At one time, Glenn Ordway’s “Big Show” on WEEI in Boston had the highest ratings for any local sports radio show in the country. Ordway’s influence on the market over an 18 year span on WEEI is immeasurable. He helped to launch the radio careers of several personalities including Bob Ryan and Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe, and current rivals Michael Felger and Tony Massaroti.
Ordway helped to launch the station when WEEI flipped from an all-talk format to all-sports in 1995. He wore several hats at the station including afternoon drive host, program director and Voice of the Boston Celtics. He brought in several writers from the Boston Globe and Herald to be on his show, then when the Globe refused to allow its writers to appear on WEEI, Ordway turned to ex-jocks to fill the void and gained even more popularity.
WEEI and Ordway were able to fend off two sports radio challengers over the years, but when CBS Radio decided to launch the Sports Hub on FM, Boston finally had a rivalry, but it became one-sided when the Sports Hub began drubbing WEEI in the ratings. And while WEEI got a brief reprieve last when Ordway’s show, now co-hosted with Michael Holley beat Felger and Massaroti. But that changed in the latest Fall ratings when the Sports Hub beat WEEI like a drum.
The news broke about Ordway’s departure through the Boston Globe’s Chad Finn when it was reported that current 710 ESPN host Mike Salk in Seattle would replace Ordway.
WEEI gave Ordway the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans today and he will be able to finish out the week, a rarity in the radio business these days.
WEEI has released this statement:
WEEI has decided to part ways with Glenn Ordway, co-host of “The Big Show”. Ordway made the announcement on-air Wednesday, February 13 that his last day will be this Friday. Michael Holley will serve as host of “The Big Show” for the foreseeable future and WEEI expects to make an announcement in the coming days about Michael’s new co-host.
“Glenn and I have been together since day one. He is an icon in this business and he helped build WEEI into arguably the most successful sports station in history,” said Jason Wolfe, VP of programming and operations for Entercom Boston. “I am so thankful to have been able to work alongside Glenn for the past 20-plus years and I hope that all Boston sports fans realize how important his contributions have been to this station, to the market and to this industry. He’s a true professional and that was clearer than ever in his comments today.”
As Finn reported, Mike Salk from Seattle, a Massachusetts native and a man who knows the Boston area, is expected to replace Ordway. Hoping to get some reaction to Salk’s potential departure. He currently co-hosts a popular morning drive show with Brock Huard on 710 ESPN.
