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Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time
- Thread starter HomeBrew1901
- Start date
I turned it on today because I was home and wondered if they had/would discuss Subban. I regret this decision because somehow Youk being traded has devolved into Beckett is the root of all evils.
I seriously wonder how people are not sick of this by now.
Since I can't stand this crap, I'll just ask the good people of this forum what they said (if anything) about Subban. Thank you in advance.
eta: Also, was anyone from the B's FO on the program?
I seriously wonder how people are not sick of this by now.
Since I can't stand this crap, I'll just ask the good people of this forum what they said (if anything) about Subban. Thank you in advance.
eta: Also, was anyone from the B's FO on the program?
I was turning the station off and on, and I kept hearing the Beckett rant, so I decided to leave it off. Fortunately before I heard the Paul Pierce trade proposal.
With the exception of Monday for about 10 minutes, I haven't listened to the show in a few weeks now because I got tired of the same old bullshit. I can't defend the show when they keep beating the same set of drums every day. I'll probably tune in again closer to the fall but I'm done with most of 98.5 for awhile.
Pretty much the same for me. Love it during football season, but just can't get in to the Sox talk. I think it's partially the team too, I just don't find it interesting to hear this team talked about for 4 hours a day, I haven't switched over to EEI or anything.
Haha, I walk into my friend's work and CSNNE is on (it's clearly a conspiracy). And sure enough the first thing out Felger's (and Wiggy's) mouth is that Jon Lester sucking is Beckett's fault.
And is Wiggins filling in for Mazz? Because, really? I don't hate him so much, but that guy and baseball sounds horrendous.
So I take it that they didn't discuss hockey?
I'm also curious as to how Felger set back race-relations today.
And is Wiggins filling in for Mazz? Because, really? I don't hate him so much, but that guy and baseball sounds horrendous.
So I take it that they didn't discuss hockey?
I'm also curious as to how Felger set back race-relations today.
He did a bit where he said, "Anglos talk like this" and then compared it to how the Saxons talk. The WASPs were abuzz and called for his ouster, post haste!
Felger: “Welcome to Felger and Massarotti. How are you today, MAZZ?”
Mazz: “I got to warn you, Mike, I’m a little pissed off today! Actually, really pissed off!”
Felger: “Take it out on the listeners, Mazz. That’s what we do here. “
Mazz: (Fake Boston accent): “Yeeaahh Mazz I heard you were a prick to tha listenahs.”
Felger: “Priceless. Never gets old. Now, Mazz, what’s Clay Buchholz’s deal? We’re lead to believe by the BBWAA that he’s on his deathbed, and that he’s losing blood at this life-threatening rate. But, as it turns out, he’s at a pool party at Foxwoods playing chicken with Rob Gronkowski! He’s not well enough to pitch, not well enough to travel with the team, but he’s well enough to go to a pool party at Foxwoods! REALLY? I mean, what are we doing here?!?!”
Mazz: “Yeah, Mike, listen, uhh…”
Felger: “I mean, REALLY? This is what it’s about? It’s not about the team, it’s not about winning, it’s about going to a Vodka-sponsored pool party at Foxwoods! It speaks to the problem on that team, nobody has their priorities straight. And really, it’s about the “Texas Tough Guy.” He’s the leader of that staff, he’s the guy who Buchholz looks up to. This team cannot win with Josh Beckett. I would have traded him YESTERDAY. The BBWAA says, ‘who can you get to replace Beckett’s performance?’ I say, ‘get anybody.’ Anybody can put a 4.00 ERA, and miss half of his starts due to “boo-boos.” Beckett is toxic, but nobody wants to say it because he’s the “Texas Tough Guy!”
Mazz: “Look, Mike, absolutely…”
Felger: “It’s all about Beckett, but everybody in the BBWAA carries his water for him. Beckett is the leader of that staff, he was the one who had them all playing video games and eating fried chicken last year. This team won’t win with Beckett on it. He’s worried about snitches, and not winning. He doesn’t have it. He doesn’t want it. He’s the “Texas Tough Guy!”
