Kirk and Callahan: Done

[mabrowndog]

Umm no, just because you pay for your salary doesn't mean you get to keep your job.  There is this thing called opportunity cost that all businesses also have to consider.  If someone else can equal your contribution and do it cheaper then guess what, bye-bye to you.  Given that EEI ratings are in the tank and that D&C are probably grossly overpaid compared to similar talent I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they were not renewed.

 
FWIW (and it's worth a lot, IMO), this from last night:
 

Chad Finn @GlobeChadFinn  ·  15h

I'd be stunned. Ratings trending right way. RT @MCFADDEN08 Chances D&C get dropped by WEEI when their contract ends?

 

 

[Bleedred]

 
Of course my comment was simplistic.  But their ratings are very good, the best on the station, and that suggests they must be profitable to WEEI/Entercom.  More profitable than any of the other shows where they have been mixing and remixing and matching and rematching hosts for the past few years.

Sadly, D&C are definitely coming back.  Being in the top 5 in the ratings book just about ever quarter assures them of a contract IMO.

 

[soxfan121]

Sadly, D&C are definitely coming back.  Being in the top 5 in the ratings book just about ever quarter assures them of a contract IMO.

 
Yup. Probably at a reduced rate. 
 
Finn's statement that NESN didn't want this news out now leads me to thinking that WEEI leaked it to drive down the price in negotiations with the Old Guys & Kirk. Entercom wants them back but wants them back on a value commensurate with 5th place in the ratings and no simulcast, as opposed to the contracts they are on (back when #1 was still sort of on the resume). 
 
And there really is no alternative. Poaching anyone from TSH is going to expensive. Any of the big name former Globies who would make sense (Jackie Mac, Bob Ryan) would also be way too expensive. Hiring a non-market guy hasn't worked out - Salk & now Benz. I mean, they could try to tempt Marc Bertrand or maybe even Damon Amendolara...but why? Those guys would lose at least half, if not more, of the current D&C audience. 
 
They have a niche. It is a niche with lots of buying power (like WEEI says in its "advertise with us!" adverts). And it is a niche that LIKES old dude, sorta-racist, sorta-sexist radio. D&C are getting a new contract (terms will be "undisclosed") and will continue on air until they fuck up in a big way or they slide out of the top 10 in their timeslot.

 

[dcmissle]

Really, what would Entercom do without them? They have a fan base. They draw listeners. Replacing them would mean losing that fan base (as I'm sure they'd be themselves if ousted, meaning the new show would have to deal with Dennis on twitter). Out-of-market hires have not worked well for WEEI (see Salk, Mike). They have their fans amongst the advertisers (Dennis in particular seems adept at sucking up to guys like Drinkwater). 
 
WEEI will give them a new contract and will ride them until the ratings completely collapse or the station switches formats. They are never going away unless they fuck up on air. And it probably will need to be a big fuck up, as we've seen what Entercom thinks about minor controversies like this Minnihan-Andrews thing. 
 
Get ready for more 5th to 7th place finishes in the ratings. 

This. Put differently, you do not trade John or Clay when Jon is leaving the house. Barring a Sterling level sponsor loss, they stick with them because there are enough alienated and pissed off white males around. If they clip them and the successors don't pan out, they are risking the entire franchise, however disheveled it might be.

 

[Vandalman]

Minihane is back from suspension today. Didn't hear if he had anything to say about it.
 
Unfortunately, Rob Bradford is in for Callahan. There's something about Bradford's speech pattern that gets very annoying after about five minutes.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

I'm guessing they tell Minihane never to say anything about it again. 

 

[the1andonly3003]

So is Meter back for fill in work at WEEI now?

 

[edoug]

Minihane has a column up at weei.com. He hates the Lester trade. 
 
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/kirk-minihane/2014/08/03/was-not-path-red-sox-should-gone-down

 

[Corsi]

Oh boy.
 
