Media Credentials

The "Media Credentials" podcast is filled with stories and people from the Orlando Magic, my hometown NBA team and the first place I worked after college. Dante Marchitelli's path to the Magic was very similar to mine, in that he landed an internship in broadcasting that developed into a full-time role. The main difference between us? He never left. For over 25 years, Dante has been a fixture as a Magic producer and broadcaster on radio, television, and digital. He shares his arrival in Orlando from Massachusetts by way of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1998, when the NBA was under threat of a lockout. From that uncertainty to meeting his future wife and raising a family in Central Florida, Dante's got stories. Plus, we look ahead to the coming NBA season, when the Magic will face rising expectations.

David Steele was one of the very first employees of the Orlando Magic and now one of the longest tenured announcers in the NBA. He was the Magic's first radio announcer starting in 1989, eventually moving to television in 1998, where he currently works alongside former Magic player Jeff Turner. Before coming to Orlando, David served as the play-by-play voice of the Florida Gators and worked at local TV stations in the Southeast. His numerous accolades include induction into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2019, when he joined a roster that includes Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, and Dwight Howard. He's an ambassador for the franchise and a role model to many -- myself included.

Jeff Phillips and I worked together at ESPN for a brief spell in the 1990s, and while his career took more of a hard news direction, we have stayed in touch via social media. Never shy about his opinions -- and with a wealth of experience in local and national news organizations -- I knew he would be a wheelhouse guest for the pod. We cover his St. Louis Cardinals fandom, his thoughts on how sports coverage is changing, and his pivot away from broadcast media. We also take hard left turns into "fake news," local TV and radio, and the importance of maintaining meaningful connections to stay afloat in this industry.

My guest on this episode has a history in media that includes a move to Orlando in the early days of Golf Channel and Universal Studios, but his current path is something else entirely. Brendan Sweeney is the Director of Golf Media Relations and Player Development at the French Lick Resort in Indiana, home of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. His job is multifaceted, but you can call him a PR guy and builder of relationships. He owes his passion for golf to his early days in Chicago, where he caddied at famed Medinah Country Club, home to multiple majors and Ryder Cups. We talk Medinah, French Lick, the direction of golf, the influence of "influencers," and the power of storytelling.

My guest on the podcast is a man who wears many hats. David Moulton is a sports talk radio host, play-by-play guy, spotter for NCAA and NFL football games, and a veteran in the trenches of sports media. He co-hosts a syndicated show, "Miller and Moulton," which airs in multiple markets in the Southeast. I've been a guest on their show many times, usually during golf's major championships, and I was eager to return the favor. This conversation was not limited to golf. We talk about how to watch a football game, the future of the Tampa Bay Rays, the future of our industry, and how Hank Aaron jump-started David's career.

Ask Jeff Tracy what he does for a living, and prepare to be there a while. A veteran of radio, TV, and podcasting, Jeff is a man of many interests, including cooking barbeque and talking golf. He's created multiple syndicated radio programs and has appeared on countless television shows as a BBQ chef and golf expert. His podcast, "Grilling At The Green," combines those two passions, and I was lucky enough to be a guest. Was happy to return the favor as we discuss his diverse career, trends in media, and the state of our favorite game.

Nick Sherburne is the co-founder of Club Champion, the industry leader in golf club fitting centers with over 100 locations nationwide. While a teenager in Chicago, Nick took a job at famed Cog Hill and was there when the PGA Tour made its annual stop. He was fascinated by the manufacturers' tour fitting trailers and wondered if that level of technology and service could be made available to the recreational player. In this episode, we trace the history of his business and the philosophy that drives him, plus tackle some big picture topics in golf, including LIV, TGL, and the post-pandemic golf boom. Not precisely a "sports media" topic, but a fascinating discussion of the golf business and the power of staying true to a dream.

Mike Massaro's passion for auto racing took him from central Connecticut to tracks around the country as a reporter and host for ESPN, ABC Sports, and NBC. Moving from sports to local TV news in Hartford, Mike found himself at a career crossroads. After taking a hard look at his skills and interests and doing some networking, Mike took the leap in 2025 with a new role as Senior Director of Communications for RFK Racing, the powerhouse NASCAR team founded by the legendary Jack Roush. Mike and I worked together on ESPN2's "RPM 2Night" for several years, but had not been in touch until recently. Enjoy this trip down memory (victory?) lane.

You may not know StreamLayer yet, but you're likely to see their work if you stream live sports. This Chicago-based company provides sports leagues and teams with AI-powered advertising and interactive features that bolster the viewer's streaming experience and increase engagement. StreamLayer COO Andrew Fleming is a former VP and senior counsel at Golf Channel and NBC Sports, an industry veteran with a wide range of experience. In this episode we discuss his business and the business of sports, including his view from the sidelines as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf navigate the future of the professional game.

Ward Clayton is an accomplished communications professional, author and editor with decades of experience. A former sports editor for the Augusta Chronicle, he authored a book in 2004 that gave a first-ever glimpse at the life and impact of the famed caddies at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters. In 2024, realizing that many of these men had moved away or passed on, he updated the book with new reporting -- the result is "The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National: Inside Stories from Golf's Greatest Stage." In this episode, we discuss the process of researching and writing the books, plus touch on the club's relationship with the city of Augusta and how the current corps of caddies are still making an impact.