Here’s a Tweet from one of our @soxbooth followers

My Dad and Johnny Pesky in 2006.  They worked together in the 1950’s at an Oldsmobile dealership.

- Charlie Giacobbe

Hi Guys,

Love listening to your broadcast every morning (it’s 7:30am here in Perth, Australia).  Here is a photo of myself with former Sox player Mike Avilles from when I flew to Boston for the Fenway 100 game. Great guy and great hospitality by the Sox!

- Cam Wedemeyer

We were in line for “Mickey’s Character Breakfast” in Orlando on 12/17/10, and in line behind us was Mike Lowell.  No one in our party was going to disturb him as he was with his family, but mom couldn’t resist asking if he was really him.  “I am!”, he boomed.  He was the sweetest guy, and posed for pictures even though we were interrupting his vacation.  People at the breakfast stopped us later to ask, “why did you want a picture with that guy?”  Ahh, to be away from the spotlight.  If it weren’t for us, at least.

-The Ellsworths, East Bridgewater (and Mom in Whitman), MA.

Gents,

My favorite player of all time is Trot Nixon.

My 16 year old son, Mat, died from a brain tumor.

I was falling apart and searching for any reason I could find to live.

Both Trot and my family and me are from Wilmington, NC.

Trot allowed my second son, Mike, and me to visit with him outside the clubhouse. I was barely able to hold it together, but Trot was gracious and warm to my son and me.  Seeing my other son happy for the first time in a almost a year (he understood what was happening to his brother) gave me reason to go on.

The following year, Trot and he wonderful wife Kathryn gave us tickets to a game and greeted us with great warmth. This gave me hope and helped me return to work. I am a physician and couldn’t work for a year. I would break down and cry every time I had to do a procedure in the hospital where I worked and Mat was treated.  Kathryn even found tickets for us when four unexpected guests showed up and wanted to tag along.

Ever since, we make a pilgrimage to Fenway in the summer. It was the first thing that I allowed myself to find distraction and eventually fun in life with. I knew my son in heaven would approve of going to Fenway to see the Sox. He didn’t want us to hurt of morn his loss.

The normalcy of baseball and the warmth of the Nixon family helped me return to real life. It helped me want to heal. This in turn, helped my son have a father again.

Please let the Nixons know how much we appreciate them. They changed all our lives.

-Allen Meglin

]]> http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/red-sox-fans-meet-their-favorite-players/feed http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/joe-castiglione-dave-obriens-extra-innings http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/joe-castiglione-dave-obriens-extra-innings#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:52:40 +0000 Jon "Bernie" Albanese http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/?p=912

Click HERE for Joe and Dave!!!!!!

During the past couple months, I have been at Intern at WEEI. I have learned so much during my time here and have really enjoyed coming in each week. Throughout my time here, I have had the opportunity to cut and edit game highlights and player interviews. I have also gotten the chance to choose and edit music beds to be played during Celtics and Red Sox broadcast. I have been in contact with listeners when I have screen phone calls for The Planet Mikey Show. I have loved working as an intern on the production side of WEEI. But my favorite part of working here has been being directly involved in the Boston Sports Industry.

There is something about this city that you just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s the water of the Charles River or the never ending spirit of Boston sports fans, this city truly has something for everyone. I am constantly in awe of the place I call home.

Recently, a tragedy occurred in our beautiful city. A day that was filled with inspiration and encouragement turned into a day of tragedy when two bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. If you have never been in Boston for Marathon Monday, the experience is something hard to explain. The streets surrounding the marathon route are filled with on lookers. Everyone in the city comes together to cheer on strangers and hope for a glimpse of someone they know running by. Schools are closed and many get off of work, the attention of everyone is on the Marathon.

As a college student many miles from home, I have never felt more connected to my adopted city then I have during this time. Boston came together. First responder’s immediately jumped to the scene. Spectators and other runners quickly began helping each other. Marathon runners continued to run to the nearest hospital to donate blood to those who were injured. About 6,000 people offered their homes up to the runners of the marathon who now had no place to go. If this occurred in another city, its resistance might not have come together in the way Bostonians did. But, as always, Boston managed to surpass my expectations.

