John Tomase out after six years at NBC Sports Boston

Media

“I took this position six years ago, knowing I wasn’t going to retire there,” said Tomase, whose position was eliminated several weeks ago.

By Chad Finn, The Boston Globe

January 4, 2025 | 9:14 a.m.

4 minutes to read

John Tomase, an NBC Sports Boston Red Sox insider for the past six years, revealed on social media last week that his contract was not renewed and his tenure with the regional sports network was over.

Tomase said in a conversation Friday that he actually found out his position was being eliminated several weeks ago, for a period, he noted wryly, when the breaks weren’t really going into its meaning.

“I had a great few weeks in late October and early November,” he said, “during which, in the space of about 10 days, I lost my job, I lost my wedding ring in the produce department of Market Basket and I won’t comment specifically on the events of November 5, but they also didn’t turn out as I hoped. So it was quite a race.

As disappointing and downright scary as it was to lose your job, Tomase is pragmatic about how it played out. While NBC Sports Boston is in good shape compared to most regional sports networks, which have seen revenue declines due to cord-cutting, that’s no surprise when you’re trying to save everyone a few dollars the means. Tomase was not blinded.

“I took this job six years ago knowing I wasn’t going to retire there,” he said. “That’s just not how this industry works. It’s not like I’m special or an exception. This is a tough deal in the general (regional sports networks) model, and even specific to NBC Sports Boston, think of all the good writers who have been let go in recent years – (Sean) McAdam, Evan Drellich, Sherrod (Blakely ), Haggs (Joe Haggerty).

“That’s a lot of famous people in the market and so I had always said to friends who asked me how the work was going, I said, ‘Great, until I got laid off,’ because you know that It happens at a certain point.”

Tomase also acknowledged that his main focus, the Red Sox, don’t shake things up like the Patriots (even in a miserable season) or the Celtics (whose games are broadcast by NBC Sports Boston) do.

“I’m self-aware enough to recognize that (Patriots insider Tom) Curran is an institution there and a star. Phil Perry is an absolute superstar. (Chris) Forsberg is Mr. Celtics and so is anchored in this show, which is our property,” Tomase said.

“And then there’s me here at the Red Sox, at a time when the Red Sox aren’t as relevant as they used to be. I kind of knew that would be me if it ever came down to it. So it was shocking at the time, but not surprising, if that makes sense. »

Tomase reiterated what I’ve often heard over the years about NBC Sports Boston: It has an enviable work culture.

“One thing that was unique about this place, especially coming from WEEI, was that everyone was pulled in the same direction,” he said. “Everyone was smart. There was no betrayal. I spent a lot of time talking on the radio, so I wasn’t prepared for this. I almost felt like I was in “Pleasantville” when I got there, like, “Why is everyone so nice? What are they hiding? But it turns out nothing. It’s a great place to work.

Tomase still receives vitriol from Patriots fans regarding his now-infamous article in the Boston Herald in February 2008 in which he mistakenly reported that the Patriots had taped a Rams presentation before Super Bowl XXXVI.

This was mentioned in some social media responses to the news of his contract not being renewed. Many people also appreciated the work he did at NBC Sports Boston, particularly his willingness to criticize the Red Sox and their Filene’s Basement approach to team building in recent years.

“I guess I was pleasantly surprised that the social media reaction wasn’t as beneficial as I expected,” he said, “even though I read a lot of this kind.”

Tomase, one of the best pure-play writers in the Boston market, said he hopes to stay in sports media.

“But maybe it’s not up to me,” he said. “I have a mortgage and a family, so that comes first. But ideally, I would like to stay.

He noted that after that difficult October/November period, he had a break.

“I found my wedding ring in the laundry 10 days after I thought I lost it for good,” he said. “Then maybe my luck is changing.”

Red Sox broadcast teams take shape

NESN and WEEI are still ironing out the final details (i.e. getting signatures on contracts) for their Red Sox broadcast teams next season. Full rosters and assignments will be announced a day or two before Fenway Fest next Saturday, but here’s what I’ve heard from multiple sources.

As previously reported, Dave O’Brien (NESN) and Will Flemming (WEEI) will be the primary play-by-play voices.

Lou Merloni will be the analyst for the majority of games on NESN, an outcome I’ve thought would happen for a few years now. He will work on around a hundred games on television, and will do several more games on the radio.

Will Middlebrooks will be a frequent analyst on the radio broadcasts, but will continue to have assignments for NESN, including in the booth and on pre- and post-game in-studio programming. He can even work in the television studio some evenings when he participates in the radio show.

MassLive.com’s Sean McAdam was the first to report that Kevin Youkilis’ contract with NESN expired after last season. I’m told it’s not out of the question that he appears on a few NESN shows this season, perhaps when the Red Sox are on the West Coast. MassLive also reported that Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rich Hill could be on hand as analysts, which I have not confirmed.

Sean McDonough wants to broadcast about 20 games on the radio, as he has done in recent years, and has had discussions with Red Sox and WEEI officials. He waits for their response.