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Awful Announcing Podcast
Dave LaGreca on WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, and more
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?
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Doc Emrick on retirement, John Sterling, Charles Barkley, the glowing puck era, and more
01:03:37|Brandon Contes interviews legendary NHL broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick. They discuss a wide range of topics including his decision to retire, the Olympics, his one regret, the glowing puck era from Fox, John Sterling, Charles Barkley, Barry Melrose, and more. -02:25: Does Doc Emrick miss calling NHL games?-11:48: Doc Emrick remembers John Sterling-20:02: Calling an overtime in the Stanley Cup Finals-27:29: Where was Doc Emrick for the 1980 Miracle on Ice game?-32:38: Game Doc wishes he could do over-39:31: Charles Barkley-44:26: Barry Melrose-50:22: The NHL on Fox glowing puck 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
Mike Felger on Mike Vrabel, Bill Belichick, The Sports Hub vs. WEEI, and more
57:50|Brandon Contes interviews longtime Boston sports media member Mike Felger. They discuss a wide range of topics including Mike Vrabel’s relationship with Dianna Russini, Bill Belichick’s legacy, The Sports Hub vs. WEEI, competing with Rich Shertenlieb, and more.-02:26: Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini-05:02: Has Boston media covered Vrabel-Russini well?-14:32: Reporters’ relationships with teams-21:37: Bill Belichick’s legacy-30:13: Bill Simmons vs. Dave Portnoy in Boston-33:52: Is it harder to be polarizing today?-38:05: Competing with Rich Shertenlieb-43:17: The Sports Hub vs WEEIDownload 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
Trey Wingo on the NFL Draft, ESPN, LIV Golf, Tiger Woods, and more
57:55|Brandon Contes interviews former ESPN host Trey Wingo. They discuss a wide range of topics including Wingo’s time covering the NFL Draft for ESPN, working with Mel Kiper Jr., building NFL Live, ESPN’s merger with NFL Network, LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, Tiger Woods, and more.-02:32: Does Trey Wingo miss hosting the NFL Draft for ESPN?-10:54: The Covid NFL Draft-20:03: Mel Kiper Jr.-29:37: ESPN-NFL Network merger-36:23: The future of LIV Golf-47:05: Why hasn’t LIV worked?-53:00: Tiger WoodsDownload 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
Brandon Gaudin on BravesVision, Chip Caray, Madden, Sunday Night Baseball, and more
54:36|Host Brandon Contes interviews Atlanta Braves TV announcer Brandon Gaudin. They discussed a wide range of topics on the podcast including the inaugural season of BravesVision, replacing Chip Caray, succeeding Jim Nantz as the voice of Madden, NBC’s decision to use rotating analysts on Sunday Night Baseball, MLB’s looming lockout, and more.-00:35: BravesVision-07:09: Replacing Chip Caray with the Braves-22:22: Sunday Night Baseball-28:30: Replacing Jim Nantz on Madden-38:30: Working with Chris Webber-45:57: Jeff Francoeur and Ronald Acuna Jr.-50:44: Looming MLB lockoutDownload 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
John Jastremski on Bill Simmons, Mike Francesa, Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo, and more
01:07:11|Host Brandon Contes interviews former WFAN and The Ringer host and current host of the "New York, New York" podcast, John Jastremski. Brandon and John discuss a wide range of topics including not being renewed by Spotify and working for Bill Simmons, how close he came to being Mike Francesa's co-host, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's renaissance, and more.-2:15: Spotify/The Ringer-15:19: Working with Bill Simmons-19:23: WFAN-44:53: WFAN’s prominence and sports talk radio vs. podcasting-58:01: Syracuse, Malik Willis/Miami DolphinsDownload 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
Bill Raftery on March Madness, onions, not slowing down, and more
48:27|Host Brandon Contes interviews college basketball broadcasting legend Bill Raftery. Brandon and Bill discuss a wide range of topics including working March Madness, why Bill was unable to trademark "onions," Bill still loving his job and not slowing down at 82 (or is he 82), and more.-2:04: March Madness-7:18: “Onions”-11:32: Drinking stories-15:37: Jim Nantz/Ian Eagle-25:45: Coaching/Starting broadcasting career/Final Four-37:07: NBA/Gus Johnson/St. Johns/Retirement?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
Keith McPherson on leaving WFAN, Aaron Judge's WBC comments, Jon Heyman, and more
57:29|Host Brandon Contes interviews part-time WFAN evening host and content creator, Keith McPherson. Brandon and Keith discuss a wide range of topics including stepping down from full-time at WFAN, Aaron Judge's comments that the World Baseball Classic is bigger than the World Series, Keith's infamous interview with Jon Heyman, and more.-2:06: Leaving full-time at WFAN-20:11: Away from WFAN-25:14: Working nights-34:17: Breaking out from the crowd-41:29: BaseballDownload 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
Spero Dedes on March Madness, Kobe Bryant, leaving Lakers and more
55:12|Host Brandon Contes interviews NFL on CBS and NCAA March Madness broadcaster, Spero Dedes. Brandon and Spero discuss a wide range of topics including preparing to call four tournament games in one day, Kobe Bryant's 81 point game, leaving as radio voice of the LA Lakers, and more.-2:07: Bam Adebayo’s 83 point game-7:54: NBA on TNT-12:50: March Madness-26:10: LA Lakers/New York Knicks-41:34: Going to Fordham/Working at WFAN-44:35: NFL on CBS/Broadcasting callsDownload 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
Kenny Mayne on Augusta 'ban,' NFL tryout, hosting 'SportsCenter,' and more
01:06:52|Host Brandon Contes interviews former "SportsCenter" anchor and co-host of the "We Need a Fourth" podcast, Kenny Mayne. Brandon and Kenny discuss a wide range of topics including his ban from Augusta National, trying out for the Seattle Seahawks, working at ESPN and replacing Keith Olbermann at "SportsCenter," and more.-1:58: Augusta “ban”/“We Need a Fourth” podcast-11:33: “Mayne Street”-18:38: Being a garbageman/early media career-25:36: NFL tryout-33:00: Working at ESPN-59:06: Stand-up comedy/Arch ManningDownload 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