Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time

soxfan121

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I give JWH credit for giving an interview to a media outlet that is not connected business-wise to the Red Sox organization. He hasn't ducked any of the pointed questions from Felger and Mazz.
More than 60 minutes of interview. He didn't refuse to answer anything. He was evasive about Theo's status and explained he had to because of MLB rules. Otherwise, he was as honest as any owner of a billion dollar business has ever been - and probably more. He said some things that will be reduced to headlines and a bunch that will be completely ignored.

I'll see y'all in Spring Training or V&N - Red Sox ownership cares about their team and this interview proves it. The rest is going to be meaningless noise. JWH has his flaws and probably should have a PR rep travel with him everywhere, but the guy fucking CARES. And that's enough for me. (that and the denial of the Tito rumors)
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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Ha, awesome try at a shot from JH about the Pats owning the Revs, but he is completely off base with the comparison. Man is this guy on another planet.
He wasn't taking a shot at the Patriots. His point was that they're the model franchise in the NFL (arguably, whatever, not the point) yet they've managed to do so while owning a soccer team. If you think he was trying take down Kraft/the Pats, you're the one on another planet.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Dec 12, 2004
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JWH faced the music, and he deserves credit for that. He obviously let some things slip that he shouldn't have - Crawford, the reasoning for owning Liverpool (which on the eve of a game against Man U really bothers and disappoints me), and the Theo stuff.

However, given Edes' reputation, and his information, it is literally impossible that at least one of L/W/H aren't lying. And for me, signs are pointing straight to Lucchino.
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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I wanted to fist bump Mr. Henry when he asked Felger if he realized how absurd his narratives are. I mean it's one thing to be the head of the model franchise in baseball, but that was an epic bitch slap. Our owner is a pimp. Pretty encouraging day to be a Red Sox fan.
 

chester

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He wasn't taking a shot at the Patriots. His point was that they're the model franchise in the NFL (arguably, whatever, not the point) yet they've managed to do so while owning a soccer team. If you think he was trying take down Kraft/the Pats, you're the one on another planet.
I wasn't, probably just a syntax problem or you not reading it right, I meant he was taking a shot at Felger and Mazz. Obviously JH was being sarcastic about the Revs hurting the Pats organization and I was giving him credit for trying to make a witty comment.
 

Harry Hooper

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I hope JWH is still listening to F&M and realizing he shouldn't have gone there.
 

Dropkick Izzy

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I wanted to fist bump Mr. Henry when he asked Felger if he realized how absurd his narratives are. I mean it's one thing to be the head of the model franchise in baseball, but that was an epic bitch slap. Our owner is a pimp. Pretty encouraging day to be a Red Sox fan.
Sooo ... we have Gresh in the Heidi thread and Werner in the Felger and Mazz thread? Impressive!
 

chester

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I wanted to fist bump Mr. Henry when he asked Felger if he realized how absurd his narratives are. I mean it's one thing to be the head of the model franchise in baseball, but that was an epic bitch slap. Our owner is a pimp. Pretty encouraging day to be a Red Sox fan.
Seriously? That was a shit show.

edit: unless you're being sarcastic


He wasn't taking a shot at the Patriots. His point was that they're the model franchise in the NFL (arguably, whatever, not the point) yet they've managed to do so while owning a soccer team. If you think he was trying take down Kraft/the Pats, you're the one on another planet.
and again I said that it was completely off base to compare Liverpool to the Revolution. He was saying that owning the Revs and still being successful should show that owning Liverpool would not affect owing the Red Sox. But how can one compare owning Liverpool to owning the Revolution.
 

StuckOnYouk

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Jun 26, 2006
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So with the news official that Henry didn't want Crawford, do you think that Theo was told by Henry to hire an investigator if he was going to spend Henry's money to get him? Or do you think Theo had to get an investigator so he could say to Henry, look this guy is a lock on and off the field, money well spent. Believe me.

That whole having Crawford followed story is so bizarre, maybe this was a reason it was done...to alleviate the worries of the owner
 

Soxbrained

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Aug 8, 2006
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and again I said that it was completely off base to compare Liverpool to the Revolution. He was saying that owning the Revs and still being successful should show that owning Liverpool would not affect owing the Red Sox. But how can one compare owning Liverpool to owning the Revolution.
This is being awfully nitpicky, but again, that's what we all do here I suppose. Of course Liverpool is bigger than the revolution. Duh. I understood his point to be that you can have two franchises in different sports without meaning that you care less about either. And the whole notion that Henry is no longer attached to/involved/cares about the Red Sox because of Liverpool is, to use JH's term, absurd, and laughingly so. But Felger's been running with that for a long time now.
 

Soxbrained

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Aug 8, 2006
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However, given Edes' reputation, and his information, it is literally impossible that at least one of L/W/H aren't lying. And for me, signs are pointing straight to Lucchino.
That devil Lucchino, of course. Such a waste of humanity. The hate towards the guy based on consistently flimsy conjectures and feelings from the gut is frankly silly. Is there anything Henry could have said that would have absolved Lucchino in your eyes? Anything? Yeah, didn't think so.
 

PortageeExpress

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What did I say that was incorrect.
This part:
I wanted to fist bump Mr. Henry when he asked Felger if he realized how absurd his narratives are. I mean it's one thing to be the head of the model franchise in baseball, but that was an epic bitch slap. Our owner is a pimp. Pretty encouraging day to be a Red Sox fan.
Well, you may have wanted to fist bump JWH, so I guess that part is correct.
 
I'm about halfway thru the interview right now and I don't think Henry has come off nearly as bad as some have posted the past few pages. Yeah he shouldn't have said he wasn't 100% behind the Crawford deal, but shit, he wrote the check. It's not like somebody put a gun to his head and made him sign the contract so I don't think those comments are that inflammatory. And it's refreshing to hear somebody actually answer direct questions.

The great news is that Jason Wolfe will soon be unemployed.
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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Really the worst thing is that John Henry has to lower himself to answering questions from Felger and Mazz as if they deserve to be taken seriously. It's about two steps above him registering an account to respond to message board trolls. I understand why he did it and he handled himself very well, but the unintended validation of clowns like that is a sad thing to see. Now they're taking calls from people who want to laud them for being hard-hitting. Nausea inducing.
 

jsinger121

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Jul 25, 2005
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Really the worst thing is that John Henry has to lower himself to answering questions from Felger and Mazz as if they deserve to be taken seriously. It's about two steps above him registering an account to respond to message board trolls. I understand why he did it and he handled himself very well, but the unintended validation of clowns like that is a sad thing to see. Now they're taking calls from people who want to laud them for being hard-hitting. Nausea inducing.
Felger and Mazz are number #1 for a reason. They are awesome.
 

PBDWake

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Oh please. Anybody who doesn't love Felger is a "WEEI troll?". Seriously.
Oh Please. Take a look at the join date and post history. Joined yesterday, with all posts in relation to hammering Felger and the Watney story. You open yourself up for the commentary when you join during a big story and don't participate anywhere else on the board.

As for the interview... I guess I'm just comforted by the fact that JWH apparently just wants to be able to front the money and then bring hot girls to the park and enjoy. He interviews like he didn't know his audience and interviewers. The first part of that interview ran the most honestly and unfiltered, and it was uncomfortable. As it went on, he adjusted and got better, but wow. The first bits were not pretty.
 

Kramerica Industries

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I thought Mazz did a fantasic job on this interview until that stupid question about Henry's mortality. Was that the time or place? Is there ever a time and place?
 

BoSoxFink

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Jul 31, 2006
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Oh please. Anybody who doesn't love Felger is a "WEEI troll?". Seriously.
As has been stated the fact that you joined yesterday and only bash F & M leads us to believe it. If you aren't a WEEI troll let's hear you bash people at WEEI by name. Starting with Jason Wolfe because that guy is a moron.
 

Soxbrained

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Aug 8, 2006
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As has been stated the fact that you joined yesterday and only bash F & M leads us to believe it. If you aren't a WEEI troll let's hear you bash people at WEEI by name. Starting with Jason Wolfe because that guy is a moron.
You must be talking about somebody else. I didn't join yesterday, as I thought one would want to check before making the assertion.

