Sports Media With Richard Deitsch

Episode 205 of the Sports Media Podcast features a conversation with Chad Finn, a sports media writer and general sports columnist for the Boston Globe. In this podcast, Finn and Deitsch discuss the NFL’s national television schedule; what we thought of Amazon and ESPN’s Monday Night Football’s schedule; if Sunday Night Football did as well as recent years; whether Drew Brees has a future as an analyst; the challenges facing Tom Brady in television; the Celtics/Heat and Mavs/Warriors in the NBA conference finals and what it means for viewership; Joe Buck’s alternate broadcast for golf; Kevin Harlan’s promotion; sports-washing when it comes to the World Cup and Olympics; former referees on broadcasts and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 204 of the Sports Media Podcast features a conversation with Chad Finn, a sports media writer and general columnist for the Boston Globe, and Austin Karp, managing editor/digital of Sports Business Journal. In this podcast, we discuss Fox hiring Tom Brady as an analyst after he retires; how Brady may fare on the job; the reported money paid to Brady for the deal; the explosion of F1 in the U.S. and where it’s heading; why F1 is having this American moment; Peacock’s Sunday Morning MLB debut; how we see the USFL at this point; the Kentucky Derby viewership and what Rich Strike’s win mean; if Carlos Alcaraz can be a sports media factor; media research wars; the NFL schedule release; a Wall Street Journal sports media job opening and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 203 of the Sports Media Podcast features Larry Collmus, the race caller for the NBC Sports Group coverage of the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont), and Breeders’ Cup. In this podcast, Collmus discusses calling Rich Strike’s remarkable win at the Kentucky Derby at 80-1 odds; when he saw Rich Strike making his move; what he thought about his call; how much race preparation he does in advance; what he did after the race; the impact of the win and what he expects for the Preakness; his racecalling and analyst work away from NBC; the difference in calling races from Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park; his all-time favorite horse racing calls, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 202 of the Sports Media Podcast features a conversation with three women who transitioned from sports media into other businesses — Amy Moritz, a former Buffalo News sports writer; Amy K. Nelson, a former ESPN and SB Nation writer and on-air commentator; and Kat O’Brien, a former baseball writer for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Newsday. They are followed by T.J. Quinn, an ESPN investigative reporter. In this podcast, Moritz, Nelson and O’Brien discuss transitioning from working in the sports media to other professions; the challenges of that process; where they have found success; what, if anything, they miss from their previous jobs; how identity plays into working in the sports media; how they view the sports media business today; advice for those in the business who want to leave; and more. Quinn discusses the latest on Griner; what changed with the case; how the WNBA is involved; the challenge of reporting on Griner; the future of women’s basketball abroad; what’s next and more. You can subscr

Episode 201 of the Sports Media Podcast features a conversation with Chad Finn, a sports media writer and general columnist for the Boston Globe. In this podcast, we discuss ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network’s NFL Draft coverage; what we thought about the lower viewership; how we would staff future NFL Draft presentations; what we think about Amazon’s first game in 2022; how ESPN and Turner will present the NHL playoffs and what series has the most viewer appeal; Urban Meyer returning to Fox Sports; the Celtics as an NBA ratings draw; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 200 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests — Michael Shawn Dugar, who covers the Seahawks for The Athletic; Tashan Reed, who covers the Raiders for The Athletic; and Rhiannon Walker, who previously covered the Washington Football Team for The Athletic and now works as a feature writer. In this podcast, the guests discuss what it’s like to cover the NFL Draft from a beat reporter perspective; who they get their information from; whether executives are truthful when it comes to the NFL Draft; what readers want from their coverage; the beat is all-consuming and how they navigate that challenge; missing time with family; being a writer of color on the beat; thoughts on Elon Musk buying Twitter, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 199 of the Sports Media Podcast features ESPN host and reporter Suzy Kolber, one of the company’s longtime NFL voices and part of this week’s NFL Draft coverage. In this podcast Kolber discusses how she prepares for her role on ESPN/ABC’s NFL Draft coverage; making connections with prospects prior to the NFL Draft; the challenge of determining what to ask prospects in a short period of time; when she learns who is being drafted; her decision to be NFL-specific professionally; the skillset of thriving and surviving at a high-profile organization; seeing her contemporaries as such as Kenny Mayne and Trey Wingo leave; being asked to take a pay cut and how she reacted to it; her 29th year at ESPN; the skill set needed to host on sports television; being a pioneer in sports television and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 198 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests. First up is sports broadcaster Gus Johnson, who is calling the NBA postseason for Turner Sports and is a longtime Fox Sports play by play caller. He is followed by Bill Shea, a senior writer for The Athletic covering sports business, and Robert Seidman, the co-founder of TVbytheNumbers who can be found on Twitter at @SportsTVRatings. In this podcast Johnson discuss what it has been like calling NBA games again; how the assignment came about; why he loves calling the NBA; the reaction to his calls; his fondness for Giannis Antetokounmpo; attending Harvard University as part of a leadership forum and much more. Shea and Seidman discuss what they thought of the first weekend of the USFL; what we made of the viewership numbers; the Fox Sports push for USFL; the tech things we saw that can be incorporated into NFL broadcasts; whether drones work or don’t for audiences; what kind of audience is needed to have a second year; the NBA’s postseason viewersh

