Awful Announcing Podcast

On the first episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss ESPN firing Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder, Ariel Helwani announcing that he's partnering with Yahoo Sports and the social media feud between ESPN's Mina Kimes and Clay Travis.Time Stamps:-:06: Welcome to The Play-By-Play!-3:03: Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder out at ESPN-18:49: Ariel Helwani partners with Yahoo Sports-33:51: Mina Kimes vs. Clay Travis-47:00: WWE superstar Sheamus is College GameDay's first celebrity guest picker of the season.-50:49: Stephen A. Smith interviews Tom Brady at Fanatics FestYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!

Host Brandon Contes interviews The Athletic's NFL insider Dianna Russini. Brandon and Dianna discuss a wide range of topics including being an NFL insider, how Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski are mentors, what Aaron Rodgers really thinks of Dianna, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:35: “Scoop City”-1:26: Podcasting-2:47: Turnaround time from recording to release on “Scoop City”-4:20: Chase Daniel-6:02: Getting partnered with Chase-9:05: Why did Diana launch “Scoop City?”-10:40: Co-hosting show with Mike Greenberg?-13:25: Was leaving ESPN more due to wanting to leave ESPN or because of The Athletic’s offer?-15:58: Consistency of ESPN-17:33: Envisioning leaving ESPN when Dianna was hired?-19:41: Working with Adam Schefter/Having Adrian Wojnarowski as a mentor-24:14: Not being in Schefter’s shadow-25:31: Where does breaking news rank in Dianna’s career?-27:31: Do insiders have the same sources?-29:04: How demanding is it for an insider?-31:51: Challenges of being a woman in a male dominated industry-34:31: Harder to earn respect from employers and peers or teams and agents?-36:27: Mentors-37:02: Has Dianna’s Jets fandom faded now she’s covering the NFL?-38:34: Relationship with Jets fans-40:14: Aaron Rodgers calling out Dianna-43:51: Zach Wilson report-45:06: Rodgers on “The Pat McAfee Show”-46:31: Dianna going on McAfee-47:06: Relationship with Rodgers-48:13: Rodgers with NYC media-49:20: Does Rodgers care about how he’s covered?-51:37: Ian O’Connor book about Rodgers-53:38: Aggregators-54:55: @PrettyRickey213-56:13: Christopher Johnson-56:49: Would Woody Johnson leave if Donald Trump is elected?-57:15: Woody Johnson as an owner-58:36: Would Rodgers have been receptive to change?-59:36: Moving on from Robert Saleh?-1:00:10: Saleh’s handling of Rodgers-1:02:15: Diving catch from Rex Ryan

Host Brandon Contes interviews TNT and Bleacher Report NBA insider Chris Haynes. Brandon and Chris discuss a wide range of topics including the future of the NBA on TNT and how the "Inside the NBA" guys are, being a local beat reporter and cultivating relationships, how LeBron James had a part in getting him a national reporting job, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:36: Second appearance on the podcast-1:54: Chris Hayes-3:28: Charles Barkley staying with TNT-5:33: Where was Chris when Barkley made his retirement announcement?-7:21: Discussion off camera after the announcement-9:01: Getting to know the “Inside the NBA” crew-12:21: Chris making sideline reporting role his own-15:31: Toughest person to interview-16:43: What makes “Inside the NBA” so special?-20:03: What to expect in final year of “Inside the NBA” with the NBA on TNT-21:09: Chris’ status with TNT-22:15: Being an independent insider-23:20: Being a local reporter-28:30: Chris’ media origin story-32:26: Odds being stacked against Chris starting out-37:50: Being perceived by other writers when starting out-42:58: Building relationships and trust-46:29: Going to cover Cleveland Cavs when LeBron James came back-48:35: Trying to build a relationship with LeBron-53:35: Is it more important to cultivate relationship with players, teams/GM’s, or agents in terms of info gathering?-54:07: Difference between being a reporter and being an insider in terms of relationships-56:39: Being in competition with Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania?-57:58: How Chris gets the stories he breaks?-1:02:05: How much does Chris report?-1:04:01: Wildest report that Chris reported-1:06:25: Being on “Undisputed”-1:10:53: Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe off camera-1:13:08: Importance of breaking news-1:18:26: “Doc Rivers to Milwaukee Bucks” CNN Sports report-1:22:10: Report Chris is least proud of and most proud of

