Awful Announcing Podcast

Awful Announcing's Brandon Contes is joined Mike Ryan Ruiz from The Dan Le Batard Show. They discuss Mike’s start with the show, his current role and future. The also discussed Stugotz leaving the show, the importance of being ESPN, the breakup with ESPN, how The Dan Le Batard Show compares to current sports media shows, hot takes, Pat McAfee, Jonathan Zaslow, and more.

-02:36: Mike’s beginning with The Dan Le Batard Show

-05:47: How did The Dan Le Batard Show sound 20 years ago

-10:47: Getting hired by The Dan Le Batard Show

-12:50: Earning Dan’s trust to be an on-air presence

-17:20: Stepping down as Executive Prodcuer

-21:30: Current role and future with The Dan Le Batard Show

-26:51: Dan’s longevity

-28:51: Stugotz leaving the show

-30:32: Did the audience deserve to know more?

-36:20: Creative differences with Stugotz

-38:00: Social and political discussions

-40:14: Importance of going to ESPN

-42:39: Keeping the show’s RSS feed

-46:55: Leaving ESPN and continuing the show the next day

-50:24: Breaking up with ESPN

-54:06: ESPN suspending Dan

-58:43: Dan Le Batard Show vs the rest of sports media

-1:03:10: Dan’s belief that Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith ruined sports media

-1:04:32: Pat McAfee

-1:06:45: Jonathan Zaslow’s fit with the show

-1:14:37: Staying ahead of the curve

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes is joined by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts. They discuss the new HBO documentary "Miller Night Football" which depicts ABC’s decision to build a Monday Night Football booth around Al Michaels, Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller. Fouts opens up about working with Miller and Michaels, and being replaced by John Madden. He also discusses the Los Angeles Chargers, including his relationship with Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers.

-02:15: Emotions of participating in this documentary

-05:51: Could Dan, Al and Dennis have been a long-term fit?

-07:49: Was the booth a success?

-08:38: Reaction to ABC hiring Dennis Miller

-10:35: Rush Limbaugh tryouts

-11:35: Relationship with Al and Dennis

-12:22: Al Michaels and John Madden

-15:20: Growing up the son of a broadcaster

-16:31: Noah Eagle compared to Ian Eagle

-18:38: What’s wrong with the Chargers?

-21:35: Justin Herbert

-23:20: Philip Rivers

-25:17: Quarterback injuries

-26:28: Analytics

-27:39: Playing in Tokyo

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes is joined by former ESPN host and reporter Suzy Kolber. They discuss Kolber’s new show with Scripps Sports, her ESPN layoff, sideline reporting, Joe Namath, Arch Manning, Charissa Thompson, and more.

-02:34: Leaving sports media for three years

-04:48: New show with Scripps Sports

-10:18: Future of show for Scripps Sports

-13:24: Joe Namath

-16:32: Reaction to interview with Joe Namath

-19:25: What the reaction be today?

-20:37: Arch Manning/Holly Rowe

-24:10: Chasing coaches as a sideline reporter

-29:00: Charissa Thompson making up reports

-31:53: ESPN layoff

-42:47: Damar Hamlin

-50:04: Women in sports media

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Awful Announcing's Brandon Contes is joined by former NFL player and current sports media host Emmanuel Acho. They discuss the comeback win by Texas over Ohio State, Arch Manning’s reaction to an AI video of Holly Rowe, working at FS1, Skip Bayless, Joy Taylor, Speakeasy, Donald Trump, and more.

-01:50: Texas comeback win over Ohio State

-06:27: Arch Manning in comeback win

-07:42: Arch Manning laughing at AI video of Holly Rowe

-18:34: Start in media

-21:09: Interest in replacing Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed

-23:24: Skip Bayless

-24:15: Joy Taylor

-27:40: Fallout from the 2025 lawsuit against FS1

-29:57: Getting Undisputed YouTube channel to build Speakeasy

-34:56: Interest in returning to linear television

-37:08: Rumored NFL investigation after car accident comments

-38:24: Trump administration banning 'Uncomfortable Conversations'

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes is joined by two-time Super Bowl champion and current CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan for a wide-ranging interview. They discuss transitioning from the field to the broadcast booth, becoming a full-time analyst with CBS, Tony Romo’s future, playing for Mike Vrabel and Bill Belichick, non-quarterback analysts, Tom Brady’s MAGA hat, Aaron Donald, Lamar Jackson, and more.

-02:53: Transition to broadcasting

-08:04: Critiquing players

-10:52: Being on the same timeline as Tom Brady

-13:19: Relationship with CBS

-15:21: What happens if Tony Romo returns?

-17:19: Shadowing Jim Nantz and Tony Romo

-22:06: Taking production meetings seriously as a player

-24:28: Lack of minority NFL game analysts

-25:51: Do quarterbacks make better analysts?

-27:48: Lamar Jackson

-34:14: Playing for Mike Vrabel

-35:09: Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini

-35:38: Playing for Bill Belichick

-37:48: How would NFL players react to Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson?

