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Clay Travis: I’m Being Audited By the IRS Because of My Conservative Radio Show

BNM Staff
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OutKick founder Clay Travis has revealed he is currently being audited by the IRS and says the reason is because he hosts the largest conservative radio show in the country.

During The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show Friday, Travis claimed he was told before taking over the timeslot previously held by Rush Limbaugh that he should expect to be audited every year a Democrat is in the White House. He said he laughed off the anecdote, claiming he’d never been audited before.

“I got an audit notice this morning. I saw it on my counter,” Travis said. “They come in the mail for those of you who have never received one. And we now have a meeting that’s going to be scheduled with an IRS agent in the future.”

He continued by noting that he isn’t the beneficiary of a large inheritance being held in an offshore account, and pays taxes on what he earns from his media endeavors.

“I haven’t inherited some massive sum of money that’s making my tax returns complicated. And so I don’t think that there’s any way that this is coincidental,” said Travis. “I’ve been doing talk radio for 15 years. I’ve been in the media, primarily sports media, for a long time, and over the last decade or so I started to make pretty good money…So it’s not like this is the first time where I’ve never turned in a tax return and had to pay a lot of taxes. And I have paid a lot of taxes.”

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Travis sarcastically called the audit — which he claims is for the 2021 calendar year, when the show began — “amazing timing”.

Bob Fescoe: Tony Dungy is Clueless

BSM Staff
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Bob Fescoe: Tony Dungy is Clueless

The Kansas City Chiefs secured a victory over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany Sunday. In the days leading up to the matchup with the Dolphins, which marked the first time star wide receiver Tyreek Hill has played the Chiefs since leaving in free agency, the game was a hot-button topic for 610 Sports Radio and host Bob Fescoe.

On Fescoe in the Morning Monday, the Kansas City host felt that he was invested in that regular-season game more so than any other one in the past. In short, he wanted the Chiefs to win the game, not only to prove to Hill that they did not need him to win or to maintain pace to be the best team in the AFC, but rather to quiet the naysayers.

“There were a lot of people wading out of the woods and coming out of the caves talking about how bad the Chiefs were, and people were salivating and couldn’t wait for this week for them to lose to Miami, and then they would pounce on the Chiefs,” Bob Fescoe said. “….I wanted them to win so bad to shut up the naysayers both locally and nationally who had been on the Chiefs.”

“As much as I like watching NFL Network and all of that, I had to back away and reel myself in because it was driving me nuts,” fill-in co-host Jay Binkley said. “It was driving me nuts what they were saying about them; now they’re going to be the flavor of the week. Now everybody’s going to be back on board; they’re going to talk about the defense being great.”

Aside from NFL Network personality Kimmi Chex, Binkley shared that everyone on the air selected the Dolphins to win the game. In delineating the scenario that took place on national television, he believes that the national commentary will be akin to “a bus backing up” this week as it pertains to the Chiefs.

“As the picks were being made in that pregame show, I’m like, ‘Chiefs are winning this game,’ not that I didn’t think they were winning this game,” Fescoe said.

“At least they didn’t have [Tony] Dungy there to pick the Dolphins,” Binkley replied, referring to the former NFL head coach and current Football Night in America analyst for NBC Sports.

“That’s right, Dungy,” Fescoe remarked. “Yeah, yeah he would have – clueless.”

Once the game concluded, Bob Fescoe shared that he felt an extremely high level of anxiety, leading him to take an hour-long run and walk in order to blow off steam. The contest aired at 9:30 AM ET, positioning football fans for a long day of action that concluded with the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.

“I was invested in that game yesterday more than any other regular-season game in the history of my life,” Fescoe said. “I hope everybody else kind of felt that way too and was in for that thing because that’s what makes sports great to me: the emotion that we lived with yesterday for three hours.”

Mike Monaco Inks New Contract at ESPN

BSM Staff
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Mike Monaco Inks New Contract at ESPN

Mike Monaco has inked a new three-year deal at ESPN, cementing his future at the network as he continues to call a wide variety of events as a play-by-play announcer.

Aside from his regional work with the Boston Red Sox, Monaco has been utilized by ESPN on coverage of various events since he signed with the company in 2019. From that time on, he has called Major League Baseball, college baseball and the Little League World Series on the network, along with softball, football, lacrosse, basketball and volleyball.

Monaco has contributed to coverage on the ACC Network as well, which ESPN launched in the summer of 2019 within its new contract with the Atlantic Coast Conference, a 20-year pact worth an estimated $4.8 billion. News of Monaco’s new contract was first reported by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Before joining ESPN, Monaco worked with FOX Sports and the Big Ten Network to call football, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse games. In a previous interview with Barrett Sports Media, he stated that NHL on ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough served as a mentor for him. While he had no influence in his joining the network in 2019, Monaco now calls McDonough his colleague and someone who has given him advice on how to succeed in the field over the years.

