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The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media

Garrett Searight
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The 3 Qualities Joe Rogan Used to Dethrone Howard Stern as the King of All Media

For decades, Howard Stern has been “The King of All Media.” If you believe that’s still the case, you couldn’t be more wrong. Joe Rogan holds the throne now.

2024 was the Year of Joe Rogan. Which is saying something, because you could probably argue every year since 2020 has been the Year of Joe Rogan.

The Joe Rogan Experience has been a dominant player in the podcast space. There are few other shows, if any, that command the audience that the comedian and UFC commentator does.

But as part of a new deal with Spotify, Rogan has been able to increase his media presence on YouTube in 2024. And that has made all the difference in earning the title of King of All Media away from Howard Stern. His channel has nearly 19 million subscribers on the platform while his backup channel, JRE Clips, features almost 8 million additional subscribers. According to figures quietly released by Spotify earlier this year, the show has 14.5 million followers on the app. And that was before the high-profile discussions with the Republican presidential ticket.

Rogan earned massive audiences on the digital video app during his conversations with Donald Trump and JD Vance. But they weren’t the only episodes that saw big viewership totals. Even conversations with more mundane subjects earned more than 3 million viewers on YouTube.

But how did Joe Rogan rise to the top of the media ecosystem? Well, he used the same three qualities that Howard Stern did.

Curiosity

I’m a big fan of the AppleTV+ show Ted Lasso. One of the resounding themes of the happy-go-lucky, loveable main character is his phrase “Be curious. Not judgmental.” It’s a motto I attempt to live by.

And Joe Rogan’s curiosity has propelled him to digital media stardom. Does that curiosity lead him into trouble at times? Undoubtedly. But that’s part of what makes Rogan endearing. He is curious about a variety of topics. He’s built an audience that is both curious about the topics but also about what Rogan’s thoughts on any given subject are.

Like Rogan, Stern is curious, too. He’s famous for asking inappropriate questions of the biggest newsmakers in the entertainment space. But they don’t come — at least in my opinion — from a place of depravity as much as he’s genuinely curious about people. That’s what Rogan has hung his hat on in recent years.

While discussing why an interview with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris never came to fruition, Rogan shared that he wanted to do a longer discussion than the one-hour timeslot the campaign offered.

“I feel like if you give someone a couple of hours when you start talking about anything, I’m gonna see the pattern of the way you think,” he said. “I’m gonna see the way you process ideas. I’m gonna see whether or not you’re calculated or whether you’re just free. Or are you comfortable with you? Or are you projecting things?”

“My sincere wish is to just have a nice conversation and get to know her as a human being. I really hope we can make it happen,” he later added.

That’s coming from a place of sincere curiosity. And people respond positively to questions that genuinely seek information.

Authenticity

That need from Rogan to genuinely seek information is part of the authenticity he exudes, much like Stern. Howard Stern isn’t the sell-out many in conservative media today paint him to be. He’s simply a changed man. People change. They’re supposed to change throughout life. If you don’t, it says much more about you than it does him.

But Stern is still authentic and true to himself. And so is Rogan. He’s unapologetically himself. It’s a key to any form of media success. Listeners, viewers, or consumers — however they’re digesting your content — have a BS meter. They know when you’re telling the truth, they know when you’re lying, and they know when you’re saying something you don’t actually believe.

Joe Rogan, for better or worse, doesn’t ever say anything he doesn’t believe. Just like Howard Stern.

Indifference

Finally, Joe Rogan built his following largely by the IDGAF (if you don’t know the acronym, click here) attitude that Stern once exuded on terrestrial radio.

Many people are insecure. They don’t know or don’t like who they are. Rogan doesn’t fall in that camp. He knows who he is, what he does, what he means, and isn’t afraid to wield that power. So for those people who are insecure, they wish they could have that same “I don’t care what anyone thinks of me” attitude that people like Rogan and Stern have. They long for the ability to be so confident in themselves and their ability that they can show “the man” the double bird and not think twice about it.

And that “give a damn’s busted” mantra that Rogan has plays so insanely well in today’s digital media sphere. If you look at the average age of Rogan’s audience, it is noticeably younger than those of more traditional forms of media. He’s the perfect spokesman for younger millennials who are so notoriously afraid of conflict, while also appealing to Gen Z and their general disdain for any authority or longstanding institutions.

