The Play-By-Play

As 2024 closes, we take a look back at the year in sports media with our year-end awards, The Awfulies. Awful Announcing's Sean Keeley, who compiled this year's results, talks about some of the winners with Play-By-Play hosts Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen.

Time Stamps:

-:54: Remembering 2024 in sports media

-7:33 Sports Media Person of the Year - Tom Brady

-12:28: Best Moment of 2024 - Pat McAfee calling Norby Williamson a “rat”/Jeff Darlington covering Scottie Scheffler’s arrest

-17:50: Best Play-By-Play Announcer - Kevin Harlan

-22:01: Best Studio Analyst - Charles Barkley

-24:06: Best Debator - Chris Russo

-27:49: Best Acquisition - Nick Saban

-31:43: Best Debate Show - “First Things First”

-38:06: Best Sports Documentary - “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants”

-40:16: Best Broadcast Innovation - Peacock Gold Zone

-42:48: Recapping the rest of the winners

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Sports media is overwhelmingly negative about the NBA. Conservatives take issue on Caitlin Clark's TIME Athlete of the Year interview. Bill Belichick is going to coach for the Tar Heels. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:00: Negativity from sports media world on NBA

-27:17: Bill Belichick going to UNC

-36:06: Mike Florio suggesting Bears trade for Kyle Shanahan

-41:18: College football calendar issues

-45:53: Caitlin Clark’s Time interview reactions

-54:11: Dave Pasch profile

-56:17: Aaron Rodgers’ Netflix docuseries

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Stephen A. Smith reportedly signs a five-year, $100 million extension with ESPN. Kirk Herbstreit appeared miserable on ESPN's College Football Playoff selection show. Netflix announces their NFL studio and booth lineup. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:54: Stephen A. Smith’s new contract with ESPN

-19:20: ESPN’s College Football Playoff selection show

-35:40: Netflix NFL crews announced

-48:58: Juan Soto to the New York Mets

-54:48: Timothée Chalamet on “College GameDay”

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Tom Brady is 13 weeks in his NFL broadcasting career, and did his first Thanksgiving game. How is Brady doing? Has he improved? How long will he continue broadcasting? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Sean Keeley discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:18: Tom Brady on Thanksgiving Fox broadcast

-30:28: Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Trevor Lawrence

-40:03: Ryan Day and Ohio State

-50:44: Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears

-57:23: Stugotz’s new book

-59:32: Kai Cenat’s Twitch subathon

-1:03:58: Fran Brown

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ESPN is pulling the plug on "Around the Horn" after nearly a quarter century on the air. Tom Brady continues his first year as a broadcaster. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, with guest Jake Fischer from The Stein Line, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:25: ESPN canceling “Around the Horn” in 2025

-15:26: Jake Fischer comes on The Play-By-Play

-48:38: Views From the Subreddit

-59:28: Tom Brady on Fox

-1:03:24: John Fanta on X Spaces

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Netflix's tech issues made it difficult to watch the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight. "Inside the NBA" finds a new home. More people are heading to Bluesky. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:23: Netflix’s tech issues during Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight

-18:22: NFL Christmas games being “make or break” for Netflix

-22:10: “Inside the NBA” heads to ESPN

-35:43: Winners and losers to the ESPN/“Inside the NBA” deal

-51:21: People heading to Bluesky

-1:00:47: Barstool hiring Jon Gruden

-1:04:39: Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame announcement

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Drew Brees makes a surprise appearance on "Monday Night Countdown." Dave Portnoy drops multiple diss tracks on Country music star Zach Bryan. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, as The Athletic's Chris Vannini joins us on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-:54: Drew Brees shows up on “Monday Night Countdown”

-20:31: Chris Vannini comes on The Play-By-Play

-58:46: Dave Portnoy vs. Zach Bryan

-1:04:26: Sports podcast monologues

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Election Day was yesterday. Sports media talking heads were all over that. Joel Embiid is suspended three games for shoving Marcus Hayes. Bob Costas is retiring from play-by-play. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including why Election Night cable TV news sucked on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-2:22: Election talk in sports media

-15:27: Current sports figure who could enter politics?

-17:38: Current sports media figure who could enter politics?

-21:38: Joel Embiid shoves Marcus Hayes

-43:04: Bob Costas retiring from play-by-play

-52:50: Most recognizable non-QB currently in the NFL not named Travis Kelce?

-58:02: Election Night TV coverage sucks

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Election Day is coming and sports is an important part to both campaigns. The 2004 Boston Red Sox have a new docuseries on Netflix but who is it for? Jason Kelce getting a weekly late night show on ESPN? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including discussing the passing of Cleveland Browns radio voice Jim Donovan, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:27: Chris Canty

-6:26: Kendrick Perkins

-7:49: ESPN breakthrough draft

-25:31: “The Comeback: 2004 Boston Red Sox” on Netflix

-36:31: Politics and the election in sports and sports media

-50:58: Jim Donovan’s passing

-54:32: Jason Kelce weekly late night ESPN show

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The NBA season starts on Tuesday and the media side of the sport is headed for massive change. Is LeBron James "undercovered" by sports media? The Ringer hires four including Todd McShay. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including the reaction to Deshaun Watson's Achilles tear on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.

Time Stamps:

-1:35: ESPN still looking for third person in top NBA broadcast team

-9:36: TNT’s final year with the NBA

-17:51: LeBron James being “undercovered” by media

-22:49: The Ringer hiring

-36:36: Deshaun Watson

-49:45: Defending CFB conference realignment

-53:11: Unrivaled partnering with Warner Bros. Discovery

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