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 School [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/ |title=Tony Massarotti Sports Blog |date= |publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-10-07] in Waltham, Massachusetts and a 1989 graduate of Tufts University where he majored in English and Classics. [cite web
url=http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/chenery/cheetahzine/05FALL.pdf |title=Interview With Tony Massarotti |date=2005-12-01 |publisher=CheetahZine |accessdate=2005-12-15]
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. [cite web |url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/dont_quote_me/multi-page/documents/01230893.htm
title=Hush-hush, In its war of words with WEEI, the Globe learns that silence isn't necessarily golden |publisher=Boston Phoenix|date=|author=Dan Kennedy |accessdate=2008-10-07] .
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. [cite web |url=http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/herald.php
title=Boston Herald Sports Writers |publisher=Boston Sports Media Watch |accessdate=2005-12-15]
Boston Globe
In September 2008 Massarotti joined the staff of the Boston Globe.[cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2008/08/15/massarotti_joins_globe_and_bostoncom/ |title=Massarotti to join Globe and Boston.com |date=2008-08-15 |publisher=Boston.com |accessdate=2008-08-15] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2008/08/16/new_lineup_for_globes_baseball_team/ |title=New lineup for Globe's baseball team | author=Joe Sullivan | date=2008-08-16 | publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2008-08-18] ]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. [cite web
url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/917681021.html?dids=917681021:917681021&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+27%2C+2005&author=Tony+Massarotti&pub=Boston+Herald&edition=&startpage=086&desc=Smear+campaign+stinks
title=Smear campaign stinks |date=2005-10-27
author = Tony Massarotti |publisher=Boston Herald |accessdate=2007-04-27] 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, [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/10/23/the_globe_sox_connection/
title=The Globe-Sox connection |date=2005-10-23
author = Richard Chacón |publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2007-04-27] 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. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2005/10/30/lets_iron_out_some_of_this_dirty_laundry//
title=Let's iron out some of this dirty laundry |date=2007-10-30
author = Dan Shaughnessy |publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2007-04-26] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.dotnews.com/comment.11.03.05.html
title=Lucchino vs. Epstein: Media stew boils over |date=2007-11-03
author = Thomas F. Mulvoy |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |accessdate=2007-04-27] [cite web |url=http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_306125705.html
title=John Henry Takes Blame For Epstein Leaving Red Sox: Epstein Says Another Team Has Contacted Him |date=2005-11-02 |publisher=WBZ-TV.com |accessdate=2007-04-27]
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. [cite web
url=http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=155293
title=Lester tested for cancer -- Sources say rookie has enlarged lymph nodes
date=2006-08-31 |publisher=Boston Herald |accessdate=2007-12-14] 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. [cite web
url=http://danshaughnessy.blogspot.com/2006/08/shame-on-boston-herald_31.html
title=Shame on the Boston Herald |date=2006-08-31 |publisher= Dan Shaughnessy Watch
accessdate=2007-12-14] In fact, the rumors turned out to be true and Lester went on to be treated for a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. [cite web
url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/09/lesters_cancer.html
title=Lester's cancer |date=2006-09-01 |publisher=Boston Globe |accessdate=2007-12-14]
Awards
*Massachusetts Winner of the 2001 National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Sportswriter of the Year award. [cite web
url=http://www.tufts.edu/communications/stories/041701NYTWinsPulitzers.htm
title=Alum Wins National Journalism Award |date=2001-01-17 |publisher=Tufts E-News |accessdate=2007-12-14]
Books
*"A Tale of Two Cities: The 2004 Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry and the War for the Pennant", ISBN 1-59-228704-2, co-author John Harper, sportswriter for the "New York Daily News" [cite web
url=http://www.tufts.edu/communications/stories/050505AlumsAuthorSoxBooks.htm
title=Alums Author Sox Books |date=2006-05-05 |publisher=Tufts E-News |accessdate=2005-12-15]
*"Big Papi: My Story of Big Dreams and Big Hits", ISBN 0-31-236633-7, co-author David Ortiz, Professional Baseball Player for the "Boston Red Sox"
References
External links
* [http://www.weei.com/home.asp WEEI Home Page]
* [http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/ Boston Globe:] , Tony Massarotti Sports Blog
