Glenn Ordway, who in a near-50-yr broadcasting job proven himself as one particular of the most influential voices in the record of Boston sports radio, announced Tuesday that he will be retiring from his total-time purpose at WEEI at the finish of the summer season.
“I’m heading to chill out a little bit and get pleasure from lifestyle,” reported Ordway, 70, at the top of Tuesday’s show.
Ordway, who cohosts the afternoon-drive “OMF” application with Lou Merloni and Christian Fauria, claimed he will split his time concerning Boston and Scottsdale, Ariz., after leaving the every day function, but programs to however add to the station outside of August.
He will remain on as host of “The Actual Postgame Show” right after Patriots online games, and will acquire a podcast.
“We’re conversing about things appropriate now,” reported Ordway, who has time remaining on his deal further than this yr, “but I do want to do ‘The Real Postgame Show.’ I’ve done it for a zillion yrs with individuals two guys, Fred [Smerlas] and [Steve] DeOssie.
“But there’s a bunch of other stuff. I’m likely to be dropping in.
“I’m going to have a existence on the radio station, which is perfect for me. It will give me an possibility to remain embedded listed here and still have my flexibility and invest time with my family members.”
Ordway, who acquired renown as a radio voice of the Celtics from 1982-95, has put in 34 years as a host at WEEI. His greatest good results at the station came although helming the hugely rated afternoon-travel method “The Huge Show” in the ’90s and early 2000s.
“Glenn has been an ever-existing drive at WEEI, equally on air and off air, for over a few decades,” reported Mark Hannon, regional president for WEEI’s parent organization, Audacy, in a assertion. “He was the station’s first plan director and oversaw some of the most dominant a long time in Boston radio.
“He has been an enduring on-air existence and has been side-by-side talking to Boston athletics followers by way of the most effective and worst moments.”
WEEI’s ratings took a strike when 98.5 The Sporting activities Hub released in August 2008, with the upstart station’s “Felger and Massarotti” program promptly seizing rankings supremacy in that afternoon-travel window.
WEEI fired Ordway in February 2013, changing him with Mike Salk, perhaps the most disastrous transaction in Boston sporting activities radio lore. A new current market supervisor and previous colleague of Ordway’s, Phil Zachary, rehired him as the midday host in August 2015, and along with Merloni and Fauria, he was moved back to afternoon generate in July 2018.
“To be equipped to do anything I’ve cherished performing each day for nearly 5 decades has been a blessing,” claimed Ordway, “but to do it in the most effective sports activities metropolis during the greatest championship run in the historical past of sports activities, what far more can you inquire for?”
Chad Finn can be attained at [email protected]. Observe him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.
