Sports Radio News

Toucher & Rich Shocked Sean Grande Missing Part of Game 1 isn’t Bigger News

“If Kevin Harlan was just like not there, you’d at least read about it.”

Published

5 months ago

May 19, 2023

98.5 The Sports Hub is the flagship radio home of the Boston Celtics, and the only local broadcast presenting games during the NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals. As the Celtics look to even up the best-of-seven series tonight at home against the rival Miami Heat, Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell will be on the call to bring fans all the action…that is, if neither one of them is late back from halftime.

During Wednesday’s Game 1 matchup, Maxwell, a former Celtics player and current color commentator, ultimately assumed responsibility of the play-by-play role when Grande was late returning from halftime.

It was a moment no one would have expected in one of the team’s most important games of the season. Jon Wallach has filled in on Celtics radio broadcasts before, and is aware of the structure of the halftime show. He explained it to Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb during their morning show on Wednesday.

“There’s something called ‘Reliving the Green’ where you have a highlight from years’ past that happened on this day 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago,” Wallach said. “Then we’re pretty much right up against the beginning of the third quarter, so we get into it pretty quickly after that.”

Usually, Grande is the one who is doing the segment; however, Maxwell did it that day instead. When the highlight ended, it became Maxwell’s responsibility to transition the broadcast from halftime to the start of the third quarter.

“I love the opportunities right now the Celtics have had,” Maxwell said. “I love the opportunity right now. I have to talk since Sean Grande is late coming back, so I’m going on and on. I’m going to carry this as long as I can.”

Maxwell proceeded to read and subsequently react to the number of points some of the players had, and then proceeded to mention how Grande was still not back when the ball was put into play. Maxwell even had to take on an announcing assignment he never thought he would have to do, especially during a playoff game.

“The game has started and Sean Grande’s not back yet as Gabe Vincent is dribbling the ball down,” Maxwell announced. “Pass over; jump shot. That is so soft as it falls in this time for Bam [Adebayo]. Nice job of getting up in there and just knocking that shot down.”

After the clip ended, Toucher and Shertenlieb reacted with confusion as to what had just happened, expressing a sense of shock.

“That’s the Eastern Conference Finals,” Toucher said. “You’ve got plenty of time to take a dump.”

“I have no idea what happened,” Shertenlieb added. “I’ve never heard Sean be late for anything before.”

They proceeded to talk about the implications such an instance would have if it had occurred on TNT’s national television broadcast, surmising it would be one of the biggest stories in sports media.

“Wouldn’t it be big news if the dude from TNT didn’t show up for the first two minutes?,” Toucher asked. “If Kevin Harlan was just like not there, you’d at least read about it.”

Both announcers have now exposed the other for being late back from halftime on playoff broadcasts. Toucher and Shertenlieb acknowledged the incident as “strange,” but it created a memorable moment hearing Maxwell make his play-by-play debut as the voice of the Celtics.

“I don’t know where Sean’s at,” Maxwell said on the broadcast. “Oooh! Great job on the top right now – wow, Rob [Williams].”

BSM Staff

Up Next

Seth Payne: J.J. Watt Hire May Mean NBC Drops Chris Simms or Tony Dungy

Don't Miss

For Sports Radio, Less Listeners Means More ROI

Sports Radio News

John Kincade Celebrates 700th Show at 97.5 The Fanatic

“In radio, if you could find a show that’s faced more adversity in 700 shows, I’d like to buy them a beer.

Published

3 hours ago

October 4, 2023

Jordan Bondurant

Courtesy: John Kincade

97.5 The Fanatic host John Kincade reached a milestone for his show on Tuesday – show number 700.

Kincade has been on the air at the Philadelphia station since 2020. He made sure to show love to everyone involved with the show for all they’ve done.

“Congratulations to the entire crew,” he said.

The road to 700 for Kincade in Philly hasn’t always been an easy one. One thing John has been dealing with has been a colon cancer diagnosis back in the spring that led to a brief time away from the show.

Still, Kincade was thankful for the listeners who’ve continued to tune in and get the show to this point.

