Tony Massarotti
Encyclopedia
Anthony 'Tony' Massarotti is an American newspaper sportswriter, author and online and print contributor for the Boston Globe. He also co-hosts a sports talk radio show on WBZ-FM
with former Boston Herald
columnist Michael Felger
. Massarotti is a graduate of Waltham High School
in Waltham, Massachusetts
and a 1989 graduate of Tufts University
where he majored in English
and Classics
. He currently resides in Sudbury, Massachusetts
.
for the paper from 1994 through 2008.
During his time with the Herald, Massarotti frequently covered the Red Sox for Fox Sports New England, and appeared occasionally as a guest on WHDH
's Sports Xtra. He also appeared on Boston's WEEI
sports talk radio program The Big Show
. These appearances ended with his later leaving the Herald for the Globe due to a long standing ban on Globe staffers appearing on the station.
While with the Herald, Massarotti was known for his staunch support of former Red Sox managers Jimy Williams
and Grady Little
, despite Little's controversial decisions, during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series
.
as "Naughty" Massarotti.
A common joke on The Sports Hub involves Tony's high pitched voice. At the conclusion of his afternoon radio show, a clip of Tony speaking is played with his voice pitch artificially raised for comedic effect.
and the Red Sox management of smearing general manager
Theo Epstein
during contract negotiations. In the column he also suggested that coverage of the negotiations at two local media outlets was compromised. He documented that the New York Times (parent company of the Boston Globe) owned a 17 percent ownership stake in the Red Sox and that local sports talk radio leader WEEI was currently in negotiations for Red Sox broadcast rights and paid Lucchino for a weekly radio appearance. The timing of the column was notable as it came 4 days after Globe ombudsman
Richard Chacón published an article in which he criticized Times management for accepting 2004 World Series
rings from the Red Sox, and 3 days prior to a Dan Shaughnessy
column in which he revealed information detailing nuances of the relationship between Epstein and Lucchino, to the favor of Lucchino. The information in the column was widely thought to have originated from Lucchino and may have contributed to Epstein breaking off negotiations and resigning his position as General Manager.
was being tested for cancer. In fact, the rumors turned out to be true and Lester went on to be treated for a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
WBZ-FM
WBZ-FM is a sports radio station known as "98.5 The Sports Hub" and broadcasting on 98.5 MHz in Boston, Massachusetts. Owned by CBS Radio, the current WBZ-FM began on August 13, 2009 and competes with AM sports talk stations WEEI and competed with the ESPN Radio pair of WAMG and WLLH before their...
with former Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
columnist Michael Felger
Michael Felger
Michael "Mike" Felger is a television sports reporter and anchorman for Comcast SportsNet New England. He also co-hosts an afternoon sports radio talk with The Boston Globe online columnist Tony Massarotti on WBZ-FM "98.5 The Sports Hub" in Boston....
. Massarotti is a graduate of Waltham High School
Waltham High School
Waltham High School is the only public high school serving the city of Waltham, Massachusetts.-Old School Building:The old Waltham High School was originally constructed in 1902. Designed by Samuel Patch and Robert Glancey, it follows the local contemporary style of Romanesque and Classical...
in Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, was an early center for the labor movement, and major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, the city was a prototype for 19th century industrial city planning,...
and a 1989 graduate of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
where he majored in English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. He currently resides in Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
.
Boston Herald
Massarotti joined the Boston Herald in 1989, and covered the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for the paper from 1994 through 2008.
During his time with the Herald, Massarotti frequently covered the Red Sox for Fox Sports New England, and appeared occasionally as a guest on WHDH
WHDH
The call letters WHDH may represent:* WHDH : a television station in Boston, Massachusetts that currently exists...
's Sports Xtra. He also appeared on Boston's WEEI
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
sports talk radio program The Big Show
The Big Show (sports radio show)
The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
. These appearances ended with his later leaving the Herald for the Globe due to a long standing ban on Globe staffers appearing on the station.
While with the Herald, Massarotti was known for his staunch support of former Red Sox managers Jimy Williams
Jimy Williams
James Francis "Jimy" Williams is an American former manager of three Major League Baseball teams. He was born in Santa Maria, California.-Playing career:...
and Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
, despite Little's controversial decisions, during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
.
The Boston Globe
In September 2008 Massarotti joined the staff of the Boston Globe. In addition to writing a regular column for the paper, Massarotti became the voice and face of the Globes online Boston.com sports feature.The Sports Hub
Tony is now the co-host of Felger and Massarotti on WBZ-FM. He also appears on the The Toucher and Rich ShowThe Toucher and Rich Show
The Toucher and Rich Show is a morning radio show from 6 to 10 AM on The Sports Hub 98.5 WBZ-FM, based Boston, Massachusetts. The show first aired on June 5, 2006...
as "Naughty" Massarotti.
A common joke on The Sports Hub involves Tony's high pitched voice. At the conclusion of his afternoon radio show, a clip of Tony speaking is played with his voice pitch artificially raised for comedic effect.
Theo Epstein contract negotiations
On October 27, 2005, Massarotti published a column in which he accused Larry LucchinoLarry Lucchino
Lawrence Lucchino, is the current President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, and a member of John W...
and the Red Sox management of smearing general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Theo Epstein
Theo Epstein
Theo Nathan Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.On November 25, 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28...
during contract negotiations. In the column he also suggested that coverage of the negotiations at two local media outlets was compromised. He documented that the New York Times (parent company of the Boston Globe) owned a 17 percent ownership stake in the Red Sox and that local sports talk radio leader WEEI was currently in negotiations for Red Sox broadcast rights and paid Lucchino for a weekly radio appearance. The timing of the column was notable as it came 4 days after Globe ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
Richard Chacón published an article in which he criticized Times management for accepting 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
rings from the Red Sox, and 3 days prior to a Dan Shaughnessy
Dan Shaughnessy
Dan Shaughnessy is an American sports writer.-Career:After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross, Shaughnessy began his career as a beat reporter covering the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Sun in 1977. He has been a sports writer for the Boston Globe for approximately 30 years,...
column in which he revealed information detailing nuances of the relationship between Epstein and Lucchino, to the favor of Lucchino. The information in the column was widely thought to have originated from Lucchino and may have contributed to Epstein breaking off negotiations and resigning his position as General Manager.
Jon Lester cancer story
In August 2006, Massarotti received some criticism for publishing a column detailing rumors that Red Sox pitcher Jon LesterJon Lester
Jonathan Tyler Lester is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
was being tested for cancer. In fact, the rumors turned out to be true and Lester went on to be treated for a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Awards
- Massachusetts Winner of the 2001 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationNational Sportscasters and Sportswriters AssociationThe National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
Sportswriter of the Year award.
Books
- A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry and the War for the Pennant, 2005, ISBN 1-59-228704-2, co-author John Harper, sportswriter for the New York Daily NewsNew York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
- Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits, 2007, ISBN 0-31-236633-7, co-author David OrtizDavid OrtizDavid Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
, Professional Baseball Player for the Boston Red Sox
- Dynasty: The Inside Story of How the Red Sox Became a Baseball Powerhouse, 2008, ISBN 978-0312385675, forward by Jason VaritekJason VaritekJason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
, Professional Baseball Player for the Boston Red Sox
- Knuckler: My Life with Baseball's Most Confounding Pitch, 2011, ISBN 978-0547517698, co-author Tim WakefieldTim WakefieldTimothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
, Professional Baseball Player for the Boston Red Sox
External links
- Boston Globe:, Tony Massarotti Sports Blog