While Will Cain is no longer at ESPN, the co-host of FOX & Friends Weekend on FOX News still finds a way to talk about some sports on his podcast, The Will Cain Podcast on FOX News Audio. Yes, being in sports media is in the past for Cain, but he hasn’t ruled out a return.
Cain was a guest on the latest episode of the Straight Fire with Jason McInyre podcast and Cain told McIntyre that he will be back to the world of sports media in the future.
“I haven’t left the world of sports completely. Although I talk about politics primarily, I host a three times a week podcast, The Will Cain Podcast, where I address some level of sports on every episode.
“I will tell you. I will be back in sports in the future on a more concerted and calculated approach in the not-too-distant future.”
Cain still tunes in to a lot of sports content and he enjoys listening to Barstool Sports because of the joy they have just talking about sports in general.
“Now that I’m away and I’m not literally in the building on a day-to-day basis, it’s interesting how my consumption habits have changed. I consume as much sports as I ever did, but I’m not necessarily tuned in to the latest bit of punditry. Sports has returned to really what it always should be and that is it’s just fun. I think the future with a digital platform content distribution model is going to feed fans more of what they want.
“I find myself these days consuming Jersey Jerry from Barstool. I find myself more tuned to what Big Cat is saying. I find myself more interested in the guys that come at sports with nothing but joy. When I do return to sports….that’s going to be at the front of what I have to do. Fandom and joy.”
The one problem Cain sees in sports media is that he sees commentators creating content for other content creators rather than for fans and that some commentators he feels look for the approval of athletes in what they say.
“The biggest problem in sports, I knew it when I was there and I can see it now that I’m not inside the beast, is that sports has left behind the fan. We produce content for each other and Twitter has made it the worst….I just think everybody started producing content not just for other pundits, but for the athlete. I just want to be accepted, I want the athlete to think I’m cool. It became who had the right sources and who has the most correct information…It all left behind the fan. Whatever I do in the future, it will be for the fan.”
McIntyre did ask Cain about whether or not he missed being at ESPN and talking sports daily. Cain said he did, but there was one thing he missed more.
“Yes, I do….I loved my job at ESPN. I loved debating with Stephen A Smith on First Take. I loved hosting The Will Cain Show on ESPN Radio and I loved specifically being around the group of guys, my producers and my cast on The Will Cain Show everyday because it just was a group of dudes talking sports, having fun every day.”
