WrestleMania 41 was lackluster. Lee Corso announces his retirement. And everyone had takes about Nico Iamaleava. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Mel Kiper Jr. and Brian Windhorst, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:25: WrestleMania 41

-19:40: Lee Corso retiring Week 1 of 2025 College Football season

-33:09: Stock Watch, Stock Watch: Sports media reactions to Nico Iamaleava

-46:29: Mel Kiper Jr./Pro Football Hall of Fame/NFL Draft

-53:47: Brian Windhorst podcast tour

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CBS had a perfect situation with the Masters. The UFC-ESPN negotiating window ends without a deal. Is streaming finally going to take over cable? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including how the Trump administration is handling RSN's, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:45: A perfect Masters

-23:57: ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window with UFC ends with no deal

-45:46: It’s the end of TV as we know it?

-1:00:43: WrestleMania 41 underwhelming

-1:03:28: Who in sports media can fill an arena?

-1:08:49: RSN’s

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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James going at it. Gary Danielson announces his retirement, resulting in CBS to make moves in their college football and NFL broadcasts. Peter Schrager leaves NFL Network for ESPN. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen, along with AA head Ben Koo, discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:47: Stephen A. Smith vs. LeBron James

-21:54: Gary Danielson retiring, Charles Davis replacing Danielson, JJ Watt replacing Davis at CBS

-43:13: ESPN hires Peter Schrager

-58:23: Zach Lowe joins The Ringer

-59:56: RIP NFL Chain Gang

-1:02:44: Dave Portnoy being the most influential person in the intersection of sports and politics

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Dan Hurley rubs many the wrong way, so is that why he's great for college basketball? Is Shohei Ohtani the face of Major League Baseball. Are the lack of Cinderellas really what's destroying college basketball. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including an in-depth discussion with Morning Consult's Ellyn Briggs on how Gen Z consumes sports, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:04: No Cinderellas in March Madness

-21:11: Ellyn Briggs joins the show

-21:39: Best way to summarize how Gen Z consumes sports

-24:57: Gen Z having a strong connection to athletes, going to games

-29:49: NIL and Gen Z

-31:22: Sports going away from a made-for-TV product?

-34:17: Gen Z and Gen-Alpha sports participation

-37:13: Public reaction to Jackie Robinson article temporarily taken down

-42:30: Women’s sports fans supporting activism among players

-46:33: LIV Golf/Saudi Arabia and sportswashing

-50:20: What has to happen for a new league to work in 2025?

-54:48: Dan Hurley

-57:48: Shohei Ohtani as the “Face of MLB”

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How does the media talk about Bill Belichick's and Jordon Hudson's relationship? People taking NFL insiders to task on how they report free agency news. Who are some of the top stars of online sports media? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:41: NFL insiders criticized for how they report free agent news

-18:12: Kyle Hamilton of the Week

-20:52: Breakout Stars of Online Sports Media Draft

-43:07: How to discuss Bill Belichick’s and Jordon Hudson’s relationship?

-58:11: Basketball sports betting being terrible contributing to lack of interest in the NBA

-1:03:16: Women’s NCAA Tournament without Caitlin Clark

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Stephen A. Smith and ESPN finally have a deal and the TGL is entering the playoffs in their first season. Awful Announcing's Brandon Contes and Drew Lerner join Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:01: Stephen A. Smith’s new ESPN contract with Brandon Contes

-32:23 TGL entering playoffs with Drew Lerner

-50:33: What should replace “Around the Horn?”

-58:33 Giving up X posting for Lent update

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A discussion about who's the face of the NBA devolved into the usual NBA discourse. President Donald Trump is anywhere and everywhere in the sports world. John Cena shocked everyone by becoming a bad guy in WWE. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:37: NBA “Face of the League” talk fueling negative discourse

-25:01: Donald Trump controlling the sports world

-42:16: John Cena turns heel

-54:27: NBA Centel disappeared and returned to X

-1:00:21: Giving up X posting for Lent

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What is Stephen A. Smith's political endgame? The New Yorker's Jay Caspian King joins Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss. Ben and Brendon will also talk about ESPN opting out of their MLB contract after 2025, as well as various NBA topics including Richard Jefferson and Brian Windhorst on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-2:04: ESPN opts out of MLB rights after 2025

-20:36: View From the Subreddit: ESPN Edition

-26:14: “Court of Gold”

-39:02: The New Yorker’s Jay Caspian Kang joins to discuss Stephen A. Smith’s political aspirations

-1:03:34: Richard Jefferson joining Mike Breen and Doris Burke on NBA Finals broadcast

-1:07:23: Brian Windhorst a free agent after the NBA season

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The NBA and NHL made changes to their All-Star Game format. One worked, one didn't. More podcasts are becoming TV programming. Will the trend continue? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including Caitlin Clark's agent speaking out on the WNBA on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:30: Are All-Star Games fixable?

-13:35: NHL 4 Nations Face-Off

-21:30: Podcasts as TV programming

-36:52: RSN’s

-52:09: MLS/Apple restricts Fox to two Inter Miami games/season

-56:10: Bela Bajaria talking Netflix and NFL on “The Town”

-59:41: Caitlin Clark’s agent saying WNBA should split from NBA

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How did Tom Brady do in his first Super Bowl as a broadcaster? Why did people vote Lamar Jackson for first team All-Pro but vote Josh Allen for MVP? Dan Orlovsky may leave ESPN? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Adam Silver's reaction to NBA criticism on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:44: Fox’s Super Bowl broadcast/Tom Brady’s Super Bowl performance

-21:40 NFL MVP/All-Pro voting

-27:01: Dan Orlovsky weighing his options

-34:02: NBC studio setup entering Super Bowl season

-39:00: NFL Draft

-45:50: Adam Silver and NBA criticism

-54:44: Ex-Patriots players taking over NFL media landscape

-1:00:13: Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament

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