Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 59 of the Sports Media Podcast features guest Bob Ley, who recently retired from ESPN after 40 years with the network. Ley was ESPN’s longest-serving commentator, joining the network as a SportsCenter anchor on its third day of operation (September 9, 1979)and had hosted Outside the Lines since its inception in May 1990.In this podcast, Ley discussed why he left ESPN; dispelling any notion that this was not his decision and his alone; how he came to his decision; what he did during his sabbatical from ESPN prior to announcing his retirement; whether he would do some on-air one-offs for ESPN in the future; what he believes the future is for Outside The Lines and whether management will support the show; how he navigated ESPN internally for 40 years; how the rounds of layoffs impacted his day to day at ESPN; how ESPN attempts to navigate the discussion of politics, race and social issues when its front-facing people discuss it on their social media channels; what it was like for him internally when reporting on ESPN’s league partners; the experience of covering the World Cup in South Africa; where his current professional interest lie; the most satisfying and challenging stories he worked on; what it’s like to be a guest at your own online funeral and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 58 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. The first segment is a conversation with John Ourand, the sports media reporter for the Sports Business Daily. The second segment features best-selling author James Andrew Miller, the host of the podcast, “Origins with James Andrew Miller. In this podcast, Ourand and Deitsch discuss Bob Ley’s decision to retire from ESPN after 40 years; the impact of Ley on programming at ESPN; what this means for ESPN’s journalism and Outside The Lines heading forward; the Women’s World Cup viewership for Fox Sports; Fox’s lack of interest in the PGA Tour rights; Fox receiving praise for its US Open coverage; the IOC provisionally approvingbreakdancing as a new medal event at 2024 Paris Olympicsas well as skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, and a discussion on the Barrett Sports Media Top 30 Studio Shows of AllTime Draft. Miller jumps on the podcast for the final segment to discuss Ley’s impact on ESPN; why he was the conscience of the editorial operation; whether we will see him on the air again and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 57 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests. The first segment is a conversation with Michael Grange, who covers the Toronto Raptors for Sportsnet (Canada) and Ann Killion, a sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle who covers the Golden State Warriors. The second segment features Mark Feinsand, an MLB. com executive reporter, MLB Network Insider and the co-author of "Mission 27: A New Boss, A New Ballpark and One Last Ring For The Yankees' Core Four.”  In this podcast, Grange and Killion discuss the challenges and professional excitement of covering a championship team; what the process was like to cover this year’s Raptors and Warriors; what kind of access they received as reporters; covering Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant daily; Killion on covering a team that consistently makes the NBA Finals; why Steph Curry is so unique among NBA superstars; the most challenging things about covering this year’s teams; who surprised each writer on the other team’s roster; what they anticipate will happen with Durant, Leonard and Klay Thompson; why Leonard’s camp does not leak and much more. Feinsanddiscussed his new book and why he felt it was a compelling subject; how to get people interested in the book who are not usually interested in the Yankees; whether covering the Yankees is different than covering other baseball teams; the metamorphosis of Alex Rodriguez from national pariah to anational voice in baseball; the challenges of getting information in baseball; how media access is MLB in 2019; the importance of reps if you want to be on sports television, and more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 56 of the Sports Media Podcast features ESPN’s Taylor Twellman, the network’s lead analyst for domestic and global soccer. In this podcast, Twellman discusses Fox owning the rights to the World Cup and the frustration that comes from that; how he watches World Cup games; how he got into broadcasting following his career as a professional soccer player; how he hopes to navigate his soccer presence with other opportunities to discuss and cover sports away from soccer; his fandom for the St. Louis Blues; living in arguably the most intense sports media city in the U.S. (Boston); and a long conversation between Twellman and the host on the United States’s 13-0 win over Thailand in Group Stage play. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 55 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is best-selling author James Andrew Miller, the host of the podcast, “Origins with James Andrew Miller.” He is followed by  sports broadcaster Jenn Hildreth, who will be calling the 2019 Women's World Cup for Fox and also works for ESPN and the SEC Network. In this podcast, Miller discusses the many interviews ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro has done on the intersection of sports and politics at ESPN and how Pitaro views that intersection with relation to ESPN’s audience; the research ESPN says it has done on this issue and why it won’t release that data; how a company such as Disney navigates this issue; whether the social media rules should be (and are) different for Disney Chairman Bob Iger versus a front-facing ESPN employee; the growth of ESPN+ and the job ESPN programming execs have done building it up; the ESPN Monday Night Football booth decision; whether Bob Ley will return to ESPN; what the Andy Ruiz Jr.- Anthony Joshua fight means for DAZN; the growing power of Stephen A. Smith at ESPN; what is the likely scenario for Smith’s next contract; whether Smith has Jordan Rules as an employee, and much more. Hildreth discusses calling the 2019 Women's World Cup for Fox/FS1 alongside Minnesota United analyst Kyndra de St. Aubin; her preparation to call WWC tournament; the challenges of calling global soccer, particularly challenging names; how she navigates working for Fox Sports and ESPN and the SEC Network; why she decided to move from sideline reporting to play by play; the importance of her doing play by play for the next generation of women gamecallers; her work as the lead play by play voice for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL); handicapping the 2019 Women’s World Cup; what she hopes to do heading forward, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 54 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests: First up is David Epstein, a New York Times best-selling author whose latest book is “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.” He is followed by Seerat Sohi, an NBA writer for Yahoo Sports based in Toronto who is covering the NBA Finals. The third segment features Daniel Dale, the acclaimed Washington bureau chief for the Toronto Star and a mega-Raptors fan. In this podcast, Epstein discusses his latest book, which questions whether early specialization leads to your best possible result; the development of Roger Federer vs. Tiger Woods; how specialization impacts society; the system of parallel trenches in science and what that means; those who find success late; how parents can best introduce their kids sports; the greatest organizational challenge Epstein faced with the book; his thoughts on Caster Semenya, and more.  