 

Chad Finn ‏@GlobeChadFinn  2m
Don't have the specific numbers, but have confirmed @DandCShow was top-rated morning drive program for July. (Covering June 19-July 16)
 

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Meh. That's what happens when their biggest competitor spends half the month on vacation, while they get the "benefit" of the Minihane debacle. 
 
I assume this is a blip on the radar.

 

[Corsi]

Meh. That's what happens when their biggest competitor spends half the month on vacation, while they get the "benefit" of the Minihane debacle. 
 
I assume this is a blip on the radar.

 
Agreed.  You can bet they'll milk this for all it's worth though.

 

[mascho]

This has Drunken Dennis Twitter Rant written all over it.  

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Meh. That's what happens when their biggest competitor spends half the month on vacation, while they get the "benefit" of the Minihane debacle. 
 
I assume this is a blip on the radar.

 
Or with your wife who's going through chemo treatments. This is why books are 3 months, not 1 month.

 

[The Napkin]

Meh. That's what happens when their biggest competitor spends half the month on vacation, while they get the "benefit" of the Minihane debacle. 
 
I assume this is a blip on the radar.

 
https://twitter.com/GlobeChadFinn/status/496775551802019840
 
Chad Finn ‏@GlobeChadFinn 4m
Happened the last day of the July period, according to my math. RT @HookingFoul @thefib0624 minihan calling out Erin Andrews didn't hurt.

 

[Haunted]

I listened to D&C a lot more in July than the vacation replacements.  I find Adam Jones terrible to listen to and he was there quite a bit.  Apparently I wasn't alone in this.

 

[mascho]

Ot

 

[mabrowndog]

I'm confident T&R will rebound in August & September.
 
The slow sinking of the S.S. Red Sox while Patriot Airways Flight TB12 prepares for take-off won't hurt either.

 

[Rusty13]

Woa.
 
Chad Finn ‏@GlobeChadFinn 5m
Those Nielsen audio numbers for July, mornings: 1. WZLX 8.3; 2. D&C&M 8.2; 3. T&R 7.9.

 

[Rusty13]

 
Agreed.  You can bet they'll milk this for all it's worth though.

 
Including, but not limited to, new contract extensions.  Ugh. 

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

 
Including, but not limited to, new contract extensions.  Ugh. 

Bad for us, great for T&R.

Theyre on record as saying they hope D&C stay on the airwaves forever because they know they can whoop them.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Woa.
 
Chad Finn ‏@GlobeChadFinn 5m
Those Nielsen audio numbers for July, mornings: 1. WZLX 8.3; 2. D&C&M 8.2; 3. T&R 7.9.

 
So in other news, D&C stayed the same and T&R went way down (probably since they weren't there.)

 

[Patriot_Reign]

Fred's poking a jab or two at JD atm for anyone interested

 

[allstonite]

I saw that and checked if Dennis was on a drunken rant and came across this:

@JohnDennisWEEI: @JonLx Thanx Jon. It's only gonna get better once the NESN rating drain goes away. PLS God. sooner not later.

https://twitter.com/johndennisweei/status/496835713296760833

He can't be serious can he?

 

[Fratboy]

 
Or with your wife who's going through chemo treatments. This is why books are 3 months, not 1 month.

 
Boston is a PPM market. They've been monthly for a while now.

 

[wutang112878]

@JohnDennisWEEI: @JonLx Thanx Jon. It's only gonna get better once the NESN rating drain goes away. PLS God. sooner not later.

 
JD is bats**t, but I cant even think of a crazy reason why appearing on NESN would drain ratings.  Because people opted to watch them instead of listen in their car?  Baffling.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

 
JD is bats**t, but I cant even think of a crazy reason why appearing on NESN would drain ratings.  Because people opted to watch them instead of listen in their car?  Baffling.

A majority of their audience is retired so maybe they are all watching on Nesn from their wheelchairs.

