The Play-By-Play

The rift between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck is realer than we ever knew, and dates back to the early days of their time at ESPN. We break down a new report at The Athletic about the longtime NFL broadcast partners and where it went wrong. Plus, Brandon Contes shares his insights from some of his recent interviews with the biggest stars in sports podcasting including Bomani Jones, Emmanuel Acho and Mike Ryan Ruiz. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:00 Intro 1:15 New Aikman vs Buck report 18:10 Ernie Johnson's replacement 21:54 Who is the most powerful person in sports podcasting? 24:55 Brandon weighs in on Sports Media Influence Olympics 27:20 Reaction to Mike Ryan interview 32:00 Reaction to Emmanuel Acho interview 41:03 Reaction to Bomani Jones interview Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

J.J. Watt will be the lead NFL analyst for CBS Sports, signing a new long-term deal after replacing Tony Romo. Was it a smart move, will it last, and what does it mean for the rest of the NFL announcer musical chairs? Plus, there is more drama around The Ringer after its recent embrace of Substack newsletters and strange comments about the direction of Bill Simmons' company. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

Troy Aikman and Joe Buck reportedly have had multiple arguments over their futures at ESPN after Buck signed an extension with the network while Aikman remains un-signed. Plus, Pat McAfee is on defense over his potential takeover of the Monday Night Football booth. What's real here and what is just posturing for a bigger contract? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

ESPN and Fox Sports both have lobbied for the Protect College Sports Act alongside Cody Campbell's Save College Sports organization much more than previously known, even as Nick Saban and Ted Cruz lobby for the bill on ESPN airwaves. We dive into an exclusive report from Awful Announcing on the networks' efforts. Plus, a look at Terry Bradshaw's future after a handful of recent comments from the Fox star about looming retirement. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:19 Bradshaw's future14:02 Deep dive on ESPN's conflict of interest with the PCSAAwful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

Adam Schefter reported Marvin Harrison Jr. was on his way out of Arizona, but failed to report where he was going, opening another can of worms for the maligned ESPN NFL insider. It's also time for Stock Watch Stock Watch on the Arch Manning experience at Texas, after another late-game collapse and more questions about whether he was coronated too soon. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

Dave Portnoy and Barstool are OUT at Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" college football pregame show, a month into their second season together. What really happened here, what does it mean for Barstool's FS1 show, and what can the move tell us about the state of college football coverage? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:55 Big Noon ditches Barstool 22:42 Why Fox's response to McAfee didn't work 29:03 Will 'Wake Up Barstool' continue? 35:30 Jason Kelce great first impression calling game 38:19 Fox #2 MLB booth needs an overhaul Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

Tony Romo and CBS Sports parted ways Friday, leaving the polarizing NFL analyst free to seek out his next job. Plus, the Portland Trail Blazers stepped in it again by firing their 29-year-old new TV announcer over old tweets from when he was in high school. Then a deep dive into the Big Ten vs the SEC in viewership, popularity, and television product quality as College Football Playoff expansion comes back into focus. Awful Announcing boss Ben Koo joins. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:26 Romo out, what's next?13:38 Blazers' blunder25:43 SEC vs Big TenListen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing

J.J. Watt got a huge shot in his audition to be the top NFL game analyst at CBS over the weekend, calling a classic in Brazil between the Ravens and Cowboys. Did Watt do well enough to cement himself alongside Jim Nantz in the top booth? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE!1:03 JJ Watt breakdown34:17 Sean McVay vs Rams media42:30 Suns owner gets real on Miles Bridges Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing