She's quick to nix talk of a conflict
When Channel 7 sports reporter Wendi Nix gets a call on her cellphone and sees that it's from a person with Red Sox ties -- and her husband is nearby -- she immediately leaves the room. He understands, because he does the same thing.
Husbands and wives generally don't like to keep secrets from each other, but for these two, it's a way of life. Especially when the husband, Ben Cherington, has just been promoted by the Red Sox to the position of co-general manager.
But the appearance of a journalistic conflict aside, Nix says the time demands of both positions don't leave a lot of time for shoptalk. Take Wednesday, for example, the afternoon of the Sox' press conference regarding Johnny Damon's decision to sign with the Yankees.
That was the first time she had seen her husband that day.
''I saw him at the press conference," Nix said. ''I got home at 12:15 that night; he played hockey from 11 to 1, so when he came in, I was already asleep, and he was out the door before I saw him [yesterday] morning.
''We have two very focused careers."
Nix and Cherington, both 31, met in graduate school (sports management) at the University of Massachusetts. Cherington, the team's former director of player development, started working for the Red Sox in November 1997, and the two were married a month later.
''So this has been just a continuation of what we've always done," Nix said. ''I understand that now his role is more public, but in my eyes, especially on my end, nothing has changed. His job changed, but mine didn't.
''And before, he had access to all of the information that he has now."
And rather than Nix having access to inside information, she says, ''The only arguments that we've gotten into over the whole thing are what I won't tell him. Because sometimes players will say things to you in confidence, like when you're in the clubhouse, and they have to know that it doesn't go any further."
Nix, who also occasionally appears on WEEI on Glenn Ordway's ''Big Show, " said she knows that some viewers and radio listeners might assume she gets more information because of her marriage, and that perception can be as powerful as reality.
''I understand that, and I would never be critical," Nix said. ''I think it's unfortunate, but I think it would be unfair of me to say I don't understand. I can put myself in someone else's shoes, and I can understand that this is a different situation. It's hard to believe that you can keep it that separate, but we really do a pretty good job at it. Our lives are just so busy, and we go 100 miles an hour in different directions. We rarely see each other."
In fact, Wednesday's press conference was the first time she has had to face her husband professionally.
''It's actually a lot easier than I thought," said Nix. ''I just looked up there and saw three people [along with Sox CEO Larry Lucchino and fellow GM Jed Hoyer]. ''I was curious what it would be like, but that was it."
And the view from the competition? ''I know it could be an awkward situation," said Channel 4's Steve Burton. ''But I think Wendi will be very professional."
