Exhibit Umpteen in the Boston Herald’s perpetual dis-ad-vantage appears in today’s Boston Globe. (In two parts for legibility.)
So why would’t the fine folks at UFCW Local 1445 run the same ad in the feisty local tabloid? The harddialing staff called to ask just that and . . . we got voicemail. We’ll keep you posted.
Meanwhile, the union snub come in the wake of Nike’s giving the Herald the air (but not the Air) on Tuesday when it ran this ad in the Globe to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Joan Benoit’s groundbreaking run in the first women’s Olympic Marathon.
Man, the thirsty local tabloid can’t get any love, can it?
There’s been a lot of hoopla about the Super PAC called Mass Forward, which has been ad-whacking gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley (D-The Weeds) on behalf of gubernatorial hopeful Steve Grossman (D-Everywhere Else). State lawmakers passed a law last week forcing independent expenditure groups to disclose their donors, and the latest ad from Mass Forward does.
Freeze-frame with disclosure:
Of course the name that jumps right out at you – and the local dailies – is Shirley Grossman. Subsequently this Matt Stout piece appeared in the Boston Herald delivered to the hardreading staff this morning.
A woman with the same name as the mother of state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Steve Grossman is among the top donors to a Super PAC backing his candidacy.
But the Grossman campaign is refusing to confirm whether the Shirley Grossman listed as a leading contributor to the Mass Forward Super PAC is Grossman’s mother, whose name is also Shirley Grossman . . .
Grossman’s campaign acknowledged that the candidate’s mother has the same name, but otherwise declined comment.
But here’s what’s on the Herald website (and in later editions of the paper) now, complete with That’s Just So Mean! photo:
Steve Grossman’s mom a top donor for Super PAC
State Treasurer Steve Grossman’s 92-year-old mom is a leading donor to a super PAC backing his gubernatorial campaign, the candidate confirmed last night.
“I can tell you, having had the first and only conversation I’ll have with my mother about her contribution this afternoon, she said, ‘Yeah, it was me. I do what I believe is appropriate with my money.’ I said you’re entitled to do what you want, I don’t want to know anything else.”
Grossman said he made the call after donor names were released in a PAC ad, and news broke on Bostonherald.com that his mother was a donor. He said neither he nor his campaign aides were previously aware of her donation, which prompted their cryptic response yesterday, when they would only confirm that Shirley Grossman is his mother’s name. He said he didn’t ask how much she donated.
Crosstown, the Boston Globe had the bright idea of going straight to the source from the start, resulting in this Akilah Johnson piece:
New law identifies Super PAC donors
A new state campaign finance law forced the release of the top five donors to a political action committee supporting state Treasurer Steve Grossman’s gubernatorial bid. Among them: his mother.
“I’m not young. I’m old, and I haven’t been able to do anything for the campaign, and I believe in Steve,” Shirley Grossman said in an interview. “I thought it over. I’m 92 years old. What could I do? I can’t go house to house.”
So, she decided to write a check to the Mass Forward political action committee.
On Monday, she wouldn’t say how much she had contributed, describing it only as “a lot of money.”
The moral of this story: Call your (or someone else’s) mother.
From our It’s Good to Leave in a Two-Daily Town desk
Former Red Sox hurler Jon Lester is getting a nice sendoff today in the local dailies.
The Boston Herald has him co-starring in this nifty charticle:
Crosstown at the Boston Globe, the redoubtable Bob Ryan ranks Lester among the great Red Sox lefties.
Jon Lester is a very good contemporary pitcher. He may once again wind up starting Game 1 in a Division Series, an ALCS, and a World Series. He has proven that he can handle the spotlight. There were no, “Yeah, buts . . . ” He is low maintenance, thoroughly professional, and eminently rootable. I wish the Red Sox had found a way to keep him.
And he certainly has a place in Red Sox history.
He is, however, not the best lefthanded pitcher in Red Sox history, as some have been saying these past few days.
I’ve got him slotted at No. 4.
Regardless of the third-runnerup slot, Lester ran this full-page ad in the Globe’s Sports section today.
Here’s the text:
Very sweet. But back at the feisty local tabloid, Lester had nothing for Herald Nation.
What’s up with that, Jon and Farrah, Hudson, Walker and the Lester family!
Nothing cheers up Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr quite like a good case of Globenfreude. So he had to be thrilled with this news:
Note the “Globe Staff” byline: That tells you this is all corporate eyewash that no reporter would attach a name to.
Out of it Carr fashions a three-rail Marty Walsh-John O’Brien-Globe nepotism bank shot.
It’s all relative at Globe
Dear Marty,
This too shall pass. As you well know, in Boston nothing is on the level. But what you may only now be realizing is that the Globe is even less on the level than the State House or City Hall.
