ABOUT TOWN: Mike Adams of WEEI's "Planet Mikey" Conquers Stoughton

PLANET MIKEY CONQUERS STOUGHTON: Mike Adams, creator and host of Planet Mikey on WEEI sports talk radio (93.7 FM in Boston and 103.7 FM in Providence), was the featured speaker at the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting at the N.E. Sinai Hospital and Rehabilitation Center on Monday night.  

Adams features a lot of self-deprecating humor ("I look just like the guy you have in produce," he quipped to the Stop & Shop contingent in the crowd), and had the audience laughing hysterically.

Adams said he was thrilled to be in Stoughton.  “It’s a manly-sounding town. It’s not like Beverly, or Seekonk,” he joked. He said he just loved radio. “Radio beats working. I talk sports. People call when they’re drunk. I talk them down. People just love to complain. We’ve only won [multiple] championships in Boston.”

He spoke about his first job after he graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Adams started at WINF in Manchester, CT in 1973 at 19.  He said the station at 250 watts “had less power than your hair dryer.”

"You know you're really fond of your craft if you can talk six hours to yourself," he joked.

But, he didn't stop there, according to his biography. Two years later he moved to Hartford to do radio in Connecticut's big city.  Then after various stints at stations in Springfield, MA and Portland, ME, and Hartford again, Adams broke into TV.

His television debut came in 1985 at WFSB-TV in Hartford.  He went big time with “Sports World” at Boston's New England Cable News in 1992.  He stayed there for five years, and earned three Emmy Awards and Boston's Best Sports Anchor two years in a row.  Adams also hosted shows for Classic Sports Network in New York City (he wasn’t thrilled with NY), as well as WFXT Fox 25 in Boston. 

But, he really arrived in the World with the beginnings of his own Planet at WEEI in 1993. After a dozen years at the station, he launched The Planet Mikey program in December of 2005, which can still be heard evening weeknights on WEEI.  Adams lives in the Greater Boston area with his second wife Christine and his two young sons Andy and Will.

Adams spoke to the chamber crowd and took some questions, discussing everything from ex-Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine to the recently settled NHL lockout to his competitor at 98.5 the Sports Hub to the original Celtics "Big 3" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

Adams had quick solutions for problems in two sports. He told the crowd, “As far as hockey is concerned, they are always complaining there’s not enough offense. Use two pucks! ... And, plan the fights for between periods in a cage, rather than on the ice,” he said, to mass laughter.

He added, “I also have a way to revolutionize baseball. We simply put a barcode on the balls, and place a scanner at home plate. Perfect calls every time on balls and strikes.”

Adams said that he and his first wife were very happy for twenty years, “then we met.”  He’s in his 50s and has a two year old son. “I buy cases of Pampers. I buy them extra large. Because I’ll be wearing them soon myself.”

So, what did he predict for the New England Patriots, who host the Houston Texans Sunday in a Divisional Round playoff matchup with a trip to the AFC title game on the line?

Adams said that the Houston Texans are “relatively fraudulent” and he expects the Patriots to beat them easily. In fact, the Planet Mikey host didn't hold back saying the Texans "kind of suck."

If the Patriots do as Adams says and beat the Texans it will set up a possible date with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Denver in the AFC championship Jan 20.

"Everyone's hoping the Broncos get beat," Adams told the crowd. "People are afraid of Denver because of that nose-picking goober they have at quarterback."

Jokes aside, Adams admitted, “I’m concerned about having to go to Denver.  They do very well there, and Manning is playing well.”

You can catch Planet Mikey on WEEI most weekdays starting at 6 p.m., depending on the game schedule of Boston’s teams.

Stoughton Patch editor Jeffrey Pickette contributed reporting.

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TRASH TALK: On Monday, January 21, there will be no curbside trash collection in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Trash collection for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, in addition to the regular Tuesday collection.

This is standard procedure for any holiday.

For safety reasons, the DPW will discontinue pickup at dark on Tuesday, January 22. Any rubbish not picked up on Tuesday, January 22 will be picked up on Wednesday, January 23. Feel free to call the office if you have any questions at (781) 344-2112.

It's now time to take down the yuletide trees (I know, I wish Christmas would last all year!) So, Christmas trees (with bags and stands removed) may be left at curbside on your regular recycling collection day and will be picked up by a separate truck during January only. This is the only method of disposal. Christmas trees will not be accepted at the Transfer Station.

The DPW is now able to pick up tubeless TV's and computer monitors with curbside trash! But, older TV's and computer monitors with tubes (CRTs) cannot be picked up curbside and must be brought to the transfer station. Large household appliances (metal items) must be called into the Public Works for appointment for pickup.

Additionally, you should know that all rubbish and recyclables must be curbside by 7 a.m. on your collection day. No barrel over 30-gallon size will be emptied. They must be brought to the Transfer Station (open Sundays 8-5).

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JUST WHAT WE NEED: SNOW & ICE! Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Gallery will hold an art exhibit, titled, “Snow and Ice”. New England winters feature elements that are both simple and complex and have a profound effect on our daily life, however, in pure artistic and visual terms they provoke truly magnificent, fascinating and powerful perceptions.

Seven New England artists wonderfully exhibit the excitement and the serenity that these natural elements display: Richard Antinarelli, Fred Martins, Ralph Bevivino, Sheila Palley, Diana Barker Price, Rebecca Skinner and Gary Tucker bring together an outstanding collection of amazing work. Explore nature and the experience the drama with their inspirational interpretations of snow and ice.

An Opening Reception with the artists will be held on Wednesday, January 9, from 6-8 p.m. (Snow Day January 16). The exhibit will run through March 26, 2013. The Gallery is open daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Moose Hill Sanctuary is located at 293 Moose Hill Street in Sharon, minutes from Stoughton. Please visit their website www.massaudubon.org or call for details at 781-784-5691.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Happy 59th birthday to my old friend, Howard Stern. He was on BU radio, while I was on Curry's WCAV-AM and WMLN-FM.

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