There’s still no clarity at WZLX after end of Rich Shertenlieb’s show, and other sports media notes

When iHeartMedia, the parent company of WZLX, abruptly dropped “The Rich Shertenlieb Show” on Nov. 4 as part of sweeping budget cuts at its stations nationwide, the show’s host was let go. Frequent third host Ted Johnson was also part of the downsizing.

The status of co-host Michael Hurley and another frequent third voice, Emerson Lotzia, was less clear — and remains so, two weeks later.

On the stunning morning when the show was spiked before even reaching six months on the air, Hurley and Lotzia were asked by management whether they would be interested in sticking around and playing a role on the new show, expected to be a more traditional rock-radio morning program.

Both were open to the idea, but they’re in a weird sort of limbo, uncertain of what is to come next or whether they will be a part of it.

WZLX has been airing music in the morning, with Kenny Young — who had been the program director for Shertenlieb’s show — occasionally chiming in as the de facto host.

Hurley has not been on the air, but has still been showing up to work, writing occasional articles for the station’s website. Lotzia, whose primary job is as a host and personality on the Draft Kings Network, has not heard from management since the initial conversation about being part of whatever comes next for WZLX in morning drive.

Waiting on Sox lineup

The news this past week that the Yankees hired the outstanding Dave Sims away from the Mariners to succeed John Sterling on the team’s radio broadcasts brought a question from a number of readers:

What’s taking so long with the Red Sox?

It is a mild surprise that the Sox have not announced plans and personnel for their 2025 radio broadcasts despite Joe Castiglione’s retirement at the end of last season.

From what I gather, that is because there are a number of possible moving pieces, some of which could affect the analyst lineup for NESN’s broadcasts. Also, the Red Sox and WEEI want to announce their entire broadcast roster at the same time.

It’s a safe bet that Will Flemming — for whom Castiglione advocated as his successor — will be back, though neither Flemming nor the team has confirmed anything.

It’s uncertain whether the other primary role in the booth would go to a play-by-play voice or an analyst, but it is apparent that Lou Merloni is a strong candidate to be a significant part of the radio broadcast again

Merloni has been a part of both the radio and television broadcasts in recent years. He is likely to have some sort of split again, even if he ends up calling more games on the radio.

Massarotti withdraws

A tip of the cap to Boston University’s student newspaper, The Daily Free Press, and reporter Lauren Albano for the scoop Wednesday that Sports Hub host Tony Massarotti had decided to withdraw from teaching a journalism course at the university in the aftermath of making a racially insensitive comment on his radio show in October.

Albano reported that Massarotti — who has apologized on air and said he did not know that the word he used was derogatory toward people of Asian descent — was set to teach a course called Sports Media Then and Now.

Massarotti told the Free Press that he decided he should not teach the course after questions were raised about the comment.

“It occurred to me that there’s a grayness there, and I can understand why people would ask questions,” he said, “ . . . so the best thing to do is talk about it a little more.”

Up in the booth

If Patriots fans haven’t picked up on this, it would be understandable, because CBS’s No. 1 team of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo don’t come around these parts often anymore.

But Romo, after regressing to the point that his style became sort of a casual stream-of-consciousness the last couple of years, has been back on his game this season. He’s been sharper and more specific, to the point that one wonders if a truth-telling CBS executive finally got through to him about needing to be more focused.

Meanwhile, in Fox’s No. 1 NFL booth, a certain $375 million rookie analyst has stagnated a bit after making progress his first few weeks. Tom Brady was as coachable as anyone could be as a player, but it seems like he’s being overcoached and overprepared in his new job, and it’s causing paralysis to his analysis.

I’m telling you, he’d be at his best if he’d just be allowed to loosen up, tell us what he’s seeing with candor, and remember to connect his myriad experiences to what he’s watching on the field.