 

[wutang112878]

That would make sense.  Then they have the stupidest strategic management of all time because a quick market survey post-NESN could have figured that out.  Then again it was NESN that didnt renew the contract not WEEI, so they must have just discovered this in the past 2 weeks.  Dennis has to be one of the best spinners of all time.

 

[Vandalman]

Wonderful discussion about "cock rocks" for inmates this morning. Must-hear radio.
 
The character played by JD seemed fascinated by it all. The character played by Rob Bradford was perplexed. The character played by Kirk seemed right at home with the discussion.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Kirk has just gone full heel now. Spending all morning arguing Ortiz is a priori doing PEDs right now.

The evidence? He has the same amount of HR as Stanton and he's old.

And now indignant that the beat writers don't call him out on it.

 

[Rusty13]

Heh.  Didn't they originally try to USE the NESN audience for spinning how they were the "most listened to show in New England"?  JD is shameless.

 

[joyofsox]

Kirk has just gone full heel now. Spending all morning arguing Ortiz is a priori doing PEDs right now.

The evidence? He has the same amount of HR as Stanton and he's old.

And now indignant that the beat writers don't call him out on it.

 
Why doesn't Kirk just get off his ass and go to Fenway and call out Ortiz on it in person?
 
(And don't forget to have a camera filming.)

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

 
Why doesn't Kirk just get off his ass and go to Fenway and call out Ortiz on it in person?
 
(And don't forget to have a camera filming.)

 
That's the thing about the radio guys, they always, ALWAYS claim that they "simply can't do something like that", like it's a violation of the Geneva Accords or something. If Minihane wants to make a name for himself, one afternoon go to Fenway with a crew and ask a few questions. Do it during the press conference, do it after the game, do it whenever. I'm sure he could get a press pass.
 
It's easy to rip a guy at 7:00 am when you know he isn't listening and then rip the reporters for "not doing their jobs" but Minihane won't do it because he's a puss.

 

[URI]

If Minihane wants to make a name for himself

He already did that but calling Erin Andrews a "gutless bitch" for not calling out Wainwright face to face.

Which, in turn, makes Minihane a gutless, hyporcritical bitch for not calling out Ortiz face to face.

I hope he dies.

 

[URI]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that.

But if Minihane was 15lbs more talented, he wouldn't have to play act on the radio to get people to pay attention to him.

 

[Rusty13]

But if Minihane was 15lbs more talented, he wouldn't have to play act on the radio to get people to pay attention to him.

 
Unfortunately, it looks like the "play act" is working - and to the benefit of his previously hapless 2 co-workers.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

 
That's the thing about the radio guys, they always, ALWAYS claim that they "simply can't do something like that", like it's a violation of the Geneva Accords or something. If Minihane wants to make a name for himself, one afternoon go to Fenway with a crew and ask a few questions. Do it during the press conference, do it after the game, do it whenever. I'm sure he could get a press pass.
 
It's easy to rip a guy at 7:00 am when you know he isn't listening and then rip the reporters for "not doing their jobs" but Minihane won't do it because he's a puss.

 
Like when Rich went to Fenway on  a press pass and asked some basic question of Bobby V and was scorned for it from the Lodge and Lodge Associates for weeks after?

 

[JTComedicGenius]

 
Like when Rich went to Fenway on  a press pass and asked some basic question of Bobby V and was scorned for it from the Lodge and Lodge Associates for weeks after?

 
Are you Rich's buddy or something? 

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

 
That's the thing about the radio guys, they always, ALWAYS claim that they "simply can't do something like that", like it's a violation of the Geneva Accords or something. If Minihane wants to make a name for himself, one afternoon go to Fenway with a crew and ask a few questions. Do it during the press conference, do it after the game, do it whenever. I'm sure he could get a press pass.
 
It's easy to rip a guy at 7:00 am when you know he isn't listening and then rip the reporters for "not doing their jobs" but Minihane won't do it because he's a puss.

 
Isn't the whole schtick that they want to remain unbiased third-party observers, and any direct contact with athletes could bias them such that they become suck-ups who don't criticize players at all?  You know, like beat reporters.
 