You merely point out the fact that John O’Brien, a hack’s hack, was just doing his job, and all of a sudden the bow-tied bumkissers are kicking you down the stairs like you’re Scott Brown.
The Globe has a long and storied history — just ask them. They had a publisher named Taylor, who was succeeded by a guy named Taylor, who was succeeded by a guy named Taylor …
They had an editor named Winship, who was succeeded by a guy named Winship. The paper was then bought by Mr. Sulzberger, who had taken over for Mr. Sulzberger.
Pretty thin gruel that quickly runs out of Globe-Globe steam and descends to this:
The editor is named McGrory. He had some old-maid relative who wrote the same column every day for 86 years, all of which began, “Golly gee, isn’t Tip O’Neill a great man?”
That’s rich coming from a guy who’s mailed in so many columns, he deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Postal Service.
Why else would he refuse to hire Boston Herald readers?
From today’s Boston Globe:
(There’s plenty of news coverage of the latest developments in the Demoulas Slapfight/Market Basket Rumpus here.)
Crosstown at the feisty local tabloid, the only appearance of the ad was in this news report.
Market Basket is running ads today seeking directors and assistant directors for its stores, and accountants, accounts payable/receivable associates, and grocery and perishable buyers in Tewksbury and Andover. The fairs are open to employees seeking new positions and the public.
Market Basket is running ads (note the plural), just not in the Herald. So Market Basket does not want to hire Herald readers? That just seems wrong.
The thirsty local tabloid did, however, get a consolation prize – this ad from an alphabet-soup coalition attacking Hamas.
Even that was bittersweet, though. As the hardreading staff noted, the Globe had the ad a week ago.
Boston Herald columnist Margery Eagan is taking her talents crosstown to the Boston Globe’s Catholic website, according to Two-Daily Town sources. She’ll join the vertical the Globe established for John L. Allen Jr., former correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
The feisty local tabloid will be significantly less feisty without Eagan, who’s never been shy about weighing in on all matters Cathoholic.
Check out Boston Public Radio on WGBH radio this afternoon for further details from Globe editor Brian McGrory.
And all best, Margery.
UPDATE: Here’s the Globe press release.
Margery Eagan Named Spirituality Columnist For Crux, A New Website Covering Catholicism
BOSTON (July 30, 2014) – Margery Eagan, a well-known Boston columnist and radio talk show host, will become the spirituality columnist for Crux, a website devoted to Catholicism being launched by Boston Globe Media Partners in early September.
Eagan has been a columnist at the Boston Herald since the early 1980s, interrupted by a stint as a senior writer at Boston Magazine. She will continue to co-host “Boston Public Radio,” a daily current events talk show, with Jim Braude on WGBH Radio (89.7 FM).
In her column for Crux, Eagan will explore issues of spirituality, contemplation, and devotion, drawing on her personal experience with her Catholic faith, as well as that of other Catholics and those of various religious traditions.
“Margery has had a longstanding fascination with issues around spirituality and has spent no small part of her adult life exploring deep issues involving her Catholic faith,” said Globe editor Brian McGrory. “We couldn’t be more delighted to add her smart, engaging voice to our strong roster of reporters and columnists that will be the backbone of this new site.”
Crux will be a standalone website that covers the institution of the church, with particular focus on how the words and actions of Pope Francis affect Catholics worldwide. It will delve into the practices and challenges of living a Catholic life, and publish the wide-ranging thoughts and opinions of Catholics and others. It will be found atwww.cruxnow.com. Readers can follow Crux on Twitter, @Crux, and Facebook,facebook.com/crux.
Teresa Hanafin, editor of the new site, said Eagan’s exploration of her own spirituality through retreats and extensive reading will add a valuable dimension to Crux. “There are many, many Catholics who engage in a very deep, spiritual examination of their faith and their personal relationship with God,” Hanafin said. “Margery is of that world. She understands it, she experiences it, and now she will discuss it with the readers of Crux.”
A native of Fall River, Massachusetts, Eagan received a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Stanford University. She has written for the Fall River Herald News, the New Bedford Standard Times, the Burlington Free Press in Vermont, Boston Magazine, and the Globe. She has appeared on CNN and Fox News, and is a regular panelist on “Beat the Press,” a media criticism show that is part of the “Greater Boston” public affairs show on WGBH television.
Pressure mounts on Market Basket board of directors
No decision on offer of buyout by Demoulas as chain’s losses increase
With a multibillion-dollar supermarket empire hanging in the balance, the Market Basket board of directors met Monday to again consider a buyout offer from Arthur T. Demoulas but agreed only to continue negotiating, according to a person briefed on the discussions.
Demoulas had previously set the end of Monday as the deadline for rival members of his family to respond to his offer to buy their half of the company. The board’s continued negotiations will keep Demoulas’s bid on the table for now, according to the person familiar with the discussions, but both sides are facing pressure to resolve the family feud that has paralyzed the 71-store chain and caused tens of millions of dollars in losses.
