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537. 2026 MLB Preview with Jayson Stark
49:19|2026 is most likely going to be a significant season both on the field and off. Popularity for the sport is on the rise, yet an impending labor negotiation hangs over the game. 22 of 30 teams are broadcasting their games without a deal with a regional sports network. The last postseason was iconic, and baseball is looking for an encore. There are new rules and new partnerships as well.Jayson Stark is the senior writer of MLB at The Athletic. A true hall-of-fame, Stark was the 2019 winner of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award, for which he was honored. Jayson has covered baseball for more than 30 years. He spent 17 of those years at ESPN. He is the author of three books on baseball and has won an Emmy for his work on" Baseball Tonight."In this episode, Stark talks about baseball, building on last season's thrilling postseason. He also discusses the revenue disparity stemming from the new streaming deals. Stark also touches on the impending labor issues and changes at the MLBPA.Finally, Stark regales with some great stories about the late Scott Miller, the longtime baseball writer who passed away in 2025.For more info on Jayson Stark: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/jayson-stark/
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536. NJ Devils TV Host Rachel Herzog
01:02:54|Sports with Friends celebrates Women’s History Month, continuing with a long line of amazing female guests. Rachel Herzog is the Pre/Post Game host of the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks. She is currently in her second season. Herzog played both high school and college hockey, the latter at St. Cloud State University. Before her work in New Jersey, she worked at WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota, as a sports anchor/reporter. In this episode, Herzog tells the amazing story of how she went from being a hockey player to a hockey broadcaster in a very short time. She discusses the nuances of her job and how her hockey background enhances her on-air performance. She discusses the Devils' season, including how a freak accident involving star Jack Hughes curtailed a promising season. She also mentions Hughes's superstardom since scoring the “golden goal” to win the Gold Medal in the 2026 Olympic final. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com.535. The Business of 2026 Major League Baseball
01:01:06|Major League Baseball is undergoing a broadcasting metamorphosis in 2026. 22 of 30 teams have in-market, blackout-free streaming subscriptions available, while 8 remain broadcasting with traditional regional sports networks (RSNs). RSNs such as Sportsnet LA, Sportsnet NY, YES Network, and NESN pay their respective clubs' rights fees that dwarf the revenue from the 22 streaming teams. This revenue inequality will greatly impact competition on the baseball field, the only major American sport without a salary cap.Two highly regarded former baseball executives join the show to give their perspective on the current media landscape. David Samson is a former President of the Miami Marlins and was executive vice president of the Montreal Expos. Jim Duquette is a former general manager of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets.In this episode, both explain the current changes in club revenues. They discuss the 2-time World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the highest payroll, and the signings of free agents Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz in the off-season. They also comment on the upcoming labor negotiations as the sport faces the end of its current collective bargaining agreement.534. Pittsburgh Sports with Tim Benz
58:24|Longtime Pittsburgh sportscaster and Syracuse alum Tim Benz discusses his career and issues facing the Steel City. Benz has been covering Pittsburgh sports since 2001. In addition to writing for TribLIVE, he is a Steelers radio host on FOX Sports Radio Pittsburgh 970 AM and a contributor to WTAE-TV, WDVE, and WXDX-FM. He is a part of the Class of 1996 at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and WAER Radio.In this episode, Benz explains what it is like to cover the team he grew up rooting for as a kid. He also discusses his various roles in Pittsburgh media. Sports topics include Mike McCarthy as the new Steelers coach and Aaron Rodgers’s potential return as the Steelers' QB. He also compares Penguins greats Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux and discusses the Pirates' optimism amid the changing MLB media landscape.For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com533. Super Bowl 60 Preview
40:59|On February 8th, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. This preview features two special guests. Dave Wyman is a former NFL linebacker and the radio analyst for the Seattle Seahawks. He also hosts 2 pm-7 pm PT on Seattle Sports 710 and SeattleSports.com. Whyman played nine seasons for the Seahawks and Denver Broncos.Pete Kendall also joined the show. The veteran offensive lineman played twelve seasons for the Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Washington then-Redskins. He played college football at Boston College. He also grew up and currently lives in Massachusetts. His son, Drew, has played for the Philadelphia Eagles since 2025.In this episode, both Wyman and Kendall discuss the upcoming game, which is expected to be close. Wyman discusses his transition to the broadcast booth. Kendall discusses the game from both Seattle and New England's perspective.532. Minnesota Wild Radio Host Kevin Falness
01:02:37|Kevin Falness is the executive producer and pre/post-game host of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He joined the Wild as exec producer before their inaugural season in 2000-2001. Before joining the Wild, Falness worked as the executive producer of KKFN The Fan radio in Denver, Colorado. There, he oversaw talk shows and broadcasts of both the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. The Wild recently made a blockbuster trade in the NHL, acquiring former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, and is poised for a long playoff run. Falness discussed the impact the Wild have had on the Twin Cities.In this episode, Falness discussed his unique path to the Wild Radio Network. He also talked a lot about the old days in Denver and the trials and tribulations of starting an all-sports station in Denver in the 1990s.He also discusses the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament, the possibility of reuniting brothers Quinn, Jack, and Luke Hughes in Minnesota, and his thoughts on franchises wearing old logos from cities the team’s abandoned.531. The Fate of the FanDuel Sports Networks Explained
39:41|As 2026 began, a new sports media controversy emerged. Main Street Sports Group, formerly Diamond Sports, missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals for their local TV rights. Days later, they missed payments to numerous NBA teams. Reports indicate that the streaming service DAZN wants to buy these embattled regional sports networks. If a deal to sell to DAZN does not go through, there is a strong possibility that Main Street folds, leaving dozens of NBA, NHL, and MLB teams in jeopardy.Tom Friend reported this story for Sports Business Journal. He is a Feature Writer at Sports Business Journal, focusing primarily on the NBA. In this episode, Friend explains that the leagues want to create their own streaming packages using existing services such as Amazon, Peacock, Apple, and ESPN. He discusses both the short-term impact and the long-term future of regional broadcasts, acknowledging that some large markets find their RSN profitable and will not want to join any league-organized venture.Friend also discusses the proposed NBA in Europe and the chances of expansion, specifically in Seattle and/or Las Vegas.