Monday, August 31, 2015

Red Sox confiscate Don Orsillo posters to hinder fan protest

save Don Orsillo card

The Boston Red Sox told employees to confiscate signs from fans supporting announcer Don Orsillo prior to Monday’s game against the New York Yankees.

News emerged last week that NESN would not be bringing back Orsillo as the TV play-by-play announcer next season and instead would promote Dave O’Brien from the radio team to TV. The news was met with contempt from Red Sox fans who have grown accustomed to hearing Orsillo call their games over the past 15 years.

The news was published last week while the Red Sox were on the road, so the best opportunity fans had to protest came on Monday. The Boston Globe reports that the Sox were prepared for a protest and instructed employees to confiscate pro-Orsillo signs. NESN also moved its pregame show location.

Via The Boston Globe:

To prevent a potentially embarrassing scene, NESN moved its pregame show from Yawkey Way to a more secure spot near the Red Sox dugout. Two Sox employees told the Globe that workers at Fenway turnstiles were ordered to confiscate any signs supporting Orsillo as fans entered Fenway.

The Globe later deleted the line about the confiscation due to “weak sourcing,” but it’s clear the fans have spoken.

In addition to creating signs, a fan group distributed “Save Don” cards to fans.

An online petition protesting the firing of Orsillo also has received over 50,000 signatures.

Did NESN and the Red Sox really think they would be able to fire one of the most popular announcers in town and get away with it? The fans are doing what they can to make their voices heard.



from Larry Brown Sports http://ift.tt/1X8A6aS

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