Awful Announcing Podcast

Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN's "Get Up!" and "Sunday NFL Countdown" host Mike Greenberg. Brandon and Mike discuss a wide range of topics including covering Michael Jordan in the early 90s, how "Inside the NBA" will do on ESPN, ESPN's strategy in covering Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft, and more.-:48: Growing up a Knicks fan-2:10: Greeny still a Knicks fan?-4:33: Becoming Bulls beat writer in the 90s-7:27: Michael Jordan with the local media-10:25: Goals out of college-12:11: Favorite interaction with Jordan-19:03: Why does Greeny think Jordan retired from basketball?-23:19: Jordan to NBC-24:53: “Inside the NBA” to ESPN-26:03: Feelings about “Inside the NBA” coming to ESPN if Greeny was still hosting “NBA Countdown”?-27:33: Trying to get Charles Barkley on “Get Up!”-29:53: Having a role with the NFL on ESPN-32:33: Preparing for the NFL Draft-35:50: Shedeur Sanders talk-39:10: End of “Mike & Mike”-42:02: Relationship with Mike Golic then and now-42:48: Chemistry with Golic if show came back today?-44:45: Chemistry with Jalen Rose and Michelle Beadle in start of “Get Up!”-47:08: Pitch for “Get Up!”-48:16: “Get Up!” evolution-50:18: Pressure to do hot takes?-52:56: Aaron Rodgers on “The Pat McAfee Show”-54:22: McAfee on ESPN-55:51: Missing radio?-57:16: Guest hosting with Kelly Ripa after Regis Philbin’s retirement-59:01: Just For Men commercialsDownload the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox IndyCar analyst and 2016 Indy 500 pole sitter James Hinchcliffe. With the 2025 Indy 500 approaching, Brandon and James discuss a wide range of topics including taking risks even after a near-fatal crash, working with Danica Patrick, how the series is going with Roger Penske owning a team as well as IndyCar, and more.NOTE: We recorded with James on Tuesday 5/20, one day before Roger Penske announced he fired team president Tim Cindric, managing director Ron Ruzewski, and general manager Kyle Moyer. Awful Announcing reached out to Fox Sports to see if the news changed James' view and did not receive an update.-:44: More fun preparing to race or commentate the Indy 500?-1:20: Racing in IMSA-2:31: Would James ever return to IndyCar racing?-3:35: Difficulties of racing part-time compared to full-time drivers-4:22: Learning to crash-5:00: 2015 near-fatal crash-7:08: Pushing through boundaries of risk-8:17: Making the decision to retire-9:17: Comfort level with criticizing fellow competitors and friends-10:14: Calling first IndyCar race-10:52: Is broadcasting fulfilling?-11:49: Working with Danica Patrick-12:16: Popularity boost replacing Patrick-13:20: Working with Fox compared to NBC-14:51: Fan response of Fox IndyCar coverage-17:19: Team Penske penalties-22:07: Roger Penske owning Team Penske, IndyCar, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway-23:51: Will Fox discuss Penske penalties during race broadcast?-24:38: Difficulty for Newgarden to win three Indy 500’s in a row-25:17: Hélio Castroneves going for five Indy 500 wins-25:42: Kyle Larson trying to do the Indy-Charlotte double-26:05: Cold forecast at Indy-26:35: Gaps in schedule for IndyCarDownload the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews "Fox NFL Sunday" host and Fox UFL play-by-play broadcaster Curt Menefee. Brandon and Curt discuss a wide range of topics including hosting "Fox NFL Sunday" and being a part of Jimmy Johnson's Pro Football Hall of Fame announcement, a look at the strengths and opportunities of the UFL, pressing New York City mayor Eric Adams in a live interview, and more.-:50: Can a network have too many Dallas Cowboys games?-2:02: Paying attention to NFL schedule release?-3:32: Paying attention to TV ratings?-4:27: What made “Fox NFL Sunday” so successful?-6:09: Keeping the same feeling with Jimmy Johnson retiring-7:32: Learning when Johnson was retiring-9:22: Most memorable moment with Johnson-11:35: Balancing keeping show on track while letting hijinks shine-13:06: Terry Bradshaw-13:50: Replacing James Brown-17:47: Splitting hosting role with Joe Buck-19:17: Relationship with Buck at the time?-20:13: More pressure to build a new show or being the new guy on an established show?-21:01: Differences of “Fox NFL Sunday” and “Good Day New York”-23:31: Eric Adams interview-24:51: Commute during NFL season-26:48: Taking “Good Day New York” job-29:01: Daily sports radio in Dallas-30:26: Interacting with Skip Bayless-31:03: UFL play-by-play-32:39: UFL progression-34:10: Is UFL a success story?-35:53: Value of spring football-36:59: The Rock’s involvement-37:47: Seeing star potential with Greg Olsen-39:23: Interest in calling NFL games again?Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews CBS Sports golf reporter Mark Immelman. Brandon and Mark discuss a wide range of topics including brother Trevor's 2008 Masters win, Tiger Woods' future, the upcoming PGA Championship, and more.-1:17: Which is harder? Playing golf or analyzing golf on TV?