm, I usually throw on the Keefe & Jones podcast.
 

jacklamabe65

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I just wished that Butch From the Cape could have lived another ten years to see the Pats win three Super Bowls and the Sox win three World Series (and his beloved Yankees immortally choking in 2004).
 

thurin68

New Member
Jul 19, 2005
84
The Big Show at its peak from circa 1999 to 2005 was full of these type of callers and characters. It was fun and entertaining for a while until it became a parody of itself and just got stale. But do I miss Butch from the Cape, Al from Canton and the Dye Dye Dye Guy? Yes. Yes I do.
The guy that called in and played the carnival music intro that The Sports Huddle was famous for and then pretend to be Eddie Andleman used to kill Pete Sheppard
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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Wasn't Al from Everett; or was there a second Al?

OTOH, there was MOTWU, a disturbed individual (with the exception of his Utility Lou song, which was kind of funny).
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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And another argument about building a domed stadium in Boston lol
The Megaplex! And didn't it have a retractable roof?

Over the years he kept hammering away at it, even though multi-purpose stadia were rapidly becoming obsolete.

Towards the end of his run on WEEI, Ted had a rather incredible interview with Frank McCourt, then the owner of the Dodgers; in which Ted grilled him on the rumor (his own, exclusively) that McCourt and John Henry would swap the Dodgers for the Red Sox. It didn't matter what answers McCourt gave, Ted twisted them around to keep his crackpot theory going.
 
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Trapaholic

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Jan 11, 2023
322
I remember coming home from school and rushing to do all my homework so that I could listen to the Whiner Line. I was in junior high at the time, and the crude sense of humor was right up my alley. I am 35 now and I am not afraid to say that my sense of humor has not changed much.

I'll never understand the pivot to guys like Tim Benz and Mike Salk. Bringing in out-of-towners like that was never going to work.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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Jun 26, 2006
15,554
I remember coming home from school and rushing to do all my homework so that I could listen to the Whiner Line. I was in junior high at the time, and the crude sense of humor was right up my alley. I am 35 now and I am not afraid to say that my sense of humor has not changed much.

I'll never understand the pivot to guys like Tim Benz and Mike Salk. Bringing in out-of-towners like that was never going to work.
100% agree with this. It’s like they forgot they were a Boston radio station and thought they had to compete on the national stage.
 

Longtimefirstime

New Member
Dec 10, 2024
18
I know everyone hates Jones, but the Keefe & Jones show is really good IMO. I posted earlier, but Jones isn't nearly as negative as he used to be and less a Felger wannabe.

It's a good mix of actual sports talk, some good segments and doesn't seem to take itself seriously. Even the major "issue" over in the F&M thread, Keefe was funny handling it. He thinks he's right, we'll see.

If I listen to anything after 2pm, I usually throw on the Keefe & Jones podcast.
Seconded. They have really good chemistry, and the show is light and really funny. I get that there is a certain demographic that listens to WEEI that wouldn’t get Jones’ and Keefe‘s humor, but I actually do find it refreshing that it isn’t as serious as previous versions of the midday show, and the way the stray from sports.
 

dlauderdale

New Member
Sep 8, 2024
20
Here's what I was hoping for...the dolts that run WEEI go back to the Big Show model. Go get Giardi (his hits with Andy are great), Callahan (holds his own wherever he is on), some Teddy J, go find Jackie Mac and bring her back. Add Bradford and i think you have a good alternative. Maybe Tom Giles (to be the hoop guy. That beat has some lame personalities).
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
20,879
Here's what I was hoping for...the dolts that run WEEI go back to the Big Show model. Go get Giardi (his hits with Andy are great), Callahan (holds his own wherever he is on), some Teddy J, go find Jackie Mac and bring her back. Add Bradford and i think you have a good alternative. Maybe Tom Giles (to be the hoop guy. That beat has some lame personalities).
This is like the Circle of Hell of Sports Radio outside of Callahan, who is great on T&H. The rest can go. Jackie Mac is great but she’s on the back 3.
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
35,580
The Big Show at its peak from circa 1999 to 2005 was full of these type of callers and characters. It was fun and entertaining for a while until it became a parody of itself and just got stale. But do I miss Butch from the Cape, Al from Canton and the Dye Dye Dye Guy? Yes. Yes I do.

One of my favorite things when I was back home during this time (part of summer and Christmas) and was driving around and listening to this shit. One winter I was sitting in the parking lot of the Dunkin in Middletown RI heading into Newport and the rule of the show is they’re talking football. Pats playoffs, all that shit. So one guy gets on the air and it’s normal but you can tell the caller is boring himself asking football questions. Then he says something, and as he’s saying it his voice lightens up right away, and he says “oh by the way, remember when you said such and such about Nomar…” The hosts groan, yell at him, say the show is only about football but then they can’t let it go and start defending themselves on a Nomar topic.

Shit like this is why I love the die hard Red Sox fans; Fucking maniacs. Also why I don’t like a lot of Pat’s fans but we do not need to get into that.
 

j-man

Member
Dec 19, 2012
4,301
Arkansas
One of my favorite things when I was back home during this time (part of summer and Christmas) and was driving around and listening to this shit. One winter I was sitting in the parking lot of the Dunkin in Middletown RI heading into Newport and the rule of the show is they’re talking football. Pats playoffs, all that shit. So one guy gets on the air and it’s normal but you can tell the caller is boring himself asking football questions. Then he says something, and as he’s saying it his voice lightens up right away, and he says “oh by the way, remember when you said such and such about Nomar…” The hosts groan, yell at him, say the show is only about football but then they can’t let it go and start defending themselves on a Nomar topic.

Shit like this is why I love the die hard Red Sox fans; Fucking maniacs. Also why I don’t like a lot of Pat’s fans but we do not need to get into that.
just think the 1 year the jets were great they ran into a loaded bronco team at mile high and were only 30 min away from wining it all had vinny not got hurt 99 was your year my point is is being a jet fan pain or do u just laugh at it
 

luckiestman

Son of the Harpy
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Jul 15, 2005
35,580
just think the 1 year the jets were great they ran into a loaded bronco team at mile high and were only 30 min away from wining it all had vinny not got hurt 99 was your year my point is is being a jet fan pain or do u just laugh at it

I laugh now but that game fucking killed me, the thing was I had hope for the next year. I remember reading a GQ story about Parcells on a plane going back to Florida and I was so ready for 99. That awful season and then both Bills kind of walking was tough. The Groh team almost beat that crazy Ravens team last game of the season and I don’t know if you remember but that a Ravens team went on to beat Denver in I think the wild card round. 98 playoffs still haunt me.
 

NDame616

will bailey
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
2,646
Here's what I was hoping for...the dolts that run WEEI go back to the Big Show model. Go get Giardi (his hits with Andy are great), Callahan (holds his own wherever he is on), some Teddy J, go find Jackie Mac and bring her back. Add Bradford and i think you have a good alternative. Maybe Tom Giles (to be the hoop guy. That beat has some lame personalities).
Please god no.
 

j-man

Member
Dec 19, 2012
4,301
Arkansas
I laugh now but that game fucking killed me, the thing was I had hope for the next year. I remember reading a GQ story about Parcells on a plane going back to Florida and I was so ready for 99. That awful season and then both Bills kind of walking was tough. The Groh team almost beat that crazy Ravens team last game of the season and I don’t know if you remember but that a Ravens team went on to beat Denver in I think the wild card round. 98 playoffs still haunt me.
oh i rem 2000 i wanted to copy your off aga the ravens they had no nickel and dime CB the way u played the ravens was the only way u couild win that year aga them
 

mairish06

New Member
Nov 4, 2024
28
Here's what I was hoping for...the dolts that run WEEI go back to the Big Show model. Go get Giardi (his hits with Andy are great), Callahan (holds his own wherever he is on), some Teddy J, go find Jackie Mac and bring her back. Add Bradford and i think you have a good alternative. Maybe Tom Giles (to be the hoop guy. That beat has some lame personalities).
I doubt that would work, unless the goal is to get a 4-5 share in the ratings like Keefe and Jones. Minihane is the only one who could in big ratings in the afternoon. But that's not realistic because he won't go back to WEEI and the Globe would go back to hating the station.
 

Spelunker

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Jul 17, 2005
13,553
Here's what I was hoping for...the dolts that run WEEI go back to the Big Show model. Go get Giardi (his hits with Andy are great), Callahan (holds his own wherever he is on), some Teddy J, go find Jackie Mac and bring her back. Add Bradford and i think you have a good alternative. Maybe Tom Giles (to be the hoop guy. That beat has some lame personalities).
Are you....actually Butch from the Cape?
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
20,879
I doubt that would work, unless the goal is to get a 4-5 share in the ratings like Keefe and Jones. Minihane is the only one who could in big ratings in the afternoon. But that's not realistic because he won't go back to WEEI and the Globe would go back to hating the station.
What does the Globe have anything to do with ratings? No one is taking a Chad Finn report on ratings and determining what to listen to.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Apr 12, 2001
25,878
For some reason EEI was on when I jumped in the car yesterday afternoon and I heard an ad for Newsmax.

Has EEI fallen that far that they have to run an ad for these guys? Yeesh.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
24,683
For some reason EEI was on when I jumped in the car yesterday afternoon and I heard an ad for Newsmax.

Has EEI fallen that far that they have to run an ad for these guys? Yeesh.
I was at the gym the other day and noticed some guy in his 70s was watching Gerry Callahan--who apparently has a show on Newsmax.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
2,646
For some reason EEI was on when I jumped in the car yesterday afternoon and I heard an ad for Newsmax.

Has EEI fallen that far that they have to run an ad for these guys? Yeesh.
I know they have to allow both parties to do ads during election season, is this similar?
 

mairish06

New Member
Nov 4, 2024
28
It's incredible that Ken Laird still has a job. Outside of Hillman in the morning, the ratings throughout the rest of the day are pretty bad. Hillman was an established figure and knows how to run a show, so Laird doesn't deserve any credit for the morning show's success. I guess it pays off to suck up to Hillman since he basically runs the station.
 

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
29,012
Unreal America
I know they have to allow both parties to do ads during election season, is this similar?
Nope, that's strictly about election candidates.

Let's just say that the WEEI/sports radio audience and the Newsmax audience have a lot of similarities, demographically. It's a highly efficient ad buy for Newsmax, and EEI certainly needs the revenue.
 

Andy Merchant

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Aug 2, 2010
2,142
I suspect EEI would run commercials for just about anyone who would pay them.

It was a long time ago, but the worst I ever heard when I used to listen their station was for a company that performed paternity tests. It had a bunch of dbag bros talking about their big trip to Las Vegas and how one of their friends was a sucker and couldn't go because he got some girl pregnant. The idea was that he could take a paternity test and if the kid wasn't his he could just dump them and go on the trip. After the commercial break, even Dale Arnold mentioned what a terrible commercial it was and I don't recall ever hearing it again.