So, if Joe Rogan exudes the same three attributes that Howard Stern did and still does, how did he replace the longstanding titan on top of the media world?

It’s simple: Rogan took those three qualities — the same three qualities that led Stern to stardom — and did them on emerging platforms. He saw where the shift in the media space was going, and pounced on them like a starving man on a Christmas ham. Joe Rogan was ahead of the curve. And that’s how he replaced Howard Stern as The King of All Media.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Here’s Hoping News Talk and Sports Talk Radio Had Their Holiday Wish Lists Fulfilled

Dave Greene
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Here’s Hoping News Talk and Sports Talk Radio Had Their Holiday Wish Lists Fulfilled

I hope everyone in talk radio land had a great holiday and hopefully you are reading this in your bed or on your couch around 10 a.m. after a long slumber, made even better by not having to work the next day. Then there’s the rest of us who see December 26 as just the day after Christmas and another day to get some work done.

In our line of work, we know ‘the show must go on’ although generally with the B or C team as many talk shows take a couple weeks off this time of year and we will hear them again come January 6.

As the new year approaches, I thought back on the year that was and started to put together a list of things I hope news talk radio and sports talk radio received for the holidays…

For both formats, I hope there was a box under the tree that had a magic wizard in it, or even just a younger, fresh thinker who comes from outside of the ‘radio business.’ Someone or something which can give the industry the desperately needed ideas to have it get out ahead of whatever is coming next. These two formats especially missed out on podcasting. They should have owned the podcasting space and the millions or billions of ad dollars that moved that direction. We were supposed to be the leaders in audio entertainment and information and most of us quickly found out we were not.

What can talk radio do in 2025 and beyond that will help the sales teams not have to start conversations by spending the first 20 minutes defending the industry and giving the reasons why it is not yet dead?

For News/Talk Radio I hope there was the gift of new material. Never has a format, and this goes for radio and television, become so centered around so few actual topics. And most of them lead all to one place – ‘why my side is better than your side’. Or some may prefer to put it, ‘why your side is a bunch of idiots and why everything my side likes and says is perfect’.

It’s gotten old. Like the format and most of the hosts.

What can be done in 2025 to freshen things up, to play the hits while not smashing people over the head over and over again with them? If you are not trying new ways to pull in younger listeners or new ways to keep the listeners that you have, each year is just going to get tougher and tougher. It will be a slow, painful death.

If you have not yet read about what KDKA in Pittsburgh is doing with their KDKA Next Take program, click on that link and read Garrett Searight’s story on it. This is an example of something being done that is completely different and is designed to drive reach and younger audiences. Yes, I said there is an actual idea being done right now in news talk radio in a big market, which any station could replicate, that is designed to drive reach and younger audiences. If you don’t think this idea is something you could implement where you are, what is your idea that will drive reach and younger audiences? What did you try last year? What are you trying this year?

For sports talk radio it would be great if the industry was gifted shackles to keep some of the talent from leaving. I think this actually all ties together with what I wrote above for news talk radio. Not only do some of the talent leave because they see the bright lights of television or one of their buddies got fired and is now much happier on their own doing digital content, but also because they don’t see the future with their company or the industry.

They assume leadership will come up with some strong ideas to be ahead of whatever is coming next. They want to see that the industry won’t just be reactionary to what happens elsewhere, then go spend a bunch of money trying to play catchup while also trying to cut corners – instead of developing something that makes local talk radio and its content creators really matter and makes other industries want to follow what it is doing.

I thought about this a lot recently when doing an eavesdropping feature on the ESPN Radio morning show, Unsportsmanlike with Evan, Canty and Michelle. I think Chris Canty is tremendous – but could he be too good? Especially at ESPN where there is a very easy transition to full time television. I hate the fact that the whole time I was thinking about how good he was on radio, I was thinking that probably means it won’t be too long before he moves on.

We are in tough times in radio overall. Over here on the talk side of things we are much better off than our brethren on the music side. That being said, we have got to get new thinkers, new ideas, new creators, new leaders who can really focus on how the talent that is in the space can grow their listener bases and consistently engage with them so they truly own that relationship. The talent we have need to be the ones people of all ages think of when they want to be entertained or informed.