Episode 197 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests — ESPN investigative reporter Paula Lavigne and ESPN senior writer Tom Junod. They are the co-authors of “Untold,” a 30,000-word piece that investigates the horrific actions of Todd Hodne, a former football player and student at Penn State in the late 1970s who was a serial predator and ultimately a murder. The piece took two years to report. In this podcast Lavigne and Junod discuss how they learned of Hodne’s story; the reporting process for their piece; how they characterized Penn State’s response to their queries; if the piece says something about the silence that happens in college football towns; the incredible strength of Betsy Sailor, and the story of Betsy and Irv Pankey; how they view Joe Paterno after their reporting; the decision to contact Jerry Sandusky; what happens next with the story; the resources ESPN gave them to report; and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more abou

Episode 196 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests — Lisa Byington and Kate Scott, the first women full-time TV play-by-play broadcasters for a major men's professional sports team. Byington calls Milwaukee Bucks games and Scott calls the Philadelphia 76ers. In this podcast, Byington and Scott reflect on their first season in the NBA; the biggest challenges for them this season and how they handled them; how each provided support for the other during the season; receiving online criticism including gender-based criticism; their favorite interactions with players this year; Byington getting Giannis Anteokounmpo Oreo cookies during one flight; what it was like in March when they both called an NBA game at the same arena; receiving feedback from bosses; how they approach the future and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re sharing a special preview of the new season of Against the Rules from Pushkin Industries. On Against the Rules, bestselling author Michael Lewis takes a searing look at what’s happened to fairness in American life. In the preview you’re about to hear, Michael speaks with baseball statistician Bill James. Bill is the man at the heart of Michael's bestselling book, Moneyball, and he's transformed how we think about expertise in the sport. You'll hear Bill talk about how, for him, baseball was never just about the sport itself -- it was about finding meaning in the world. You can hear more episodes of Against the Rules at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/atrsports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 195 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is Chad Finn, a sports media writer and general columnist for the Boston Globe. He is followed by Charlotte Carroll who covers UConn basketball and WNBA for The Athletic In this podcast, Finn discusses the interest in national broadcasts of baseball; whether MLB expanding to streaming services such as Amazon and Apple+ is good for the game; how ESPN’s Michael Kay/Alex Rodriguez Megacast will do; why it is tough to relate to Rodriguez as a game broadcaster; ESPN’s re-signings of Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski and what that means; how much ESPN valued their social media standing; Fox’s upcoming decision to replace Troy Aikman and why Greg Olsen has yet to be named, whether Urban Meyer will be hired in sports broadcasting again, and more.  Carroll discusses the on-the-ground coverage of the Final Four; the access media received; how many writers The Athletic had in Minneapolis; how the players felt as far as equity from last year; what i

Episode 194 of the Sports Media Podcast features Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Davis, who replaces Joe Buck as the lead television voice of the World Series. Davis is also the television voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this podcast, Davis discusses how he found out he was getting the job; what his reaction was to that promotion; his awareness of Joe Buck wanted to step back from calling baseball; how he is approaching the assignment; how many national games he expects to do; the challenge of calling the Dodgers if they make the World Series; his conversation with Buck after getting the job; what sport he enjoys calling the most; his brother winning a Best Documentary Short at the 2019 Oscars; why he left ESPN in 2014; the impact of Vin Scully for any Dodgers broadcaster; how often he stays in touch with Scully;  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 193 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is James Andrew Miller, best-selling author of books on CAA, ESPN and Saturday Night Live and HBO. He is hosting a new chapter of the podcast “Origins” titled “HBO: Present, Past, and Future.” He is followed by Grant Wahl, who writes the Futbol with Grant Wahl at GrantWahl.com and works with CBS Sports and Meadowlark Media. In this podcast, Miller discusses the ESPN deals for Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski; what it means salary-wise for others; how much has the talent office changed at ESPN over the years; ESPN employees participated in walkouts over Disney’s response to the Florida legislation coined the “Don’t Say Gay” bill; whether it is a good time to be a talent agent, and more. Wahl discusses the World Cup draw; World Cup viewership in the U.S.; the interest in group stage matches; the importance of the U.S. getting out of knockout stage; the prospects of Ukraine making the World Cup and what it would mean

