Awful Announcing Podcast

For today's podcast we welcome one of the most accomplished NBA players of this generation - 7-time All-Star Grant Hill. Grant has made the full-time transition to broadcasting with Turner Sports as the co-host of Inside Stuff on NBA TV. Today, Grant chats with AA about that broadcast career and the NBA season so far. Topics include...-HIs roles at NBA All-Star weekend including being A GM for the Rising Stars Challenge.-Whether the NBA should make any changes to All-Star weekend to revive interest.-His transition to broadcasting and why he chose a career in television.-How his co-workers at Turner like Charles Barkley and Chris Webber have helped him during his rookie season.-Relaunching Inside Stuff and his conversation with the original hosts and his desire to give being a game analyst a try.-Why Kevin Durant is having a better season than LeBron James and is the MVP frontrunner.-The East-West discrepancy being more extreme than ever.-The rise of the Portland Trail Blazers as the best story of the seas

To take a look at Fox's Super Bowl broadcast, we invite back an old friend of the program - Ed Sherman of the Sherman Report and the Chicago Tribune. We take an in-depth look at how Fox did the best job they could with the Super Bowl blowout and discuss Ed's new book about Babe Ruth's called shot. Topics include...-His glorious feud with Deadspin and how it all started.-How being called every four letter word by Tommy Craggs has helped his internet profile.-Fox's grade for the Super Bowl broadcast and why it's an incomplete.-Best & Worst elements of Fox's Super Bowl pregame coverage.-Are we getting saturated with too much pregame?-The firestorm surrounding Erin Andrews and all the unfair criticisms flung her way.-No noticeable Super Bowl bump for Fox Sports 1.-Ed's new book on Babe Ruth's Called Shot. Is it fact or fiction? -Why Babe Ruth himself made the most convincing argument that his called shot was a myth.-A quick look ahead to NBC's Winter Olympics coverage.You can pre-order Ed's book at Amazon a

On this week's podcast we're joined by the voice of curling and lead announcer for NBC's Olympic curling coverage, Andrew Catalon. While Andrew works the Olympics for NBC, his full-time job is with CBS Sports and the CBS Sports Network. Andrew was named one of our Rising Stars for 2013 in the broadcast industry for his work on a multitude of sports. Today he joins us to talk about topics that include...-Just recently getting a full-time job with CBS Sports Network and giving up his local sportscasting job in Albany.-Advice he would give to younger broadcasters hoping to move up in the broadcasting world.-Calling college basketball for CBS and working with Clark Kellogg this winter.-The phone call that led to his start in curling.-How he learned the rules for the sport and what it's like to call Olympic sports like curling and handball.-The cult following of curling and the ride he's been on with the sport since Vancouver 2010.-Medal hopes for Team USA and the redemption narrative of John Shuster.-How he appro

To break down the NFL Playoffs and take a look at the NFL announcing scene we're joined by Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated. Chris has taken over the mantle of ranking all the NFL announcers at SI in addition to covering the league and the NFL Draft as well. We cover a multitude of football related topics including...-Is this the best Final 4 in NFL history?-Would a victory in the AFC Championship Game mean more to Brady or Manning's legacy?-Why Manning's record breaking season has got such little publicity.-Russell Wilson's need to step up for the NFC Championship Game.-Fox's decision to award Kevin Burkhardt and John Lynch a playoff game.-The public perception changing for Joe Buck and who's the best of the #1 announcers.-Chris's Big Board and whether or not he's received any threats from Mel Kiper or Todd McShay to stay off their turf.-The draft prospects of JaDeveon Clowney, Teddy Bridgewater, and Bradley Roby.-The coaching carousel and just who wants the Browns job. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva

ESPN presented a revolutionary night of television earlier this week with the BCS Megacast. The network presented several alternate feeds for the BCS title game that gave fans more options than ever before. By far the most acclaimed viewing option was the BCS Film Room on ESPNEWS which featured analysts and coaches breaking down game film in real time. The host/analyst of Film Room was ESPN senior recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill. He joined us on the podcast to talk about that production as well as a busy month ahead leading to National Signing Day in early February. Topics include..-How the Film Room telecast came to be and the challenges in breaking down game film on live television versus a normal broadcast.-Balancing the real-time breakdown of the game with creating an entertaining television product for fans at home so they could still enjoy the game.-Getting coaches on board and how Film Room can be an effective recruiting tool for current coaching staffs.-Reaction to the overwhelmingly positive feedbac

