Awful Announcing Podcast

Bill Walton died on May 27, 2024 at the age of 71. Bill meant a lot to us at Awful Announcing, so we wanted to do something special. We invited a few of Bill's many friends and broadcast partners to tell stories and memories of the Basketball Hall of Famer and legendary broadcaster. Sit back with host Brandon Contes and guests Jason Benetti, Roxy Bernstein, and Dave Pasch as we celebrate the life of Bill Walton.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:20: Welcome Jason Benetti to the Awful Announcing Podcast-:50: Bill making the most out of his life-2:57: Emotions this week-5:50: Creative freedom of working with Bill-7:37: Knowing Jason would like working with Bill at first-11:10: First broadcast with Bill-14:02: First conversation with Bill-14:15: Building chemistry with Bill-17:55: Shift in Bill’s broadcasting style from NBA to college-19:07: Pressure to need to entertain?-21:27: Was Bill seeking to be more entertaining or more insightful on broadcast?-22:43: Inserting non-sports topics in sports-25:23: Will we see another analyst like Bill?-27:31: Best piece of advice from Bill-29:39: Welcome Roxy Bernstein to the Awful Announcing Podcast-29:55: Reaction to the reaction to Bill’s passing-30:52: First broadcast with Bill-33:18: Comfort level working without pregame prep with the analyst-35:02: Challenge of letting Bill go on tangents-36:44: Notable tangents with Bill-37:46: Working relationship becoming a friendship-39:41: Being genuine/playing dumb-41:22: Favorite off-air moment with Bill-43:39: Going to a Grateful Dead concert with Bill-45:31: Closing Pac-12 Network and mentioning Bill-48:05: Welcome Dave Pasch to the Awful Announcing Podcast-48:25: Emotions this week-49:48: Catharsis of everyone sharing stories and showing love for Bill-51:06: Bill’s basketball career being secondary when describing his life-52:41: Bill resonating with so many people-54:29: Bill off-camera-55:59: Bill on college campus-58:41: Was there a pressure to be “on?”-59:39: First broadcast with Bill-1:00:51: Surprised by the amount of tangents-1:01:41: Was it a challenge to work alongside Bill?-1:03:20: Getting caught up in the banter-1:04:25: Will we see another analyst like Bill?-1:05:43: Favorite tangent/memorable on-air moment-1:08:00: Posting texts from Bill online-1:09:57: T-shirt for final broadcast-1:12:16: Favorite off-air moment with Bill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews legendary Indianapolis 500 broadcaster Paul Page. Brandon and Paul discuss a wide range of topics including working the Indy 500 on radio and TV, being mentored by Sid Collins, working with Bobby Unser, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:43: Working this year’s Indianapolis 500-1:29: Best place to watch the Indy 500-2:27: Getting into broadcasting-4:15: Growing up a racing fan-5:58: Broadcasting while in the Army-6:25: Surviving a helicopter crash-8:10: Memories of the crash-8:55: First ride back in a helicopter-9:18: Reporting from helicopter during crash-10:22: Friendship and mentorship with Sid Collins-12:13: Collins’ death and succeeding Collins to be “Voice of the 500” in 1977-14:25: Emotions of the 1977 broadcast as chief announcer-15:57: Difficulties of the 1977 broadcast-16:44: Feeling after the 1977 race-18:45: Differences in broadcasting compared to Collins-20:38: Preference in doing radio or TV?-22:08: Doing radio at Indy-23:22: TV producers-26:01: Ideas to ABC to improve broadcasts-26:59: Delta Force intros-29:14: Working with Bobby Unser and Sam Posey-30:42: Was Posey and Unser competitive with each other?-31:22: Playing peacemaker-32:18: Three person booth-34:27: Longest being on the air for a race-36:06: Most memorable finish for Paul-38:01: Favorite Indy 500 memory in general-39:28: Broadcasting Indy 500 during COVID-42:06: Calling Alex Zanardi crash in Germany days after 9/11-48:53: Favorite sport to call-49:25: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest -51:45: Preparation for offbeat sports-52:18: Calling different forms of motorsports-53:22: 30th anniversary of the first Brickyard 400-54:56: What makes the Indy 500 special?