Episode 192 of the Sports Media Podcast features Paul Heyman, the longtime WWE performer who will be part of  the main event of WrestleMania 38, the WWE’s signature event, which is set for April 2-3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In this podcast Heyman discusses how he approaches this stage of his career and how long he wants to perform; the ability to align yourself with great performers such as Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar and CM Punk; how the best performers never break from character; Renee Paquette calling him a method actor and why he agrees with that; performers getting  physical with his character and how to prepare for that; why Pat McAfee has been so successful as a WWE broadcaster; his desire to do a podcast and what those future plans possible can be; the prospect of one day working with Ronda Rousey; CM Punk’s future in AEW; why the WWE is not using Charlotte Flair to her best potential; the incredible women’s division in the WWE, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podc

Episode 191 of the Sports Media Podcast features Isabelle Khurshudyan, a foreign correspondent for The Washington Post based in Odessa, Ukraine, and a former sports writer who covered the Washington Capitals for the Post. In this podcast, Khurshudyan discusses what her days are like covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; what the city of Odessa, where she is situated, is like; her safety level in the country; whether anything prepares a journalist to cover war; why the war has proceeded as it has; leaving Moscow for this assignment; the global outpouring of solidarity shown toward Ukrainians; wearing a bulletproof vest; how she views Alex Ovechkin within this larger conflict; if she is following any sports; why she does want to leave her assignment; whether she sees an end game for Russia and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 190 of the Sports Media Podcast features Taylor Rooks, a host and reporter for Bleacher Report and Turner Sports and Alex Sherman, who covers technology, media and telecommunications for CNBC. In this podcast Rooks discusses her “Taylor Rooks X vodcast, whose recent interviews include DeMar DeRozan, DK Metcalf and Micah Parsons; the challenges of booking guests and how much of that is relationship-based; reflections on covering the NBA bubble; the dehumanization of athletes and how we are all guilty of that; our shared fondness for Pam Oliver; the challenge of interviewing Kawhi Leonard; navigating wanting to promote your work but not to be overexposed, and more. Sherman discusses his piece on the near-term future of ESPN; the prospect of spinning off ESPN from Disney; the rift between Disney chiefs Bob Chapek and Bob Iger; how Chapek’s leadership has impacted ESPN; the future of sports betting and ESPN; how Chapek will navigate the issues regarding the Florida House bill and his company’s LGBTQ emplo

Episode 189 of the Sports Media Podcast features ESPN basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. Both have significant on-air roles during ESPN’s coverage of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament including being part of the Final Four and national title game telecast. In this podcast, Lobo and Rowe discuss their preparation for the NCAA Tournament; how this tournament is different based on the NCAA’s equity changes; what the changes mean for women’s basketball heading forward; should the women’s Final Four be in the same city as the men; the viewership of the women’s title game; whether sports gambling will help women’s basketball; which No. 2 seed is most dangerous; NC State as a No. 1 seed; Stanford’s attempt to repeat; Kim Mulkey at LSU; Nicki Collen at Baylor; Aliyah Boston as a difference-maker in big sports; UConn is now healthy and what does that mean. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. V

Episode 188 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is T.J. Quinn, the ESPN investigative reporter. He is followed by Chad Finn, the sports media writer for the Boston Globe.  In this podcast Quinn discusses his reporting on WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia; the road ahead for Griner; the political component to this story; whether she can she get a fair trial in Russia; why the WNBA and players around the league have stayed relatively quiet; how one goes about reporting this respectfully and more.  Finn discusses the NFL broadcasting changes; what he thinks of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman moving to Fox; who will call the World Series; whether he thinks Amazon will be impactful with its coverage; the media impact of the unretirement of Tom Brady and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 187 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is Bomani Jones, the sports journalist and commentator whose new HBO show, “Game Theory with Bomani Jones,” debuts this month. He is followed by Jeff Pearlman, the best-selling author of nine books. HBO’s new docudrama “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” is based on Pearlman’s 2014 best-seller “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s.” In this podcast, Jones discusses how his new HBO show came to be; what’s it’s like to be management on a show; what the format will be and the how the show will break down; the idea that there is less ratings pressure at HBO versus elsewhere; the culture of HBO versus ESPN; what happens after his six episode run ends April 17; the short term extension he signed with ESPN; whether he is interested in continuing his ESPN employment; his podcast and more.  Pearlman discusses “Winning Time”; what it’s like when a book you write gets turned into a television show;