In a city where its sports teams are the heart and soul of many who live there, it is no surprise that in a time of need Boston turned to its home teams.  I was fortunate enough to go to Red Sox game the day following the arrest of the second marathon bomber. The love that filled Fenway on that day was above all else. Fans representing Watertown and the Boston Police Department through their clothing filled the stands. Everyone felt connected in the stadium. The opening ceremony was so inspiring. I watched as victims, first responders, volunteers and police officers were recognized on the field. Even from my seats, I could see the pride they were feeling. Because of the Red Sox game thousands of people shared in the feeling of their pride. Pride not only for what they had individually accomplished, but for the entire city of Boston.

Seeing what the Red Sox does for this city was an unbelievable experience. I have always known that Boston was a city known for its sports, but it was until this past weekend in Fenway that I truly understood why. The Red Sox allowed fans to come together, to share in a moment of despair followed but time to connect and look towards too future. In short, the Red Sox helped fans to heal.

As my time as an intern comes to a close, I have never been more proud to work for WEEI. As I sat in Fenway, I saw thousands of the Boston Strong Poster’s being held up. Who else but WEEI would have sponsored them?  At that moment I was so proud not only to call Boston my home, but to be a WEEI intern.

John Farrell pregame Managers Report w/Joe Castiglione - he was at Fenway Park on Friday while the manhunt for #2 was on

Joe Castiglione caught up with an emotional David Ortiz just prior to todays ceremony at Fenway

Will Middlebrooks spoke to the media in the Red Sox clubhouse before todays emotional ceremonies at Fenway Park

Red Sox COO Sam Kennedy joined Joe Castiglione to talk about the decision to postpone Fridays game amidst all of the chaos in Boston how we plan on moving forward and the work of the entire Red Sox organization through a tough week for the City of Boston

HERES THE ENTIRE PREGAME CEREMONY AT FENWAY PARK ON SATURDAY

Neil Diamond sings Sweet Caroline LIVE at Fenway Park

Dustin Pedroia speaks to the media in the clubhouse after the Red Sox beat the Royals

Daniel Nava spoke with Joe Castiglione and Dave OBrien on our postgame show about his game-winning home run and the days emotional events.

Dave O'Brien BOSTON STRONG

Photo Credit - Boston Red Sox

I haven’t been able to sit down and really think about what has happened in Boston this week until now, after the Red Sox won their 5^th straight and I got all of my work done for the evening (as I start typing this, it is a shade before 1am).  I hope you bear with me while I ramble on here for a couple of paragraphs.

On Monday afternoon at 2:28pm, I hit my end of game tone which signified the end of our postgame show and the start of Salk & Holley which is run from another studio.  I finished up a little work over the next couple of minutes & went to go get a cup of coffee and back in to the studio to check in with Ben (S&H’s producer).  As I sat down and was looking through my Twitter feed I didn’t want to believe what I was looking at, figuring seeing the phrase “explosion at the marathon” was a twist on words about a close finish at the Finish Line.  As I kept seeing tweets from from news outlets and finally breaking news on TV, suddenly a normal day at the office turned in to the type of day I haven’t seen since 9/11, and the realization that there was a scene of sheer and utter terror on Boylston St. angered me to the point of sadness.   I couldn’t imagine (and still can’t) the amount of pain and suffering families of loved ones lost, people who were injured and those who witnessed the act of terror first-hand are going through & probably will be for a long time. I cannot sit here and pretend to even know what it feels like to go live through something such as what happened on Monday.  My heart aches for and my thoughts & prayers are with them through this difficult time.

There is nothing that can be said or done to undo what has happened.  But, if there is only one positive to take out of this complete mess, it is this:  Humanity has not been lost because of some cowardly ignoramus.