-58:24: Al Michaels-1:00:45: Favorite part of Indy 500 weekend Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews executive producer and host of "SportScience," John Brenkus. Brandon and John discuss a wide range of topics including creating and hosting "SportScience," how the science community reacted to the show, creating and running Brinx. TV, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:43: Legacy of “SportScience”-2:36: TV aspirations?-4:00: Start of “SportScience”-4:58: Building set and producing “SportScience”-6:50: Desire to find this info out-8:38: Did “SportScience” influence how teams measure players?-10:21: Reaction from Science community-11:45: Episode that stands out?-13:03: Experiments that went wrong?-14:13: Why pro athletes weren’t paid to participate?-15:40: Coming up with ideas-16:25: Format of the show-18:07: Not hosting “SportScience” segments-18:50: Brinx. TV-21:46: Content with Brinx Bux-24:08: Measuring viewership-26:00: Marcellus Wiley-26:38: “GOAT Code”-27:35: “The Perfection Point”-28:28: Most room for performance growth among the “big four” American sports-29:42: How much of a great athlete comes down to genetics and hard work/effort/training?-30:57: Any unfulfilled passion projects? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ESPN's Steve Levy discusses various topics including watching NHL games from the studio, being a Rangers fan, working with Mark Messier, his infamous 'bulging disc' blooper, versatility as a broadcaster, 'Monday Night Football', NHL on ESPN, working with Pat McAfee, marketing NHL stars, and memorable moments at MSG and FAN.

Host Brandon Contes interviews co-host of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," Jon "Stugotz" Weiner. Brandon and Stugotz discuss a wide range of topics including being interested in being program director at WFAN, working with Dan Le Batard for nearly 20 years, the importance of being on ESPN and being jealous of Pat McAfee, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:36: How close was Stugotz to being program director at WFAN?-2:50: Process of program director discussion-4:08: Being a full-time host while being program director?-6:14: Sal Licata-8:19: Ryan Hurley-10:06: Mark Chernoff/Spike Eskin handling WFAN program director role-12:48: Talking to Spike Eskin about the program director job-14:24: Talking to Chris Oliviero about before the program director job opened up?-16:04: Wanting a full-time WFAN show before retirement?-17:31: Letting Dan Le Batard know about talks with WFAN-18:39: Le Batard understanding what WFAN means to Stugotz-19:59: Any talks about doing WFAN and Le Batard?-25:55: Mike Francesa or Chris “Mad Dog” Russo?-29:34: Mad Dog on “First Take”-33:24: Does it feel like it’s been 20 years with Le Batard?-35:31: Francesa doing a podcast-37:34: Le Batard being a perfectionist-39:00: Size of the cast on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz”-41:17: Convincing Le Batard to be a sports radio host-44:12: Chemistry between Stugotz and Le Batard at first-46:15: Importance of being at ESPN-48:09: Podcast audience growth-51:05: Decision to leave ESPN-52:15: Comfortable with leaving ESPN-53:38: Did Stugotz consider leaving the show due to leaving ESPN?-54:59: Being jealous of Pat McAfee-55:45: Did ESPN give “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” the freedom they wanted?-57:32: Pat McAfee level of freedom?-1:00:36: Stugotz’s book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Eli Gold. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including being the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Alabama not retaining him for 2024, telling a white lie to start broadcasting in NASCAR, Nick Saban retiring from coaching, and more.NOTE: We apologize for some audio and visual issues during the episode.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:40: Eli’s health-1:11: Returning to broadcast booth post-cancer-1:57: Were there retirement thoughts when Eli sat out?