Mazz: “I would’ve traded Beckett this offseason! Mike, when I look at these things, at this particular juncture, in this context…”
Felger: “When does it stop with this guy? When do we say, ‘enough is enough?’ I’m the only one who will say it. Everybody just lets Beckett be the “Texas Tough Guy.” That FRAUD. What a FRAUD. John Henry told us, ‘Larry Lucchino runs the Red Sox.’ But they’re too worried about their TV show to trade Beckett. It wouldn’t be good for the TV show, Mazz. It’s what Theo said, “the Monster.” It’s all about television ratings and market share. So let’s allow the “Texas Tough Guy” to put on that act, that FRAUD. What a FRAUD!”
Mazz: “I got to warn you, Mike, I’m a little pissed off today! Actually, really pissed off!”
Felger: “Take it out on the listeners, Mazz. That’s what we do here. “
Mazz: (Fake Boston accent): “Yeeaahh Mazz I heard you were a prick to tha listenahs.”
Felger: “Priceless. Never gets old. Now, Mazz, what’s Clay Buchholz’s deal? We’re lead to believe by the BBWAA that he’s on his deathbed, and that he’s losing blood at this life-threatening rate. But, as it turns out, he’s at a pool party at Foxwoods playing chicken with Rob Gronkowski! He’s not well enough to pitch, not well enough to travel with the team, but he’s well enough to go to a pool party at Foxwoods! REALLY? I mean, what are we doing here?!?!”
Mazz: “Yeah, Mike, listen, uhh…”
Felger: “I mean, REALLY? This is what it’s about? It’s not about the team, it’s not about winning, it’s about going to a Vodka-sponsored pool party at Foxwoods! It speaks to the problem on that team, nobody has their priorities straight. And really, it’s about the “Texas Tough Guy.” He’s the leader of that staff, he’s the guy who Buchholz looks up to. This team cannot win with Josh Beckett. I would have traded him YESTERDAY. The BBWAA says, ‘who can you get to replace Beckett’s performance?’ I say, ‘get anybody.’ Anybody can put a 4.00 ERA, and miss half of his starts due to “boo-boos.” Beckett is toxic, but nobody wants to say it because he’s the “Texas Tough Guy!”
Mazz: “Look, Mike, absolutely…”
Felger: “It’s all about Beckett, but everybody in the BBWAA carries his water for him. Beckett is the leader of that staff, he was the one who had them all playing video games and eating fried chicken last year. This team won’t win with Beckett on it. He’s worried about snitches, and not winning. He doesn’t have it. He doesn’t want it. He’s the “Texas Tough Guy!”
Mazz: “I would’ve traded Beckett this offseason! Mike, when I look at these things, at this particular juncture, in this context…”
Felger: “When does it stop with this guy? When do we say, ‘enough is enough?’ I’m the only one who will say it. Everybody just lets Beckett be the “Texas Tough Guy.” That FRAUD. What a FRAUD. John Henry told us, ‘Larry Lucchino runs the Red Sox.’ But they’re too worried about their TV show to trade Beckett. It wouldn’t be good for the TV show, Mazz. It’s what Theo said, “the Monster.” It’s all about television ratings and market share. So let’s allow the “Texas Tough Guy” to put on that act, that FRAUD. What a FRAUD!”
I feel like I'm actually there in the studio. Nice job, Phenom. I'd make a pun on your name but I'm sure it's been done before.
Well done Phenom. I didn't listen to the opening and literally thought you were recounting it...it took me a second to realize you wrote it prior to the show. Excellent job.
Btw, as a few posters have pointed out recently, the show has been atrocious the past month or so. Same schtick over and over and over. Fucking lazy and tiresome.
Btw, as a few posters have pointed out recently, the show has been atrocious the past month or so. Same schtick over and over and over. Fucking lazy and tiresome.
It probably says something about me that I can so accurately quote what a usual F&M opening consists of. But of course, I appreciate all of the compliments.
I've been one of the show's biggest advocates since "The Sports Hub" hit the airwaves, but Felger and Mazz are beyond repetitive at this point. It's difficult for the same two guys to stay fresh over a long period of time, which is why the long-term success of the "Mike and the Mad Dog Show" was so impressive.
But the show really needs a bit of a content change as we head into the fall (I don't expect any changes to take place over the summer for obvious reasons). Felger and Mazz don't do bits, they don't do many regular interviews, and the only third anchors they ever have are Jermaine Wiggins and Chris Gasper. Every day, the show is 4 hours of them ranting and raving. It's old. Plus, I think the production value is beyond terrible (playing the same Mazz drop 50,000 times is no longer amusing).