There are countless numbers of stories of heroes who helped victims in any way they could (starting with the first responders, BPD & every witness who ran TOWARDS the blast scene to tend to the injured).  The amount of outpouring of support from around the country is overwhelming.  There are so many examples of this whether it be every major sporting event that has happened since holding a moment of silence & playing our Sweet Caroline, people setting up funds to help those affected or even something as simple as tweeting out #BostonStrong… it shows me that the people of the World stand with us.  They stand with Boston.

Bostonians - We’re tough SOB’s.  We can get through anything that is put on our plate…even something as horrific as what happened on Monday.   Resiliency is our specialty, and no other example epitomizes that as tonight’s scene at the TD Garden… where Rene Rancourt &  17,000+ Bruins fans let the World know that we will not let anything stop us from being who we are.

Red Sox Nation will be waiting on Friday to welcome back a red hot Red Sox team to Fenway for the first home game since Patriot’s Day in order to share the same emotion that was felt at the Garden tonight.  Joe Castiglione, Dave O’Brien and I shared some of that emotion tonight, as text messages started flooding in to us from all over Red Sox Nation.  We asked our listeners this:  “We know Red Sox Nation is spread across the Globe…. Please text us your name and where you are listening from.” I have got to be honest, with the combination of listening to the National Anthem at the Garden and these text messages rolling in, my emotions got the best of me and I cried like a hungry baby for the first time in a LONG time.  Not only did Red Sox Nation text us, but the majority of them were sending well wishes to our City and those affected by the tragedy we all know too well by now.

Before I get to the actual text messages, I cannot tell you how relieved I am that my family, friends and coworkers are all ok.  Many of them were down in the area of the blast on Boylston Street, but nobody, thank God, was injured or worse.  I want to take this opportunity to say that I love you and I’m glad that you are all safe & sound.

Now…I would like you to have the same feeling I did tonight, so do me a favor:  PLAY THIS AUDIO OF THE GARDEN ANTHEM TONIGHT and scroll through some of the over 2,000 text messages we got during tonight’s broadcast (I couldn’t post them ALL!!!).

413 Umass amherst workn in the kitchen. Go sox god bless boston

864 I am active duty Navy, listening from Kabul Afghanistan

907 Listening to the game while driving a taxi in Kodiak, Alaska

617 I’m literally listening from H&M in Rancho Cucamonga, CA while my girlfriend tries in bikinis

907 Listening from Anchorage, Alaska. Working with friends today to set up a foot race to raise funds for bombing victims. Boston Strong!

315 Rich Corbett is listening in via Red Sox Nation on line from the Cape Air Operations office in Owensboro, KY

401 Mumbai, India gosox Boston Strong

402 Jeff, I listen to all the games from omaha Nebraska. Go sox!

904 Jacksonville, FL. Just listening to the best team in the AL East. What a great TEAM to root for. Win or lose!!

831 My name is Josh Johnson, my wife is Meghan and son Seth.

860 Listening from home in South Windsor, CT. Boston Strong!

817 This is Scott Steelman from Arlington, Tx. I am listening to the game while doing engineering homework. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Boston.

775 Listening from Reno, NV. Chatting with my girl who is in Galati, Romania. She is listening also. She loves the Sox as much as me. She says Romania sends it prayers to my home town. Go Boston. B Proud…

401 Hey guys, russell from warwick ri, listening at work in tractor trailer, 2 trips up to kingston nh, then home for the night

307 Jackson, WY. Just got back from running the marathon. BostonStrong

978 An Andover, MA native listening at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) while cleaning my room. You two are my best friends while at school!

802 Sitting in the parking lot on break in rutland Vermont ! Thoughts and prayers to Boston!

207 Listening from Osaka Japan with my family

860 Listening to the game on the MLB At-​Bat app from Astoria, NY while making dinner! Love having you guys around! Keep up the great work.

