The Play-By-Play

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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Two weeks of Super Bowl coverage is going to bring repeated talking points. Sports betting companies are cutting funding for sponsored content. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:27: Podcast speed

-3:19: Luka Dončić trade to Lakers

-24:55: Nick Wright vs. Adam Schefter

-31:23: Colin Cowherd extending with FS1

-42:48: Cam Newton

-56:16: Streamers

-1:03:47: Super Bowl viewership will break records

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Two weeks of Super Bowl coverage is going to bring repeated talking points. Sports betting companies are cutting funding for sponsored content. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-2:23: Super Bowl storylines you’re going to get tired of hearing

-6:09: The Super Bowl storyline draft

-32:22: Sports betting companies cutting back on sponsored content

-47:59: Awful Announcing’s new newsletter/Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys

-51:52: ESPN app

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Tom Brady rose to the occasion during the Commanders-Lions game. Bill Simmons is reportedly likely sticking with Spotify. Amazon hires Kevin Harlan for their NBA coverage. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including "Bussin' With The Boys" leaving Barstool Sports on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:36: Ohio State winning national championship

-1:51: Commanders-Lions review, Tom Brady’s best(?) game so far

-15:51: NFL broadcaster #1 booth power rankings

-23:47: Bill Simmons likely renewing with Spotify

-40:19: Bill Simmons subreddit

-42:14: Amazon hiring Kevin Harlan as #2 NBA play-by-play

-51:24: Hot Mics

-51:41: “Bussin’ With The Boys” and Grace O’Malley leaving Barstool

-58:16: Ohio State guilt

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The first 12-team College Football Playoff is almost over. How did ESPN do? NFL head coaches are rarely traded so why does everyone in sports media want the Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics, and we discuss our NFL announcer rankings with AA's Andrew Bucholtz, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:54: ESPN College Football Playoff takeaways

-22:28: AA’s NFL announcer rankings

-43:19: Kyle Hamilton tidbit everyone is using

-46:24: Tom Brady conflict of interest talk calling Lions playoff game

-57:02: Mike Tomlin trade

-1:01:26: Danny Goodwin

-1:03:36: Pat McAfee’s Field Pass altcast

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This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/playbyplay for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self.

Fox Sports is rocked with a sexual battery and discrimination lawsuit. "WWE Raw" makes its long-awaited debut on Netflix. Jason Kelce's late night show was a dud. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more with AA's Drew Lerner on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:02: Jerry Jones acting

-2:56: Fox Sports lawsuit

-25:34: “WWE Raw” Netflix debut

-46:15: “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce” debut

-57:00: Amazon hires Dirk Nowitzki

-59:03: Jalen Rose calling first NBC game

-1:02:13: Amazon hires Blake Griffin

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As we enter 2025, we take a look at some sports media storylines in the next year. Awful Announcing publisher Ben Koo discusses those topics with Play-By-Play hosts Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen.

Time Stamps:

-1:29: College football changes

-14:19: Social media and sports

-29:25: NBA and their new media partners

-39:31: UFC media rights

-50:08: Launch of ESPN Flagship

-1:01:22: Where does Bill Simmons go?

-1:02:54: Where does Colin Cowherd go?

-1:07:35: Stephen A. Smith’s new ESPN contract

-1:12:03: How long does Tom Brady last at Fox?

-1:12:24: Top ESPN NBA booth in 2025-26?

-1:14:50: Bold predictions for 2025

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