Former WEEI host Kirk Minihane didn’t hold back when discussing his former radio home, delivering a pointed critique of WEEI’s current lineup while dismissing any notion that he could someday return to the station under its present structure.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of The Kirk Minihane Show for Barstool Sports, the former WEEI host painted an unflattering picture of the iconic Boston sports radio brand, questioning both its relevance and its ability to cultivate compelling on-air talent in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
“I don’t listen to WEEI anymore,” Minihane said. “It’s amazing how bad WEEI is. It’s amazing how f***ing bad it is. I love reading about how irrelevant something is.”
That tone carried throughout the discussion, as Minihane — who co-hosted mornings at the station before his 2019 departure — argued that WEEI has failed to produce a transformative voice since his exit, framing himself as the last personality to meaningfully shift the station’s trajectory.
“Everybody at the station, WEEI, stinks on air right now,” he said. “I was thinking what was the last legitimate game changer that either station [WEEI, 98.5 The Sports Hub] produced? And I swear to God, it’s me.”
Moreover, Minihane suggested that the station’s struggles extend beyond individual shows, instead pointing to what he believes is a systemic inability to develop star-driven programming that resonates with modern audiences. While sports radio continues to adapt alongside podcasting and digital distribution, he argued that WEEI has not identified or nurtured a single standout voice capable of breaking through.
“Fourteen years ago, I started in the mornings. They have not developed a single person who somebody says I want to listen to this person,” Minihane said. “They [listeners] say I want to listen to sports radio — the two percent that listen to it — but they have not developed one star.”
In addition, Minihane dismissed any speculation about a potential return to the station, which is owned by Audacy, using sarcasm to underline his lack of interest in revisiting a corporate radio environment he no longer finds appealing.
“When I was driving back from Belmont Country Club, Mutt said to me, ‘Hey, has Audacy or Entercom reached out to you at all about coming back?’” Minihane said. “I was like, yeah, Audacy’s calling me three times a week to offer me a contract.”
He continued by joking that such a scenario would never materialize, adding, “I’m not a loser like your hero. The gambling guy [Craig Carton] who will crawl back. What a loser. He’ll come back whenever he wants..”
Ultimately, Minihane’s comments reinforce the divide between his current role in digital media and the traditional sports radio structure he once helped define. While also adding another chapter to his long-running critique of WEEI’s direction in a crowded Boston market.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
