For decades, area sports fans have been tuning in to of Channel 5 Sports, who is a native son of Swampscott, and Bob Lobel, formerly of Channel 4.
On Monday night about 150 fans got to hear the two broadcast icons talk sports in person at the Jewish Community Center in Marblehead.
Sports Huddle host Billy Fairweather mediated the discussion.
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What follows are a some of the highlights of the evening and how the two sports experts think the local teams will fare this year.
Lobel on his relationship with Lynch:
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"I always thought that we could have just as easily have worked together, as we did working for different stations. . .The business can be tough and competitive, but I felt like we let the business people take care of the business and we stayed above the fray."
Lynch on the era of sports news broadcasts in Boston from the 1980s on:
"We were lucky, there was never a night when we said ,'Gee, what are going to fill the time with?' Usually, we were trying to figure out how to fit it all in."
Lynch on the impact of new technology on sports reporting now:
"It was pretty big to have a scoop in the days before cell phones. You just kind of sat there biting your fingernails until 6 p.m., hoping that it didn't show up on Channel 4 or Channel 7 first."
Lobel's story about being offered the job to replace Brent Musberger at CBS, and turning it down:
"It just didn't feel right, so we decided to stay here and the network turned around and offered the job to Jim Nantz and he's been there ever since. . .but there is a very good chance that had I taken it I would have failed. I respect what Jim does, but he's very even-keeled and I'm too full of energy, I probably would have flamed out in three years."
Lynch on working in his hometown:
"When I was growing up if someone had told me that I'd have Don Gillis' job someday, I'd have said where do I sign up . . . If my time here came to an end, I couldn't go to another city and do this, because my pasison is natural, it's not feigned. I always want the Boston teams to win."
On the Red Sox this year:
Lobel — "Their problem this year is expectations. The only way they can win is to win the whole thing."
Lynch — "They went out and loaded up in the offseason to try and cover their weaknesses and if they can stay healthy, they should be alright."
On whether there will be an NFL season next year:
Lobel — "I can't imagine it not happening. I think somewhere three owners and three players are meeting in secret trying to figure out how to split up $9 billion, I mean they have to be."
Lynch — "If this were August 28 instead of March 28, I'd be a little worried, but again, they're arguing about how to split up $9 billion. I have to figure that they'll get it done. I'd be stunned if they even missed one pre-season game."
On the Bruins' chances to win the Stanley Cup this year:
Lobel —"I don't think so. . . I don't think they're good enough."
Lynch — "I think they have a good chance, it all depends on their goaltending."
On the Celtics' recent struggles:
Lynch — "One word Rondo. His head is a bit messed up right now by the trade of Kendrick Perkins and he has to grow out of that a bit."
Lobel — "Oh, he's (Rondo) got to grow up and move on already."
