Boston Bruins
Brickley mentioned issues had been totally different final yr with out Jack Edwards within the sales space, however he has a great reference to Sirott.
When a play-by-play voice and analyst are first paired on a sports activities broadcast, it often takes them time — typically a great chunk of the schedule, even perhaps a full season — to search out the proper rhythm and cadence, to study one another’s strengths and preferences, and their tics and cues. To get used to working collectively, actually.
That’s very true calling hockey, with the fast and free-flowing motion requiring broadcasters to have their give-and-take — or their movement — down pat.
Final season was Judd Sirott and Andy Brickley’s first as a tandem in NESN’s Bruins sales space, however these unfamiliar with their paths there would by no means have identified it.
Sirott, who moved over as the legend Jack Edwards’s play-by-play successor after seven seasons because the Bruins radio voice on The Sports activities Hub, and Brickley, who has been with NESN since 2000 and Bruins shade analyst even sooner than that, required little or no time to grasp the intricacies of calling a recreation collectively.
How did it work so easily? Sirott and Brickley already had historical past within the sales space collectively … and extra essential than that, a kinship.
“I’ve traveled with Judd when he was doing radio, so I spent plenty of time with him socially on the airplane, within the lodge lobbies, over espresso, beers after a recreation,” mentioned Brickley, who met Sirott greater than 30 years in the past, when he was nonetheless taking part in within the Worldwide Hockey League and Sirott labored for the Chicago Wolves.
“The printed was totally different from what Jack and I did,” acknowledged Brickley. “There was some adjustment, studying one another’s cadence. We weren’t stepping on one another. However I believed it was fairly seamless proper from recreation one.”
Sirott mentioned his bond with Brickley and the camaraderie of the crew away from the rink strengthens the printed.
“Clearly we’re speaking plenty of hockey away regardless of the place we’re,” mentioned Sirott, “plenty of hockey, however we discuss music, films, baseball, life, and plenty of instances these laughs and a few of these tales seep into the printed.”
Sirott and Brickley truly referred to as a couple of IHL video games collectively roughly 25 years in the past when Brickley was performing some moonlighting in his early years on the Bruins broadcasts. NESN had the house video games whereas street video games aired on Channel 38 within the early 2000s, so Brickley was the colour analyst for under half the video games.
“I used to be in search of different work to get different reps in and hold making an attempt to get higher at this gig,” he mentioned. “I had connections within the IHL, and I used to be performing some TV video games, so I’d fly out to Chicago, or I’d fly right down to Houston.
“The Wolves had a fairly good TV contract of their market and Judd labored for them. So I truly did some video games with Judd again within the day. So working collectively right here, it actually wasn’t international floor.”
Brickley and Sirott’s second season within the sales space commenced with the Bruins’ win over the Blackhawks on Thursday. (Wednesday’s opening-night victory towards the Capitals aired on TNT.)
“I’m enthusiastic about this yr. Not a lot as a result of I feel that is the Stanley Cup-winning crew, however there are such a lot of unknowns [with this Bruins team] and there’s a lot to speak about,” mentioned Brickley, “Judd is excellent at that, weaving tales or information or a remark a participant or coach may need made into the printed whereas calling the sport within the movement. It’s not simple. It’s not simple.”
Sirott, who’s all the time fast to notice his gratitude for the way Edwards handled him through the years, mentioned he’s appreciative to start Yr 2 together with his longtime pal.
“There are plenty of actually good analysts on this recreation, however solely a handful who see the sport on the degree Brick does, and may analyze it concisely, clearly, and with humor,” he mentioned. “It’s nice to work with somebody I’ve identified for thus lengthy, and so good at what he does.”
Radio scores race
For the primary time in properly over a decade, the “Felger & Mazz” present’s scores have change into a matter of suspense and curiosity.
The longtime scores powerhouse in afternoon drive on 98.5 The Sports activities Hub completed in its regular No. 1 spot in sports activities radio’s most desired demographic over the summer time, incomes an 11.4 share.
However that was only a level greater than WZLX’s Kenny Younger-hosted present (10.4) within the No. 2 spot, and “Felger & Mazz” truly had a decrease share than The Sports activities Hub’s noon present, “Zolak & Bertrand” (12.5). (Unsure if this implies Marc Bertrand or Scott Zolakis now essentially the most highly effective individual in Boston.)
Final summer time, “Felger & Mazz” had a 14.8 share. In the summertime of ’23? 16.8. That drop isn’t as precipitous as what occurred within the spring, when its share fell from an 18.4 to a 12.2 yr over yr, and the present nonetheless is No. 1 with no menace on the horizon from WEEI in anyway.
However the fall scores are going to be very telling. If numbers proceed to dip throughout what looks like a Patriots resurgence, will probably be the strongest signal by far that their shtick, after so many terribly profitable years, is carrying skinny.
NESN sees Crimson Sox increase
Bizarre how this works, however NESN’s Crimson Sox broadcasts noticed a hefty leap in viewership as a likable crew made a run to its first playoff look since 2021.
Sox broadcasts on the community had a 3.75 family ranking this season, up 50 p.c from final season’s 2.5. The typical viewers per recreation on its NESN360 app jumped 181 p.c over 2024. Ultimately, 151 video games aired on NESN. Appeared like fewer, given the decibel-level of the complaints when they didn’t.
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