An Open Book

In his latest tome, Red Sox Rule, sports-radio host and former Globe columnist Michael Holley gabs (and gabs!) about Terry Francona's daughter's brownies, Michael Jordan, and why he's willing to criticize his celebrity friends.

Are there any big secrets about Francona we should know?

I think people would be very surprised at how normal he is. Normal and trusting. In the clubhouse, he leaves his wallet out on the desk, and if David Ortiz needs $40 or if a clubhouse guy needs $40, they take the money, and the understanding is that they'll replace it when they get a chance.

Normal? That's a little weird.

It's different. But that's him.

I read the afterword in your book where you thank people. How can you remain unbiased when Patriots VP Scott Pioli is making you an Earth, Wind & Fire mix CD and Terry Francona's daughter is baking you brownies?

I never claimed to be unbiased. I think it's like chasing the horizon. I don't think there's any such thing as complete objectivity. You can attempt to be fair, but if you're talking about cold, hard objectivity, I don't think it's possible.

Is it hard, then, to criticize Francona, who goes on your radio show every week?

In my opinion, if you have a friend of yours who you have a real relationship with - not this superficial Christmas-card relationship with - can't you argue with your friends? Can't you tell them when you agree and disagree?

You can agree and disagree . . . but can you in front of thousands of listeners?

Yes. It's not that serious. If I'm disagreeing - "Hey, Tito, I don't like that move you made in the seventh inning" - does that end the relationship? We're talking about baseball and football.

Did you really talk to Michael Jordan? I mean, David Halberstam couldn't get to Jordan.

I know. I heard the story about that. It is very difficult to get him, but that tells you how close the relationship was. He did it for Francona.

You have some pretty heated arguments with morning host Gerry Callahan. Are they real?

I don't do anything for radio purposes. I don't think you have to in a town like Boston. You don't have to have a gimmick or a shtick. If you feel it, you say it. Politically, I couldn't be more different than Gerry Callahan, so it's just natural that we would disagree on our worldview. Sometimes I go in there and say, "OK, I'm not going to argue today. We're just going to be nice," and he'll say something, and we'll get going.

You could always give him that Earth, Wind & Fire disc.

You know what would happen? He'd rip 'em, and then I'd have to hurt him.