Awful Announcing Podcast

On today's podcast we talk about the Donald Sterling controversy with Bomani Jones of ESPN. Bomani's work has drawn plenty of attention this week due to a column he wrote in 2006 documenting Donald Sterling's racism and asking why it wasn't news. Although Bomani has been credited with showing "foresight" the truth is he was one of the few calling attention to the real issue at hand that was ignored for years. In this podcast, we cut straight to the heart of the matter to talk about sports, race, the media, and society as a whole. Topics include...-Why his 2006 column is receiving more attention now than it did then.-Whether or not a threatened player boycott forced the hand of Adam Silver to deliver a maximum punishment.-Why we are easily drawn to the sexiness of the TMZ audio versus housing discrimination.-The validity of Mark Cuban's "slippery slope" comments.-The legacy of David Stern. -Who takes the brunt of the blame for enabling Donald Sterling for years and not speaking out.-Whether or not the NBA and professional sports have been changed forever.-Why it's so difficult to address serious issues dealing with discrimination in sports and society.-Why Bomani thinks this week showed no progress in how we talk about and approach race in sports.-His journey from freelancing for ESPN.com to being a stalwart in ESPN's daily lineup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's podcast we shift our attention to the NHL postseason and chat with NBC sports host Liam McHugh. Liam is the lead studio anchor for NBC's coverage of the NHL as well as Notre Dame football, the Tour de France, and other sports. In many ways, he is one of the faces of the young NBCSN. Today we talk with Liam about the Stanley Cup and his career at NBC. Topics include...-His journey to NBCSN including looking back at his time with Versus and The Daily Line and what that experience meant for his career.-How he became a "hockey guy" with his NHL assignments.-Whether he's ever had to break up a fight between Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick. Sadly, answer is no, but the behind the scenes dynamics are great.-Why Pens-Blue Jackets is the most exciting first round series.-How the physicality of the Blackhawks has been one of the most impressive things from the playoffs thus far.-What it maeans to have an 18 year old, Nathan MacKinnon, as the top points scorer of the postseason.-What's left on Liam's broadcasting bucket list? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's podcast we welcome the co-host of Fox Sports 1's newest show, America's Pregame, Molly McGrath. Molly has been with FS1 since the network launch in mid-August. After serving mainly at the newsdesk providing updates, she then got the call to co-host Fox's new daily show alongside Mike HIll (who she incredibly used to print scripts for as a production assistant at ESPN). Molly also chats with AA about...-Her sportscasting journey including how she created a sports reporting role as a Boston College cheerleader.-Her time with the Boston Celtics and whether she has any good Tommy Heinsohn stories.-Moving to Fox Sports 1 and the difference in sports on the west coast and east coast.-Fighting the stigma against blonde women working at Fox News and Fox Sports 1.-Is Fox Sports 1 really "the one for fun" behind the scenes?"-The vision for America's Pregame and how it can grow into being an alternative to SportsCenter.-Why taking viewer suggestions for improving the show is so important.-Which would she rather watch - NBA or NHL Playoffs?-Her advice to young, aspiring sportscasters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been one of the most exciting EPL seasons on record and NBC has earned rave reviews for their first year coverage of the league. The biggest game of the season takes place this Sunday at 8:30 AM Eastern when Liverpool hosts Manchester City in what some are calling a winner take all title clash. To talk about it all we’re pleased to welcome to this week’s AA Podcast one of NBC’s Premier League analysts, a man who knows the league very well from his nearly 500 apperances in English football, Robbie Mustoe. Robbie joined NBC this season after working at ESPN for several years on their global soccer coverage. Today, we chat about...-How soccer coverage has evolved in the states and what excites him most about the response to NBC's EPL coverage.-Why EPL fans in America may have it better on television than fans in the UK.-How Liverpool have leapt to the top of the EPL table in a huge surprise.-Why manager Brendan Rodgers has been Liverpool's catalyst and how he might line up the team against Manchester City.-Who the real favorite in the three-way title hunt is at the moment. Will Chelsea's Champions League pursuit distract them?-Arsenal and Everton's battle for fourth.-The relegation dogfight between Fulham and Norwich City (10 AM ET this weekend on NBCSN)-Which player is Robbie keeping an eye on at this year's World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s WrestleMania week and we’re pleased to welcome WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross to the podcast. Good ol’ JR has seen his popularity increase in the sports world as his most famous calls have become a favorite soundtrack to some of the most exciting plays in sports. These days JR writes for Fox Sports and has just launched one of the top rated podcasts on the internet. We talked with JR for a wide-ranging, in-depth podcast about the wrestling business and its evolution, his writing at Fox, announcing in his future, and so much more. Topics include…-What excites him most about his post-WWE career and his WrestleMania anthology series at FoxSports.com.-WWE slowly moving its way alongside mainstream sports at places like Fox and elsewhere.-How the WWE Network is another bold move from Vince McMahon and why it may be a gamechanger for sports and entertainment.-JR’s favorite eras from his career in the wrestling business.-The evolution of professional wrestling from being presented as sports to sports entertaiment to purely entertainment.-How that evolution affected broadcasting and his approach as an announcer.-Dealing with pro wrestling bias as an announcer and who the closest announcer in sports would be to being able to pull off a wrestling telecast.-Why it helped him as an announcer to not know the outcome of matches.-Would there be an opportunity with Fox to step back behind the microphone and call UFC fights?-On Daniel Bryan: “I think he has the ability to be the lead guy as far as the championship is concerned.”-Looking ahead to WrestleMania 30 and JR’s thoughts on some of the big matches on the card and the top young stars in WWE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ONIONS!!!!!We're pleased to be joined by one of the most beloved announcers in all of sports on today's podcast, Bill Raftery. He's been a part of NCAA Tournament coverage for CBS for many years and continues to be one of the highlights of the television production. His classic calls, humor, exuberance, and enthusiasm are a trademark of one of the finest careers in broadcasting. Today Raf joins us to talk a little bit about that career and this year's tourney...-Working Big East games with Gus Johnson and how Gus used to play basketball in New York City with Bill's son.-Working with Verne Lundquist and the chemistry behind their partnership.-Balancing bringing fun to the broadcast while still teaching the game.-The Dayton Flyers as this year's Cinderella and his admiration for Scoochie Smith.-Looking ahead to the East region and the meaning of playing in MSG.-A look ahead to the Iowa State-UConn and MSU-Virginia matchups.-How many more tournaments does he plan to call in the booth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the middle of March Madness we welcome one of the play by play men who called Thursday's action on one of the best days in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Brian Anderson of Turner & CBS may be more known more as a baseball announcer from his work for TBS baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers, but this is his third year working the NCAA Tournament. He chats with AA today about the exciting games from Orlando yesterday. Topics include...-How much sleep he got after Louisville-Manhattan ended well after midnight.-The mental challenge of announcing 4 games in 1 day and resetting for each broadcast.-Where yesterday ranked among his favorite days in the broadcast industry-His experience with college basketball and what it means to call tournament games.-How the St. Louis-NC State game was one of the most unique games he's ever seen and how St. Louis' fouling strategy fueled an epic comeback.-Manhattan being a tough matchup taking Louisville to the brink.-The upcoming Brewers season and how the team is dealing with Ryan Bruan coming back from suspension.-Who's more likely to provide an upset tomorrow - Pitt over Florida or St. Louis over Louisville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we're joined by one of the broadcasters that will be covering March Madness for CBS and Turner - Allie LaForce. In addition to being a sideline reporter for the NCAA Tournament, Allie is also the co-host of CBS Sports Network's late night program Lead Off with Doug Gottlieb. The 25 year old from Ohio has had a quick rise through the industry in the last year and she chats with us about that ride and her assignment this weekend in Buffalo. Topics include...-How a beauty pageant winner and basketball player gets into sports broadcasting.-How CBSSN found her through her YouTube reel and why prospective broadcasters need to do everything they can to get their name out there.-What's unique about working on a program that airs at Midnight ET and how that presents something different compared to other sports networks.-The different challenges of hosting and reporting.-The experience of working four games in one day at the NCAA Tournament and the preparation that goes into it.-The Ohio State-Dayton matchup as the one she's looking most forward to in the first round.-Her Final Four picks and why Syracuse might be on upset alert.-What's left on Allie's bucket list.All that and more on this week's AA Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast we welcome Seth Davis from CBS and Sports Illustrated to talk about the NCAA Tournament and his new biography on John Wooden. Seth is a veteran sportswriter who has also served for over a decade as a television analyst in college basketball and brings that unique perspective to viewers. In today's podcast, we discuss...-Why he was motivated to writing a book about John Wooden and presenting the coach in a three-dimensional way.-The mythologizing of college coaches.-Whether contemporary media can learn to balance building up and tearing down coaches.-Building towards March and what it's like to cover the NCAA Tournament.-Working with his CBS and Turner colleagues in Atlanta.-Who's the fourth #1 seed?-Which bubble teams have helped and hurt themselves the most during Championship Week.All that and more on this week's AA Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast we're joined by one of the best new television analysts working in sports today - ESPN's Seth Greenberg. After a lengthy coaching career, Greenberg moved to Bristol from Virginia Tech after the 2012 season and he's quickly cemented himself as one of the sport's most enthusiastic and insightful voices. Today we talk about a number of topics touching on Seth's TV career and the current season including...-How working in television is refreshing compared to the daily grind of coaching.-How much of his coaching personality comes through in front of the cameras?-Whether or not he would consider a return to coaching and what friends in the profession tell him about his second career.-Wichita State's unbeaten season and the pressure now facing the Shockers.-Syracuse's precipitous fall and why teams have figured out the Orange.-Why the Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball and the Big 10 has the most teams who can win the national championship.-Explaining Ohio State's struggles this season.-Why conference realignment has hurt the game.-The pressure of being on the bubble being the toughest experience he had in coaching.-Some super sleeper NCAA Tournament picks that could help your bracket pool. All that and so much more with Seth Greenberg on today's podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.