Steve Burton (sports journalist)
Encyclopedia
Steve Burton is a television sports reporter for WBZ-TV
and WSBK-TV
in Boston
. The son of former New England Patriots
player Ron Burton
, Steve Burton grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts
and is a graduate of Northwestern University
holding a bachelor of science degree
in Communication
s and a master's degree
in Broadcast journalism
. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and four children.
(NESN), hosting the pre and post game shows for the Boston Red Sox
.
In 1994, Burton joined WBZ-TV
where he has worked as a sports reporter and sports anchor. He also appears on the weekly program Sports Final and fills in as host when Bob Lobel
is away. He also appears on the stations Patriots 5th Quarter show.
Burton is also a frequent guest on WEEI
's The Big Show
certain times of the year. Nicknamed "vest" for his sharp dress, Burton is occasionally criticized for showing up late on the radio and is also ribbed for his appetite, as he ate nine large slices of pizza on the air during a 2009 broadcast.
Burton is a friend of controversial former baseball player Jose Canseco
and has featured Canseco on an occasional weekend show he hosts on WEEI, most famously on October 14, 2007 during the New England Patriots
' game against the Dallas Cowboys
, though the football game was never mentioned as the subject was baseball's continuing steroid
s controversy. Burton also has arranged interviews with Canseco for WEEI.
Burton will presumably become WBZ's sports director following Bob Lobel
's firing in early April.
, Jr. Foundation for Autism
and the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes.
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
and WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV is a MyNetworkTV television station for eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that is licensed to Boston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter along the Needham and Wellesley town line southwest of the MA 9 and I-95 / MA 128...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The son of former New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
player Ron Burton
Ron Burton
Ronald E. "Ron" Burton became a college All-American running back at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, a member of the Northwestern Hall of Fame, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame....
, Steve Burton grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
and is a graduate of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
holding a bachelor of science degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
s and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
. He lives in the Boston area with his wife and four children.
Career
Starting in 1993, Burton worked as a sports anchor and reporter for New England Sports NetworkNew England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
(NESN), hosting the pre and post game shows for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
In 1994, Burton joined WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
where he has worked as a sports reporter and sports anchor. He also appears on the weekly program Sports Final and fills in as host when Bob Lobel
Bob Lobel
Robert "Bob" Lobel is a former sportscaster for WBZ-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. He anchored the sports segments on the evening newscasts between Sunday and Thursday, and hosted the weekly programs Sports Final and Patriots 5th Quarter...
is away. He also appears on the stations Patriots 5th Quarter show.
Burton is also a frequent guest on WEEI
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
's The Big Show
The Big Show (sports radio show)
The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
certain times of the year. Nicknamed "vest" for his sharp dress, Burton is occasionally criticized for showing up late on the radio and is also ribbed for his appetite, as he ate nine large slices of pizza on the air during a 2009 broadcast.
Burton is a friend of controversial former baseball player Jose Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
and has featured Canseco on an occasional weekend show he hosts on WEEI, most famously on October 14, 2007 during the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
' game against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, though the football game was never mentioned as the subject was baseball's continuing steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s controversy. Burton also has arranged interviews with Canseco for WEEI.
Burton will presumably become WBZ's sports director following Bob Lobel
Bob Lobel
Robert "Bob" Lobel is a former sportscaster for WBZ-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. He anchored the sports segments on the evening newscasts between Sunday and Thursday, and hosted the weekly programs Sports Final and Patriots 5th Quarter...
's firing in early April.
Community service
Burton spends time working at the Ron Burton Training Village, a 5-week sports camp for inner city youths. That organization awarded him the MIAA/Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2003. He also serves as a board member on several children's charities including the Doug FlutieDoug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
, Jr. Foundation for Autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
and the Fellowship of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Athletes.
External links
- Steve Burton WBZ-TV Bio
- MIAA Awards