978 Listening on my iPhone while raking leaves -​ Athol MA #BostonStrong Forward Ever! BACKWARD NEVER!!

603 Listening while on Mainstreet USA in Disney World waiting for the fireworks. #bostonstrong

917 Listening in my kitchen in NYC. Looking forward to being at Fenway in ten days. Go Sox! Boston Strong!

585 Evansville Indiana…just listening on iPhone and giving owners some credit for thinking Farrell might be enough to change culture

860 Marine reservist from Suffield CT Listening on iPhone at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

303 Watching the latest blizzard while thinking of friends and family in the Hub. Mike Faber, Parker CO. See you guys at Coors field in sept!

207 Out in a field pruning spruce trees in Aroostook County, ME

701 Listening to the Sox in my office in Valley City, ND as I watch it snow. #bostonstrong

413 I am listening in conway, ma right now. Great job joe, dave, and john…love your show, love 2 listen every night, and hope everybody effected in boston is okay

707 Ryan in Fairfield California. Paramedic, listening in my ambulance. Waiting for 911 calls. Boston Strong!!!

646 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn!

703 Jason O: Working out at the gym. Alexandria, VA

207 Listening in from portland maine. Our hearts are with you Boston!!!

413 I’m broadcasting tonight’s game at WKVT in Brattleboro, VT!

781 Lincoln, MA native listening in Chicago… Just got tickets to the May series against the White Sox! (Shout out to my cousin, Phil McCully of the Newton Fire Dept -​ was on ambulance detail on the marathon Monday.)

708 Our hats off to the Boston PD, FD and Citizens! Boston 617 Strong! Sgt Steve Zanoni

318 Joseph Schreck (Shrek) listening to Red Soxs from Natchitoches, Louisiana while working the NSU vs ULL baseball game. Prayers for the Boston area. Boston Strong

207 I’m in Marshall, MN studying for final exams. 4-​6 inches of snow expected tonight and tomorrow!

207 Maine Turnpike in Wells, Maine! #loveforthe617 !!

818 Listening in Hollywood at paramount studios doing lighting on a TV show that takes place in Boston. #bostonstrong

508 In Westminster ma listening after tending my honey bees.

401 Working, building submarines in Rhode Island. Go Sox!

508 Hey guys sound great tonight I just left Pawtucket and Big Papi told us in the Media me especially that he would be back in Boston Friday night when the Sox return home when I asked him how important it was to him to be there

808 Listening on a bus in Kauai , Hawaii

978 Clarksville, TN is listening to the Red Sox while pushing the kids on their swing set.

978 5Listening at home in North Port FL, 60 miles from Fenway South, while watching the Bruins on NBCSp TV…went to about 12 spring games at ft Myers, port Charlotte and Sarasota …born in Maine, worked 45 years in Boston, retired to FL in 2006…..

646 Cooking dinner for me and the wife here on NYC. Some great stories from Sox Nation. Good job guys.

207 I’m listening at work hear at the library in Ankeny, Iowa.

508 Listening from my luxury condo in Montreal. Huge Joe Castiglione fan

518 Thanks for helping me with my homework!! I love listening to you guys while working at my house!! Boston Strong!! PS Is the pizza good?

508 In New Bedford. Sox on the radio!!!!! WE ARE BOSTON STRONG!!!!!!

774 Board operator at WEEI Worcester listening to you and watching the Bs! Today we are ALL Bostonians

865 Its derek listening from tn and looking for a second baseman for my fantasy team. Go sox!

401 95s on my way home from hanscom field

508 Listening to game in my truck at work, FedEx express Boston Ma, Boston STRONG! God Bless America and all of Boston Ma.

413 Working in Albany NY

716 Listening from Buffalo. Just want you to know that we are thinking about Boston here as well

813 Just drove by Tropicana field ….. But wishing it was Fenway. Jim , Tampa

508 I’m listening from Blackstone,Ma… BOSTON STRONG.

860 Thanks guys, love listening to you… Will be at the Sox game friday, can’t wait to support all Bostonians! Boston Strong! From Columbia, Connecticut.