The ironic thing is they never hesitate to slurp all over any player who calls in for an interview, as if the athlete is doing it out of the goodness of his heart rather than having his own ulterior motive (it's always either a charity thing or a contractual thing...meaning the player's being paid to appear).  It's all a dirty business.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

 
Are you Rich's buddy or something? 

Oh please tell me you're Jerry Thornton in real life. 

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

 
Isn't the whole schtick that they want to remain unbiased third-party observers, and any direct contact with athletes could bias them such that they become suck-ups who don't criticize players at all?  You know, like beat reporters.
 
The ironic thing is they never hesitate to slurp all over any player who calls in for an interview, as if the athlete is doing it out of the goodness of his heart rather than having his own ulterior motive (it's always either a charity thing or a contractual thing...meaning the player's being paid to appear).  It's all a dirty business.

 
That is their whole schtick and it's dumb.
 
Around 8:50 this morning, Minihane was attempting to talk about this this morning with Bradford, I say attempting because he was just talking in circles. He was saying that what he does every day is entertainment and that he doesn't need facts (like Bradford) to back up what he says. You see, they (the radio guys) are sorta like columnists who talk instead of write. But then he said that Bradford and the rest of the beat writers were pussies for not calling people out all the time, but he understood why they couldn't. And he also took a shot at Bradford for calling up the station when they (Minihane and his ilk) gets something wrong and trying to correct it, "Why does it matter to you, Rob?" Then he ended his circle of insanity by saying that Fred Toucher is his idol and that "he's just playing a character."
 
It was fascinating and bizarre.
 
Anyway, my point is this if Minihane wants to separate himself from the rest of the radio people (maybe reverse some of that Erin Andrews stink), he could walk to Fenway and ask Ortiz the tough questions that the beat writers won't do. Maybe he'll finally be the straight-talkin' trailblazer that he thinks that he is.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

I actually think Kirk was rattled by the whole Andrews thing. It got him what he wants - people paying attention - but it shone the spotlight really brightly and I think he's struggling a little bit with this character that he's decided to play. 
 
It's one thing to be the guy who argues all the time and is kind of a dick. It's another to be actually reviled by a huge group of people and get called out by national types, etc.
 
Now, it's like he feels he has to be over the top all the time. His reaction to the Lester trade was absurd (worst trade evveerrr!) and now he's just completely poking the bear with this Ortiz thing. The circles he's talking in just make me think he doesn't even really believe what he's saying but he doesn't know how to stop. 

 

[soxfan121]

 
Like when Rich went to Fenway on  a press pass and asked some basic question of Bobby V and was scorned for it from the Lodge and Lodge Associates for weeks after?

 
T&R this morning replayed the question from Celtics Media Day a few years back where Rich asked Delonte West about the "rumors regarding you and LeBron's Mom" while the PR intern had an conniption. 
 
So, T&R have had the guts to go into "the locker room" twice. And both times made for excellent radio content that has been usable for years afterwards. 
 
IOW, the idea that Mini-Callahan can't go into the locker room or that it would be "inappropriate" is just complete bullshit.

 

[Buffalo Head]

FWIW, I heard that this morning. That wasn't a PR intern. That sounded like Jeff Twiss himself.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

 
Like when Rich went to Fenway on  a press pass and asked some basic question of Bobby V and was scorned for it from the Lodge and Lodge Associates for weeks after?

 
and went to a celtics presser to ask delonte west what the deal was with lebron's mom
 
edit:  oops, already covered

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

For someone who broke in as a writer (and was pretty decent at it too), Gerry Callahan seems to really, really hate words. I was listening during the T&R break and Callahan and his cronies were talking about magazines. Callahan knows "no one" who would read a 28-page story by Steve Rushin (I don't get SI anymore but apparently he had a lengthy piece in there this week). He calls anyone who buys the New Yorker a "poser" and is trying to look smart, "the articles are TOO LONG!" Even though Minihane and Meterperel said that they read it, or have read articles there.
 
