Boston Red Sox Announcer Don Orsillo Headed to San Diego
By DJ Smith
On Tuesday night San Diego Padres President and CEO Mike Dee announced that Don Orsillo would be joining the Padres broadcast team in January 2016. The partnership between Orsillo and San Diego had been in the works hours after it was announced that Orsillo’s contract would not be renewed with NESN after the 2015 season.
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The move has caught backlash amongst Boston Red Sox fans, with an already disappointing team on the field removing the teams beloved broadcast voice seemed like the straw that broke the camels back. There were online petitions motioning for Orsillo to remain at NESN, there were protests at Fenway Park and even t-shirts made with the slogan “SAVE ORSILLO”
This whole ordeal has been an absolute disaster for NESN, the Red Sox and unfortunately for Don Orsillo. NESN and the Red Sox to a larger extent are the reason that this has gotten blown up as much as it did, obviously there was going to be some backlash amongst fans after the decision was made but the way they have handled it has been borderline embarrassing.
Start with the claim that Red Sox attendants were confiscating signs showing support for Don Orsillo, all the way up to this past week’s video tribute that was purposely not shown on NESN.
Told by reliable sources that NESN refused to air tribute to Don Orsillo that ran on CF video board during game
— Mike Lynch (@LynchieWCVB) September 28, 2015
For Orsillo this has got to be an absolute nightmare, he lost his job without any real rhyme or reason all because someone got bored with hearing him call games (even though he was great at his job). Even after he gets canned, he still has to finish out the season and being the true professional that he is doesn’t make one comment about the situation. If that doesn’t tell you what kind of person that Don Orsillo, well you must work for NESN then.
To all the San Diegans (I think that’s what they’re called in Anchorman), you are getting an absolute professional in Don Orsillo. While the departure of longtime Padres announcer Dick Enberg at the end of the 2016 season may be disappointing to Padre fans, they are getting someone who is no slouch.
He’ll give you some great calls:
He’ll make you laugh at the most opportune times:
I’m sure Boston fans wish it didn’t end like this Don, but I think I speak for everyone when I say I hope San Diego treats you well. God knows you deserved so much better than what you got in Boston.
One final call from one of the most iconic voices in Boston sports history.
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