Sohi discusses how she will approach covering her first NBA Finals fulltime; whether she feels pressure writing a major event versus a regular season game; how the Warriors-Raptors series might play out; why the Raptors receive a fair amount of press given their standing in the league; why Fred VanVleet is the most interesting quote on Toronto; how Kawhi Leonard might view the result of this series in relation to his free agency and much more.  Dale returns to the podcast to discuss his Raptors fandom and how he has processed this remarkable Finals run; attending many of the playoff games in person; how he feels this team will impact basketball in Canada heading forward; whether there are Raptors fans amid his Washington circle; why he prefers not to write about this team and just revel in fandom, and much more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 53 of the Sports Media Podcast features a roundtable with Sports Business Daily media reporter John Ourand. In this podcast, Deitsch and Ourand discuss the NFL moving Sunday divisional playoff games to 3pm and 6:30 p.m. ET start times; dropping the single-header rule, meaning all markets will get at least three Sunday afternoon games; the postseason NBA viewership; how much of the declines are tied to LeBron James versus other factors; the L.A. Times profile of ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro; the future of cord cutting; whether Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google will pick up significant sports rights packages by 2025; ESPN and the nexus of sports and politics; Pitaro saying talent is no longer confused about politics; the NFL Network’s rights deal with Conference USA for 10 football games; the Sports Emmys and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 53 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is Taylor Rooks, a host and reporter for Bleacher Report and the host of “Take It There With Taylor Rooks,” which airs on Bleacher Report. She is followed by Jim Ross, the iconic wrestling broadcaster who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling as a commentator and senior advisor. He also has a new podcast — Grilling JR – with Conrad Thompson.  In this podcast, Rooks discusses her career arc and how she landed a national sports interview show at age 26; how her age is an asset with athletes; mentors such as Cari Champion and their impact on helping Rooks guide through the sports media business as a women and women of color; whether she feels pressure as the face of a B/R campaign; speaking truth publicly on topics such as race; her interviews with Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Saquon Barkley, Elena Delle Donne and Rudy Gobert among others; the role of “each one, teach one” in her life; what she hopes to achieve long-term and much more.  Ross discusses the attributes a wrestling broadcaster must have to be successful; the similarities and differences of calling traditional sports vs. sports entertainment; the level of knowledge he had on finishes when calling WCW/WWE/WWF matches; his new role with AEW; why he thinks it is foolish to think about competing with WWE in 2019; what he expects from the television product for AEW; the popularity of wrestling nostalgia and attending wrestling conventions; his evaluation of WWE broadcasting talent; his new podcast with Conrad Thompson; why Becky Lynch has popped where others have not; his personal relationship with Baker Mayfield and longtime Oklahoma football fandom, and much more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 52 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests: First up is a sports media roundtable with Washington Post sports and media writer Ben Strauss of The Washington Post and Hannah Withiam, an associate editor at The Athletic. They are followed by  Armen Keteyian, the longtime broadcast television journalist and an anchor and executive producer for The Athletic.  In this podcast, Strauss, Withiam and Deitsch discuss the XFL’s media deal including the announcement that more than half of the XFL's games will be on broadcast television as part of deals the league announced with Fox and ESPN; whether spring football can be successful as a sports media play; how ESPN and Fox might approach production; what we think of ESPN’s decision to name Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland as the Monday Night Football booth; how long we expect ESPN management to give the new MNF booth; the Sinclair Broadcast Group buying 21 regional sports networks from Disney for $10.6 billion; what Sinclair owning the linear TV and streaming rights to the games of 42 pro teams might mean for fans of those teams; the WNBA’s new deal with CBS Sports Network; the WNBA marketing itself as a movement; how the WNBA will do without some of its major stars playing this year; how we viewed the Athletic’s panel on students entering the sports media business and much more. Keteyian discussed the debut of The Athletic’s video initiative including profiles of Christian Yelich, P.K. Subban, and three-part series on sports betting (Big Bets on High Tech); how and why the video subjects were chosen; skepticism when it comes to short-form video online, and how to figure out how long to make a digital video.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 51 of the Sports Media Podcast features three guests: First up is Tim Layden, a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and a contributor to NBC Sports. He is followed by Bruce Feldman, a college football reporter for The Athletic and Fox Sports. The last segment is with Daniel Dale, the Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star.  In this podcast, Layden discusses how to cover the Kentucky Derby, whatmakes covering the Derby unique compared to other events, the access that the sports media gets during Derby week and after the race; writing about horse racing versus other sports; what the media contingent is like covering the Kentucky Derby; how two Triple Crown horses over the last four years will impact this year’s coverage; the deaths of 23 horses at Santa Anita and where that story will next go; the prospects of Omaha Beach; whether there are young people on the horse racing beat; and much more.  Feldman discusses his experience at ESPN The Magazine; how he views the decision of ESPN to stop publishing the print issue starting in September; the rivalry between ESPN The Magazine and Sports Illustrated; the future of magazines that focus on sports, and more. Dale and Deitsch discuss the Raptors postseason; the ceiling of this Raptors team; why the bench has struggled in the postseason; the genius of Kawhi Leonard; how Dale first got into the Raptors; whether you can declare the Leonard for DeMar DeRozan trade a success if Leonard leaves; how Dale grades Nick Nurse; Dale starting a website about Vince Carter at age 14; whether we would bring Marc Gasol back; whether the Raptors finish will be tied to Leonard’s decision, and much more.  You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Radio.com and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices