RIP Toucher and Rich Show ... It was fun while it lasted

NortheasternPJ

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He created two funny audio bits once upon a time where: 1) he talked about waking up in the morning and eating a “bowl of pastaaah” and 2) mentioning that he likes Taco Bell’s Fritos and beef…..and cheeeeeeese.

Other than that, he brings nothing to the table and as a stand-alone bit today was probably a terrible idea. But Fred really wanted it.
I completely disagree on that last part. Pasta Joe being used every 4 years or so is perfect and the pure amount of joy Fred got out of it was worth it alone. 1,000 people showed up to Twitch to watch it (usually 300 or so are on) and I thought it was exactly what was expected.
 

redsoxedmunds24

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What is the backstory of Pasta Joe?
They did a ticket contest for an AFC championship game a few years back. Picked a couple listeners to come in studio. I don’t recall what the details were for picking one of them to win the tickets but they fell in love with his care free laid back personality
 

DisgruntledSoxFan77

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‘Twas the Worse Than Tom Brady contest, wasn’t it?

Listening now, I’m up to the part about where he likes to eat. I’m out of breath listening to this guy! He’s auditory sominex!
 

JCizzle

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Dec 11, 2006
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I thought it was a glorious trainwreck. I think he told one (?) joke during the 4 minutes. The best part was Fred and Rich being unable to contain themselves.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Mazz calling in after the break to discuss his on air fart during the Sox broadcast this weekend
 

Rusty13

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Did they really somehow book the Wilbur for a show all just filled with Brookline 911 calls? That’s impressive!
 

hube

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Apr 4, 2010
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I usually duck out on Fart Court, but this was great. Fred's reaction after the fact had me laughing out loud.
 

dirtynine

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I generally agree on skipping Fart Court - probably my least favorite of their recurring bits. However, this one had it all, including witness tampering, expert testimony, recusals, a hung jury and calls for an appeal of the verdict. The “It wasn’t me” song was a great touch. Kudos, that fart deserved the hour they gave it.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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For those of you guys who hate Joe Murray he may have just ended his radio career admitting that Draft Kings, a major sponsor for everyone, pays them to push listeners for certain picks
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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For those of you guys who hate Joe Murray he may have just ended his radio career admitting that Draft Kings, a major sponsor for everyone, pays them to push listeners for certain picks
Wait. He's saying that Draft Kings pays him to tell listeners to pick certain teams?

Gambling rules, you guys! It's just so much fun that these businesses have gotten so intertwined with every aspect of sports. Love it.
 

JCizzle

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For those of you guys who hate Joe Murray he may have just ended his radio career admitting that Draft Kings, a major sponsor for everyone, pays them to push listeners for certain picks
You're telling me the weekly Bill Simmons 4-team parlay isn't really him twisting Draft King's arm into giving us "awesome" boosts out of the goodness of their hearts? :eek:
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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Wait. He's saying that Draft Kings pays him to tell listeners to pick certain teams?

Gambling rules, you guys! It's just so much fun that these businesses have gotten so intertwined with every aspect of sports. Love it.
So he was saying that HE didn't mind being a subscription schill who just pushes picks but livshatz doesn't want to do that.

He essentially said "I don't want to be like 'hey draft kings has a great line for the Celtics game tonight!! When it's bad odds and a terrible bet because they paid me to say it" and Rich immediately was like "no. No. No. You are NOT saying that DKs pays people to dole out picks right? RIGHT? "

JM: yes that is correct
Rich: Ok and Brad Stevens is up next!
 

Hardcore Midget

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Jul 15, 2005
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I am a very casual T&R listener, mostly just driving the kids to school in the AM. But every single Thursday when the Bankroll Boyz segment hits, it is an immediate change the channel for me. Just unlistenable.
If this leads to T&R canning the segment, I will be a happy man.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I am a very casual T&R listener, mostly just driving the kids to school in the AM. But every single Thursday when the Bankroll Boyz segment hits, it is an immediate change the channel for me. Just unlistenable.
If this leads to T&R canning the segment, I will be a happy man.
I'm the exact same way. Nothing gets me to change the radio station faster than gambling "experts" who are reading Rotoworld.

"I hear from sources that Robert Williams might be ready to suit up in a few weeks!"
"WHAT?! You have to take that Celtics action then! Have to!"
 

8slim

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I like Joe and Dan. I'm not much of a gambler, but I find their weekly segment entertaining.

And it sounds like nothing Joe said would get him fired. So not sure why that came up.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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I like Joe and Dan. I'm not much of a gambler, but I find their weekly segment entertaining.

And it sounds like nothing Joe said would get him fired. So not sure why that came up.
He said a major gambling sponsor pays them to push bets that make them (draft kings) more money despite being bad picks. Rich quickly caught on, pushed him to "correct it" and cut to commercial
 

8slim

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He said a major gambling sponsor pays them to push bets that make them (draft kings) more money despite being bad picks. Rich quickly caught on, pushed him to "correct it" and cut to commercial
I thought you said Joe said he *didn't* do that.