Host Brandon Contes interviews former WNBA player and current ESPN host/analyst Chiney Ogwumike. Brandon and Chiney discuss a wide range of topics including Caitlin Clark's impact on women's sports, being tested by WNBA vets as a #1 overall pick, being mentored by Stephen A. Smith, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:38: Is Chiney retired from WNBA?-1:45: Does Chiney miss playing basketball?-2:05: Does media help fill the void of not playing?-3:13: Playing with sister Nneka throughout career-4:38: Playing against Nneka in WNBA-6:27: Going to ESPN-12:27: Being drafted by the Connecticut Sun helping with media career-13:15: Working with Mike Golic Jr.-14:22: Differences between radio and TV-15:29: Feelings about debate shows while playing basketball-19:46: Doing “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith compared to doing it without him -20:49: Stephen A. and Monica McNutt moment on “First Take”-22:45: Stephen A. being approachable-24:09: Does Stephen A. deserve credit or criticism for his work in platforming women’s basketball-28:20: Working with Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson-30:00: Feeling “stifled” by ESPN? -32:01: Being more comfortable covering the WNBA or NBA?-34:15: Has national media done a “good job” covering women’s basketball this year?-38:25: Can a misinformed WNBA take from a national media member be better than no take at all?-40:20: Importance of Caitlin Clark to growing women’s basketball-42:30: WNBA as a physical league-44:44: Being treated differently as #1 overall pick-46:47: Caitlin Clark/Angel Reese rivalry-48:58: Is WNBA unfairly judged due to being compared to NBA today instead of the NBA at 27 years old?-52:32: WNBA’s willingness to speak on social issues and Chiney’s feelings about that-55:12: Working as a election clerk in 2020 election-56:48: Playing with Candace Parker-58:20: Spoken to Candace since WBD lost NBA rights?-58:55: Is NBC and Amazon getting NBA rights an opening for Chiney?

Host Brandon Contes interviews Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tannenwald. Brandon and Jonathan discuss a wide range of topics including Gregg Berhalter's sacking from the U.S. Men's National Team, the logistics mess by CONMEBOL at the Copa América, Emma Hayes with the U.S. Women's National Team, Lionel Messi in MLS, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:51: When will U.S. Soccer hire a new head coach?-1:33: Timing of Gregg Berhalter’s sacking-3:22: Not giving a national coach two four-year terms-4:20: How far would the USMNT have had to go in Copa América to save Berhalter’s job?-6:50: Who deserves the blame for the USMNT’s performance?-11:20: What else needs to be fixed at U.S. Soccer?-13:15: Who will replace Berhalter and who should replace him?-15:27: Tim Howard’s pitch to go after Jurgen Klopp-16:20: Was Howard sincere?-16:51: Alexi Lalas saying he would coach the USMNT if asked-19:10: Lalas the analyst-21:08: Realistic expectations for USMNT at the 2026 World Cup?-22:31: Copa América logistics-25:35: Concerns about logistics of 2026 World Cup?-26:52: Fans attending 2026 World Cup-27:47: Lionel Messi’s ankle injury and Inter Miami CF-28:40: MLS clubs and reporting injuries-29:28: Messi’s impact on MLS-31:30: Kevin Durant and the Philadelphia Union-31:43: Messi and media access-33:08: Cristiano Ronaldo and MLS-33:34: Ronaldo’s Euro performance-33:55: Is Ronaldo hanging on too long?-34:16: England’s struggles in tournaments-36:04: Talent pool in MLS-38:19: Popularity of MLS in United States and room to grow-41:38: U.S. Men’s Olympic Team-44:55: Alex Morgan left off U.S. Women’s Olympic Team-46:55: Emma Hayes-52:58: Adjusting expectations with USWNT?-54:06: Which gap closed more? The world to the USWNT or the USMNT to the world?-54:23: When is it realistic for the USMNT to win a World Cup?

Host Brandon Contes interviews MLB Network host and emcee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Brian Kenny. Brandon and Brian discuss a wide range of topics including Brian defending the concept of having special uniforms for the All-Star Game, the responsibility of being emcee for induction weekend, what Max Kellerman has been doing and when he may emerge, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:50: Brian’s sports media origin story-3:36: Getting to ESPN-4:04: Going from ESPN to MLB Network-5:28: MLB All-Star Game uniforms-7:57: More important for MLB ASG to win the game or get everyone involved?-11:15: Working with Chris Russo-12:49: “Mad Dog” and Sabermetrics-14:00: Being an early convert of Sabermetrics-15:13: Turning point with Sabermetrics discussion-17:45: Being on MLB Network in terms of editorial freedom-19:05: Ken Rosenthal not being retained by MLB Network-19:34: One thing Brian would like to see change in MLB-22:38: Realignment?-24:20: Does MLB do a good job marketing stars nationally?-27:30: Being Master of Ceremonies at the Hall of Fame-29:28: HOF voting process-31:02: Will Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens get in?-32:21: Being in “Rocky Balboa”-34:04: Max Kellerman

Host Brandon Contes interviews NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Brandon and Ian discuss a wide range of topics including Ian's relationship with ESPN's Adam Schefter, "The Insiders" on NFL Network, various stories about reporting, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-1:02: How busy is early July for an NFL insider?-2:04: Busiest week of the NFL season for an insider-3:23: NFL Draft and opinion on tipping picks-5:29: Being first to a story in free agency-6:58: Competition among insiders inside NFL Network?-8:30: Relationship with Adam Schefter-10:00: Sources-11:42: Local reporters-13:02: Giving gifts to sources?-14:23: Has Ian ever felt he was being used?-15:54: Can Ian be an NBA insider?-17:14: Multiple phones?-18:29: Story Ian missed breaking because he didn’t have his phone-20:40: Most “out of nowhere” scoop-22:18: Biggest “swing and a miss” report-26:01: Rumors that never got reported-27:05: “The Insiders”-27:58: Being on and hosting “The Pat McAfee Show”-29:02: Doing TV

Host Brandon Contes interviews SNY's New York Jets reporter Connor Hughes. Brandon and Connor discuss a wide range of topics including Aaron Rodgers being Aaron Rodgers, Robert Saleh's handling of Rodgers missing mandatory minicamp, reporting or not reporting what sources tell you, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:38: First season covering the Jets-1:07: Covering the Jets today compared to when Connor started-2:26: Aaron Rodgers skipping mandatory minicamp-3:44: Where was/is Rodgers?-5:54: Did Rodgers missing minicamp become a distraction?-8:07: Rodgers’ infamous “winning” quote-10:44: How did the Jets and Robert Saleh handle Rodgers’ absence?-13:43: Does Rodgers trust Saleh?-16:11: Joe Douglas as general manager-19:05: Rodgers’ relationship with Woody Johnson-20:15: Nathaniel Hackett-23:31: Concern within the Jets that Rodgers would actually run for VP?-25:19: Political tension between Rodgers and Johnson?-28:24: Jets feelings about Rodgers on “The Pat McAfee Show”-31:49: Have there been times Rodgers says something that led to a private talk afterwards?-32:50: Rodgers in press conferences-35:39: Concerns with NYC media regarding to Rodgers-38:11: Relationship amongst Jets reporters-39:59: Local reporters and national reporters-42:10: Sources and reporting-43:46: Does Robert Saleh still trust Joe Beningo as a source?-45:24: Percentage of info Connor receives that he actually reports?-47:01: Connor’s relationship with Jets fans-48:40: Jamal Adams-49:00: Why has Woody Johnson failed as Jets owner?-52:42: Would Johnson again take a position in the Trump White House if Trump wins?