406 In great falls Montana shopping for batting gloves for my little leaguers! Hoping for warmer weather. #bostonstrong

609 Listening in Conshohocken, PA (Philly) while writing the last paper for my Executive MBA. Thanks very much! #BostonStrong -​ Mike Aronson

860 New England raised sports anchor listening from KOLR-​TV office in Springfield, Missouri. Boston on our minds here! –​ Nick

508 Listenin to the sox while goin into the 15th hour of my shift 3rd day in a row thx guys for makin my night go by BOSTON STRONG!!!!!

508 Listening to game in my truck at work, FedEx express Boston Ma, Boston STRONG! God Bless America and all of Boston Ma.

Boston, you’re my home.  #BostonStrong

]]> http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/red-sox-nation-stands-with-boston/feed http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/sports-movies-that-make-you-cry http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/sports-movies-that-make-you-cry#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:48:38 +0000 Jon "Bernie" Albanese http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/?p=835 Before every broadcast, I come up with a text question of the night (sponsored by Geico) and there are times when I get overruled by Joe & Dave.  Tonight, well…was one of those nights (and I’m glad it was).  Initially, since the Red Sox blew it in the 9th inning on Wednesday night, I had come up with “What is the worst Red Sox meltdown that you can remember?” for tonight’s question.   I told the guys what it was, and they had a better idea…our Fenway broadcast engineer Doug Lane had come up with a GREAT question, and I gladly pulled mine off the table.

Our man Rob Bradford of WEEI.com  interviewed Jackie Bradley, Jr. earlier today about the Jackie Robinson movie titled “42.”  Inspired by that interview, Doug came up with “What is the most emotional sports movie you’ve ever seen?”  Joe & Dave came up with many of them, and also read some of our listener’s texts/tweets on the air as to what theirs was.   Since there are so many movies out there, below are examples of the most-mentioned movies tonight during our broadcast:

(716) First time I saw Brian’s Song when I was a kid in the mid 70’s I cried all night. Bob Q in Buffalo NY

(860) FIELD OF DREAMS THAT FATHER SON CATCH AT THE END TIMELESS

(207) Remember the Titians cant be how those kids came together… Denzell classic Josh-​ from maine

(207) Pride of the Yankees . The Lou Gehrig story

(501) The Rookie!

(401) All baseball movies make me cry. Jen-​ charlottesville, va

(401) Definitely million dollar baby

(508) I think the sadest sports movie I saw The Miracle I cried for about a half an hour. And everytime i hear about the movie I cry..

(215) My friend from Texas cries every time he watches major league… I can’t even make this up… Hey he’s an Astros fan… I’ll forgive him…

I have to agree with our texter from area code 860 that the father/son catching scene in Field of Dreams is by far the most emotional scene in any sports movie out there.  They say there’s “no crying in baseball,” well I cry like a baby when I watch that scene…sue me!!

On a lighter side note, as the guys & I were talking about off the air tonight…if I were to vote for a “sports movie that would make you laugh so hard you’d cry” …I’d go with Caddyshack.

"Are you my pal? Hmm? Hmm??"

]]> http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/sports-movies-that-make-you-cry/feed http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/stephen-drew-is-back http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/stephen-drew-is-back#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:03:08 +0000 Jon "Bernie" Albanese http://weei.radiotown.com/soxbooth/?p=825 Stephen Drew is in the Red Sox starting lineup for the first time this season after recovering from a concussion.  Here’s a couple of photos from today’s pregame media scrum, and audio from it!

Stephen Drew’s pregame media scrum on the field

Here’s audio of the entire Opening Day ceremonies on the field.  Take a listen while you read the rest of this post!

Opening Day Ceremonies at Fenway Park

Now…..here’s today’s photos!!

BP & Media on the field pregame

Joe's on-field vantage point during the pregame ceremonies

View from the booth during today's first pitch

Joe Castig doing what he does best

Behind the scenes with our engineer Doug Lane & Salk & Holley producer Ben Kichen

Jon Rish: calm, cool & collected...ready to make the call of Nava's 3 run HR

It's a beautiful day for baseball

Red Sox Win!!!

For our Geico Text Question of the Game, we asked our listeners where they were listening to the game and what their Opening Day rituals are.  Here are some of the MANY responses we got:

-Listening to game on my walkman In my office overlooking State House

-I’m listening to the game outside on our deck, in the warm sun having mid afternoon snack! Best to everybody this home opening day! Wayne. Burlington, MA.

-Hi guys. As usual, listening in from the set of Grey’s Anatomy! Go Sox!

-Listening to the home opener on XM in Idaho while playing scrabble with my beautiful girlfriend and watching it snow. Go sox!

-Listening at work in Fayetteville, NC

-Listening while delivering mail in chicopee,ma….what a tearful opening ,thanks for the great work ! Al

-Work no problem. I’m in a delivery van all day

-I grab a cold one. Sit down in my favorite chair. Turn on the TV. Turn down the volume and turn up the radio. Steve RI

-Listening at Naval ROTC Unit, Florida A&M University. Go Sox! Semper Fi, Maj Sousa, USMC.

-Listening in my bleacher seat in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with a spread of Fenway Franks, chowda and nachos. Go Sox!

-Working in a kitchen with the reaper crew down on St John USVI! GO SOX!

-Listening at work on the MLB At Bat app in Los Angeles, CA.

-Listening to them in class/work,hoping no one notices

-I am work listening to the Red Sox - I am in Evansville in Southwestern Indiana. Haven’t got a ritual yet… But love listening to Red Sox Baseball!

-At work painting doors. Great to hear u guys again. Welcome back.

-Listening on Sirius Xm in my truck near Columbus, OH… would rather be with my sister and brother-in-law in NH!

-Listening in from work in Tullahoma TN on SiriusXM Online.

-Listening in Virginia on XM Radio

-George listing in tiverton ri on 103.7 while working on cars love listing to u guys go sox

-Working on the last of the tax returns for the season…..while listening of course

-Listening on MLB At Bat from Wilsonville Oregon! Life long fan from Massachusetts. Favorite all time player is Dwight Evans

-Listening from my office in Times Square in NYC but rooting for sox all the way. My dad is at the game!

-Im listening to my good friends on weei as i walk my mail route in stow, ohio– same ritual each year– grab a couple nathans hot dogs so i get the feel  of the game, eat those rite at first pitch, then after completion of first inning, contunue delivering my route as i listen on my phone in my shirt pocket

-I’m listening on the MLB app while at work in St. Louis. That’s my opening day ritual the last few years, listen at work on my phone. I’ve got a meeting at 3 which I hope won’t take the full hour.

-Listening online at work in Las Vegas. Born in Mass but grew up on west coast. Long time fan back to Rice/Lynn days. Pic of Fisk game 6 1975 on my office wall

-Hi my name is Sergeant First Class Palazzo and I’m listening to opening day at work.

-I’m in Malden. My annual ritual when not at Fenway is to get on the roof at work and wait for the fly over. The hatch to the roof is in a room next to my office. Then I got inside and listen in the radio of course!

-Opening day is always listen to on weei. it wouldn’t be the same without you Joe..its my 13 th year

-My high school library on my phone. My opening day ritual is watching the game with my dad but he couldn’t take me out early this year

-Heather Houghton-Smith listening in car while driving around East Longmeadow doing odds and end errands .

-I am at work listening on my MLB app, I always have to work on opening day so I put on my old Red Sox sweatshirt and listen to the game… My sister broke tradition and is at the game today and left me behind!

-Buffalo new york on mlb at bat radio! Opening day I always iron my jersey and hang it up the night before!

Finally, we asked our followers on Twitter (@SoxBooth) to tweet us photos/descriptions of what they were doing while listening to Opening Day.  Here’s my personal favorite:

As always, thank you for listening to Red Sox Radio…hopefully the rest of this season goes as well as today did!

Looks like there’s more fans watching me in the studio than there are at the game.

What would The Bambino say if he saw this display?

…….the season’s first Little Debbie’s shipment arrived in Boston.  This plethora of goodies will be awaiting the broadcast crew in the Booth at Fenway for Monday’s home opener vs the Orioles…..unless I eat it all first!