Sports radio has always been built on debate. Conversations where opinions are shared and supported by factual evidence. When 98.5 The Sports Hub launched in August 2009, many within the industry debated how its legacy would compare to other sports radio brands across the country. What cannot be denied, however, is the massive success story the Sports Hub has created. A station led by the afternoon duo of Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti for the entirety of its successful existence.
For eight straight years, 98.5 The Sports Hub has ranked No. 1 in the Barrett Media Major Market Sports Station Rankings. A major reason is the consistency of Felger & Mazz. The program also ranked as the top major market afternoon show in the latest Barrett Media rankings. It marked the third straight year and fifth time overall.
“Any recognition you can get from your peers, those are the people live it and know what it’s like,” said Massarotti. “Those always carry a little more weight than others.”
For 20 straight quarters, Felger and Mazz have sat atop the Boston sports radio mountain. The market is defined by passionate sports fans who fuel the region’s conversations every day. New storylines and rumors fill the air across New England, and Felger and Mazz have held the mantle as a destination for Boston sports fans since 2009.
According to Felger, the last time the show wasn’t at the top of that mountain came in the spring of 2011. Tom Brady was still a Patriot, ‘Big Papi’ was still a Red Sox, and the Boston Bruins were about to win their most recent Stanley Cup championship. Despite the long run of success, Massarotti says the day-to-day approach for the program has never changed.
“No matter how long it’s been, you always worry about maintaining your focus and intensity for the next one. It’s the challenge that’s at your fingertips every day,” notes Massarotti. “Over time you start to recognize that not every show can be great for any number of reasons. But the drive is always there. You never go in thinking you can mail it in today. None of us look at it that way.”
Explaining Boston Sports Radio
A native of the area, Massarotti believes the program has its finger on the pulse of the Boston sports fan. Before taking the microphone at 98.5 The Sports Hub, both Felger and Massarotti worked in print journalism for the Boston Herald and Boston Globe, respectively. The two worked together and separately at competing publications, but their respect for each other and their chemistry never wavered.
From their early days as writers to nearly 20 years hosting afternoons on The Sports Hub, Massarotti says Boston fans’ passion elevated sports media. He says it also shaped their time on Felger and Mazz.
“I try not to overthink it,” Massarotti said with a laugh. “It’s a unique fanbase. I don’t know how else to describe it. People really care about the home teams, and it’s what makes it a great sports media town.”
Massarotti believes one of the most unique aspects of Boston sports fans is the level of accountability they demand from the teams they support. He noted that sense of accountability remains at an all-time high and helps guide the show’s daily content decisions.
He also says he leans on Felger’s instinct for identifying what the audience wants from Felger and Mazz. Over time, Massarotti has learned to trust his partner’s sense for how to approach each day’s topics.
“Mike’s [Felger] on top of it, and I sort of defer to him on that,” explained Massarotti. “I will try to simplify and do the best show we can do today, tomorrow, and the day after that. Mike has a tremendous grasp on what interests people and will stimulate them as far as engagement. That has always worked well for us.”
The Power Of Television
When curating content, Felger and Mazz is one of two programs simulcast on NBC Sports Boston. The station provides more than eight continuous hours of live programming for the network. Clips from those shows are later curated for social media. Massarotti said their program resembles a radio show on television. He noted industry trends increasingly move in the opposite direction.
While he insists he doesn’t pay much attention to the camera during the show, he understands the value of having another platform where audiences can consume the content.
“It’s a radio show first, and a TV show second. But there are times where either side could be more significant than the other, but it helps us in both ways,” said Massarotti. “On days where people aren’t in the cars, they’re still consuming the product.”
Many sports radio brands now distribute video through platforms like YouTube or Twitch. However, the NBC Sports Boston agreement prevents the show from streaming live on those services. Massarotti said he does not spend much time thinking about where audiences consume the product. He acknowledged the industry continues evaluating new opportunities.
“In many cases, a lot of shows aren’t simulcast,” said Massarotti. “The ability to get on a streaming platform of some kind, in our case we’ve already had it. Of course, everybody thinks about how we could expand it further… I’m kind of a simpleton. Whether it’s for radio, TV, streaming, you still must do the show. I just want as the show to reach as many people as possible.”
Legacy
Despite the daily debates Felger and Mazz host about sports, the industry has long debated which sports radio program deserves the title of the greatest of all time. Recently, Barrett Media CEO Jason Barrett reflected on the legacy of Felger and Mazz compared to WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog.
“I think we’re getting to a point where you can make a case for Felger and Mazz for being on the Mike and the Mad Dog level,” said Barrett. “I don’t know if they’re there yet, but that station went on in 2009. It’s now 2026, and all they’ve done is win for 15 years.”
Now halfway through their 17th year together in afternoons, the show has delivered massive ratings success. Despite that résumé, Massarotti says he rarely thinks about the program’s legacy.
“I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what it looks like from the standpoint of twenty thousand feet in regard to the rest of the country. I’m just not wired that way,” notes Massarotti. “I’m certainly flattered and honored by any comparisons, but it still comes back to the same thing. Day to day it’s about going in, doing the show and making it work with the people you work with.”
Massarotti humbly insists that while many in the industry recognize the show’s success, the real challenge lies in maintaining that same level of effort.
“Keep the pace. Legacy is decided by the people who listen and watch the show. That’s ultimately how it goes,” explained Massarotti. “Look at what Stephen A. Smith has become. I would tell you that it’s a phenomenon. But from his perspective, he gets up and goes to work just like everyone else. On this side of it, it’s incredibly nice for anyone to make comparisons like that.”
After years of sitting atop the mountain and continuing to earn recognition from his peers, Massarotti believes his career is in a good place. His career spans newspapers and radio, and it includes writing five books and earning a Marconi Award. Even so, Massarotti says he doesn’t take any day for granted and continues to follow the same model that has guided every opportunity he’s received.
In an industry constantly chasing the next platform, the next distribution method, or the next viral moment, Felger and Mazz remain proof that the core elements of sports radio still matter most.
Strong opinions. Authentic chemistry. A deep understanding of the audience.
Those ingredients helped turn a brand-new station in 2009 into the dominant sports radio force in Boston for more than a decade. The debate about the greatest sports radio shows of all time will continue across the industry, because that conversation is woven into the fabric of the format itself.
But the longer Felger and Mazz continue stacking ratings wins and connecting with Boston sports fans, the harder it becomes to keep their name out of that discussion.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