And yes, Wolfe is a moron. And Felger and Mazz are assholes. But that's just, like, my opinion man.

Edit: Spelling
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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Oh Please. Take a look at the join date and post history. Joined yesterday, with all posts in relation to hammering Felger and the Watney story. You open yourself up for the commentary when you join during a big story and don't participate anywhere else on the board.
1. I've lurked for awhile. 95% of what I read is the media forum.

2. I can't post in the main Red Sox forum (I assume this is true for all new members) and the minor league season is over. That's the other 5% of what I read here.

So, try again.
 

PBDWake

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1. I've lurked for awhile. 95% of what I read is the media forum.

2. I can't post in the main Red Sox forum (I assume this is true for all new members) and the minor league season is over. That's the other 5% of what I read here.

So, try again.
If only there were some manner of forum located somewhere around the Red Sox areas or Minor League areas, or even better, somewhere immediately by the Media Forum, which is an area where new visitors to SoSH can participate in Sox Discussion. Lurker Friendly, you might even say. I don't know why you give off the aura of a troll :rolleyes:
 

ForKeeps

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Oct 13, 2011
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If only there were some manner of forum located somewhere around the Red Sox areas or Minor League areas, or even better, somewhere immediately by the Media Forum, which is an area where new visitors to SoSH can participate in Sox Discussion. Lurker Friendly, you might even say. I don't know why you give off the aura of a troll :rolleyes:

Okay, let's try one more time. I read the media forum because it's the only place I know of that has active discussion of the Boston sports media. I get in my Red Sox discussion elsewhere. I'll glance at the main forum here if there's a big story breaking because the latest stuff usually gets linked here pretty quickly. I have no reason to participate in some practice forum to prove myself so I can post in another forum that I barely read to begin with. Just because you don't like what someone is saying doesn't make them a troll.
 

PortageeExpress

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Okay, let's try one more time. I read the media forum because it's the only place I know of that has active discussion of the Boston sports media. I get in my Red Sox discussion elsewhere. I'll glance at the main forum here if there's a big story breaking because the latest stuff usually gets linked here pretty quickly. I have no reason to participate in some practice forum to prove myself so I can post in another forum that I barely read to begin with. Just because you don't like what someone is saying doesn't make them a troll.
I think you're full of crap. Have a great night!
 

Blacken

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Jul 24, 2007
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Just listened to the entire thing. I'm glad I did. Felger proved he could not be Michael Felger for two straight hours, and the answers from Henry were more honest than I would have expected. I didn't get butthurt over the fact that there were some things he couldn't answer, and I heard answers to other things that interested me. Good stuff.

On the other hand, I think I'm done listening to Damon Amendolara. His "analysis" after the contrarian and insipid. What a toolbag.
 

PortageeExpress

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Full of it in what sense. Don't run away, there's nothing to be afraid of.
Given your registration date and the posts you've made (especially the one in awe of JWH's "pimp" hand), I don't think you're an independent observer of events. I'm not calling you a troll by any stretch, but my guess is that either A. your paycheck comes from one of the parties to this mess (Sox, NESN, or perhaps EEI) or B. you're related to Watney :)
 

mcpickl

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Seriously, we knew from last winter that Theo had to convince ownership to sign Carl. As to the GM / Ownership not agreeing, Cashman announced AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE SIGNING that he didn't want to sign Rafael Soriano.
Cashman was in a much different spot though. He had said publicly multiple times that he would not sign a type A reliever that would cost the Yankees their first round pick. Then they did exactly that. So his choices were, lie, which in this case would be to say his original comments were lies. Or be honest and admit he didn't agree with the Soriano signing. Really no choice there.

I'd bet my house if he hadn't been on the record publicly beforehand, he wouldn't have said he didn't agree with the signing. Just like JWH shouldn't have said he didn't personally agree with the Crawford signing. Considering the case can be made Crawford wasn't comfortable here this year, a statement like that can only make it worse not better.
 

MedfieldFan

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Aug 26, 2006
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I'll add to the chorus - Felger's a royal jerk. Henry comes in, answers questions for an hour straight, and when he leaves Felger goes back to basically calling him a liar and basically complaining about him ambushing them - even though this was a dream booking and that probably the highlight of their whole ratings book.

