The once-great Channel 4 has officially sold its news soul to the New England Patriots. “All Access’’ is one thing, and here on Morrissey Boulevard we are compromised because of the awkward New York Times 17 percent stake in the Red Sox (hence, our court-mandated NESN appearances). But WBZ-TV has officially morphed into a 24/7 Patriot infomercial for Bob Kraft enterprises. These preseason home broadcasts have become outright ridiculous. Channel 4 feeds us nonstop promotions on the owner, Patriot Place, and the CBS Scene.I wonder what's worse - a TV station that has a pro-Patriots reporting slant, or a Globe sports columnist who criticizes a Red Sox player by stating
For the Rams game, Kraft insisted that the “talent’’ wear red shirts with Patriot logos. This was done in the interest of promoting the Patriot “brand.’’ Affable Steve Burton plays along, calling the diminutive Kraft “Mr. Big.’’ What’s next for Burton and Dan Roche — propeller beanies with Flying Elvises and Pat Patriots? Pom-poms, megaphones, and Patriot letter sweaters?
It’s one thing to insist that broadcasters spread the gospel of the team, but when you make them wear team garb, you’re telling the world that the station is in the bag. “All Access’’ becomes All Suck-Up. The station can’t be trusted to report anything real or remotely negative about the team. Channel 4 is deeper in the tank with the Patriots than WEEI is — no small achievement.
"Ellsbury has played only nine games all season and is clearly at odds with the Sox management, medical staff and teammates. And he's getting carved up on Boston's sports talk programs."...who fails to disclose the fact that he's one of the carvees? You make the call!
P.S. Hey, Danny Boy, you gonna watch Tiger Woods take a leak this weekend?
3 comments:
Dan missed Carl Mays in Yanks and Red Sox WS winners. You might think he would remember because his awful curse book deals with the teams of that era. The Mays trade was a big deal at the time.
Uh, Shank, just what did Don Crique, Zolak, and Randy Cross say in these games that was some kind of cover-up for the Patriots?
Wow, he got through one of these columns without a shot at Curt Schilling.
"I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again: Did 22-year-old Cuban Aroldis Chapman (105 m.p.h.) sign with the Cincinnati Reds because he thinks they’re Communists?"
That actually made me chuckle, I must be tired.
Post a Comment