The Play-By-Play

Dave Portnoy brought pro wrestling to Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' while ESPN pulled out all the stops to send Lee Corso into retirement on 'College GameDay.'

It's our Week 1 CFB media reaction on the new-look Play-By-Play Podcast LIVE!

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ESPN buys NFL Media, Netflix releases "WWE: Unreal," and "Pablo Torre Finds Out" heads to The Athletic. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at these stories, as Anthony Dabbundo from The Ringer stops by to chat on this week's episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:43: ESPN buys NFL Media

-18:05: Anthony Dabbundo talks gambling, soccer, and The Ringer

-52:58: Hot Mics including “WWE: Unreal” review and “Pablo Torre Finds Out” has a licensing deal with The Athletic

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Barstool Sports and Fox Sports are collaborating with Dave Portnoy going to "Big Noon Kickoff" and a daily morning Barstool show. WNBA players took the league to task by wearing "Pay us what you owe us" shirts at the All-Star Game. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at these stories, plus Kofie Yeboah stops by to chat on this week's episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:03: Barstool heading to FS1/Dave Portnoy joins “Big Noon Kickoff"

-23:14: Kofie Yeboah joins us

-1:00:03: Book Tour Minus the Book: Azzi Fudd

-1:03:00: WNBA CBA negotiations at All-Star Game

-1:11:48: Hot Mics including Pablo Torre breaking NFLPA cover up and Shane Gillis hosting ESPY’s

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Fox Sports cancels "Speak," "Breakfast Ball," and "The Facility," leaving a lot of open slots on FS1's schedule. Pat McAfee's polarizing appearance at the Home Run Derby brought a lot of reactions. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at the most undercovered sports media stories from the first half of the year. That, plus Shane Gillis hosting the ESPY's are on tap for this week's episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

:51: FS1 cancels three shows and Joy Taylor’s contract not renewed

-20:59: Views From the Subreddit: r/ESPN on Pat McAfee at the Home Run Derby

-28:39: Mike Monaco at Wimbledon

-31:54: Undercovered sports media stories of 2025

-1:08:18: Hot mics including ESPN summer vacation and Shane Gillis hosting ESPY’s

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Christine Brennan released an unauthorized biography of Caitlin Clark. Brennan makes no secret she's a massive fan of the WNBA superstar but is her fandom helping the situation? We're halfway into 2025, and at the risk of becoming hypocrites, Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen take a look at the most overblown sports media stories from the first half of the year. That, plus reviews on "F1" and "Quarterback" are on tap for this week's episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:00: Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark book/coverage

-23:49: Overblown sports media stories of the first half of 2025

-55:52: Hot mics including reviews of “F1” and “Quarterback”

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LeBron James exercised his option to stay with the Lakers but is there more than meets the eye in LA? Bill Simmons and Kendrick Perkins got into it on social media. How did this fare on our beef meter? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Malik Beasley's gambling investigation, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-3:30: ESPN NBA broadcast booth staying the same?

-11:03: Stephen A. Smith being totally gone from NBA postseason coverage?

-16:20: “Inside the NBA” will salvage ESPN’s NBA coverage?

-20:37: ESPN bringing back Finals features satisfying NBA fans?

-26:21: The NBA is happy about this Finals?

-32:04: Does it matter that NBA news breaks during Finals?

-36:15: Podcasts becoming a replacement for traditional NBA coverage?

-39:43: Amazon and NBC will make ESPN’s NBA coverage better?

-43:26: Hot mics

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After a one week break, we are back to talk NBA. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen cover the top sports media storylines from the NBA Finals in a special Buy or Sell segment on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-3:30: ESPN NBA broadcast booth staying the same?

-11:03: Stephen A. Smith being totally gone from NBA postseason coverage?

-16:20: “Inside the NBA” will salvage ESPN’s NBA coverage?

-20:37: ESPN bringing back Finals features satisfying NBA fans?

-26:21: The NBA is happy about this Finals?

-32:04: Does it matter that NBA news breaks during Finals?

-36:15: Podcasts becoming a replacement for traditional NBA coverage?

-39:43: Amazon and NBC will make ESPN’s NBA coverage better?

-43:26: Hot mics

You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!

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Doris Burke is getting lots of criticism and praise for her NBA broadcasts. Are low ratings for this year's NBA Finals due to two small market teams competing? Warner Bros. Discovery splits into two separate companies. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including who may host "Pardon the Interruption" after Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:49: Doris Burke in the news

-20:08: Small market NBA Finals

-31:00: Warner Bros. Discovery splits off cable networks

-53:12: Lee Corso’s final “College GameDay” in Columbus

-55:57: “PTI” after Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon

-1:04:06: TNT’s French Open coverage

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After 36 years, "Inside the NBA" ends on TNT as it heads to ESPN. Many complain about Yankees/Dodgers on Apple TV+. Bill Simmons goes off on Pablo Torre for his Jordon Hudson/Bill Belichick reporting. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including a discussion about Dan Le Batard's subreddit on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:59: End of “Inside the NBA”

-17:59: Book tour minus the book featuring Brian Windhorst

-22:11: MLB scheduling Yankees/Dodgers on Apple TV+

-38:16: Pablo Torre/Bill Simmons beef

-54:07: “WTF with Marc Maron Podcast” ending

-58:23: Dan Le Batard subreddit

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ESPN's NBA broadcasting trio of Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Richard Jefferson is rough. Dan Le Batard and Meadowlark Media stick with DraftKings. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including our under-45 announcer draft on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:40: ESPN NBA broadcast crew not working out

-18:14: “Kyle Hamilton of the Week”

-20:25: Under 45 sports announcer draft

-41:44: Meadowlark Media renews with DraftKings

-57:08: Bill Simmons suggesting LeBron James is going back to Cleveland

-1:02:25: College Football 25 dynasties

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