-2:14: Pointing out how difficult golf is on TV-3:28: Which is more fun?-4:28: Truist Championship at a different course due to PGA Championship -5:48: PGA Championship being played in May-6:48: Differences in broadcasting a major compared to a regular tournament-9:00: Balancing excitement and adrenaline-10:06: Jim Nantz’s versatility-11:34: Working with Nantz-13:01: Joining CBS-15:21: Did Trevor Immelman envision being a broadcaster?-16:46: Advice for Trevor when replacing Nick Faldo-18:00: Differences between Mark and Trevor-19:20: PGA Championship role-19:58: 2008 Masters-20:58: Seeing Trevor win Masters and hold off Tiger Woods-22:16: Most exciting tournament as a broadcaster?-24:30: Verne Lundquist not at Masters-27:22: Mindset as a course reporter-28:34: Exclusivity of covering the Masters-29:53: Are the bird sounds real?-31:02: TGL-32:58: TGL elements that the PGA should implement?-36:26: Tiger Woods comeback?-37:36: Tiger taking on an ambassador role-38:36: The "Face of Golf"-39:57: Golfers and media-43:10: Future of golf-44:42: PGA and LIV rivalries-45:37: The big story at the PGA ChampionshipDownload the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. Brandon and Matt discuss a wide range of topics including Shedeur Sanders' drop in the NFL Draft, the lack of attention paid to Cam Ward and how Ward can use that to his advantage, Mel Kiper Jr.'s advice to Matt, and more.-:37: Post-draft routine-1:49: Green Bay as an NFL Draft host city-3:08: Covering the NFL Draft-3:41: Football background pre-Bleacher Report-5:55: Getting to ESPN-8:07: Pressure going from Bleacher Report to ESPN-9:44: Noticing an increase in attention at ESPN?-10:45: Handing in final mock draft-11:21: Changing up mock draft late in process-13:12: Talking to every team before the NFL Draft-13:55: What’s a good hit rate for a mock draft first round?-15:00: Does player ratings impact mock drafts and vice versa?-15:53: Getting mock drafts wrong-17:13: Ranking Shedeur Sanders-18:19: Estimating Sanders-21:46: Would having an agent have helped Sanders?-23:27: Getting backlash from agents?-24:11: Do coaches and scouts value games enough?-25:38: Owners stepping in and taking Sanders off draft board?-26:26: Did owners want Sanders to go undrafted?-27:10: Did Donald Trump’s post have an impact on Sanders getting drafted?-27:47: Did Shedeur’s slide mean no NFL team wants Deion to be a head coach?-29:00: Shedeur Sanders talk on Saturday-32:08: Lack of attention on Cam Ward-34:02: Can being under the radar be good for Ward?-34:58: Five years from now, will a team have their franchise QB?-35:43: Biggest winner of NFL Draft-36:23: Biggest loser of NFL Draft-37:03: Where would Travis Hunter be drafted if he played one position?-37:47: Jaguars trade for Hunter-38:29: Favorite story from NFL Draft-39:24: Being comfortable on TV-41:58: Mel Kiper’s successor?-43:40: Best advice Kiper gave to Matt?-45:30: Most interesting thing Matt learned about Kiper?Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox Sports wagering expert and "Big Noon Kickoff" contributor Chris Fallica. Brandon and Chris discuss a wide range of topics including Lee Corso's retirement announcement, Corso's headgear picks on "College GameDay," "Big Noon Kickoff" challenging "GameDay," and more.-:44: Reaction to Lee Corso retiring-4:11: Working at “College GameDay” in 1996 for the first headgear-5:56: Headgear becoming a staple of “GameDay”-7:22: Should ESPN continue headgear segment-8:33: Traveling with Corso-12:32: Relationship with Corso-16:02: Significant memories with Corso-22:02: Going on-air at "GameDay"-24:05: ESPN being receptive to having Chris on-air-26:51: Comfort level being on-air-29:11: Goal to get on-air?-31:53: Interest in college football-34:40: “Big Noon Kickoff” being a legit competitor to “College GameDay”-38:32: Camaraderie of “Big Noon” compared to “GameDay”-40:42: What happens when both shows are in the same place?-46:12: Working with Pat McAfee-49:19: Any resistance to having McAfee on “GameDay?”-50:50: Has Fox maxed out on betting content?-54:35: Finding ways to sprinkle gambling references before it was legal-58:36: Anyone in college football push back on those references?-1:00:05: Can betting content be interesting for non-bettors?-1:01:27: Has transfer portal affected futures betting?-1:05:41: NFL Draft QB’s-1:07:16: Arch Manning #1 pick?Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews co-founder and host of "Busted Open" on SiriusXM Dave LaGreca. As WrestleMania approaches, Brandon and Dave discuss a wide range of topics including the lack of build for the non-main event WrestleMania matches, Cody Rhodes being the "Face of WWE," John Cena being an effective heel, and more.-:52: Dave’s Las Vegas schedule-1:27: Being inducted to the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame-2:25: Envisioning HOF induction when “Busted Open” started?