We're back for Part II of our Year In Review Podcast Extravaganza Extraordinaire and once again we welcome the Vito Corleone of the sports media industry, Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated. The Year in Review podcast has become a tradition unlike any other at AA as we look back at the biggest stories, newsmakers, and industry trends in 2013. Topics include...-Media feuds of the year, including RD's many, many... many social media scraps.-Jay Bilas as his person of the year in sports media-Did the EPL on NBC have the best debut season ever for a network property?-Deadspin breaking the Lennay Kekua saga and what it says about the evolution of the industry.-Sideline reporting coming into focus in 2013.-The state of journalism at ESPN, OTL, and Embrace Debate taking a step back in 2013.-Bristol freezing over in the hiring of Keith Olbermann and ESPN's response to FS1.-Fox Sports Live's launch and where the show may go in order to gain viewership in 2014.-Best and Worst of Fox, NBC, and CBS Sports.-The bigges

We take a look back at the business side of sports media in 2013 in a Year in Review podcast and who better than sports media savant John Ourand of SBJ to do just that. It was a massive year in sports media with the launch of Fox Sports 1, rights fees continuing to rise, and there being no more interesting time to cover the industry. We chatted with John about some of those stories including...-Why Fox Sports execs were SBJ's most influential people of 2013-Has FS1 met expectations and how are they set up for the long run?-Why ESPN's position at the top of the sports world may actually be more impenetrable than ever before, counter to popular belief.-A look at major negotiations on the horizon including MLS, the NBA, and the Big Ten.-The myth of the sports rights bubble.-Major stories of 2013 and predictions for 2014. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we named our 13 Rising Stars for 2013 in sports media. One of those rising stars was Fox Sports 1 college football analyst and host Joel Klatt. The former Colorado QB has blossomed at Fox Sports 1 in an expanded role not just as a studio and game analyst, but as an anchor, even doing highlights on Fox NFL Sunday. Klatt joins us to talk about his young Fox career, this week's B1G title game, and much more including...-The challenges and excitement of building FS1 from the ground up.-Going head-to-head with College GameDay and what constitutes success for Fox College Saturday.-Whether Fox College Saturday would consider going on the road.-Last Saturday as one of the great days in college football history, especially the miraculous Iron Bowl finish.-How Saturday's heroics gave way to debate and controversy. Klatt has particularly strong comments about the politicking, which he calls "reprehensible," and the perceived strength of the SEC.-How a 4 team playoff won't solve the politicking problem.-Focus

We're pleased to welcome one of the very best announcers in sports back to the AA Podcast - the voice of the NHL, Mike "Doc" Emrick. While most sports fans think of Thanksgiving as football time, NBC has a national broadcast on Black Friday between the Bruins and Rangers. We catch up with Doc looking ahead to that broadcast as well as some other early season storylines including...-How realignment has affected the NHL so far this season.-Why there's such a disparity between the Eastern and Western Conference.-Why Thanksgiving is a bellwether in the standings and which team has surprised to this point.-The concussion lawsuit filed by former players and Doc's surprising answer as to why fighting will ultimately be eliminated from hockey.-Looking ahead to the Bruins-Rangers game on Friday.-His thoughts on calling the Winter Olympics in Sochi this winter and the increased number of spectacles throughout the hockey season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Thanksgiving week upon us, we're joined by one person who has the privilege of not working just one of the big games in store this weekend, but two of them. CBS's intrepid sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson works the Iron Bowl on Saturday between #1 Alabama and #4 Auburn but before that will also call the Thanksgiving Day game between the Raiders and Cowboys. In this podcast, Tracy chats with AA about the busy week and other topics including...-The differences in sideline reporting in the NFL vs college football.-Reflecting on the Kevin Ware injury and the news value of sideline reporters in various events this year.-The recent discussion on women in sports media and how progress has been made and what else needs to be done.-The Iron Bowl as one of the best rivalries in college football.-Her professional relationship with Nick Saban and how his reputation may betray his true personality.-Which Iron Bowl subplot is most compelling and does Auburn really have a chance to compete with the Tide?-Missouri flyi