But his most interesting comments were about his days at SI. "I had an editor. You know what I'm talking about a woman. New York, liberal with short hair. And she hated my piece about Ryan Klesko, she said, 'it was macho BS'." And then he said that SI was doing a celebrity sports fan issue and he nominated Rush Limbaugh because "he goes to Steelers games on his private plane!" Unfortunately for young, naive Gerry everyone at SI laughed at him. "They said, 'Rush Limbaugh? We hate him!' But I bet they did something on Tim Russert!"
 
So there you go. Your Gerry Callahan Liberals Are Destroying Everything moment.

 

[joe dokes]

For someone who broke in as a writer (and was pretty decent at it too), Gerry Callahan seems to really, really hate words. I was listening during the T&R break and Callahan and his cronies were talking about magazines. Callahan knows "no one" who would read a 28-page story by Steve Rushin (I don't get SI anymore but apparently he had a lengthy piece in there this week). He calls anyone who buys the New Yorker a "poser" and is trying to look smart, "the articles are TOO LONG!" Even though Minihane and Meterperel said that they read it, or have read articles there.
 
But his most interesting comments were about his days at SI. "I had an editor. You know what I'm talking about a woman. New York, liberal with short hair. And she hated my piece about Ryan Klesko, she said, 'it was macho BS'." And then he said that SI was doing a celebrity sports fan issue and he nominated Rush Limbaugh because "he goes to Steelers games on his private plane!" Unfortunately for young, naive Gerry everyone at SI laughed at him. "They said, 'Rush Limbaugh? We hate him!' But I bet they did something on Tim Russert!"
 
So there you go. Your Gerry Callahan Liberals Are Destroying Everything moment.

I dont listen to D&C, but I've gotten SI since 1972.
 
Rushin's 60th SI anniversary piece was fantastic. He traced the evolution of sports from August 16, 1954 (SI debut) to August 16, 2014 through the eyes of people such as Vin Scully, Bill Rasmussen (ESPN starter) , Arn Tellem and Stan Kasten. All of whom were perfect candidates for various reasons.
 
I try not to get into the whole "you're not a REAL sports fan if...." shit.  And this story isn;t about that so much as it is about sports' place in America. Callhan wouldnt like it, because he sees sports solely as a vehicle to assess its participants' moral rectitude, which he often finds wanting.  He also has the intellectual curiosity of an inchworm.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I don't think that Callahan likes Rushin too much. I'm not sure why. Though I doubt that he dislikes Rushin as much as he dislikes Tom Verducci and Howard Bryant. Man, he hates Howard Bryant. Also from this morning, "I saw ESPN the Magazine's College Football preview and I opened it up. Saw that Howard Bryant had the first story and I threw it in the trash."
 
Never change, Gerry. Never change.

 

[joe dokes]

I don't think that Callahan likes Rushin too much. I'm not sure why. Though I doubt that he dislikes Rushin as much as he dislikes Tom Verducci and Howard Bryant. Man, he hates Howard Bryant. Also from this morning, "I saw ESPN the Magazine's College Football preview and I opened it up. Saw that Howard Bryant had the first story and I threw it in the trash."
 
Never change, Gerry. Never change.

 
Maybe he had a run-in with Rushin if the two were at SI at the same time.  Or maybe Rushin called Callahan out on some sort of sports-related misogyny (Rushin is marrried to Rebecca Lobo).
 
Bryant and Callahan were at the Herald at the same time. Bryant liked/likes to address racial issues in sports. I suppose Callahan does, too, but in a somewhat different way.

 

[JimBoSox9]

I mean, Rushin is about as bleeding heart blue as it gets, if I've read him right over the years.  If they didn't like each other just on spec I'd be anti-surprised.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

I think that I heard Fred Smerlas this morning. I've never changed the radio so fast in my life.