And if that is not who you have on your roster…you might want to find some new players for your team.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Tony Cortez Signs On For Mornings at Classic Hits 101.1 KONO-FM San Antonio

BMM Staff
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Tony Cortez Signs On For Mornings at Classic Hits 101.1 KONO-FM San Antonio

Tony Cortez is set to return to Cox Media Group, where he will host the morning show at Classic Hits 101.1 KONO-FM. This announcement comes just over a month after he departed from his role at Hot AC “Hits 105.3” KSMG San Antonio.

Cortez will debut on Monday, December 30, stepping into the role vacated by the recent retirement of Music Director and midday host Steve Casanova. With this change, Tory Christopher will transition from the morning show to take over Casanova’s midday slot.

Cortez has spent most of his career in the San Antonio market, working with Top 40 “Mix 96.1” KXXM and Tejano 107.5 KXTN-FM. He spent seven years as Assistant Program Director and afternoon host at Alpha Media’s Top 40 “Energy 94.1.”

He had exited the cluster last month (BMM 11/7). He was hosting mornings with Jenny Lee.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Nielsen Audio releases December Day One PPM 6+ 6 am-midnight

BMM Staff
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Nielsen Audio releases December Day One PPM 6+ 6 am-midnight

#1 New York

Holiday Music is raising its hand in the Big Apple

WLTW – 7.8-9.7

Urban WBLS moves 5.5-6.0

Classic Rock WAXQ loses half a share 6.0-5.5

Top 40 WHTZ drops 5.4-4.9

#2 Los Angeles

Holiday Music for a big month for AC KOST 4.7-8.3

Classic Hits KRTH flat 5.6-5.5

Hot AC KBIG 4.9-4.8

Top 40 KIIS 5.1-4.8

#3 Chicago

The Holiday Music trend continues with WLIT soaring 5.5-9.8

Classic Rock – WDRV drops 6.5-5.6

Country WUSN steady 4.2-4.4

#4 San Francisco

AC KOIT 5.4-7.2

AC KISQ – 4.9-4.0

Classic Rock KSAN 3.1-2.7 This is one to keep an eye on with the exit of Lamont & Tonelli

#5 Dallas – Ft. Worth

AC KDGE propelled by Holiday Music moves 3.9-7.1

Country KSCS up 4.1-5.5

Top 40 KHKS drops 4.8-4.3

#6 Houston

AC KODA 7.7-11.1

Classic Rock KGLK 5.5-5.9

Country KKBQ drops 5.6-5.0

#7 Atlanta

Urban WALR has a big jump 5.7-7.8

Classic Hits WSRV is flat 7.0-7.1

Urban WAMJ up 6.0-6.7

#9 Philadelphia

Rock WMMR leads the way 8.3-8.3

Urban WDAS 8.4-8.1

AC WBEB jumps 4.9-7.8

Country WXTU 4.8-4.6

#20 Nassau-Suffolk

Classic Rock WBAB 7.4-6.4

AC WLTW 3.2-4.4

Hot AC WALK 4.9-5.0

#26 Riverside-San Bernardino

Classic Hits KOLA 9.6-8.7

Spanish Hits KLYY up big 6.8-8.5

Spanish Hits KLVE 4.2-5.6

#39 San Jose

AC KOIT 4.7-6.9

Classic Rock KUFX 4.2-5.1

Country KBAY 3.8-3.4

#42 Middlesex-Somerset-Union

AC WLTW 5.3-7.5

AC WMGQ 4.4-7.3

Classic Rock WAXQ 6.2-6.8

You can dive deeper into each market on Barrett Media’s ratings page. Powered by Harker Bos Group.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

FOX Sports Averages 19.7 Million Viewers for NFL Week 16 Singleheader

BSM Staff
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FOX Sports Averages 19.7 Million Viewers for NFL Week 16 Singleheader

FOX Sports reported that its Week 16 singleheader garnered 19.7 million viewers, which is the best performance for any singleheader in the NFL on any network this season. The broadcast window, which only featured one game per marketplace since the network had broadcast an NFL game on Saturday, featured the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders for a majority of the country at this time. Four of the five NFL on FOX games on Sunday kicked off at 1 p.m. EST, encompassing a singleheader that was up 64% over the comparable window last year, according to data from Nielsen Media Research.

As part of media rights agreements with the NFL, FOX Sports and CBS Sports each have eight doubleheaders spanning all weeks in the schedule excluding Week 15 and Week 18. During those weeks, every market will have four Sunday NFL afternoon games taking the airwaves. Networks are permitted to have doubleheaders in consecutive weeks but cannot do so for three weeks in a row. FOX Sports will air a doubleheader next week, starting with regional action before most of the country gains access to the late-afternoon matchup featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

Preceding the Sunday afternoon singleheader, FOX Sports broadcast a Saturday NFL game featuring the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The matchup accrued an average of 15.4 million viewers, marking the most-watched telecast of the day on any network and a 7% increase over last year’s comparable window. Before that game took the air, the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs played an afternoon game on NBC and Peacock. All four of these teams will participate in the Christmas Day showcase of games, which will air on Netflix for the first time under a three-year deal.

FOX and CBS broadcast NFL doubleheaders during Week 15 that combined for a national window audience averaging 39.6 million viewers, according to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch. League rules allow for two simultaneous doubleheaders per season, which are taking place during Week 15 and Week 18 this year. All NFL teams have taken their bye week, resulting in 16-game slates every week for the remainder of the regular season.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Chiefs-Texans NFL Holiday Special on NBC, Peacock Secures Total Audience Delivery of 15.5 Million Viewers

BSM Staff
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Chiefs-Texans NFL Holiday Special on NBC, Peacock Secures Total Audience Delivery of 15.5 Million Viewers

As part of the Week 16 slate of NFL games, NBC Sports presented two matchups with playoff implications emanating in both conferences. On Saturday, the network broadcast live from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium where Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were hosting C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans.

Data from Nielsen Media Research and Adobe Analytics demonstrated a total audience delivery of 15.5 million viewers for the NFL Holiday Special, which aired live on NBC and Peacock. The audience peaked in the fourth quarter with an average of 20.2 million viewers for the quarter-hour spanning from 3:45 to 4 p.m. EST. The Big Ten Saturday Night broadcast team of Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen were on the call for this matchup.

NBC Sports broadcast an exclusive NFL holiday game on Peacock last year when the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers faced off in Week 16. The first-ever exclusive NFL game on the streaming platform averaged 7.3 million viewers on Peacock, NFL+ and on NBC stations in Los Angeles and Buffalo. Three weeks later, Peacock served as the exclusive broadcast home of an NFL Wild Card game between the Dolphins and Chiefs that averaged 23 million viewers, setting a record for the most-streamed game in NFL history.

This is the fourth game televised by NBC Sports to air outside of the traditional Sunday Night Football window for the season, accounting for its third most-watched contest away from the timeslot. The NFL Kickoff Game featuring the Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens averaged 29.2 million viewers on Thursday night of Week 1, the second largest regular-season audience at the time since acquiring the Sunday Night Football broadcast package in 2006.

On the next day, the Peacock exclusive presentation of the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles game from São Paulo, Brazil averaged a total audience delivery of 14.0 million viewers, the second most-watched live event on Peacock. Two months later on Thanksgiving Day, the game between the Packers and Miami Dolphins attained a total audience delivery of more than 26 million viewers.

The second game of the weekend featured the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark on the call for the NFC matchup. Viewership data is not yet available for this Week 16 game. Comcast is currently in the second season of a 10-year media rights deal with the National Football League for which it pays a reported $2 billion per year. The network will broadcast the Super Bowl to conclude the 2025 and 2029 NFL seasons, in addition to continuing its Sunday Night Football broadcasts on a weekly basis.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

ESPN to Premiere E60 Film on Boomer and Gunnar Esiason

BSM Staff
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ESPN to Premiere E60 Film on Boomer and Gunnar Esiason

Seventeen years after making an Emmy-nominated 2007 edition of E60 in which the network explored Boomer Esiason and his family as they looked to combat cystic fibrosis, ESPN is revisiting the story with a new film. Titled Second Wind: The Boomer and Gunnar Esiason Story, the presentation documents the journey as the family sought to apply their own experience with this genetic disease to enacting change and helping others.

Boomer Esiason, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL most valuable player, has been hosting morning drive on WFAN since 2007 and also recently concluded a 22-year run serving as an analyst for The NFL Today on CBS Sports. In 1993, he launched the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which has raised more than $175 million to support the fight against this disease and the quest to find a cure. Esiason’s son, Gunnar, was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with this disease, complicating breathing through the lungs filling with mucus.

This program contains archival footage and interviews that span approximately two decades and includes reporting from Jeremy Schaap. Members of Esiason’s family were interviewed for the program, along with NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth, former Giants quarterback and CBS Sports colleague Phil Simms, and Boomer Esiason Foundation athlete Logan McGovern.

Additionally, the film includes perspectives from Dr. Frederick Van Goor and Dr. Emily DiMango, divulging advances in treatment and the challenges families face in battling this disease. The latest installment of E60 was directed by Max Brodsky and produced by Ajay Atayee. Schaap recently appeared on Boomer & Gio to talk about the project and what it was like to report on the story.

“When you think about the arc of this story over the course of the last 30-plus years since Gunnar’s diagnosis to where we are now, it’s a remarkable story,” Schaap said to Esiason. “It’s an incredible testament to your family, to your commitment to this cause, to the work that so many people have done and so many scientists have done, and it was just certainly worth – I mean, I’m biased, but I’d say it’s one of the best things we’ve done.”

Esiason continues to fundraise and drive awareness of cystic fibrosis to emphasize the importance of finding a cure, and he thanked Schaap for allowing him and his family to tell their story. The E60 presentation is slated to premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN, and it will be available immediately thereafter to stream on ESPN+.

The show is part of a holiday storytelling marathon taking place on ESPN2 that includes a curated selection of 30 for 30 shorts and the SportsCenter series, “My Wish.” Airing at 10 p.m. EST and again the next day at 1 a.m. EST on ESPN2, Second Wind: The Boomer and Gunnar Esiason Story, will highlight their story and the fight against cystic fibrosis.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

Stephen King Sells WKIT To Local Investment Group

BMM Staff
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Stephen King Sells WKIT To Local Investment Group

In a significant development for the Bangor, ME radio market, local businessmen have joined forces to create a new ownership group aimed at acquiring Rock 100.3 WKIT. This move comes as Stephen King prepares to close his three stations at the end of the month.

Jeff Solari and Greg Hawes’ Rock Lobster Radio LLC are set to acquire WKIT, with plans to operate the station under a Local Marketing Agreement (LMA) beginning January 1. This arrangement will continue until final approval from the FCC is received.

The two released a joint statement saying,  “We couldn’t let it die. Hundreds – if not thousands – of people posted, called, or reached out when they heard the news that 100.3 was getting the plug pulled. Longtime listeners were devastated. But now, the grief can fade. The voices you love are staying right here.”

Solari, a longtime area sportscaster, posted to Facebook,  “My childhood friends will vouch for me when I say I was about 12 years old when I started dreaming of owning a radio station. Today, the dream came true. Greg Hawes and I are thrilled to have reached a deal with Stephen King to keep WKIT rockin’ Maine for years to come. It’s a legendary station with a great team!”

Hawes, a local entrepreneur, added, “Cat is outta the bag. After reading all the genuine comments about the closure of WKIT, I felt a sense of commitment to try to keep it around. I do my best to cater to the community that supports all of my crazy ideas, and this is another one of those situations. It’s clear that the Bangor area was not ready to see 100.3 go away, so Jeff Solari and I are gonna make sure it’s around for years to come. Welcome to radio!”

The deal does not include WZON or WZLO, which are still expected to sign off for good at the end of the year.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

670 The Score Finishes Second Overall, Gains First Place Finish in Afternoons in Chicago Fall Ratings Book

BSM Staff
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670 The Score Finishes Second Overall, Gains First Place Finish in Afternoons in Chicago Fall Ratings Book

As the Fall ratings period got underway in mid-September, 670 The Score in Chicago was forced to make significant lineup changes due to the departure of Danny Parkins to FS1. The Score installed a new midday show, Bernstein and Harris, and a new afternoon show, Spiegel and Holmes. Based on the Nielsen Men 25-54 total audience measurement for the fall book, so far, so good.