Outside of ESPN, Monaco had a viral moment during Red Sox Spring Training when he was behind the microphone for the first MLB game to end on a pitch clock violation. On a 3-2 count with two outs in the ninth inning, the batter was called out after he was not set in the batter’s box with at least eight seconds to go. It was a moment the former New England Sports Network (NESN) intern and versatile, adept broadcaster was prepared for, which received rave reviews from consumers around the country.

While it remains unknown if the nature of Monaco’s assignments will change because of the new contract, he is now signed to be part of the network as it works on launching a direct-to-consumer product and explores bringing on a strategic partner. This week, Mike Monaco will call a college basketball game between Dartmouth and Duke on Monday, an NHL showdown between the Oilers and Sharks on Thursday, and Oklahoma State’s matchup against UCF on Saturday.

Christiane Amanpour: ‘I Have Always Believed The American Audience Wants to Hear About the World’

BNM Staff
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CNN’s Christiane Amanpour debuted a new show on the cable news giant over the weekend, as part of a revamp of the network’s programming after the high-profile departure of Chris Licht earlier this year.

Amanpour says she noticed her diminishing presence on CNN, being relegated mostly to CNN International in recent years, and is relishing the opportunity to appear in front of a broader audience.

“I have always believed, ever since I started as a foreign correspondent at CNN, that the American audience wants to hear about the world,” she told The Associated Press. “I’ve never believed that things are too complicated to put on American television. I’ve never talked down to an audience. I’ve never believed that they just want to know what’s happening in their backyard.”

Christiane Amanpour — who recently celebrated her 40th anniversary at CNN — pointed to the recent conflicts between Hamas and Israel, as well as the war in Ukraine, as evidence Americans are interested in news abroad.

The 65-year-old raised eyebrows earlier this year when she publicly criticized her network for its involvement with former President Donald Trump for a town hall event. She believes she acted appropriately.

“I believe I did the right thing,” she said. “When you achieve a certain position in your life and your career, not only are you able, but you have a duty to speak up,” she said. “I take that very seriously. That’s my responsibility.”

Dennis Malloy Celebrates 30 Years on New Jersey 101.5

BNM Staff
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Dennis Malloy Celebrates 30 Years on New Jersey 101.5

New Jersey 101.5 midday host Dennis Malloy is celebrating a milestone. He recently marked his 30th anniversary of starting at the Townsquare Media station.

In a post to the station’s website, Malloy reminisced about his tenure on the station, which began on November 2nd, 1993.

Malloy admitted that he might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s grateful to listeners for spending the past 30 years with him.

“I know I’ve pissed some people off over the years and some people might not fully appreciate my sense of humor or my worldview, but the overwhelming majority of people have been very, very good to me,” Malloy wrote.

Currently, Malloy is partnered with Judi Franco from 10 AM-2 PM on the New Jersey news/talk station.

The longtime New Jersey 101.5 host thanked his co-workers for his long tenure.

“No one can last 30 years at one company or place of business unless there are quality people all around them. That is certainly the case at New Jersey 101.5,” Dennis Malloy continued. “We have great management, great support staff, and great salespeople who make it possible to keep the lights on and keep it going. I have to thank my partner Judi and all of my fellow on-air hosts, our producer Kyle, and former producer Kylie. Also, I need to thank our management team of Brina Lang, Anne Gress, and Jessica Schwartz.”

Dan Michaels Departs KFGO Morning Show

BNM Staff
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Longtime Fargo radio host Dan Michaels has departed the KFGO morning show over what he called “differences” with management.

In an interview with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Michaels said “We differed on the operation of the Morning Crew, and so I decided to step away,” adding that “instead of fighting it, I just stepped away.”

Michaels has been on the air in North Dakota since 1977, working a The Mighty 790 KFGO since 2020 as the late afternoon news anchor, before joining the morning show.

In addition to his work at KFGO, Michaels is the PA announcer at North Dakota State football and basketball games, which the 61-year-old will continue to do.

“Dan decided to pursue other interests. I don’t know what those are, but I just know that I wish him success,” KFGO Operations Manager Joel Heitkamp said.

The morning show on the Midwest Communications stations continues to be hosted by Doug Leier, Robbie Daniels, Don Haney, Jack Michaels, and Tom Syzmanski.

