

The Press Box
The Ringer
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis, David Shoemaker and Joel Anderson catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 15, 2022 • 50min
Mike Breen on Coming Back From COVID and Calling the NBA Finals.
Bryan is joined by play-by-play announcer Mike Breen to discuss his career transitioning from radio to television, the differences between calling regular-season and postseason NBA games, working in a three-man booth alongside Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, and the responsibility that comes with calling the Finals.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Mike BreenAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 13, 2022 • 43min
The Washington Post Social Media Saga, Plus the NBA Finals in Tweets
Bryan and David break down the dispute between 'Washington Post' staffers on social media that resulted in the firing of reporter Felicia Sonmez. They discuss the repercussions of the situation, and how this affects the 'Post' and other newsrooms (7:39). Later, they touch on all the tweets following Game 4 of the NBA Finals, from Steph Curry doubters to Draymond Green's podcasting (26:09). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 10, 2022 • 41min
ESPN's Kevin Van Valkenburg on Covering the LIV Golf Tournament
As drama swirls around the PGA and the new LIV Golf Tournament, ESPN’s Kevin Van Valkenburg joins from London to get Bryan Curtis caught up to speed on all the action. They discuss how the LIV Golf Tournament came to be, why this story matters, why the PGA is facing an “existential threat,” and why LIV Golf is financed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.Host: Bryan CurtisProducer: Troy Farkas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 6, 2022 • 52min
NBA Finals Audio Fun. Plus: Dieter Kurtenbach on Covering the Games.
With the absence of Mike Breen from the past few NBA games, Bryan and David have some audio fun and highlight different broadcast styles (4:16). Then, they are joined by sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach to discuss covering the NBA Finals and reporting on the Golden State Warriors (29:05). Plus, the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week and David Shoemaker Guesses the Strained-Pun Headline.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Dieter KurtenbachAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 2, 2022 • 1h 8min
Celtics Announcer Sean Grande on Calling the NBA Finals, Homerism, and TV vs. Radio
Bryan is joined by Boston Celtics radio play-by-play announcer Sean Grande to discuss his career in broadcasting, covering basketball compared to other sports, the difference between TV and radio, and what it’s like covering the NBA Finals.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Sean GrandeAssociate Producers: Erika Cervantes and Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 31, 2022 • 53min
Covering the NBA Finals With Kevin O’Connor
Bryan and David are joined by KOC to discuss covering the NBA, his Boston Celtics fandom, favorite analysts, and the two Finals contenders (11:06). Later, they discuss Chris Russo's statements on the recent mass shootings in the U.S. (35:41).Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Kevin O'ConnorAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 27, 2022 • 1h 24min
Bill Simmons on Podcasting, Writing, Doing TV, and Being a Fan
Bryan is joined by Bill Simmons to discuss his journey in podcasting, his writing career, favorite moments, and what he sees next for media.Hosts: Bryan CurtisGuest: Bill SimmonsAssociate Producer: Stefan Anderson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 24, 2022 • 36min
George R.R. Martin on His College Days, the Media in 2022, and the New York Jets
Bryan is joined by ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series novelist George R.R. Martin to discuss his career as a journalist at Northwestern, his view on the media and the impact of the internet, and takeaways from the 2022 NFL draft and his New York Jets and New York Giants fandom.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: George R.R. MartinAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 23, 2022 • 47min
Remembering Roger Angell With Jason Gay. Plus, How to Cover a Golf Tournament
Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker are joined by the 'Wall Street Journal'’s Jason Gay to remember the great writer Roger Angell. They reflect on his style of writing, longevity, and discuss some of their favorite stories (5:16). Then, Bryan talks about his experience at the PGA Championship in Tulsa (31:46). After that, Jason comes back to join David in trying to guess the Strained Pun Headline of the Week.Hosts: Bryan Curtis and David ShoemakerGuest: Jason GayAssociate Producer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 18, 2022 • 1h 21min
Jim Nantz on Tiger, Phil, Rory, John Daly, and Calling the PGA Championship
Reporting from the 2022 PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma Bryan is joined by CBS announcer Jim Nantz. They run through four past championships called by Nantz and discuss the most memorable moments, including John Daly’s remarkable win in 1991, the golf ball that may have been “kicked” during Tiger Woods’s run at the 2000 Championship, Rory McIlroy’s win in 2014, and finally, Phil Mickelson’s comeback in 2021.Host: Bryan CurtisGuest: Jim NantzAssociate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


