Advertise on podcast: The Play-By-Play

Tony Romo and CBS Sports parted ways Friday, leaving the polarizing NFL analyst free to seek out his next job. Plus, the Portland Trail Blazers stepped in it again by firing their 29-year-old new TV announcer over old tweets from when he was in high school. Then a deep dive into the Big Ten vs the SEC in viewership, popularity, and television product quality as College Football Playoff expansion comes back into focus. Awful Announcing boss Ben Koo joins. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:26 Romo out, what's next? 13:38 Blazers' blunder 25:43 SEC vs Big Ten Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.J. Watt got a huge shot in his audition to be the top NFL game analyst at CBS over the weekend, calling a classic in Brazil between the Ravens and Cowboys. Did Watt do well enough to cement himself alongside Jim Nantz in the top booth? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:03 JJ Watt breakdown 34:17 Sean McVay vs Rams media 42:30 Suns owner gets real on Miles Bridges Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As "College GameDay" pursues more of an agenda after Lee Corso's departure, the viewership is as strong as ever. Is the show actually worse? Ben Axelrod of Front Office Sports joins to answer. Plus, Michael Lombardi is back in media just as quickly as he left UNC; what is the correct Deshaun Watson take; and will we ever know the truth about LeBron going to Philadelphia? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:51 GameDay's agenda vs popularity 13:07 Lombardi returns 21:03 No way the Browns could have salvaged the Watson story 28:33 Why won't LeBron just tell us why he didn't go to the Cavs? Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Le Batard is on ESPN's case on its recent diversity track record, and the Worldwide Leader took the rare step of responding to Le Batard on the record. Plus, Mike MacDonald gave the Seahawks another PR mess and beat reporters continue to disappear after the McClatchy layoffs. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:10 Mike Macdonald hot mic moment 15:10 ESPN vs Le Batard on diversity 33:40 Do we need beat reporters? Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ManningCast on ESPN is losing viewers rapidly, once again calling into question the value of the NFL alt-cast. On the main "Monday Night Football" broadcast, Troy Aikman revealed his contract talks are on hold and put pressure on ESPN to meet him in the middle. Plus, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has finalized changes after Bill Belichick was snubbed last year. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:00 Aikman's future in question 12:53 ManningCast out of ideas? 26:20 HOF overreacts to Belichick snub 36:15 No such thing as moral victories 39:30 Klemko's Ovehckin story Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LeBron James will make $15M from Polymarket this year, giving us our first sense of the dollars at play as prediction markets overtake sports betting. Rick Strom of @tytsports joins to react to the news. Plus, Sophie Cunningham has relaunched her podcast and is already back to thinly veiled takes on who "belongs" in the WNBA. And both Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian have apologized to Holly Rowe and ESPN after the controversy over Sark's aborted postgame interview. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:40 LeBron takes Polymarket's money 14:05 The UT fallout 24:05 Sophie's next steps Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Buck is returning to ESPN and will call another Super Bowl in 2031, as well as potentially the World Series again in the future. What does this mean for Troy Aikman and the rest of the NFL broadcaster world? Plus, the Colin Kaepernick media tour and our Hot Mic takes from around sports media. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:15 Buck extension, will Aikman stay too? 10:00 Predictions for Greg Olsen & Mike Tomlin 22:40 ESPN wants Buck to call World Series, will it happen? 34:55 Why Netflix could end up with Sunday Night Football 40:05 Kaep's media tour Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

College GameDay kept the political lobbying going in Week 2 as U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joined the show to argue for the Protect College Sports Act. Fans in Austin booed him and the internet ripped ESPN for the move, but will anything change? Plus, Mike Tomlin made his long-awaited debut as an NFL analyst and NBC is giving him all of Sunday night to make his presence felt. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:00 Cruz's 'GameDay' interview 23:07 Tomlin's 'SNF' takeover 34:25 Watt's middling debut as CBS #1 38:06 Jaxson Dart perception vs reality Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We hit why Ketel Marte went AWOL, is Shohei Ohtani in decline and more MLB storylines with Miami Marlins radio voice and Just Baseball Show host Jack McMullen. Then a big picture conversation on MLB media, including the legend of "Joe Buck Voice," why baseball podcasting got big, and how to have an MLB debate in the age of analytics and tracking data. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:00 Intro, Ketel Marte drama 7:30 Marlins breakout season 10:07 The play-by-play announcer journey 14:30 Joe Buck voice 19:50 Did baseball need podcasts to reach young fans 23:10 Debating baseball in the age of analytics 27:50 The Dodgers debate 30:55 Lockout looming? 31:53 Best World Series matchup for casuals Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat McAfee and Bill Simmons go head-to-head in the final round of our Sports Media Influence Olympics. First, we get to the new Peter Schrager show on ESPN, "Big Day," as well as the troubling trend of media getting their credentials revoked over negative coverage and critical reporting. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 2:00 Peter Schrager's new show 'Big Day' 10:32 Jared Stillman vs Titans 30:36 Simmons wins Influence Olympics Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for our college football media preview. Is Pat McAfee the voice of college football? Will the Big Ten's dominance start to show up in TV viewership? How mad will everyone be when they realize they have to have TNT to watch the College Football Playoff semifinals? Plus... which CFB commentators are we most excited to see in new roles? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 2:49 CFB media preview begins 10:05 College GameDay vs Big Noon Kickoff 20:15 SEC vs Big Ten on TV 26:45 Does TNT's Playoff deal still make sense? 34:38 Who is the voice of college football 43:05 Hot mics (The Pivot goes to Netflix, US Open scheduling) Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A top 'College GameDay' producer has been reassigned at ESPN, and some believe Pat McAfee was the cause. At CBS, Tony Romo finally issued a statement through his reps as he faces new charges from an OWI arrest. And the 'Pardon My Take' 10th anniversary book is an NYT bestseller, so we look back at the show's legacy within Barstool and the sports media industry. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

49ers owner Jed York was arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitution this week, and NFL media has been fairly quiet. But a new study on CTE in NFL players got a ton of attention. We break down the disparity, plus weigh in on Kirk Herbstreit's comments about ESPN skimping on CFB coverage. Last, our second semifinal matchup of the SPorts Media Influence Olympics between Pat McAfee and Charles Barkley. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:11 Tracking the York story 18:50 CTE study turns heads 25:40 Is Herbstreit right? 34:09 Influence Olympics: McAfee vs Barkley Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Brady hates the preseason, Troy Aikman faces new rules at ESPN, and nobody wants to talk about Puka Nacua. Brandon Perna (ThatsGoodSports on YouTube) joins to discuss the latest NFL media headlines plus his thoughts on Pat McAfee entering NFL coverage, the industry's embrace of content creators, and why concussions disappeared from conversation. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 2:01 Brady hating, Aikman restrictions 12:30 Puka's troubles going under the radar 18:50 Do ESPN shows still matter 33:00 Covering violence in the NFL Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NFL and CFB are busy with media moves, and we cover the latest with Pat McAfee, Clay Travis, Tom Pelissero and even Jason Kelce. In between, we talk Howard Cosell, Netflix, the WNBA and podcasting. Then, the second stage of the Sports Media Influence Olympics continues with Colin Cowherd vs. Bill Simmons and Jemele Hill vs. Ross Dellenger. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.