There are plenty of important topics that need to be discussed when talking to former ESPN president John Skipper, and a lot of those were hit by Dan Le Batard during their recent 4-part interview series on South Beach Sessions.
But to discuss the more unique topics that should appeal to a better portion of Le Batard’s audience, producer Chris Cote has the listeners covered, and I think we might need to hear more of this. Skipper recently partnered with Le Batard for their new company Meadowlark Media.
“Remember when you ran ESPN?” The question Cote used to open his interview with Skipper. It was quickly clear this conversation was going to be closer to what you expect from Zach Galifianakis on Between Two Ferns, than an interview conducted by Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio.
And credit Skipper for playing along. Surely, he gets the show. He didn’t have to open up about peeing in pools and preferring to eat ice cream out of a cup, but that’s the type of responses Cote is capable of getting from his guests and boss.
“How often while you were at ESPN, would you be watching TV, see someone you didn’t like on TV and just make a call and that person was never on ESPN again?” Cote asked.
“About once a week,” Skipper answered. I think he was joking.
Cote sounded at ease in the no holds barred interview with his new boss, even taking credit for their new media venture, citing Le Batard’s last straw with ESPN coming when they fired his producer. The only time Cote wavered came when Skipper asked if he saw “This is Spinal Tap,” and Le Batard’s producer submissively said yes.
But the parody interview fit the sports radio mocking Le Batard’s audience is used to hearing. And even in moments of silence, the conversation was uniquely, comfortably awkward.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