-45:02: Aaron Donald

-52:57: Jaxson Dart embracing celebrity lifestyle

-54:56: Jaxson Dart introducing Donald Trump at rally

-56:47: Tom Brady MAGA hat in his locker

-59:27: Intercepting Tom Brady’s last pass as a Patriot

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes is joined by Howie Rose for a wide-ranging interview. They discuss Rose’s decision to retire as lead radio voice of the New York Mets, Bob Murphy, Gary Cohen, Mike Piazza, 9/11, his most famous calls, ‘Matteau, Matteau, Matteau,’ going from the Rangers to the Islanders, and more.

-02:32: Decision to retire

-04:24: ‘Cutting corners’ in recent seasons

-06:53: Not traveling with the Mets

-10:59: Does Howie Rose still feel at the top of his game?

-15:26: Ability to be honest as a broadcaster

-20:40: Importance of being present in the clubhouse

-22:12: Battles with Frank Cashen

-31:14: Succeeding Bob Murphy

-32:47: Mike Piazza home run after 9/11

-36:47: Most famous MLB calls

-39:06: Comparing Mike Piazza and Pete Alonso home run calls

-41:11: Relationship with Gary Cohen

-41:46: Interest in SNY

-44:53: Gary Cohen rejoining Mets radio booth during 2006 playoffs

-47:04: ‘Matteau’ call

-51:30: Marv Albert

-54:00: Going from Rangers to Islanders

-57:33: Final Mets broadcast

-59:32: Will Howie Rose ever call another Mets game?

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes interviews Sal Licata. They discuss Licata’s new venture Underscore Media, his departure from WFAN, working with Brandon Tierney, producing Mike and the Mad Dog, being there for Chris Russo’s departure to SiriusXM, potential Mike Francesa co-hosts, and more.

-02:06: Underscore Media

-07:38: Immediate plans after leaving WFAN

-16:25: Learning about Craig Carton’s return while on-air

-17:20: Taking the high road

-19:41: Expecting to survive Craig Carton’s return

-21:15: Hosting radio shows vs digital

-30:12: Working with Brandon Tierney

-31:03: Gregg Giannotti calling Brandon Tierney a bad teammate

-33:15: Solo host vs having co-host

-35:00: 2010 firing from WFAN

-41:26: Producing Mike and the Mad Dog

-45:02: Mike Francesa and Chris Russo relationship at the end

-48:53: Traveling with Mike and Chris

-51:01: Serious candidates to replace Chris Russo

-54:22: Learning Chris Russo was leaving WFAN

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Awful Announcing’s Brandon Contes interviews New York Yankees TV voice Michael Kay. They discuss a wide range of topics including Awful Announcing’s MLB broadcaster rankings, whether there is an anti-Yankee bias, the YES Network, John Sterling, The Michael Kay Show, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg, Mike Francesa, and more.

-02:33: Awful Announcing’s broadcaster rankings

-10:20: YES broadcast vs SNY

-15:45: The decision to join YES in 2002

-16:37: John Sterling

-21:23: How much longer will Michael call Yankee games?

-25:49: Competing with WFAN and Mike Francesa

-28:54: Did Michael Kay ever consider joining WFAN?

-31:18: Don La Greca

-34:10: Reaction to Peter Rosenberg joining The Michael Kay Show

-39:52: Diet Coke bit

-45:07: Derek Jeter’s relationship with the Yankees

-45:46: Did Michael Kay ever get yelled at by George Steinbrenner?

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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN’s Michael Wilbon. They discuss a wide range of topics including The Washington Post, "PTI’s" relationship with ESPN, insiders, Stephen A. Smith, the face of ESPN, Pat McAfee, Michael Jordan, and more.

-02:13: Will Wilbon ever host a podcast?

-10:00: The newsroom at The Washington Post

-16:37: Starting "PTI" with Tony Kornheiser

-22:37: Kobe Bryant’s "PTI" advice

-25:54: "PTI" would not have lasted in Bristol 3

-32:29: Will Wilbon continue "PTI" if Kornheiser retires?

-37:28: Are insiders journalists?

-40:25: Is Stephen A. Smith still a journalist?

-43:36: Wilbon refuses to let ESPN force him to talk Cowboys

-45:22: Advice for Ryan Clark

-48:00: Who is the face of ESPN?

-49:12: Pat McAfee

-50:23: Can fans trust ESPN’s NFL partnership?

-54:38: Michael Jordan

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Brandon interviews Spolitics host Jemele Hill. They discuss a wide range of topics including ESPN’s latest round of layoffs, the decision to part ways with Ryan Clark, Jason Whitlock, Stephen A. Smith’s influence at ESPN, his role as a journalist, Caitlin Clark, and more.

-02:11: Does Jemele Hill miss ESPN?

-04:18: Being at ESPN during 2017 layoffs

-15:43: Was Ryan Clark fired by ESPN?

-19:17: Should Ryan Clark sue ESPN?

-23:27: Cam Newton interview with Jason Whitlock

-26:25: Is Stephen A. Smith losing influence at ESPN

-33:56: Stephen A. Smith for president?

-38:19: Caitlin Clark

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