Media John Tomase out after six years at NBC Sports Boston covering the Red Sox The Celtics are king at NBC Sports Boston, making those covering the Red Sox prone to be being let loose. Lane Turner/Globe Staff
John Tomase, NBC Sports Boston’s Red Sox insider for the past six years, revealed on social media this past week that his contract was not renewed and his time at the regional sports network is over.
Tomase said in a conversation Friday that he actually found out that his position was being eliminated several weeks ago, during a stretch, he noted wryly, when the breaks weren’t exactly going his way.
“I had a great couple of weeks in late October, early November,’’ he said, “where in the span of about 10 days, I lost my job, I lost my wedding ring in the produce department at Market Basket, and I won’t comment specifically on the events of Nov. 5, but they didn’t go how I’d hope, either. So it was quite the run.”
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As disappointing and downright scary as it is to lose employment, Tomase is pragmatic about how it played out. While NBC Sports Boston is in good shape compared with most regional sports networks, which have seen revenue dwindle due to cord-cutting, it’s hardly a surprise when one tries to save a few bucks any way it can. Tomase was not blindsided.
“I took that job six years ago, knowing that I was not going to retire there,’’ he said. “That’s just not how that industry works. It’s not like I’m special or an exception. It’s a rough business in general the [regional sports network] model, and even specific to NBC Sports Boston, think of all the good writers who have been let go over the last few years — [Sean] McAdam, Evan Drellich, Sherrod [Blakely], Haggs [Joe Haggerty].
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“That’s a lot of well-known people in the market and so I’d always said to friends who would ask how work is going, I’d say, ‘Great, until I get laid off,’ because you know it’s coming at some point.”
Tomase also recognized that his primary focus, the Red Sox, do not move the needle the way that the Patriots (even in a miserable season) or the Celtics (whose games are carried by NBC Sports Boston) do.
“I am 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 ingrained in that broadcast, which is our property,’’ said Tomase.
Some personal news: after 6 great years at NBC Sports Boston, I recently learned my contract will not be renewed. Rest assured, I will remain annoyed about the Red Sox refusing to spend. In the meantime, this is the part where I say I’m available to write/edit/clean the stables. — John Tomase (@jtomase) January 1, 2025
“And then there’s me over here on the Red Sox, at a time when the Red Sox aren’t as relevant as they used to be. I sort of knew it would be me if it ever came down to that. So, it was shocking in the moment, 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 that place, especially having come from WEEI, was everyone pulled in the same direction,’’ he said. “Everyone was smart. There was no backstabbing. I spent a lot of time in talk radio so I wasn’t prepared for that. It almost felt like ‘Pleasantville’ when I first got there, like, ‘Why is everyone so nice? What are they hiding?’ But it turns out, nothing. It’s a great place to work.”
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Tomase still receives vitriol from Patriots fans regarding his now-infamous story in the Boston Herald in February 2008 in which he reported erroneously that the Patriots had taped a Rams walkthrough in advance of Super Bowl XXXVI.
That was referenced in some social media responses to the news that his contract wasn’t being renewed. There were also plenty of people offering appreciation for the work he did at NBC Sports Boston, especially his willingness to be critical of the Red Sox and their Filene’s Basement approach to team-building in recent years.
“I guess I was pleasantly surprised to see that the social media reaction wasn’t as good-riddance as I expected it to be,’’ he said, “not that I’ve read a lot of that stuff.”
Tomase, one of the best pure writers in the Boston market, said he is hoping to remain in sports media.
“But that might not be up to me,’’ he said. “I have a mortgage and a family, so that comes first. But ideally I would like to stay.”
He did note that after that aforementioned rough stretch in October/November, he did catch one break.
“I found my wedding ring in the laundry 10 days after I thought I had lost it for good,’’ he said. “So maybe my luck is turning.”
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Red Sox broadcasting teams taking shape
NESN and WEEI are still ironing out final details (meaning getting signatures on contracts) for their Red Sox broadcasting teams next season. The full rosters and assignments will be announced either at or a day or two before Fenway Fest next Saturday, but here is some what I have heard from multiple sources.
As reported previously, 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 should happen for a few years now. He will work 100 games or so on television, and still do several 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 the pre- and postgame studio programming. He may even do TV studio work on some nights when he is part of the radio broadcast.
Sean McAdam at MassLive.com was the first to report that Kevin Youkilis’s contract with NESN expired after last season. I’ve been told it’s not out of the question that he’ll be part of a few NESN broadcasts this season, perhaps when the Red Sox are on the West Coast. MassLive also reported that Jackie Bradley Jr. and Rich Hill could be in the mix as analysts, which I have not confirmed.
John Tomase out after six years at NBC Sports Boston
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