I'm not sure what the specific changes should be, because "The Sports Hub" isn't going to change the personnel on the show. But upgrades definitely need to be made somewhere.
Eh, I think your over reacting. Its smack dab in the middle of summer. This is where a show like this is going to suffer most. I NEVER tune into sports radio in the summer. Nothing is happening.......at least nothing I'm interested in listening to.
I'll check back when football starts, and this show will be my go to again.
Tuned in for a couple minutes, which is about all I can stomach, and I will say Felger had one funny line. Some guy called in and said something about having his own internet radio show, and when he hung up Felger goes, "I'm not gonna mock that guy, I hosted a glorified internet radio show for three years."
I'm still trying to figure out if mazz really thinks that Seattle would take Lester and Alex Wilson for Felix Hernandez
I can't believe Mazz really believes the Mariners would trade King Felix to the Sox for Lester and a minor prospect. This guys is supposed to know baseball and he says something fucking stupid like that and keeps defending it?
And the more he tried to justify it, the more foolish he looked. The guy fucking sucks and brings nothing to the show. And I think Felger is on vacation all next week. Ugghhh.
The whole Lester+ for Felix explains to me why he agrees with Felger that they need to trade away the bad clubhouse guys. He really thinks that teams will take the Red Sox sucky players and give them value. He really is a dumbass.
I was absolutely floored. Mike gave him a few chances to correct himself and he wouldn't.
When Felger gave him an option, "would you give up middlebrooks?" and Tony's reply was "no, i wouldn't give up that caliber of player" I was stunned then when he tossed out Alex Wilson's name i somehow became more stunned.
I was, however, surprised that he actually knew Matt Barnes' name.
When Felger gave him an option, "would you give up middlebrooks?" and Tony's reply was "no, i wouldn't give up that caliber of player" I was stunned then when he tossed out Alex Wilson's name i somehow became more stunned.
I was, however, surprised that he actually knew Matt Barnes' name.
Felger & Bertrand > Mazz & Bertrand > Felger & Mazz (Bertrand Flash Boy)
I don't know how they fix this, but I think the normal lineup is the worst of all of them. Putting Bertrand with Felger or Mazz works better than having him as the flash guy. Mazz is better in the lead role than he is playing side-kick to Felger and when Bertrand is doing flash / 3rd guy he doesn't have enough air time or pull to time to go up against both of them.
I don't know how they fix this, but I think the normal lineup is the worst of all of them. Putting Bertrand with Felger or Mazz works better than having him as the flash guy. Mazz is better in the lead role than he is playing side-kick to Felger and when Bertrand is doing flash / 3rd guy he doesn't have enough air time or pull to time to go up against both of them.
When Mazz is with Bertrand, he has more time to clearly explain and articulate his thoughts. When Felger is there, Mazz is reduced to speaking in sound bytes, and that is not his strength. With more airtime, "radio Mazz" sounds more like "print Mazz," which is still hyperbolic, but a little more rational.
Also, for whatever reason, Mazz absolutely refuses to argue with Felger. I don't know if it's because Felger dominates the show, and Mazz can't gather himself quickly enough to come up with a brief, coherent rebuttal, or if Mazz is just lazy, and deems it to be easier to say variations of "you're right, Mike" for four hours than endlessly debate about Josh Beckett's work ethic.
Felger is still the reason for the show's success, but it's clear that he and Mazz don't bring out the best in each other. Even though summer ratings aren't as meaningful as the other books, I'm curious to see if "The Big Show" beat them out again. If so, I wonder if "The Sports Hub" management will look into a lineup shakeup.
Phenom, after reading your first paragraph and thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that Tony Mazz is afraid of Mike Felger. I don't mean that he's afraid that Felger is going to kick his ass or anything, but I think that Mazz really fears not being as quick as his partner. Because you're right when he's with Bertrand or by himself he's able to articulate his point, with Felger he has to spit things out as quick as possible and his opinions are routinely reduced to, "You're right again, Mike!"
I don't know whether Felger demands a quicker-paced show or whether he has a lot of energy and that's how things are run (judging by how many jobs he has, I would guess that it's the latter) but Massarotti is an old-school print guy. The type of person who would rather write out a more nuanced, more explained commentary than ad-lib something off the seat of his pants. When he's in control of the show, he can do it the way he wants to and therefore he sounds and acts "better", more relaxed. When he has to keep up with Felger, he sounds flustered, mixed-up and disheveled.