-2:54: Being out of work for two hours-4:02: Calling home games only at Alabama-4:56: Was the cutback a warning sign that Alabama wasn’t going to retain Eli?-6:00: Alabama’s reason for not retaining Eli-7:47: Response from Alabama fans-8:46: Being the voice of the Nick Saban era [NOTE] Eli’s audio cuts out from 9:10 to 9:15. For full context, Eli is talking about not being at Alabama’s 2024 Spring Game which honored Nick Saban and the 2023 team.-11:00: Not being welcomed by Alabama fans when Eli joined in 1988-12:24: Considering leaving Alabama during that time?-14:49: Getting to Alabama-16:12: Goal as aspiring sportscaster in NYC-18:01: Broadcasters Eli looked up to growing up-19:25: Crafting your own style-21:45: Verne Lundquist’s last Masters-22:43: Jacksonville State University-23:32: Nashville Kats-26:30: Preparing for opposing team-27:25: Commute to Nashville-28:01: Were there other job opportunities while Eli was at Alabama?-28:59: Reaction to Nick Saban retiring-30:20: Any solace in that Eli’s Alabama tenure ended when Saban’s did?-31:15: Can Alabama succeed without Saban?-32:21: How will Saban do at ESPN?-33:49: Most memorable and favorite moments/games at Alabama-35:46: Favorite sport to broadcast-37:24: Getting involved in NASCAR-40:51: Working the 1979 Daytona 500 on MRN and importance of that race to NASCAR-42:00: Being too close to Dale Earnhardt’s 1982 Pocono crash-44:45: Being on the call for Earnhardt’s fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500-46:24: Which sport changed the most throughout Eli’s career? NASCAR or college football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Bob Costas. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including his feelings on Donald Trump before and after becoming president, Bob's infamous gun culture essay, how Tom Brady would be as a broadcaster, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-1:07: Being selective with doing podcasts-5:19: Thoughts about Joe Biden and Donald Trump-13:19: Relationship with Trump pre-president-17:55: Covering the Olympics-19:50: Hearing back from China after being critical of them-21:50: Responsibility of not “sticking to sports”-24:14: Jim Nantz and the Masters-26:27: Misconceptions surrounding gun culture essay-33:47: Biggest detriment to the essay-35:37: Can it be “not worth it” discussing serious topics when people can make their own headlines and twist around those words?-36:34: NBC coming to Bob with issues they wanted him to talk about-36:58: How did NFL owners and Roger Goodell react to some of Bob’s essays?-38:04: Watching the NFL-38:26: How will Tom Brady do as a broadcaster? Could Brady do this for a long time?-40:23: Social media/aggregate media causing change in media-48:41: Doing “Later” on NBC-49:59: Can long-form interview format work on TV today?-50:27: Why Bob feels he couldn’t do a show like “Later” anymore-52:19: No studio audience on “Later”-54:27: One thing in sports Bob would like to see happen before retirement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews "Parkins & Spiegel Show" co-host and co-author of the book "Pipeline to the Pros," Danny Parkins. Brandon and Danny discuss a wide range of topics including Caleb Williams (very likely) going to the Bears, being the best man at Nick Wright's vow renewal, breaking the news of the Jovan Belcher tragedy, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:42: Writing a book-3:46: Difficulties of writing a book-5:57: Moments Danny felt like giving up on book?-8:06: People who declined to be interviewed-10:02: Jeff Van Gundy stories-13:29: Duncan Robinson-15:41: Will book change how DIII schools are valued?-17:40: Sports media not playing sports stigma-19:40: BrainUp-21:56: Dealing with real things and sharing that with the audience-24:10: Becoming comfortable with discussing difficult personal things-26:31: Landing first full-time on-air radio job-28:17: Kansas City and Nick Wright-29:39: Jovan Belcher murder-suicide story-32:06: Difficulty reporting a story like that-34:21: Lines between sports journalists and radio hosts being blurred?-35:49: Do aggregators make life difficult in terms of separating media journalism and media entertainment?