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Rory McElroy is the 2026 Masters Champion. It's his 6th major victory and his second straight Masters title. After squandering a record six-stroke lead in Saturday's third round, McIlroy briefly lost the lead again Sunday before taking control on the second nine at Augusta National to become the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001-02 and the fourth overall (Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo). Bob Harig is a senior writer covering golf for Sports Illustrated. He has more than 25 years of experience on the beat, including 15 at ESPN. He recently released his 3rd golf book, entitled "Tiger v. Jack: Golf's Great Debate." In this episode, Harig discusses McElroy's victory and how it cements his career. He also commented on the new broadcasters covering the event, including CBS, ESPN, and now Amazon Prime Video. Harig also discusses the recent issues surrounding golf legend Tiger Woods. He also addressed the ongoing saga between the PGA and LIV Golf. For more info on Tiger v. Jack, click here: https://a.co/d/0dHU5v3t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 is most likely going to be a significant season both on the field and off. Popularity for the sport is on the rise, yet an impending labor negotiation hangs over the game. 22 of 30 teams are broadcasting their games without a deal with a regional sports network. The last postseason was iconic, and baseball is looking for an encore. There are new rules and new partnerships as well. Jayson Stark is the senior writer of MLB at The Athletic. A true hall-of-fame, Stark was the 2019 winner of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award, for which he was honored. Jayson has covered baseball for more than 30 years. He spent 17 of those years at ESPN. He is the author of three books on baseball and has won an Emmy for his work on" Baseball Tonight." In this episode, Stark talks about baseball, building on last season's thrilling postseason. He also discusses the revenue disparity stemming from the new streaming deals. Stark also touches on the impending labor issues and changes at the MLBPA. Finally, Stark regales with some great stories about the late Scott Miller, the longtime baseball writer who passed away in 2025. For more info on Jayson Stark: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/jayson-stark/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports with Friends celebrates Women’s History Month, continuing with a long line of amazing female guests. Rachel Herzog is the Pre/Post Game host of the New Jersey Devils on MSG Networks. She is currently in her second season. Herzog played both high school and college hockey, the latter at St. Cloud State University. Before her work in New Jersey, she worked at WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota, as a sports anchor/reporter.In this episode, Herzog tells the amazing story of how she went from being a hockey player to a hockey broadcaster in a very short time. She discusses the nuances of her job and how her hockey background enhances her on-air performance. She discusses the Devils' season, including how a freak accident involving star Jack Hughes curtailed a promising season. She also mentions Hughes's superstardom since scoring the “golden goal” to win the Gold Medal in the 2026 Olympic final.For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major League Baseball is undergoing a broadcasting metamorphosis in 2026. 22 of 30 teams have in-market, blackout-free streaming subscriptions available, while 8 remain broadcasting with traditional regional sports networks (RSNs). RSNs such as Sportsnet LA, Sportsnet NY, YES Network, and NESN pay their respective clubs' rights fees that dwarf the revenue from the 22 streaming teams. This revenue inequality will greatly impact competition on the baseball field, the only major American sport without a salary cap. Two highly regarded former baseball executives join the show to give their perspective on the current media landscape. David Samson is a former President of the Miami Marlins and was executive vice president of the Montreal Expos. Jim Duquette is a former general manager of the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. In this episode, both explain the current changes in club revenues. They discuss the 2-time World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the highest payroll, and the signings of free agents Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz in the off-season. They also comment on the upcoming labor negotiations as the sport faces the end of its current collective bargaining agreement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime Pittsburgh sportscaster and Syracuse alum Tim Benz discusses his career and issues facing the Steel City. Benz has been covering Pittsburgh sports since 2001. In addition to writing for TribLIVE, he is a Steelers radio host on FOX Sports Radio Pittsburgh 970 AM and a contributor to WTAE-TV, WDVE, and WXDX-FM. He is a part of the Class of 1996 at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and WAER Radio. In this episode, Benz explains what it is like to cover the team he grew up rooting for as a kid. He also discusses his various roles in Pittsburgh media. Sports topics include Mike McCarthy as the new Steelers coach and Aaron Rodgers’s potential return as the Steelers' QB. He also compares Penguins greats Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux and discusses the Pirates' optimism amid the changing MLB media landscape. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On February 8th, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. This preview features two special guests. Dave Wyman is a former NFL linebacker and the radio analyst for the Seattle Seahawks. He also hosts 2 pm-7 pm PT on Seattle Sports 710 and SeattleSports.com. Whyman played nine seasons for the Seahawks and Denver Broncos. Pete Kendall also joined the show. The veteran offensive lineman played twelve seasons for the Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Washington then-Redskins. He played college football at Boston College. He also grew up and currently lives in Massachusetts. His son, Drew, has played for the Philadelphia Eagles since 2025. In this episode, both Wyman and Kendall discuss the upcoming game, which is expected to be close. Wyman discusses his transition to the broadcast booth. Kendall discusses the game from both Seattle and New England's perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Falness is the executive producer and pre/post-game host of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He joined the Wild as exec producer before their inaugural season in 2000-2001. Before joining the Wild, Falness worked as the executive producer of KKFN The Fan radio in Denver, Colorado. There, he oversaw talk shows and broadcasts of both the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets.  The Wild recently made a blockbuster trade in the NHL, acquiring former Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, and is poised for a long playoff run. Falness discussed the impact the Wild have had on the Twin Cities. In this episode, Falness discussed his unique path to the Wild Radio Network. He also talked a lot about the old days in Denver and the trials and tribulations of starting an all-sports station in Denver in the 1990s. He also discusses the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament, the possibility of reuniting brothers Quinn, Jack, and Luke Hughes in Minnesota, and his thoughts on franchises wearing old logos from cities the team’s abandoned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2026 began, a new sports media controversy emerged. Main Street Sports Group, formerly Diamond Sports, missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals for their local TV rights. Days later, they missed payments to numerous NBA teams. Reports indicate that the streaming service DAZN wants to buy these embattled regional sports networks. If a deal to sell to DAZN does not go through, there is a strong possibility that Main Street folds, leaving dozens of NBA, NHL, and MLB teams in jeopardy. Tom Friend reported this story for Sports Business Journal. He is a Feature Writer at Sports Business Journal, focusing primarily on the NBA. In this episode, Friend explains that the leagues want to create their own streaming packages using existing services such as Amazon, Peacock, Apple, and ESPN. He discusses both the short-term impact and the long-term future of regional broadcasts, acknowledging that some large markets find their RSN profitable and will not want to join any league-organized venture. Friend also discusses the proposed NBA in Europe and the chances of expansion, specifically in Seattle and/or Las Vegas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode continues a long tradition that began eight years ago. Scott Seidenberg appeared on episode 177, which was released on Christmas. The following year, it continued with episode 229 and has continued every Christmas week since. The whole origin story of this tradition is explained in the first few minutes of the show. The rest of these episodes’ numbers are as follows: Vol. 3Episode 280 Vol. 4Episode 332 Vol. 5Episode 383 Vol. 6Episode 435 Vol. 7Episode 485 Scott Seidenberg has launched a new gambling website and accompanying podcast, “Bettor Day.” Check out www.bettorday.com  Topics in this episode include the NFL on Christmas, the College Football Playoff, the NBA Cup, and sports documentaries. Happy Holidays from all of us at Sports with Friends! See you in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl Ruiter has been covering Cleveland sports for a quarter-century. Since 2011, he’s been the beat reporter for the Cleveland Browns on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. The Ohio native also covers select Cavaliers and Guardians games. Ruiter was a regular guest on the MLB Radio Stayin’ Hot with Seth & Bone as the “AL Central Correspondent” in the mid-2000s. In this episode, Ruiter explains how it is covering the teams he grew up with. He describes how big the Browns are despite success in both baseball and basketball, with the Cavs winning the championship in 2016. He discusses the legacy of LeBron James in Ohio and the name change for the Guardians. Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SWF Promo Code: SWF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime college football reporter Matt Baker has been with the Athletic since 2024. Before that, he was with the Tampa Bay Times, focusing on both the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles. In December 2025, the 12-team college football playoff was revealed. This episode comes out after the regular season and before the bowl season and subsequent playoff. In this episode, Baker explains why Notre Dame was passed over for the playoff in favor of Alabama and Miami. He discusses the rise of Indiana as a national power and why college postseasons are determined by a committee rather than by all pro team sports. He also discusses the potential of a super league and whether the Big 10/SEC are on a level playing field as the ACC/Big 12. He also engages our host and discusses Syracuse football and whether this season or last was an anomaly. Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SWF Promo Code: SWF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carlos Alcaraz, the #1 men’s tennis player in the world, is playing in a tennis exhibition at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on December 7th, 2025. Alcaraz will face off in a three-set match against two-time US Open Semifinalist Frances Tiafoe. There is also a women’s tennis match between 2025 Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova from Freehold, New Jersey, and 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula of Buffalo, New York. Alcaraz won the 2025 US Open and Wimbledon, and at the time of this recording, had pulled out of the Davis Cup due to a hamstring injury. This episode is part of a group media Zoom session, organized by the Prudential Center. It was recorded on November 18th, 2025. In this episode, Alcaraz discusses his injury and assures fans that it is not serious. He discusses his friendship and rivalry with Tiafoe. He also discusses his epic finals matches with Jannik Sinner, whom he has faced in the last three majors, as well as countless other matches. For ticket info: https://www.prucenter.com/events/a-racquet-at-the-rock Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SWF Promo Code: SWF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin Ingram is a play-by-play announcer for Vanderbilt basketball, a sideline reporter for Vanderbilt football, and a play-by-play announcer for baseball on SEC+. He has been a sportscaster in the Nashville area for three decades. From 2004 to 2020, Kevin was the host of the hugely successful morning show, “Wake-Up Zone” on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville. His co-host for all 16 years was acclaimed Nashville sportscaster Mark Howard. Former Titans player Frank Wycheck hosted the show from 2004 to 2017. Both Howard and Wycheck have passed away since the show ended. In this episode, Ingram discusses the legacy of that Wake-Up Zone show and the special connections he had there, including longtime producer Paul Bible. He speaks about the evolution of Nashville as a tourist destination and as a sports town. He talks about his time at both Vanderbilt and Belmont before that. Finally, he explains why Nashville is not a good candidate for an MLB expansion team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Longtime sportscaster Marc Malusis was recently featured on WPIX Channel 11 in New York. Malusis is best known for his time on-air at Sports Radio 66 WFAN, also in New York. Malusis graduated from Syracuse University, interned for WFAN, became a producer for the iconic Mike and the Mad Dog radio program, and then got his opportunity on the air. Moose, as he is known, is also an adjunct professor at Iona College and the Radio Pre/Postgame Host for Rutgers Football. In this episode, Malusis discusses his fantastic career and how Syracuse helped him get started. He talks about the famous WFAN internship program and his decision to remain in New York as he ascended in the business. He also comments on recent allegations involving gambling and two major league baseball pitchers. He talks about the state of radio, given the availability of podcasts and other streaming options. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawrence Moten, the leading scorer in Syracuse basketball history, died unexpectedly on September 30, 2025. He was 53. This episode is a tribute to the legendary Syracuse basketball player. Nicknamed “Poetry in Moten,” he who played for the Orange from 1991-95. Moten was born in Washington, D.C., helped Syracuse reach the NCAA Tournament in three of his four seasons, and was named a Second-Team All-American during his senior year. Moten later played two seasons with the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA before playing overseas in Spain and Venezuela, and several seasons in the Continental Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association. Moten finished his college career with 2,334 points, averaging 19.3 per game. This episode begins with 6 minutes of audio when Lawrence Moten joined Sports with Friends in 2019 on Episode 224. Then, his former Syracuse teammate, Lazarus Sims, joins the show. Then, former Syracuse center Etan Thomas discussed Moten’s legacy. Finally, longtime Syracuse beat reporter Mike Waters of Syracuse.com joined to discuss what it was like to cover Moten both as a player and in the years following. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.