"I don't want to be like 'hey draft kings has a great line for the Celtics game tonight!! When it's bad odds and a terrible bet because they paid me to say it"
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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I thought you said Joe said he *didn't* do that.

"I don't want to be like 'hey draft kings has a great line for the Celtics game tonight!! When it's bad odds and a terrible bet because they paid me to say it"
Yes. But it's how he said it. Like *i* don't want to be the guy that does that. With the heavy implication someone else is the guy that does it
 

Rusty13

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I have to say — overall I disagree with him — but I’m enjoying Fred’s take today on the Orsillo-Sox situation (he was away on vacation and only commenting now). Different non-emotionally attached perspective. He thinks Don should have flown out for the ceremony period
 

hube

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Apr 4, 2010
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I’m very much enjoying the situation with the Charlotte radio host. Perfect Fred content.
 

JCizzle

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I’m very much enjoying the situation with the Charlotte radio host. Perfect Fred content.
It’s great. It was hilarious when he started the segment by saying he didn’t want to get into it, then by the end was encouraging folks to ruin the guy’s show today.

I don’t get the fascination with Brad’s music tastes though, no matter how many times they explain Nirvana’s cultural importance. The guy is a basketball junkie doesn’t like rock music, who cares?
 
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dirtynine

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Kinda bummed about the treatment of the Strange draft pick on the show. I listen to the podcast and about once a week I get all 4 hours of an episode in - today I had a 3+ hour car trip so Friday’s show was perfect length.

First, the absolute giddiness and certainty that the pick was a mistake and a laughingstock was off-putting. Give the team some crap, sure - it’s absolutely funny to puncture the Belichick aura. But they should have had some kind of a devils advocate on to make the case that a) Strange likely wouldn’t have been there when the Pats picked next, as several other teams had him in their second-round plans, b) he’s a great fit for the team and the risk of trying to get him lower was outweighed by the chance of losing him, c) after 15 or so, the draft flattened out completely - as we saw in later rounds, and d) the Rams clip was basically them going “we thought we could get a gem at 104, shows what we know, this year is crazy” and that’s it.

A few segments of goofing on the pick is one thing, and funny in small doses, but it went on for 4 hours, including Breer (who should know better but gets sucked in), Wallach (who will do anything for approval), and Rich (who goes deep into conspiracy territory - Patricia picked him? Because he’s an idiot? OK). I get that Stephen A Smith-level nuclear takes are the north star, but some balance would have been nice. No need to call the kid a hillbilly, Belichick crazy or the Pats a dying team.

Serves me right for listening to that much show when they gear the content to somebody checking in on their commute for 20 minutes. I’d try to tweet them in real time but I’m inevitably on a couple-day delay so this is where I need to rant about it. Obviously I’m a big fan and supporter of T&R, but nothing would make me happier than the show having to eat shit re. the Pats.
 

onthereg527

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Nov 16, 2021
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Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE Toucher and Rich. However, it has gotten to the point that whenever they discuss the Pats it's become unlistenable. Fred's absolute hatred of anything Belichick is so evident that he is blinded by it to the point he will criticize any and everything that they do. I would argue that regardless of what they did in the draft he would be complaining/crapping all over it. This morning they discussed the Thornton pick and how the Pats traded up for him to get him. Fred said because after that pick, all the 'highly touted' receivers went after him as evidence that they made the wrong pick and shouldn't have spent capital to do so. Now, I admittedly am far from a scout, but the Pats needed a speedster/deep threat. They moved up to get their guy, and addressed a glaring need. But it was a bad pick because so called draft 'experts' ranked other guys higher? Everyone has said the draft this year is really tough to forecast, so who's to say that isn't the right guy to take? Just backs up what I said about bitching about the draft no matter what they did.

And Rich doesn't have the in-depth knowledge of sports that Fred has so he just keeps grasping at things like Patricia. He brings him up every 15 seconds. And Wallach genuinely says whatever he thinks gain approval from Fred. This morning in one breathe he said the Pats met a lot of their needs and then a few minutes later he referred to the draft as 'an unmitigated disaster.'
 

NortheasternPJ

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Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE Toucher and Rich. However, it has gotten to the point that whenever they discuss the Pats it's become unlistenable. Fred's absolute hatred of anything Belichick is so evident that he is blinded by it to the point he will criticize any and everything that they do. I would argue that regardless of what they did in the draft he would be complaining/crapping all over it. This morning they discussed the Thornton pick and how the Pats traded up for him to get him. Fred said because after that pick, all the 'highly touted' receivers went after him as evidence that they made the wrong pick and shouldn't have spent capital to do so. Now, I admittedly am far from a scout, but the Pats needed a speedster/deep threat. They moved up to get their guy, and addressed a glaring need. But it was a bad pick because so called draft 'experts' ranked other guys higher? Everyone has said the draft this year is really tough to forecast, so who's to say that isn't the right guy to take? Just backs up what I said about bitching about the draft no matter what they did.

