Host Brandon Contes interviews Brian Windhorst, ESPN senior NBA writer and host of "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective." Brandon and Brian discuss a wide range of topics including NBA Finals coverage, covering The Decision, becoming a meme, and more.

For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.

-:42: NBA Finals talk
-1:19: Covering the Denver Nuggets for ESPN
-1:57: Seeing new teams in the NBA Finals
-3:58: National media/ESPN criticism for covering LeBron James so much
-7:45: Criticism from ESPN people about their lack of Nikola Jokić coverage
-10:02: ESPN’s basketball coverage
-12:37: Thoughts on aggregate media
-17:50: The Rudy Gobert trade and becoming a meme
-22:56: The Paris interview with Victor Wembanyama on Draft Lottery night
-29:17: Doing TV as a reporter
-33:54: Covering LeBron and being linked with him through high school, the Cavs, and the Heat
-36:21: Going to Miami and facing animosity
-40:13: Cleveland’s reaction toward Brian when he left to cover LeBron in Miami
-43:10: Covering The Decision
-48:04: Is LeBron really contemplating retirement?
-50:15: How and when to decide to report on transaction rumors
-54:10: Difficulties of being on First Take as a reporter and not saying too much
-56:29: Working with Stephen A. Smith
-59:03: Working with Skip Bayless
-1:01:45: Current NBA player who could be a media star Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Windhorst on LeBron James, The Decision, Skip Bayless, and more

One of the premier sports blogs on the Internet now has its own podcast. Some of the biggest names and newsmakers in sports media will join us regularly on the Awful Announcing Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News

Sports

Sports News

Host Brandon Contes interviews co-host of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," Jon "Stugotz" Weiner. Brandon and Stugotz discuss a wide range of topics including being interested in being program director at WFAN, working with Dan Le Batard for nearly 20 years, the importance of being on ESPN and being jealous of Pat McAfee, 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: How close was Stugotz to being program director at WFAN? -2:50: Process of program director discussion -4:08: Being a full-time host while being program director? -6:14: Sal Licata -8:19: Ryan Hurley -10:06: Mark Chernoff/Spike Eskin handling WFAN program director role -12:48: Talking to Spike Eskin about the program director job -14:24: Talking to Chris Oliviero about before the program director job opened up? -16:04: Wanting a full-time WFAN show before retirement? -17:31: Letting Dan Le Batard know about talks with WFAN -18:39: Le Batard understanding what WFAN means to Stugotz -19:59: Any talks about doing WFAN and Le Batard? -25:55: Mike Francesa or Chris “Mad Dog” Russo? -29:34: Mad Dog on “First Take” -33:24: Does it feel like it’s been 20 years with Le Batard? -35:31: Francesa doing a podcast -37:34: Le Batard being a perfectionist -39:00: Size of the cast on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” -41:17: Convincing Le Batard to be a sports radio host -44:12: Chemistry between Stugotz and Le Batard at first -46:15: Importance of being at ESPN -48:09: Podcast audience growth -51:05: Decision to leave ESPN -52:15: Comfortable with leaving ESPN -53:38: Did Stugotz consider leaving the show due to leaving ESPN? -54:59: Being jealous of Pat McAfee -55:45: Did ESPN give “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” the freedom they wanted? -57:32: Pat McAfee level of freedom? -1:00:36: Stugotz’s book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon "Stugotz" Weiner on Dan Le Batard, WFAN, Pat McAfee, and more

Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Eli Gold. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including being the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Alabama not retaining him for 2024, telling a white lie to start broadcasting in NASCAR, Nick Saban retiring from coaching, and more.
NOTE: We apologize for some audio and visual issues during the episode.
For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.
-:40: Eli’s health -1:11: Returning to broadcast booth post-cancer -1:57: Were there retirement thoughts when Eli sat out? -2:54: Being out of work for two hours -4:02: Calling home games only at Alabama -4:56: Was the cutback a warning sign that Alabama wasn’t going to retain Eli? -6:00: Alabama’s reason for not retaining Eli -7:47: Response from Alabama fans -8:46: Being the voice of the Nick Saban era [NOTE] Eli’s audio cuts out from 9:10 to 9:15. For full context, Eli is talking about not being at Alabama’s 2024 Spring Game which honored Nick Saban and the 2023 team. -11:00: Not being welcomed by Alabama fans when Eli joined in 1988 -12:24: Considering leaving Alabama during that time? -14:49: Getting to Alabama -16:12: Goal as aspiring sportscaster in NYC -18:01: Broadcasters Eli looked up to growing up -19:25: Crafting your own style -21:45: Verne Lundquist’s last Masters -22:43: Jacksonville State University -23:32: Nashville Kats -26:30: Preparing for opposing team -27:25: Commute to Nashville -28:01: Were there other job opportunities while Eli was at Alabama? -28:59: Reaction to Nick Saban retiring -30:20: Any solace in that Eli’s Alabama tenure ended when Saban’s did? -31:15: Can Alabama succeed without Saban? -32:21: How will Saban do at ESPN? -33:49: Most memorable and favorite moments/games at Alabama -35:46: Favorite sport to broadcast -37:24: Getting involved in NASCAR -40:51: Working the 1979 Daytona 500 on MRN and importance of that race to NASCAR -42:00: Being too close to Dale Earnhardt’s 1982 Pocono crash -44:45: Being on the call for Earnhardt’s fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500 -46:24: Which sport changed the most throughout Eli’s career? NASCAR or college football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eli Gold on departing Alabama, NASCAR, Nick Saban, and more

Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Bob Costas. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including his feelings on Donald Trump before and after becoming president, Bob's infamous gun culture essay, how Tom Brady would be as a 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.
-1:07: Being selective with doing podcasts -5:19: Thoughts about Joe Biden and Donald Trump -13:19: Relationship with Trump pre-president -17:55: Covering the Olympics -19:50: Hearing back from China after being critical of them -21:50: Responsibility of not “sticking to sports” -24:14: Jim Nantz and the Masters -26:27: Misconceptions surrounding gun culture essay -33:47: Biggest detriment to the essay -35:37: Can it be “not worth it” discussing serious topics when people can make their own headlines and twist around those words? -36:34: NBC coming to Bob with issues they wanted him to talk about -36:58: How did NFL owners and Roger Goodell react to some of Bob’s essays? -38:04: Watching the NFL -38:26: How will Tom Brady do as a broadcaster? Could Brady do this for a long time? -40:23: Social media/aggregate media causing change in media -48:41: Doing “Later” on NBC -49:59: Can long-form interview format work on TV today? -50:27: Why Bob feels he couldn’t do a show like “Later” anymore -52:19: No studio audience on “Later” -54:27: One thing in sports Bob would like to see happen before retirement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob Costas on Donald Trump, Olympics, Tom Brady, and more

Host Brandon Contes interviews "Parkins & Spiegel Show" co-host and co-author of the book "Pipeline to the Pros," Danny Parkins. Brandon and Danny discuss a wide range of topics including Caleb Williams (very likely) going to the Bears, being the best man at Nick Wright's vow renewal, breaking the news of the Jovan Belcher tragedy, 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.
-:42: Writing a book -3:46: Difficulties of writing a book -5:57: Moments Danny felt like giving up on book? -8:06: People who declined to be interviewed -10:02: Jeff Van Gundy stories -13:29: Duncan Robinson -15:41: Will book change how DIII schools are valued? -17:40: Sports media not playing sports stigma -19:40: BrainUp -21:56: Dealing with real things and sharing that with the audience -24:10: Becoming comfortable with discussing difficult personal things -26:31: Landing first full-time on-air radio job -28:17: Kansas City and Nick Wright -29:39: Jovan Belcher murder-suicide story -32:06: Difficulty reporting a story like that -34:21: Lines between sports journalists and radio hosts being blurred? -35:49: Do aggregators make life difficult in terms of separating media journalism and media entertainment? -37:51: Not sticking to sports -40:20: Jason McIntyre’s comments about Chicago -41:13: Colin Cowherd calling Danny the “most talented sports talk radio host” -43:13: Feelings of ESPN embracing digital for shows compared to his situation -46:41: Landing dream job at a young age -48:12: Working with Dan McNeil -49:28: Having a say in a co-host after Dan was fired? -51:07: Caleb Williams -52:37: Divide over trading the pick or drafting Williams? -53:42: Fans concerned about Williams’ eccentricities? -54:36: Being friends with Nick Wright Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Parkins on Caleb Williams, Nick Wright, Danny's book, and more

Guest host Jessica Kleinschmidt interviews ESPN MLB reporter Buster Olney. Jessica and Buster discuss a wide range of topics including the slow pace of the MLB offseason, Scott Boras taking some losses in negotiations, helping Buster Posey be more media friendly, and more.
NOTE: We recorded with Buster on Friday March 22, so in between recording and posting, some details about the Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara gambling story have been updated.
For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.
-:43: Baseball coverage changing over the years -2:26: Relationship with players changing -3:55: Clubhouse access -6:00: Waiting around -7:42: Covering Chuck Knoblauch during the "yips" -9:30: Helping Buster Posey be more media friendly -12:57: Embracing players as people in terms of social media -14:16: Benefit to players having their wall back up? -15:06: Embracing social media at the start -16:04: Do the positives outweigh the negatives on social media? -18:01: Buster being able to separate from work in his personal life -21:06: This offseason compared to past years -23:52: Who is a “middle class” MLB player? -25:36: Players speaking up -26:35: Buster’s take on a salary cap in MLB -27:45: Top paying players involved in salary cap discussions? -28:52: Scott Boras conspiracy theory -31:26: TV concerns -32:52: Increase in opt-out contracts -34:54: Shohei Ohtani -38:23: Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal -40:42: Personal relationship with an interpreter -42:47: How would this go if it didn’t involve Ohtani? -43:33: Not really unchartered territory -45:20: Shock factor of Ohtani news -46:42: Joey Votto -48:49: Reds not bringing Votto back -49:56: Votto’s potential post-playing future Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Windhorst on LeBron James, The Decision, Skip Bayless, and more

Download our free app to listen on your phone