I don't know whether Felger demands a quicker-paced show or whether he has a lot of energy and that's how things are run (judging by how many jobs he has, I would guess that it's the latter) but Massarotti is an old-school print guy. The type of person who would rather write out a more nuanced, more explained commentary than ad-lib something off the seat of his pants. When he's in control of the show, he can do it the way he wants to and therefore he sounds and acts "better", more relaxed. When he has to keep up with Felger, he sounds flustered, mixed-up and disheveled.
I really don't think they like each other all that much either and their personalities just don't mesh. When Mazz ruptured his achilles, Felger seemed genuinely pissed off and made more than a few barbs at how little prep work that Mazz does while he lives and breathes sports and his various shows. Felger needs someone that can not only keep up with him but can also keep him and the show in line when they go off the rails.
Take Seau committing suicide for example, Felger obviously has strong and controversial beliefs about it and it really dragged the show down for a couple of days because they would continue to revisit the topic with every caller that wanted to challenge him on those beliefs. A stronger co-host should have been able to both reign Felger in and change the topic to something else to keep the flow of the show giong. Same with all the other dead horses that he continues to beat on an unending basis. Felger on the other hand has no problem cutting Mazz off at the knees when he starts going off on a tangent.
Mazz either doesn't care enough to challenge Felger or just doesn't have the energy to do it day after day after day and has just given up and resorts to tired cliches and his Boston accent schtick to get through the day.
Take Seau committing suicide for example, Felger obviously has strong and controversial beliefs about it and it really dragged the show down for a couple of days because they would continue to revisit the topic with every caller that wanted to challenge him on those beliefs. A stronger co-host should have been able to both reign Felger in and change the topic to something else to keep the flow of the show giong. Same with all the other dead horses that he continues to beat on an unending basis. Felger on the other hand has no problem cutting Mazz off at the knees when he starts going off on a tangent.
Mazz either doesn't care enough to challenge Felger or just doesn't have the energy to do it day after day after day and has just given up and resorts to tired cliches and his Boston accent schtick to get through the day.
Felger has the "Mad Dog" shtick down pat. He just needs his Mike Francessa. Where he gets that is anyone's guess, but Mazz is definitely not it.
This show has a chance to be special if management has the balls to pull the trigger and make change to a format thats already "working". I'm not gonna hold my breath.
This show has a chance to be special if management has the balls to pull the trigger and make change to a format thats already "working". I'm not gonna hold my breath.
Looks like we'll find out soon. Rich tweeted earlier that T&R was the #1 Sports Show in Boston for Spring.
Mazz has pretty much admitted he's lazy (my biased interpretation of his utterances). I think it was last Monday, the 1st day Felger was out, he was bemoaning the fact that he was in the 'a-hole' chair and that he doesn't like it because he'd rather be in the 2 chair and goof around.
Wow:
Andy from WEEI ‏@bigshowandy
Thanks to all the listeners for making The Big Show the #1 sports radio show in Boston for the Spring ratings period (Apr-June)#YouGuysRule
Andy from WEEI ‏
Thanks to all the listeners for making The Big Show the #1 sports radio show in Boston for the Spring ratings period (Apr-June)
n:twit:tatb
I would think that it's more general dissatisfaction with how the show's line-up operates, as is discussed just a few posts ago.
Felger is
I doubt this very much. I'm sure their ratings will be back up for hockey/football season, because as most people can tell you, Celtics+ Felger is unbearable. Whether it's his show on the million other programs he's on, it's just awful to listen to. And Felger+ baseball turns into Texas tough guy blah blah blah which I also find unbearable.
And good luck finding someone else to "push" Felger because all he does is talk over people, ignore their words or twist them to build whatever strawman he's working on at the time. I've said before, I don't think Mazz is lazy so much as exhausted/tired of being killed whenever he argues with Felger.
And when Mazz is out for a day or so you can see it with every co-host or person that spends more than a 10 minute block with him; they just leave the studio drained and battered. Even Gasper just looked at Mazz like "how do you do this every day?"
