Share
Awful Announcing Podcast
Ken Rosenthal on MLB Opening Day, Rob Manfred, Shohei Ohtani, and more
•
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 for
Download the Awful Announcing Podcast:
More episodes
View all episodes
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
Ethan Strauss on NBA All-Star Game, tanking, Kevin Durant, and more
56:00|Host Brandon Contes interviews former Warriors beat writer and House of Strauss founder Ethan Strauss. Brandon and Ethan discuss a wide range of topics including this year's NBA All-Star Game, the tanking and load management problem in basketball, Kevin Durant's burner account scandal, and more.-2:05: NBA All-Star Game-11:49: Tanking in the NBA-21:48: Kevin Durant burner story-28:01: NBA reporters-35:37: Starting House of StraussDownload 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
Alex Weaver on state of NASCAR, Daytona 500, Michael Jordan, and more
41:46|Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox Sports NASCAR reporter Alex Weaver. Brandon and Alex discuss a wide range of topics including this year's Daytona 500 storylines, the aftermath of the 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports lawsuit, the return of The Chase championship format, and more.-2:13: Daytona 500-11:49: Getting into NASCAR/sports media career-18:31: State of NASCAR-24:54: Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray-27:39: Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing post-lawsuit-31:58: Chase format coming back-34:14: Biffle/Hamlin family tragedies-37:38: Interviewing driversDownload 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
Kaylee Hartung on Super Bowl LX, Winter Olympics, sideline reporting, and more
01:02:35|Host Brandon Contes interviews Prime Video and NBC NFL sideline reporter and "Today" correspondent Kaylee Hartung. Kaylee is working the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics for NBC, so Brandon and Kaylee discuss a wide range of topics including working the Super Bowl as a sideline reporter for the first time, covering the Winter Olympics in Italy, the importance of sideline reporting, and more.-2:18: Working first Super Bowl for NBC-18:37: Working for Prime Video-32:27: Covering Seattle Seahawks/Super Bowl postgame-48:42: Kaylee’s media origin story-57:48: Working Winter OlympicsDownload 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
Elle Duncan on "Skyscraper Live" criticism, leaving ESPN, Caitlin Clark, and more
01:02:29|Host Brandon Contes interviews Netflix sports anchor and host Elle Duncan. Brandon and Elle discuss a wide range of topics including hosting "Skyscraper Live" and understanding viewer criticism of her commentary, leaving ESPN for Netflix, joining USA Sports WNBA coverage, and more.-2:05: Alex Honnold “Skyscraper Live” climb-28:02: Leaving ESPN-34:02: Working in sports media-42:03: WNBA-57:23: Super Bowl LXDownload 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
T-Bob Hebert on Indiana's title win, Lane Kiffin, Barstool Sports, and more
01:17:36|Host Brandon Contes interviews "Wake Up Barstool" co-host T-Bob Hebert Brandon and T-Bob discuss a wide range of topics including Indiana's rise to power winning the National Championship, Lane Kiffin heading to T-Bob's alma mater LSU, working at Barstool Sports, and more.-2:06: CFP National Championship-19:12: Playing at LSU-30:28: Working in media-42:04: Barstool Sports-58:42: Covering college football/Lane KiffinDownload 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