And Rich doesn't have the in-depth knowledge of sports that Fred has so he just keeps grasping at things like Patricia. He brings him up every 15 seconds. And Wallach genuinely says whatever he thinks gain approval from Fred. This morning in one breathe he said the Pats met a lot of their needs and then a few minutes later he referred to the draft as 'an unmitigated disaster.'
For 2 years Fred's also been on the "Patriots were unwilling to tear it down and really suck and rebuild the "right way" by getting rid of all your veterans, letting all the younger guys get a ton of reps and grow and a top 5 draft pick to get the star QB" train.

You know rebuild the right way like the Jets, Jaguars, Bears, Dolphins and other fantastic franchises have. He ate crow for most of last year, but has been strongly just repeating it over and over and over again since the Bills loss in the playoffs as if it's the only way to do things. There's been teams for 20-30 years trying that strategy and failing. He's convinced he's right and just keeps repeating it. Just repeating a take for 2 years is just bad radio.
 

onthereg527

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Nov 16, 2021
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100% true. The Pats had so much cap space last year, so what did they do? They spent it. He has bitched about that since the day they signed Henry and Smith. I am telling you, if they didn't spend that money last year he would have been all over them for not spending it. He's really never been like this at all, either, with just blinders on to this extent. I'm saying that as someone who has listened to T&R since the BCN days. He has a personal vendetta against Belichick, it's so, so odd.
 

8slim

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He has a personal vendetta against Belichick, it's so, so odd.
It’s not that odd. *Everyone* hates Belichick, save for the majority of Pats fans (and maybe 1% of other fans).

Of course a Jets fan is going to hate him. If the guy stayed as HC of the NYJ the past 20 years could have happened in East Rutherford instead of Foxboro.

I didn’t hear Friday’s show, but I do agree that Fred’s “they didn’t rebuild the right way” takes are tiresome. Like NPJ said, that’s the conventional wisdom that has led to, let’s just say, mixed results for most NFL franchises.
 

Granite Sox

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From my perspective, Fred has been totally predictable about this and basically telegraphs all his Pats takes in advance. I actually think he hasn't been too bad on the draft, because he has qualified all of his "takes" with "but what do any of us really know about this..."

Wallach is the one that is driving me crazy... talking over the hosts and shrieking his conclusions about the Pats' draft without spending a minute of critical thought about it. No one listens to the show to hear ANYTHING that he has to say... just STFU and read the headlines.
 

onthereg527

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Nov 16, 2021
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It’s not that odd. *Everyone* hates Belichick, save for the majority of Pats fans (and maybe 1% of other fans).
Oh of course. I do get that, and I suppose 'odd' wasn't the best way to describe it but it's really over the top lately, imo.
 

Rusty13

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From my perspective, Fred has been totally predictable about this and basically telegraphs all his Pats takes in advance. I actually think he hasn't been too bad on the draft, because he has qualified all of his "takes" with "but what do any of us really know about this..."

Wallach is the one that is driving me crazy... talking over the hosts and shrieking his conclusions about the Pats' draft without spending a minute of critical thought about it. No one listens to the show to hear ANYTHING that he has to say... just STFU and read the headlines.
Wallach is pathetic, but he’s likely now in survival mode with this job as he continues to age. Any chance at the C’s full time radio gig — should it open up — is probably long gone. Nodding along and being a ball washer for Fred’s takes is probably smart “job security” at this point in his career.
 

8slim

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Oh of course. I do get that, and I suppose 'odd' wasn't the best way to describe it but it's really over the top lately, imo.
Got it. It doesn't bother me too much, since Fred is like most fans who have been waiting 20 years to take shots at BB and the Pats. And while this board generally is in the opposing camp, what the Pats have done this season is pretty bizarre, objectively speaking. So I get why the takez are flowing.
 

JCizzle

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This line from Seinfeld was all I could think of with Fred by the end of the week. Truly disgusting behavior with his phlegm and spit, but still somehow made me chuckle about it. Fred after a disgusting loogey, "well, what do you want me to do about it guys?". Rich laughing incredulously, "hit the mute button???".

 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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So, uh, really really really milking the story about hanging up on the reporter from Carolina huh?
 

Rusty13

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I just missed the segment but sounds like Fred hung up on a Miami reporter or something today? Sounded like he acted like a pompous jerk by their reaction to it afterwards.
 

onthereg527

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Nov 16, 2021
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I just missed the segment but sounds like Fred hung up on a Miami reporter or something today? Sounded like he acted like a pompous jerk by their reaction to it afterwards.
It was Eric Reid, the voice of the Heat. He used to work up here, the guy was so arrogant and really just a massive dick. Classic Fred, you gotta check it out!