The thing I liked best about the interview that gave me some hope was Henry's answer to the question about why Red Sox free agents haven't performed - it's that veteran players are becoming less important in the post steroid era and that younger players are becoming much more important. Henry didn't say the steroid era part, but I think that's his reasoning. If this team is going to move forward, that is the right answer. I think he gave the same answer to D&C when he and Lucchino were on their show. That gives me some reassurance that they hopefully are going to focus on rebuilding a superior farm system, spend their money on the draft and international signings, and tread carefully in the free agent waters.

Overall, I though Mazz and Felger were trying to practice gotcha journalism - particularly in relation to their questions on Carmine the computer. It was a decent interview with some good questions, but I think going on with Mazz and Felger was a huge strategic mistake by Henry. He gave Felger a lot of oxygen by paying him attention, and he could easily have gotten the same message out with the same questions if he had let Michael Holley - who I generally think is the most fair and reasonable host at either station - interview him.
 

Redkluzu

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JWH came out, denied vehemently that ownership leaked the stuff about Tito & pain killers. He answered EVERY question and neither Felger or Mazz threw one softball. He answered everything, IMO, honestly. YMMV but you should LISTEN and not get third hand reports.

And instead of saying, "cool - he cares." SoSH has already decided - mostly by people who aren't listening and only have third hand reports - that Henry is a liar, incompetent and perpetrating the greatest PR disaster of the week.

I don't fucking get it. JWH has repudiated the pain killer story and instead of THAT being the headline, the mob has moved onto his Crawford comments - which were more nuanced and had context around them of more depth than "I don't like Crawford."

But that's what we've chosen to fixate on. Fucking incredible.
I totally agree with you that Henry repudiated the pain killer story, defended pretty honestly that he personally wasn't part of the article's "team sources and yet he realizes they worked for him (i.e. took responsibility), tried his best to rectify what he saw as a media circus this past week and was damn up front in the interview. And much of the Board's response --in this thread -- has been as bad as the media's.

The interview actually made me feel something positive about the Sox for the first time in a week. Yeah, people will be gone and Henry's the first to say so. Yeah,there was some crap going on this year and Henry knows it, wants to fix it. But because I am so aware of how the Globe and talk radio and so many other media people want above everything else to sensationalize their stories this was actually enjoyable (oh and dare I say educational?) to listen to.
 

HomeBrew1901

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Just listened to the entire thing. I'm glad I did. Felger proved he could not be Michael Felger for two straight hours, and the answers from Henry were more honest than I would have expected. I didn't get butthurt over the fact that there were some things he couldn't answer, and I heard answers to other things that interested me. Good stuff.

On the other hand, I think I'm done listening to Damon Amendolara. His "analysis" after the contrarian and insipid. What a toolbag.
I didn't get the chance to listen to the whole thing but heard the middle 45 minutes or so and I'm not sure what i think. I will give credit to all three of them because Felger and Mazz didn't back down and kept asking tough questions especially because Felger usually backs down and modifies his opinions when confronted.

JWH kept answering them as truthful as he could. That doesn't mean I think he was telling the whole truth but there is onlybso much I think you could expect him to say.

I respect that JWH didn't just walk out too, he could have left at any time by claiming he was busy, instead he walks in on F&M to counter their claims and answers as many questions as he could.
 
Sep 27, 2004
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I didn't get the chance to listen to the whole thing but heard the middle 45 minutes or so and I'm not sure what i think. I will give credit to all three of them because Felger and Mazz didn't back down and kept asking tough questions especially because Felger usually backs down and modifies his opinions when confronted.

JWH kept answering them as truthful as he could. That doesn't mean I think he was telling the whole truth but there is onlybso much I think you could expect him to say.

I respect that JWH didn't just walk out too, he could have left at any time by claiming he was busy, instead he walks in on F&M to counter their claims and answers as many questions as he could.
You need to listen to the whole thing. The first 15-20 mins are very different than the rest. JWH sounds unhinged and the key exchanges about the Tito leak take place during that portion.