“In radio, if you could find a show that’s faced more adversity in 700 shows, I’d like to buy them a beer. That is what I would say to you,” Kincade added. “We appreciate all of you being a part of us for 700 shows, and we hope you’re gonna be with us for the next 700.”

Jordan Bondurant

Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett Sports Media. He’s a multimedia journalist and communicator who works at the Virginia State Corporation Commission in Richmond. Jordan also contributes occasional coverage of the Washington Capitals for the blog NoVa Caps. His prior media experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, WRIC-TV 8News and Audacy Richmond. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.

Sports Radio News

Paul Allen: I Don’t Know What We’ll Do if Taylor Swift Says Yes to Announcing With Us

Allen offered to let Swift announce a portion of the upcoming Vikings/Chiefs game with him on KFAN.

Published

3 hours ago

October 4, 2023

Jordan Bondurant

Courtesy: Dan Myers

It’s been a few days since VP of programming for iHeart Twin Cities Greg Swedberg attempted to get Taylor Swift’s attention ahead of Sunday’s Chiefs/Vikings game in Minneapolis. But Swedberg’s offer for Swift to come to the KFAN FM 100.3 broadcast booth and potentially do some play-by-play with Paul Allen still stands.

Swedberg was a guest with Paul Allen on Tuesday. Allen, the radio voice of the Vikings, asked Swedberg what exactly the plan was for Swift if she happened to see him and say hello.

“I thought she could come in and give you a break on play-by-play,” Swedberg joked.

“That’d be sweet! That’d be great!” Allen responded.

Swedberg has known Taylor Swift since she was a teenager just breaking through on the country music scene. While he said he wouldn’t consider them close friends, they know each other as associates.

Allen asked what would happen if she did show up. She usually rolls pretty deep with security and the like, so the situation in the broadcast booth could be crazy. But Swedberg did say he realizes Swift likely isn’t going to come say hello or anything on Sunday. He acknowledged that it’s possible Taylor doesn’t even show up in Minnesota at all. He just wishes some people would let people enjoy things.

“It’s a bit. Pretty much everything we do here is a bit to a certain extent,” he said. “But, I wouldn’t rule it out. It’s possible.”

“We would make room, wouldn’t we?” Allen asked.

Paul asked Greg the possibility that Swift and Travis Kelce’s family could be situated in a suite near the broadcast booth. Swedberg said if that’s the case, it would make it hard for her to ignore stopping in to say hi.

“If she wants to come in, it’s a quick trip from that booth – I’ve made that little trip myself – into your booth,” Swedberg said.

“It’s an extreme longshot, but hey, you know somebody for 17 years you take a shot,” he added. “And she’s very conscious of PR, and it would be a great scene!”

Jordan Bondurant

Sports Radio News

Greg Hill: NFL, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift All Working Together for Publicity Stunt

“I don’t think Taylor Swift needs the publicity.”

Published

12 hours ago

October 3, 2023

BSM Staff

(Photo: WEEI)

Are Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the NFL in cahoots to drive publicity for each other? That’s what WEEI morning host Greg Hill believes.

During The Greg Hill Show Tuesday, the Boston-based host led a discussion about whether or not Swift was more popular than the NFL. Co-host Courtney Cox argued that it’s undeniable she is more famous than the NFL on the global stage. Meanwhile, colleague Jermaine Wiggins argued the pop start isn’t even the most popular artist in America.

“The reason this came up is because of the massive fraud, charade that is being pulled on America by all of them,” Hill said. “And that’s Kelce, that’s her, and that’s the NFL. Who is it benefiting the most? I think Courtney is right. I don’t think Taylor Swift needs the publicity.”

Producer Chris Curtis claimed 2.5 million people in Brazil watched Super Bowl LVII, while only 2 million attempted to get tickets for Swift’s shows in the country. Cox argued that was an apples-to-oranges comparison.

Hill maintained the alleged relationship between Swift and Kelce is simply a ploy by the NFL to seek out a new potential fan base with Swift’s massive following.

BSM Staff