Awful Announcing Podcast

On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the Fox broadcasting debut of Tom Brady, the ESPN debut of Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick's numerous appearances. The guys also discuss the changes on "The NFL Today," Greg Olsen's pivot to the No. 2 Fox NFL broadcast booth, and Colt McCoy's rough broadcast.Time Stamps:-1:47: Tom Brady broadcast booth review-18:51: Bill Belichick analysis review-28:19: Jason Kelce “Monday Night Countdown” review-33:52: “The NFL Today” getting younger-36:04: Praise for Mike Greenberg hosting “Sunday NFL Countdown”-38:14: Greg Olsen with Joe Davis as Fox’s No. 2 NFL booth-39:34: Colt McCoy-45:14: “Out of the Darkness”-53:09: ESPN/NFL Media equity talks are offYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!

Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox NFL and MLB play-by-play, and LA Dodgers play-by-play broadcaster, Joe Davis. Brandon and Joe discuss a wide range of topics including working with Greg Olsen, Tom Brady at Fox, succeeding Vin Scully and Joe Buck, covering Shohei Ohtani as a local broadcaster, 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.-:59: Joe’s upcoming schedule-1:46: Balancing work and family-2:22: Working Steelers/Falcons Week 1-2:51: Greg Olsen-4:07: What makes Olsen great and beloved by fans?-5:55: Being in competition with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady?-6:44: Burkhardt and Brady-7:40: Importance of pregame meetings amid Brady restrictions-10:18: How much did Joe know when Joe Buck left Fox for ESPN?-11:36: Surprise Buck left Fox?-12:10: How Joe reacted to the situation-13:04: Working with Troy Aikman-13:56: Difficulties of working with a broadcast partner once-15:04: Arriving at Fox-16:14: Taking over for Vin Scully at the Dodgers-18:57: Dodgers reaching out first-21:09: What made Dodgers interested in Joe-22:07: Scully’s involvement in the hiring process-23:07: Scully’s advice to Joe-24:49: Winning over Dodgers fans-26:06: Was following Scully preparation for following Buck?-26:46: Which is tougher? Following Scully or following Buck?-29:15: Buck as a mentor-30:29: Best advice Buck gave Joe?-32:09: Doing Dodgers long-term?-34:06: Detroit Tigers-35:00: Calling World Series-35:57: Is calling the Super Bowl a goal?-36:47: Covering Shohei Ohtani-39:58: Favorite call?-41:31: Calls Joe would like to have back-44:12: Self-praise-45:15: Joe’s cooking videos

Host Brandon Contes interviews co-host of "The Fantasy Footballers" podcast, Mike Wright. Brandon and Mike discuss a wide range of topics including the origins of the podcast, Matthew Berry's importance in the industry, the evolution of fantasy sports coverage, 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: 10 year anniversary of “The Fantasy Footballers”-1:28: Last week’s live show-3:13: When did Mike start playing fantasy?-4:07: Number of leagues Mike is in-4:58: More pressure to win in fantasy now compared to 10 years ago?-6:02: Origins of the podcast-11:52: Potentially bailing on the podcast?-12:40: Listenership in the beginning-14:28: Milestone that stands out most?-17:04: Forging an audience-23:17: Putting content on YouTube-26:14: Thoughts about ever joining a larger company?-28:58: Podcasts Mike was listening to 10 years ago-29:56: Fantasy football shows 10 years ago-31:29: Matthew Berry-32:28: Mainstream media and fantasy sports-34:12: Field Yates dislocating shoulder-34:31: Draft order activities and last place punishments-36:48: Change in target audience over the years-39:00: Mike’s kids playing fantasy football?-40:20: Bell curve for fantasy football?-42:12: Legalized gambling and fantasy football-45:45: When do most fantasy drafts take place?-46:55: Right number teams for a fantasy league?-47:42: Mike’s best sleeper pick-50:49: Team and offense affecting a player in fantasy-52:36: Holdouts-54:41: Mike’s biggest busts-56:57: Kyler Murray-58:30: Running QB’s and fantasy football-59:47: More important for Mike that the Cardinals win or his fantasy teams win?-1:00:34: “Spitballers Comedy Podcast”-1:01:33: Ultimate Draft Kit supporting St. Jude

On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the debut of Fox Sports 1's "Breakfast Ball," the season premiere of "College GameDay" with Nick Saban's debut, Kirk Herbstreit going heel and Pat McAfee getting drunk, and Deion Sanders and Colorado banning The Denver Post's Sean Keeler from press conferences.Time Stamps:-:07: Welcome to The Play-By-Play!-1:53: The debut of FS1's "Breakfast Ball"-12:18: What happened with Michelle Beadle and FS1?-13:03: The rest of FS1's new lineup.-21:01 Nick Saban's debut on "College GameDay"-29:37: Kirk Herbstreit goes heel-34:47: Do we care Pat McAfee got drunk on air?-39:10: Colorado and Deion Sanders ban a columnist from press conferences.-49:14: Bill Simmons in a contract year

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 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?