-37:51: Not sticking to sports-40:20: Jason McIntyre’s comments about Chicago-41:13: Colin Cowherd calling Danny the “most talented sports talk radio host”-43:13: Feelings of ESPN embracing digital for shows compared to his situation-46:41: Landing dream job at a young age-48:12: Working with Dan McNeil-49:28: Having a say in a co-host after Dan was fired?-51:07: Caleb Williams-52:37: Divide over trading the pick or drafting Williams?-53:42: Fans concerned about Williams’ eccentricities?-54:36: Being friends with Nick Wright Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest host Jessica Kleinschmidt interviews ESPN MLB reporter Buster Olney. Jessica and Buster discuss a wide range of topics including the slow pace of the MLB offseason, Scott Boras taking some losses in negotiations, helping Buster Posey be more media friendly, and more.NOTE: We recorded with Buster on Friday March 22, so in between recording and posting, some details about the Shohei Ohtani/Ippei Mizuhara gambling story have been updated.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:43: Baseball coverage changing over the years-2:26: Relationship with players changing-3:55: Clubhouse access-6:00: Waiting around-7:42: Covering Chuck Knoblauch during the "yips"-9:30: Helping Buster Posey be more media friendly-12:57: Embracing players as people in terms of social media-14:16: Benefit to players having their wall back up?-15:06: Embracing social media at the start-16:04: Do the positives outweigh the negatives on social media?-18:01: Buster being able to separate from work in his personal life-21:06: This offseason compared to past years-23:52: Who is a “middle class” MLB player?-25:36: Players speaking up-26:35: Buster’s take on a salary cap in MLB-27:45: Top paying players involved in salary cap discussions?-28:52: Scott Boras conspiracy theory-31:26: TV concerns-32:52: Increase in opt-out contracts-34:54: Shohei Ohtani-38:23: Ippei Mizuhara gambling scandal-40:42: Personal relationship with an interpreter-42:47: How would this go if it didn’t involve Ohtani?-43:33: Not really unchartered territory-45:20: Shock factor of Ohtani news-46:42: Joey Votto-48:49: Reds not bringing Votto back-49:56: Votto’s potential post-playing future Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Brandon Contes interviews MMA reporter Ariel Helwani. Brandon and Ariel discuss a wide range of topics including discovering mixed martial arts and going to school to cover the sport, Dana White running the UFC, Joe Rogan as a UFC commentator, and more.For even more discussion, head over to awfulannouncing.com and follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube: @awfulannouncing.-:45: Confidence level on the New York Knicks-4:05: Why be a fan of the Knicks instead of the Bulls in the 90s?-5:54: MMA fandom-9:20: Famous classmates at Syracuse-11:15: MMA as a stepping stone?-12:55: MMA 20 years from now?-15:05: Covering UFC for Fox and ESPN-18:29: Benefits to working with a big company rather than being independent?-20:32: Anticipating roadblocks at ESPN?-22:32: Leaving ESPN-24:24: Why is ESPN deal with UFC important?-26:30: UFC recognizing the value ESPN is bringing-27:36: Why did Ariel’s relationship with Dana White sour?-32:53: Does Ariel miss going to events?-34:58: How is Ariel perceived by UFC fans?-37:35: Did ESPN attempt to foster a conversation between Ariel and Dana?-39:45: Dana White, UFC, and the media-41:54: Does Ariel think that White thinks Ariel is good or bad for MMA?-44:19: Sean Strickland’s response to Alexander Lee’s question about Strickland’s previous anti-LGBTQ posts-47:32: White’s “freedom of speech” mandate for the UFC-50:20: ESPN’s lack of response to Strickland compared to network going after other athletes for controversial things they said-55:10: What is Dana White’s best quality?-57:30: Relationship with Joe Rogan-1:00:46: Kids being fans of UFC-1:02:14: Covering boxing in Saudi Arabia-1:06:01: Biggest thing Ariel does to be a great interviewer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.