-2:54: Getting into radio-3:59: Dave’s brother Don in radio-4:47: First role at SiriusXM-5:03: Starting “Busted Open”-6:21: Getting bosses to believe in a wrestling show-7:15: Pro wrestling going mainstream-8:02: “Busted Open” being the most popular sports show on SiriusXM-9:32: Realizing when “Busted Open” became a hit?-10:10: Has growth of “Busted Open” changed how Dave talks about pro wrestling?-10:46: Divide between WWE and AEW fans?-12:38: Is pro wrestling audience big enough to be split?-13:41: Does WWE and AEW like the divide?-14:21: Dave not considering himself as a journalist-15:38: Interviewing a pro wrestler as the person or as the character-16:59: Pro wrestling media scrums-19:13: Dave Meltzer’s value to pro wrestling-20:29: WrestleMania in terms of being the biggest event on the pro wrestling calendar-21:40: Dave’s favorite WrestleMania-22:35: What is this year’s WrestleMania build missing?-23:43: Being surprised by John Cena’s heel turn-24:25: How effective has Cena’s heel turn been?-24:50: Importance of having Cody Rhodes as the good guy in making Cena an compelling heel-25:38: What makes Rhodes compelling?-26:33: WWE flourishing without Vince McMahon-28:02: Any chance McMahon tries to come back to WWE?-29:04: How should wrestling fans view McMahon?-30:26: Would McMahon remain in pro wrestling in some form?-31:08: A wrestler that Dave was most surprised to see their character get over?-31:48: A wrestler that Dave thought would get over but didn’t?-32:59: Pat McAfee and pro wrestling-34:30: Joe Tessitore and WWE-35:07: Nick Khan’s influence in WWE-35:56: WWE getting away from PG-36:40: How does this current era compare to the Attitude Era?-39:10: Dave’s favorite era of wrestling?-39:50: Who wins at WrestleMania? Cody Rhodes or John Cena?Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews longtime "Around the Horn" host Tony Reali. With the end of the series coming in May, Brandon and Tony discuss a wide range of topics including hosting "Around the Horn," sticking around as "Stat Boy" on "Pardon the Interruption, reaching out to Jay Mariotti, and more.-1:05: What will Tony miss most about “Around the Horn?”-4:51: Response from fans on “Around the Horn’s” cancellation-6:59: Was the show nearing an expiration point?-9:17: Tony’s relationship with ESPN-10:27: Tony’s contract status with ESPN-15:38: Meeting Charles Barkley-17:16: ESPN and “Inside the NBA”-19:19: Consuming sports content growing up-20:42: Getting hired for “Pardon the Interruption”-22:38: Being on “PTI”-23:51: Not viewing “PTI” as a stepping stone-25:11: Getting to “Around the Horn”-28:35: Feeling pressure?-30:29: Getting rid of the nerves-32:07: Building the show today-34:08: “Around the Horn” giving a platform to journalists and young journalists-36:37: Being able to remain exclusive to two shows at ESPN-39:21: Being able to host “Around the Horn” without being bigger than the show-41:23: Any regrets of not being bigger than “Around the Horn?”-43:50: Why does “Around the Horn” have a communal feeling?-47:01: Addressing serious topics and discussing personal life-49:53: Most memorable days/moments on show?-51:13: Staying at “PTI”-55:22: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon’s longevity-58:31: Hearing from Max Kellerman and Jay Mariotti?-1:01:18: Jay Mariotti-1:04:55: What will final show look like?-1:10:33: Will Tony take a break after “Around the Horn?”Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube

Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox Sports MLB field reporter/The Athletic MLB insider Ken Rosenthal. With Opening Day upon us, Brandon and Ken discuss a wide range of topics including not liking the idea of the golden at-bat rule, not being retained at MLB Network and Ken's relationship with Rob Manfred, Shohei Ohtani being a star, and more.-:43: Excitement for Opening Day-1:17: First full-time season-2:11: What Ken likes about covering baseball today-3:17: Favorite rule change while covering baseball-4:01: Golden at-bat rule-6:02: Going from local to national-8:59: Being comfortable on TV?-10:00: Bowtie origins-12:08: Interviewing someone in dugout during game-13:21: Fan feedback from in-game interviews-15:06: Does MLB do a good job promoting their stars?-16:34: Does Shohei Ohtani embrace being the “Face of MLB?”-18:22: Do the Dodgers want Ohtani to be more available to the media?-18:50: Working with Joe Buck-20:52: Importance of an MLB and ESPN relationship-21:48: Working at MLB Network-23:12: Fear that criticism about MLB or Rob Manfred would cost Ken his MLB Network job?-24:13: Relationship with Rob Manfred-24:52: Work on Astros cheating scandal-26:06: Not realizing how big story would be at first-27:01: Anyone tried to get story quashed?-27:47: Story that had biggest impact to Ken’s career?-28:46: Odds there will be a lockout in 2026?-30:15: Is MLB headed for realignment?-31:34: Potential 2025 MLB storyline that Ken is most excited forDownload the Awful Announcing Podcast:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedInAwful Announcing on YouTube