Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

Episode 12 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features Molly Sullivan, the popular television sideline reporter on Philadelphia 76ers games who was unexpectedly let go last week by NBC Sports Philadelphia after six years on the job. In this podcast, Sullivan describes in frank terms what happens when you lose your sports media job unexpectedly; what NBC Sports Philadelphia told her about its decision and what they didn’t tell her; how Sixers fans have started a petition on her behalf; covering a team for years that was the worst in the NBA and the challenges of covering a losing team; her on-air relationship with Sixers star Joel Embiid; Sixers coach Brett Brown reaching out to her after he heard she was let go; what she expects from the Sixers heading forward; what she hopes to do next; her thoughts on the Bryan Colangelo story; competing at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in distance swimming, and much more. The second part of the podcast is a roundtable with Sports Business Daily assistant managing editor Austin Karp and Black Sports Online founder Robert Littal. Karp discusses the Word Cup viewership numbers so far and what they mean for Fox Sports and Telemundo; the viewership numbers to expect later in the World Cup tournament; Littal discusses ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage and what worked and what didn’t; Karp discusses MLB’s current ratings regionally and nationally; Littal and Karp discusses the state of ESPN and FS1’s daytime talk shows, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 11 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features two guests. First up is ESPN Adnan Virk, who hosts multiple studio shows in multiple sports and is the host of “Cinephile: The Adnan Virk Movie Podcast.” In this podcast Virk goes deep into how an sports broadcaster in his position deals with a contract negotiation; at what point his agent started negotiating an extension at ESPN; the anxiety of not getting an offer prior to the end of a contract; how to get a sense of what money to ask for; the role of broadcast agents and their importance; how to know what to ask for in terms of salary and beyond; the impact of what others at an organization have on your contract negotiations; the role of relationships with your bosses when it comes to contract negotiations; how he ended up getting tennis opportunities into his new contract; the impact of Mo Salah on the Muslim community; being mistaken for former NHL All Star Chris Chelios, and much more. The second guest is Calvin Watkins, who was recently hired to cover the Dallas Cowboys for The Athletic Dallas-Fort Worth. Watkins discusses the challenges of covering the Cowboys; why Jerry Jones is the most important person for a media reporter; the differences between covering the New York Jets and Cowboys as a press person; where he thinks the newspaper sports section is today and where it might be tomorrow; the influence of his grandfather who worked for Ebony and went on to produce a monthly African-American newsletter called Negro Heritage; working for ESPN’s city sites; what he would say to young people of color who want to get into the business and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 10 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features a roundtable with Sports Business Daily media writer John Ourand and Boston Globe media writer Chad Finn, and a one-on-one conversation with Washington Post Capitals reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan. In this podcast, Ourand and Finn discusses the 2026 World Cup being awarded to the U.S., Canada and Mexico and what that means for English-speaking rights-holder Fox Sports; the impact of Fox Sports getting the 2026 tournament without an open bid; the perception of Fox Sports when it comes to its golf and global soccer coverage; Comcast’s attempts for the assets owned by 21st Century Fox and what that would mean for two dozen regional sports networks  owned by Fox Sports; the 2018 NBA Finals viewership; what the NBA offseason means for interest in the sport among rightsholders; whether LeBron James will head to Boston, and much more. Khurshudyan discusses covering a Stanley Cup champion; why the Caps celebration has gone national; how much being fluent in Russian has helped her covering the NHL; the meaning of the Washington Post having six women leading beats in the sports department; whether it was intimidating to join the Post as an intern; translating Russian television for Post editor Marty Baron; how she procured an assignment to work in in the Moscow Bureau of the Washington Post; her story from Moscow on the #MeToo movement being mocked in Russia because of deeply patriarchal attitudes and the country's domestic violence legislation, and much more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 9 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features a conversation with Charissa Thompson, the host of Fox NFL Kickoff and NFL Films Presents on FS1. In this podcast, Thompson discusses why she decided to re-sign with Fox Sports; having conversations with ESPN host Mike Greenberg about working on a morning show with him; having her private photos hacked and leaked online, and the incomprehensible invasion of privacy; the aftermath of that invasion; how she is going about trying to get justice and why that is important; how her parents taught her to focus on how you get up from adversity; why Ryen Russillo has been housesitting at her guest; getting adjusted to a certain level of fame; whether Top Gun 2 is a good idea; her approach on social media when it comes to politics; gambling on sports and going to the race track with her grandfather, Seattle getting hockey, and much 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 8 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features a conversation with Grant Wahl, a Sports Illustrated senior writer and Fox Sports soccer reporter. In this podcast, Wahl discusses how to cover a World Cup, which Wahl will be doing for the next six weeks in Russia, how much access reporters get at a World Cup; racism at a World Cup setting; how Fox will approach its World Cup studio shows; writing the first SI cover story on LeBron James; buying LeBron and his friends dinner at Applebees; his predictions for the Group Stage including Argentina losing in the opening round; why he likes Spain to win over Belgium, the state of soccer journalism in the United States; ESPN’s impact on global soccer; whether it is important to have American voices calling the World Cup and much more. The second guest is Julie Kliegman, a copy editor for The Ringer who has written about the state of mental health care in the NBA for that publication. In this podcast, Kliegman discusses how she went about reporting her NBA piece; the importance of understanding mental health in professional athletics; why Celtics coach Brad Stevens is proactive on this topic; what happens to an NBA player when he asks for health on a mental health issue; what access college athletes have to mental illness help, and much more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 7 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features a conversation on ESPN’s present and future with Sports Business Daily media writer John Ourand and a roundtable with Boston Globe media writer Chad Finn, and Robert Littal, the founder and editor of Black Sports Online. In this podcast, Ourand discusses Wall Street Journal reporter Shalini Ramachandran’s examination of ESPN’s current business, the tension between Disney Chairman Robert Iger and former ESPN president John Skipper; whether ESPN’s front-facing talent has been given too much leeway on issues of politics and social justice; how the piece examined Skipper’s regime; the concern ESPN execs have on political talk; where Ourand stands on the money spent for NBA rights; the declines of other networks in number of households; ESPN’s potential interest in hockey; whether debate is in decline and what Ourand thinks of the upcoming ESPN show, High Noon and a long discussion on ESPN re-hiring of Keith Olbermann. Finn and Littal discuss the NFL’s new national anthem policy, the differences between the NFL’s and NBA approach to the issue; ESPN’s acquisition of Fox’s UFC package; the deal Fox cut for WWE’s Smackdown; why media keeps doing LeBron vs. Jordan; how the NBA will deal when LeBron leaves the games; and much more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 6 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features ESPN play by play announcer Joe Tessitore, who was recently named the lead voice of Monday Night Football. In the podcast, Tessitore discusses in-depth how over the course of a six-week period in March and April, he auditioned 12 potential Monday Night Football analyst candidates at ESPN’s Bristol, Ct. headquarters; how he approached the audition process; the memorable audition of Jason Witten which included Witten playing football with his son on his front lawn; why Witten landed the job; why he thinks Witten will be successful; his thoughts on other applicants including Jared Allen, Brett Favre, Greg Olson, Louis Riddick, Rex Ryan, Joe Thomas, and Kurt Warner; the plans for the crew for the spring and summer; his friendship with Booger McFarland and why he thinks McFarland will be great in the field analyst role; the best kind of calamari, and much more.   The second guest is Richard Sandomir, the the author of "The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic," which has just been released in paperback. For 25 years Sandomir covered sports media for The New York Times where he now writes obituaries. In this podcast, Sandomir discusses why he decided to write a book about the Pride of the Yankees; how he went about his research; how the film was received in 1942; modern-day interest in Lou Gehrig; his thoughts on the resignation of former ESPN president John Skipper; whether he thinks there will be a future demand for sports media reporters, and more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 5 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features Peter King who will be leaving Sports Illustrated on June 1—his 29-year anniversary of being hired by SI—for a new job with NBC Sports in July. In the podcast King discusses why he left SI; how he came to the decision; how SI offered him more money to stay; where he stands on the future of Sports Illustrated and The MMQB; his response to criticism of being an access-oriented, league-friendly NFL reporter; why he writes about political issues in his column; what his role will be at NBC Sports; his thoughts on Jason Witten being hired for Monday Night Football; the future of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick; how legalized sports gambling will impact the NFL; NFL cheerleader gender-discrimination complaints; why the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield, and much more.   The podcast concludes with two roundtables. The first features Boston Globe media writer Chad Finn, and Robert Littal, the founder and editor of Black Sports Online. In this roundtable, Finn and Littal discuss the new Monday Night Football announcing team featuring Joe Tessitore, Witten, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters; ESPN’s hiring of Katie Nolan; the lack of opportunity for women of color to host their own sports show; John Skipper’s return; Charles Barkley's remarks on Draymond Green; printing sports television talent salaries, and much more.   The second roundtable features Lindsay Adler, a baseball writer for The Athletic who covers the Mets and Yankees and AJ Perez, a sports reporter for USA Today who covers a multitude of areas including sports media. In this podcast, Adler discusses how to cover two different baseball teams; the challenges of being a first-year beat reporter; the most media friendly Yankees and Mets players; Perez’s take on ESPN’s deal to carry 10-15 UFC events exclusively on its direct-to-consumer ESPN+ platform; the future of UFC media rights; covering criminality in sports; the television prospect of the upcoming Stanley Cup Conference Finals including the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and much more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 4 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features Doris Burke, the acclaimed ESPN broadcaster who called a full season of NBA games as an color analyst for the first time in 2017-18; and Cheryl Reeve, the head coach and General Manager of the Minnesota Lynx. Under Reeve, the Lynx have won four titles in the last seven years. In this podcast, Burke discusses calling the NBA for a full season as a color analyst; her anxiety over her current contract coming to an end on Oct. 31; why she says she and ESPN will work out a deal for the long-term; calling the Sixers-Celtics series; how she currently feels about working as a sideline reporter after doing a season as an analyst; whether she has let her bosses know if she is interested in joining ESPN’s top NBA team should Mark Jackson get an NBA job; the impact of Kara Lawson, Sarah Kustok, and Stefanie Ready on NBA broadcasting; how she viewed Allie LaForce’s question to LeBron James; her feelings on how Gregg Popovich treats sideline reporter; her evaluation of the Cavaliers-Raptors series; what she thinks of the Celtics and Sixers rosters heading forward; her thoughts on a potential Rockets-Warriors match up, and much more   Reeve discusses why the Lynx have not been covered the way a team with four titles in seven years would normally be covered; why she has become active on social media when it comes to a lack of WNBA coverage; whether the lack of coverage of women’s basketball is due to sexism; what can be done to change attitudes about the WNBA; the amount of coverage the Lynx gets locally versus other teams; her back-and-forth with writers and editors from The Athletic about her team getting coverage; the prospect of moving the WNBA season; coaching an aging group and how she’ll approach that this season; her thoughts on point guard Lindsay Whalen getting the University of Minnesota women’s basketball head coaching job; what she expects from Maya Moore this season and Moore’s place in sports as a winner; the Lynx not being invited to the White House by this current administration and Reeve’s thoughts on it; and much more.   You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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 3 of the Sports Media podcast with Richard Deitsch features an extended conversation with Verne Lundquist, the iconic sports broadcaster for CBS and ABC and the voice of some of the most memorable calls in the history of sports broadcasting. After Lundquist, Sports Business Daily media writer John Ourand and Newsday sports media writer Neil Best come on to discuss various topics including the television schedules for the NFL TV networks and Mike Francesa’s return to WFAN.   In the podcast, Lundquist discusses calling the Masters again this year including Jordan Spieth’s memorable birdie at No. 16 in the final round; watching SEC Football on CBS from his home, getting nostalgic about missing the SEC, stepping away from the NCAA basketball tournament this year, his current health; filling in for Pat Summerall when Summerall was in rehab; Lundquist’s frustration with always being the No. 2 broadcaster at a network before he was named the lead voice of the SEC on CBS; why the SEC was the greatest assignment he ever received, the art of laying out (being quiet after a great play); why the “Kick Six” Game on Nov. 30,  2013 (Alabama-Auburn) is his greatest CFB broadcast; being influenced as a broadcaster by Ray Scott; calling the Christian Laettner game (Duke-Kenucky, 1992) and talking to Laettner about it 20 years later; the broadcasters he likes today and why; why he loves to listen to Ian Eagle; the memorable story of how Verne met his wife, Nancy, which includes a stop at disco and getting Nancy’s number while she was on a date, and much more. Ourand discusses ESPN’s Monday Night Football schedule and its relationship with the NFL; the potential for Thursday Night Football on FS1, and how ESPN is likely to approach the low viewership for “Get Up!” Best discusses his reporting on radio host Mike Francesa, who is returning to WFAN to once again host a radio show after leaving the station in December. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher 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