In today's podcast we welcome one of the brightest minds covering sports and a lead college basketball analyst for ESPN, Jay Bilas. The former Duke player not only works in the College GameDay studio and calls games for ESPN, but also serves as an NBA Draft analyst. And he has one of the must-follow Twitter accounts in sports featuring his calls for NCAA reforms and Young Jeezy tweets. In this in-depth podcast, we chat with Jay about...-The Bill Raftery-sized hole in his life and his best Raft story.-Balancing his work in the booth, studio, and the draft.-Whether or not he's working on new vocabulary for the Jay Bilas drinking game.-Which issue is most affecting the institutional structure of the NCAA.-How the free market might be the best solution for fixing what's wrong with amateurism.-Whether he's ever been told by the NCAA or ESPN to tone down his criticism.-Comparing the sensational freshman trio - Julius Randle (UK), Jabari Parker (Duke), and Andrew Wiggins (Kansas)-The value of a strong early seaso

Ahead of this week's United States Grand Prix it's an absolute pleasure to welcome aboard one of the most venerable voices in sports broadcasting, NBC Formula One analyst David Hobbs. David has announced motorsports on American television for over 35 years and moved to NBC this year with the network's Formula One coverage. In this podcast, we chat with David about this year's season, his history in television, and much more including...-The history making 1979 Daytona 500 as the first live 500 mile NASCAR race to be televised.-Motorsports on television throughout the years.-This year's Formula One season and the dominance of 4 time champ Sebastian Vettel.-Whether we've seen anything like Vettel in the history of motorsports.-This weekend's US Grand Prix in Austin and the success of the event.-Formula One in the states.-How an American driver might be able to break into the series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's AA Podcast features a conversation with the top NFL reporter in America, ESPN's Adam Schefter. His reporting has been at the center of the unfolding bullying controversy in Miami involving Richie Incognito and jonathan Martin. Since joining ESPN in August 2009, Schefter has quickly become one of the top reporters in all of sports. In this interview, we not only chat with Schefter about his reporting about the Dolphins, but how NFL reporting has evolved and the amount of interest in the league's news cycle. Topics include... -The timeline of his reporting and how it came together for him and Chris Mortensen, including his knowledge of the explosive voicemail.-The current power of reporting in the NFL and how this story has moved so quickly.-How NFL reporting is like trying to stop the waves in the ocean.-Juggling several stories at once including what's happening in Miami, Aaron Rodgers' injury, and health scares with head coaches.-Why the hazing and bullying aspect of the Dolphins story reson

In this week's podcast, we invite one of the sports blogosphere's favs, Jimmy Traina, who is on the move from Sports Illustrated to Fox Sports. In the last several years, Jimmy has taken Hot Clicks at SI to one of the most popular features not just at the magazine, but across the web in sports. In this podcast, AA chats with Jimmy about the move, the evolution of Hot Clicks, and the media, and an assortment of topics including...-What it's like to now be co-workers with Erin Andrews.-Why make the move now to Fox and how what he does there will differ from Hot Clicks. Hint: more regular content instead of merely posting twice a day.-The evolution of the sports media and how Twitter changed the game.-How he'll fit into the changing nature of FoxSports.com with their added emphasis on pop culture.-The fate of his beloved miniature SI television.-The explosion of national coverage for Mike Francesa in the last year and how the show has been "joyless" since the departure of Chris Russo.-His top MLB and NFL annou

We finally catch up with one of our favorites on this week's podcast, lead ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman. The former MLS MVP has quickly become ESPN's top game analyst for the US Men's National Team and Major League Soccer broadcast. In this podcast we not only chat with Taylor about the USMNT clinching a World Cup berth (and keeping Mexico alive) but a number of other interesting topics as well, including...-Whether the US team thought about tanking against Panama.-How Mexico fell so far so fast and whether or not New Zealand may actually beat them in the playoffs.-How Jurgen Klinsmann turned around US Soccer after doubts about his tenure.-The US players who helped themselves the most this summer.-Surprises and disappointments from around the globe in World Cup qualifying.-The concussion issue in sports, League of Denial, and his Think Taylor organization.-The next steps forward in dealing with concussions.-MLS TV rights and ratings for the league being down.-Possible solutions for MLS in helping to

One of the pleasant surprises of the MLB Postseason has been the entertaining crew TBS has assembled for their studio shows. One of their studio analysts is former Major League pitcher and best-selling author Dirk Hayhurst. After just 25 MLB appearances, Hayhurst has written extensively about his journeyman career and has embraced his travels to being a successful author and broadcaster. Today, Dirk chats with AA about the challenges he faces as a baseball analyst, this year's postseason, Garfooses, and much more. Topics include...-How it feels as a Kent State guy to be called a nerd by Vandy's David Price.-The burden he carries on TV being a rare analyst that wasn't a superstar and the acceptance of his personhood outside baseball.-Opening doors to other talented broadcasters who may not have had great big league success.-How his struggles in minor and major league baseball have helped him as an announcer.-The Cardinals and how they, like cockroaches, refuse to die.-Pirates-Cardinals and A's-Tigers Game

In today's podcast we welcome the newest member of one of the most elite fraternities in broadcasting. 39 year old Kevin Burkhardt is the only rookie play by play man calling NFL games for one of the major networks and he joins us to talk about his remarkable career path and his first few weeks on the job for Fox. Kevin chats with AA about...-His experience through the first three weeks of the season and if he's had a "welcome to the big leagues" moment working for the NFL on Fox.-The most unique elements of calling national NFL games.-His career path that has taken him from local radio through working at a car dealership to calling NFL games.-What one thing he learned from selling cars has helped him most in broadcasting. Seriously!-Balancing his SNY duties with the Mets with NFL duties for Fox.-The challenges in covering a team that's far out of the playoff race late in the season.-Working a broadcast with Jerry Seinfeld and being one of the few people the comedian follows on Twitter.-Looking ahead to thi

In today's podcast we welcome back CBS Sports college football insider for his annual visit to talk about the world of college football. Bruce published a fascinating all access piece inside Texas A&M football this week that's the focus of our early conversation before turning to the major college football media story of the past month, the Sports Illustrated investigation into Oklahoma. It's a very interesting conversation about the current state of reporting into college athletics, the media, and the state of the NCAA. Other topics include...-How he got Texas A&M to agree to an all access piece.-His approach to behind the scenes journalism and reporting the story.-The A&M/Bama game itself and the major takeaway from it.-How A&M responds to the loss and their national title hopes still being in tact.-The SI-Oklahoma State story and the reaction to it.-Is investigative reporting into players receiving benefits and college programs even worth it?-Bo Pelini's responsibility in the audio of hi

Today's AA Podcast welcomes the host of NASCAR Now, ESPN's Shannon Spake. Shannon came from Speed Channel to ESPN and now not only serves as a NASCAR host and reporter but as a college football and basketball reporter for the upcoming season. Additionally, she just signed a new contract extension with Bristol. We go inside that process as well as...-What led her to re-sign with ESPN and whether or not she had any thoughts about leaving ESPN for another opportunity.-The demise of her former employer Speed and the future of NASCAR on TV.-The differences between NASCAR reporting and football/basketball.-The best and most difficult interviews in NASCAR.-What it was like to report the Clowney hit at the Outback Bowl earlier this year.-This weekend's upcoming race at Bristol and who needs a win most.-Her championship pick - Jimmie Johnson or the field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we welcome ESPN college sports sideline reporter Samantha Ponder. Sam has become one of the most popular and recognizable personalities at ESPN almost overnight with her debut on College GameDay last year and subsequent marriage to Vikings QB Christian Ponder. I talked with Sam about her new life in the fishbowl, her rise at ESPN, and the upcoming college football season. Topics include...-Her meteoric rise through the industry and why the Spelling Bee is her favorite gig.-The one lesson she learned in her first year at ESPN.-How she approaches sideline reporting and providing something different for viewers.-Why criticism of her husband is more difficult to deal with than herself.-The perils of social media and why she took Twitter off her phone.-Working the ESPYs red carpet with her husband.-Which college football personalities are the best and most difficult to interview.-The situation at Texas A&M and the saga of Johnny Manziel.-Should college athletes be treated as kids or adults?-The import