Tony Massarotti 

Anthony 'Tony' Massarotti is an American newspaper sportswriter, author and online and print contributor for the Boston Globe. Massarotti is a graduate of Waltham High School1 in Waltham, Massachusetts and a 1989 graduate of Tufts University where he majored in English and Classics.2

Contents

Boston Herald

Massarotti joined the Boston Herald in 1989, and covered the Boston Red Sox for the paper from 1994 through 2008.

During his time with the Herald, Massarotti frequently covered the Boston 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 Boston Globe due to a long standing ban on Globe staffers appearing on the station.3.

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.4

Boston Globe

In September 2008 Massarotti joined the staff of the Boston Globe.5 In addition to writing a regular column for the paper, Massarotti will become the voice and face of the Globe's online Boston.com sports feature.6

Notable Columns

Theo Epstein contract negotiations

On October 27, 2005, Massarotti published a column in which he accused Larry Lucchino and the Red Sox management of smearing Red Sox 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.7 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,8 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 Luccino.9 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.1011

Jon Lester cancer story

In August 2006, Massarotti received some criticism for publishing a column detailing rumors that Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was being tested for cancer.12 Critics on an anti-Dan Shaughnessy Web site thought it was disrespectful to Lester and his family to print what they believed to be alarmist rumors.13 In fact, the rumors turned out to be true and Lester went on to be treated for a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.14

Awards

Books

References

  1. ^ "Tony Massarotti Sports Blog". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  2. ^ "Interview With Tony Massarotti". CheetahZine (2005-12-01). Retrieved on 2005-12-15.
  3. ^ Dan Kennedy. "Hush-hush, In its war of words with WEEI, the Globe learns that silence isn't necessarily golden". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved on 2008-10-07.
  4. ^ "Boston Herald Sports Writers". Boston Sports Media Watch. Retrieved on 2005-12-15.
  5. ^ "Massarotti to join Globe and Boston.com". Boston.com (2008-08-15). Retrieved on 2008-08-15.
  6. ^ Joe Sullivan (2008-08-16). "New lineup for Globe's baseball team". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2008-08-18.
  7. ^ Tony Massarotti (2005-10-27). "Smear campaign stinks". Boston Herald. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  8. ^ Richard Chacón (2005-10-23). "The Globe-Sox connection". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  9. ^ Dan Shaughnessy (2007-10-30). "Let's iron out some of this dirty laundry". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
  10. ^ Thomas F. Mulvoy (2007-11-03). "Lucchino vs. Epstein: Media stew boils over". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  11. ^ "John Henry Takes Blame For Epstein Leaving Red Sox: Epstein Says Another Team Has Contacted Him". WBZ-TV.com (2005-11-02). Retrieved on 2007-04-27.
  12. ^ "Lester tested for cancer -- Sources say rookie has enlarged lymph nodes". Boston Herald (2006-08-31). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  13. ^ "Shame on the Boston Herald". Dan Shaughnessy Watch (2006-08-31). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  14. ^ "Lester's cancer". Boston Globe (2006-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  15. ^ "Alum Wins National Journalism Award". Tufts E-News (2001-01-17). Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  16. ^ "Alums Author Sox Books". Tufts E-News (2006-05-05). Retrieved on 2005-12-15.

External links

Preceded by
unknown
Boston Herald Red Sox beat writer
1994-2008
Succeeded by
Unknown