I'm not sure what happened, maybe the pressure of trying to be fresh and compelling every day has finally worn them down, but they need to ditch the hyperbole cliches and angst. Texas tough guy is so f'ing worn out now, it's an auto twitch to change the dial as soon as it comes up. It's a shame too, because their greater points about Bosox ownership not addressing what is fundamentally wrong with the team are very valid, they just got drowned by the beer & chicken type points.
and don't get me started on this ray allen crap, I know it's a slow news cycle in the sports world right now, but for fucks sake, was there ever a bigger non-story, or at least non-get hysterical over, story then a 37 year old shooting guard with bad ankles deciding to play with another team? I mean to listen to Mazz beat this drum you'd think Ray had been drafted and served his entire career in Celtics green. He's been here five f'ing years.
and don't get me started on this ray allen crap, I know it's a slow news cycle in the sports world right now, but for fucks sake, was there ever a bigger non-story, or at least non-get hysterical over, story then a 37 year old shooting guard with bad ankles deciding to play with another team? I mean to listen to Mazz beat this drum you'd think Ray had been drafted and served his entire career in Celtics green. He's been here five f'ing years.
Mazz is murdering them this week with this Ray Allen obsession. Even Celtics fans do not care about this.
Well to be fair, what the fuck else should he/they be talking about??
Well, its GAME ON. I despise EEI, but I have to tip my cap......they fired a shot back. And not a small one. I think Holly and Ordway are complete dogshit, but the listeners sent a clear message IMO.......negativity, if its not real and deserved, won't be well received.
No one, and I reapeat, NO ONE is more negative about the locals than me, and even I was turned off by the Celtics stuff and Texas Tough Guy. But then again, I'm probably like a lot of the core audience..............I don't give a shit about sports radio in Summer months. Nothing to talk about.
But this just got juicy, and the Hub has a real excuse to axe Mazz and get someone with a backbone to pair with Felger.
I think if the Celtics had bowed out in round one and the Bruins had made a deep run again in the playoffs WEEI would have been behind 98.5. They got the huge boost from the Celtics and being the flagship station of the Red Sox. Those numbers are going to come down big time. Come the fall with the Patriots 98.5 will be back ahead of WEEI especially when the Red Sox will be out of it by the end of July and into August and no one will give a shit.
We can hope this signals the end of Wiggy tuesdays... I have stopped listening to F&M for allthe reasons already stated in the thread. Hopefully they will improve and cut the stupid negativity when none is warranted.
I'm with you but I highly doubt you are going to see signficant changes like TSH axing Mazz because of one bad rating after a year and a half of them constantly beating EEI.
What I'm hoping is that Felger and the producers realize that some changes do need to be made and don't get stuck thinking "Well EEI has the Celtics adn Red Sox, so we'll get them in the fall".
I am sure personalities, negativity, and stagnation all effect the ratings. But these numbers scream Celtics playoff run versus quick Bruins exit to me. EEI is the place to go for Celtics talk in the afternoon while TSH is the place for B's fans. I can pretty much guarantee Felger and Mazz get a bump when Patriots season starts up again in the fall.
Edit: or what jsinger said.
Edit: or what jsinger said.
I don't buy into the idea that the games are broadcast on a channel, so listeners just stay on that channel. Most of us watch the games on TV. Even if you listen on radio, if you've been listening to F+M for a year, you're going to switch to EEI just because you are unable to change the channel? People are changing because EEI had interesting guests on during the NBA playoffs and Felger was a whiny broken record. As much as I dislike the Big Show, Felger found a way to be far worse.
Well, the station broadcasting the games for a particular sport/team tends to focus its talk on that sport/team. If the Bruins had made a deep playoff run and the C's got bounced early, I doubt this most recent ratings book would look like it does.
Ultimately the battle vs. TSH and EEI is a good thing for listeners. We finally have two somewhat viable choices. I'd rather have to flip from one to the other out of exasperation than be stuck with no choice at all.
Ultimately the battle vs. TSH and EEI is a good thing for listeners. We finally have two somewhat viable choices. I'd rather have to flip from one to the other out of exasperation than be stuck with no choice at all.
I didn't mean it had anything to do with the actual broadcasts. The Celtics were still playing and Felger hates the Celtics, so if you wanted good C's talk you had to switch to EEI. If it was the B's making the run people would have switched to TSH. Hell Felger made his bed with the Celtics stuff and in the last book he now has to lie in it. My point was strictly that each afternoon show has a certain leaning sports-wise. Once Patriots season starts, I assume many will switch back to TSH because of the Big Show's blind homerism for the Pats.