From WCVB’s SportsCenter 5, Host Chris Gasper brings you weekly, insider views into New England sports.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Jim McBride has called The Boston Globe home for more than 30 years, starting as a co-op student from Suffolk University and now as Patriots beat reporter. He's here with Gasper to discuss where he thinks the Patriots are heading in a pivotal off-season, why Bill Belichick still thinks he can win with Cam Newton, the most important free agent the Patriots need to retain, and the former Patriots QB that McBride thinks could be due for a second act. Like many of us, McBride’s life was upended by the pandemic, but that didn’t stop his Patriots coverage. McBride was the only reporter traveling to cover the team for road games last season, and even he agrees that fans in the stand will help boost the Patriots' product.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Steve Bulpett is the dean of Celtics beat writers. He spent 35 consecutive years covering the Celtics, and no one in the history of the team has covered them as a beat writer for longer. He's here with us to discuss all things NBA. This is Bulpett’s first season in almost four decades not following the team, home and away. But that doesn’t mean he doesn't still have the scoop on the Green. He shares his views on calls for Brad Stevens' job, the hero ball tendencies of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and how Danny Ainge is viewed by other NBA GMs. Like many of us, he wasn't impressed by NBA All-Star “weekend” and thinks the dunk contest is lacking. He also shares some amazing stories from the glory days of the Larry Bird Celtics when the players and the media had a lot more in common, including sharing flights and buses.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
Wednesday Mar 03, 2021
The man, the myth, the Boston sports broadcasting legend Mike Lynch returns to give us his insights on the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots, and the Kardashian clan. Lynchie shares his view on what's ailing the underperforming Celtics and lets you know whether they're championship contenders or pretenders. It wouldn’t be a lecture from Professor Lynch if he didn’t bring out his notebook to rattle off some stats – just hope he doesn’t break out his red pen for grading. He shares his level of optimism for the Sox and hops in the way back machine to the last time so little was expected from them and Lynchie provides his prescription for the Patriots at quarterback. Hint: It involves houndstooth. Finally, producer Ellen Fleming and Lynchie share a bond and a love of pop culture references; she just wasn't alive for any of the ones Mike makes.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy stops by. He explains why the Red Sox are internally optimistic about the 2021 season despite a lot of external skepticism surrounding the team. Kennedy admits that last season's last-place finish was "a disgrace" for the club. He pushes back against the notion of the Sox operating with a small-market mentality under Chaim Bloom and becoming the "FenRays." He also discusses the outlook for having fans in the stands at Fenway Park by Opening Day. Plus, he tells us whether he foresees his friend and former Sox GM Theo Epstein returning to the Sox and producer Ellen Fleming grills Kennedy on a key aspect of ballpark operations.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Chris Gasper is joined by ESPN NFL Front Office Insider, former GM of the New York Jets, and head of Football Operations of the Miami Dolphins Mike Tannenbaum. A Needham native, Tannenbaum has been part of the NFL since the mid-90s when Bill Belichick gave him his first shot in Cleveland. Tannenbaum explains why the Patriots are still a destination for free agents. He says the solution for Belichick at quarterback will take more than one player and reveals why teams that are looking for a QB in the 2021 NFL Draft are going to have to be more aggressive than usual or regret missing out. Gasper also asked Tannenbaum about his role in Spygate and gets him to tell us which Boston sports team he still follows religiously. It's not the one you think.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Chris Gasper is joined by Ted Johnson, ex-Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion. Johnson explains why Brady's Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a victory for other ex-Pats. He provides some insight into the inner workings of Bill Belichick's iron-fisted program, explains why the Bucs' victory reminded him of the Patriots' first Super Bowl win and discusses how Belichick is going to have to change his ways in the wake of Brady's triumphant departure. Plus, producer Ellen Fleming shares what disease a Jack Black character coined that Brady might have.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Chris Gasper is joined by Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal. Bedard is here to call Gasper out for being a TB12-Anon and crediting just Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers being in the 2021 Super Bowl. Bedard still believes the Patriots can win with any of the top 15 NFL QBs. They may be on opposite sides of the isles when it comes to the Brady vs. Belichick debate, but the two can thankfully agree on another ex-Patriots QB and his possible return. Bedard shares a very telling Brady story. Lastly, producer Ellen Fleming asks the question everyone wants to know: What foods make Greg Bedard’s Super Bowl spread game-plan?
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Chris Gasper is joined by the best-dressed guy in New England football outside of Cam Newton, Mike Giardi of the NFL Network. They break down Tom Brady making a 10th Super Bowl in 19 seasons and discuss if Brady bringing the Buccaneers to the Big Game in year one will light a fire under Bill Belichick.
Also, Gasper asks certified FOG (Friend of Garoppolo) Giardi about a possible reunion between Jimmy G and the Pats…and Giardi explains why Matthew Stafford might not be clamoring to play QB in Foxborough. Producer Ellen Fleming states why the Brady vs. Belichick drama is a little overstated, but she's most passionate about the weird flex Giardi has featured in his Zoom background.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021
Chris Gasper is breaking down the Celtics with Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. America has struggled to curb COVID-19, so it shouldn’t be shocking that the virus is altering the NBA's schedule. How is the league going to move forward this season? Also, Gasper asks Himmelsbach for his thoughts on how Kemba Walker's return changes the dynamics of an already promising Celtics season. Himmelsbach recounts just how happy Danny Ainge was to draft rookie revelation Payton Pritchard and throws out a trade target for the Celtics. Producer Ellen Fleming jumps in with thoughts on the Pritchard nickname debate and reveals why James Harden would've been a bad fit for the Green — it has nothing to do with basketball.
Email the Take 5 podcast at Take5@WCVB.com
Follow Chris Gasper and WCVB on Twitter @CGasper & @WCVB
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021
Chris Gasper is talking with The Washington Post’s Michael Lee, who focuses on the intersection of gender, diversity and how sports shape our society. Players across the NBA have been passionate and outspoken advocates for racial equality and social justice, so it shouldn't be a surprise that many spoke out about a double standard after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Gasper and Lee cover the ongoing advocacy work of pro athletes, including the landmark impact of the WNBA in a U.S. Senate race. Producer Ellen Fleming jumps in to discuss the WNBA’s campaign in support of Rev. Raphael Warnock, who defeated incumbent senator and WNBA team co-owner, Kelly Loeffler to become Georgia's first Black senator. Also, Lee tackles what he believes could happen with the NBA as players continue to be out of commission due to COVID-19.