670 The Score finished second overall in the market with a 6.3 share in weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p). That represented an eight tenths of a point increase from last Fall.

In mornings from 5:30a-10a CST, Mike Mulligan and David Haugh finished fourth with a 5.2 share. Mully and Haugh added four tenths of a share year-over-year.

The new midday show with Dan Bernstein and Marshall Harris featuring Leila Rahimi finished second in their first ratings period. The show delivered a 7.4 share, finishing 1.3 shares ahead of the same time period last year. Middays recorded the highest share among all dayparts on The Score this quarter.

In afternoons, Danny Parkins and Matt Spiegel generated a 4.8 share last year to finish third in the fall book. The new team of Spiegel and Laurence Holmes came out of the gate on fire. The popular duo began their tenure together finishing first with a 5.9 share. The show’s performance was up 1.1 shares from last year.

For the full week (M-Su, 6a-12a) 670 The Score finished tied for fourth with a 5.2 share among Men 25-54.

670 The Score’s quarterly numbers include a combination of both over-the-air and streaming performances.

Good Karma Brands no longer subscribes to Nielsen. As a result, data from ESPN 1000 was not available this quarter.

Shannon Sharpe: Kirk Herbstreit and I Are Good Now

BSM Staff
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Shannon Sharpe: Kirk Herbstreit and I Are Good Now

After Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit made comments pertaining to the “lunatic fringe” at The Ohio State University and how the Buckeyes’ victory over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff would soften the blow from losing to Michigan, Shannon Sharpe took the time to respond on Monday’s edition of First Take.

Sharpe ostensibly took umbrage towards the discourse from Herbstreit when he stated that First Take tried to fire Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and that he was excited to see what the show would discuss on Monday after this victory. Stephen A. Smith addressed the situation and implored Herbstreit to quote him accurately, stating that he would have called for Day to be fired had Ohio State lost this past weekend.

Sharpe, however, issued a warning to Fowler and Herbstreit, stating that ESPN would not have enough bosses to prevent him from saying things if they ever mentioned a platform he was on and wondering what they would profess in a negative manner. The situation quickly gained traction on social media, and Sharpe ended up conversing with Herbstreit through a text exchange. As he recounted their discussion on the latest episode of Nightcap, Sharpe made it clear that his bosses from ESPN did not reach out to ask him to talk about what had taken place; rather, he decided to issue this explanation on his own.

“I think everybody knows Kirk Herbstreit went to Ohio State,” Sharpe surmised. “He mentioned someone sent me [this] thing that he and Ryan Day are very good friends, so I think he was taking up for his friend, but I believe you can take up for your friends without taking a shot at your teammates, and I felt he was taking a shot at First Take.”

Sharpe emphasized that even though he may not have been on the show during a particular episode he was referencing, he wanted to make it clear that Herbstreit had taken a shot at him nonetheless. In reflecting on the commentary, he conveyed that it was unwarranted, not additive and unnecessary, resulting in them having a conversation and Herbstreit apologizing. Sharpe also explained that he was not sensitive because if he had been, he would have really laid into this situation.

“Y’all know me – I don’t bite my tongue for nobody,” Sharpe said. “There are certain times that I felt that you should stand down in the situation before you say something that you will regret at a later date and time, but in that situation, I was very, very disappointed because I’m like, ‘Whoa, whoa, bro. This is not the time or place.’”

Sharpe referenced a previous situation in which he had an issue with Nightcap co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and emphasized in a conversation that the show needs to exhibit professionalism. Moreover, he stated that he wants to be professional at all times and is glad that Herbstreit reached out to clear the air regarding what took place. It was important for Sharpe to recognize if they were teammates or not, later stating that he would throw “caution to the wind” and take shots five nights a week until there was no more.

“Herbie and I are good now,” Sharpe said. “I’m glad we had the text communication, and that’s what grown men and adults, that’s how they should handle the situation. We shouldn’t have to go back and forth on social media. I wish that incident did not happen, I don’t think it had to happen, but I think we both learned from that situation and how to handle situations like that moving forward.”

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.

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