Among those pressures: a total revolt by Market Basket store managers.
Are-they-nuts graf:
Meanwhile, managers of some stores signed a petition stating that they would resign unless Arthur T. Demoulas is reinstated as president of Market Basket or if the company is sold to an outside buyer. It was unclear how many managers had signed the petition Monday night.
Excuse us – it was not unclear to the Boston Herald.
It’s ‘Artie T’ or they’re bagging it
Market Basket managers to quit unless CEO reinstated
Market Basket managers have reaffirmed their commitment to working for nobody else but fired CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, saying they’ll quit if he isn’t reinstated — a threat that could remove the working management of most of the chain’s stores, already reeling from a loss of customers and protests by thousands of workers.
Managers and assistant managers from 68 of the Tewksbury chain’s 71 stores had signed a petition by yesterday evening stating they would resign immediately if Demoulas isn’t reinstated “with full authority” or another buyer other than Demoulas purchases the company, according to Steve Paulenka, a former Market Basket facilities and operations supervisor who was fired July 20 for helping spearhead employee protests and job walk-offs.
So who’s doing a better job of bagging this story?
The Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman got an email interview with Boston GlobeSox owner John Henry, which, of course, was Page One news for the feisty local tabloid.
The email exchange between Silverman and Henry was pretty much what you’d expect.
Henry takes stock of perplexing Sox
The Red Sox are genuinely perplexed.
Barely more than two weeks ago, principal owner John Henry was told by his general manager that the Red Sox “are probably the best team in the division. We just aren’t playing like it.”
The reasons behind the team’s incredibly underwhelming and disappointing caliber of play for most of the first four months of the season are not clear to Henry and the front office. With the trade deadline looming Thursday, Henry and his baseball operations people have been trying to get a better handle on what’s gone wrong and discover if there’s time left to fix it.
It’s not exactly riveting stuff – when Silverman asks if the Sox are sellers or buyers, Henry replies, “We’ll see what happens (this) week.”
Ya think?
But there is one juicy item in the piece: A not-so-veiled reference to this from Boston Globe scribe (and Henry employee) Dan Shaughnessy last Sunday (reproduced in full for, well, full effect).
When did Boston go so soft on the Red Sox?
At this hour, your Boston Red Sox enjoy a friendlier environment than almost any of the 30 teams in baseball. The Sox have a chance to finish in last place for the second time in three years, win a playoff game in only one of six seasons, and still be perceived by their fans as “perennial contenders.’’ The Sox can play nine games under .500 for the first 95 games and still have a Nation of believers thinking they can win the division, or compete for the phony second wild card. Sox owners can pare payroll ($72.5 million scheduled to come off the books for next year), stay well below the coveted luxury tax threshold, and listen to regional applause while fans pay the highest ticket prices in baseball. The Sox can get folks to buy into the notion that it’s foolish to compete in the open market for the services of their best pitcher. Sox tickets and merchandise are hotter than they were at this time last summer and Pat Moscaritolo, president of a Boston tourist group, says, “For the past 10 years that I’ve been tracking visitor spending and the economic impact of the Red Sox, it’s almost unaffected by the team’s performance.’’
The Sox were positively surging with five wins in six games against terrible/mediocre teams (aggregate 21 games under .500) as they prepped for the Royals Saturday night. The KC-Boston matchup is a good one, since it sometimes sounds like the Sox want to be a middle-market team. Like the Royals of recent decades (29 years since making the playoffs), the Sox now sell the fans on “watching the kids.” Don’t people realize that EVERY team has a farm system stocked with young players who’d love to play in front of sellout crowds in the moribund final months of a season? It amazes me how soft this baseball market has become. In 1978 fans and media crushed the Sox for a 99-win season that concluded with eight consecutive pressure-packed victories. The Boston manager was unmercifully booed on Opening Day the following year. Now everything is awesome because the Boston ballpark is a tourist destination and fans fall in love with the hype of every young player coming through the system. Swell. When did we become St. Louis?
Ouch. The only thing Shaughnessy left out? That the principal owner of the GlobeSox etc. etc.
Regardless, how much fun is it that Henry employed his own crosstown rival to dope-slap his wayward minion, saying this:
“Fans continue to sell out Fenway. They’ve suffered through some really bad games this year, but they continue to show up and the mood at the park among the fans is very positive when I walk through the stands. Before Tom [Werner], Larry [Lucchino] and I arrived I believe fans had less patience.
“A loud curmudgeon I know accuses them of being soft, bad fans — but anyone paying attention knows the mood has changed at Fenway over the years. People expect good things from the Sox and really love being at Fenway. This team accomplished something very special last year therefore the fans aren’t about to not give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Love that double negative. Wonder what Mr. Shaughnessy thinks.
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It's Good to Live in a Two-Daily Town 