Sports Media Reacts to Gregg Giannotti Social Media Feud with Gary Myers

BSM Staff
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Sports Media Reacts to Gregg Giannotti Social Media Feud with Gary Myers

After going viral late last week for his comments on the resignation of Carl Banks, WFAN host Gregg Giannotti made some noise on social media over the weekend in response to former New York Daily News writer Gary Myers.

Video of Gio’s comments Thursday morning on Boomer & Gio went viral by the afternoon. On Friday, Myers quote tweeted the video and mentioned Gio saying “Stay classy.”

Banks appeared on PIX11 news on Saturday and was asked about the situation with Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata, which ultimately led to Banks giving up his WFAN appearances. Banks responded by saying he had no ill will or hard feelings toward the hosts, or anyone else at the station.

On Saturday evening, Gio had his own quote tweet ready for Myers.

The response even caught Banks by surprise.

Generally, the sports media reaction — especially those from competing 98.7 ESPN New York — to Gio’s response was generally negative.

Still, the reaction to Gio wasn’t all bad.

Media Analyst: Fox News’ Trey Yingst Most ‘Exceptional War Correspondent’

BNM Staff
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War correspondents hold a unique position in the hearts of those who admire their unwavering dedication. In the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Trey Yingst, a correspondent for Fox News, has demonstrated exceptional readiness, expertise, and eloquence in his reporting. His ability to navigate the complexities of this unpredictable situation while upholding the highest journalistic standards is truly commendable.

Dr. Richard Vatz, a professor at Towson University, says war correspondents are performing one of the most difficult jobs known to civilians.

Vatz penned an op-ed for the Baltimore Post Examiner about Trey Yingst.

“In the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, which began with a surprise attack similar to Pearl Harbor and resulted in the tragic loss of 1400 lives, including the horrifying massacre of over 250 innocent concertgoers by Hamas soldiers using motorcycles, trucks, grenades, and AK-47 assault rifles, there is one exceptional war correspondent who stands out among many: Trey Yingst,” he wrote.

Vatz says that he spent two decades instructing an advanced course at Towson University called Media Criticism, a course I initiated. Within this class, I delved into the principles of distinguishing exemplary and subpar reporting, spanning local, national, and global contexts. This course consistently attracted students each term, serving as an elective in the curriculum.

“Yingst has proved over the last couple of weeks to be the best war correspondent of this war and one of the best of any war, per his preparedness, his knowledge, his clear articulation nearing eloquence, his awareness of what security concerns allow him to say and withhold, and, of course, his bravery,” he said.

“Interspersed with his war reporting are sources he can quote, sources he may not quote, analyses of political considerations he must adhere to, and assessments of the credibility of practically every material factual logistical point he makes. Asked questions by anchors at the studio, he answers them without breaking sentences…his articulation under pressure is worth beholding,” he added. 

WEEI is Focused on Evolving Under the Direction of Mike Thomas

Peter Schwartz
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WEEI is Focused on Evolving Under the Direction of Mike Thomas

Evolution is part of life. That can include both the growth of a person, and a business. In the case of WEEI, the legendary Boston sports radio station has been on a different path and trajectory under the direction of long-time radio executive Mike Thomas.

Last week, Thomas celebrated his two-year anniversary as Market Manager of Audacy Boston and the changes — both inside the walls of the WEEI and what the radio station’s listeners are hearing — have altered dramatically.

“Internally, we’re all working together now and we all support each other and it’s to everybody’s benefit,” said Thomas. “The culture is much different inside the building and much more positive and supportive.”

While Thomas has worked hard to improve the culture inside WEEI, that has translated to what is going out over the airwaves.

From the listener’s standpoint, the radio station sounds completely different than it did under the previous regime.

“There used to be a time when you listened to EEI and it was somewhat hard to listen to because it just was constant fighting,” said Thomas. “Now, you can listen to it and you can agree or disagree and you don’t feel worn out after you listen.”

One of the great topics of discussion on a sports radio station is the great rivalries in sports, but those rivalries can also extend to those markets that have multiple sports radio stations. In the case of Boston, there is WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub, and for Thomas, the rivalry is personal.

Thomas helped launch The Sports Hub and brought it to great heights. And now, he’s charged with the continued growth of WEEI and ultimately competing with 98.5 The Sports Hub for listeners in the market.

“I feel like I’ve been through this before,” said Thomas. “Back in the CBS days when we signed on The Sports Hub, nobody thought that we were ever going to be successful and that we could never beat EEI. I feel like there’s some similarities there that we’re the underdog and we have room to grow and I feel like we’re starting to make some progress.” 

For Thomas, the goal is for his new home at WEEI to be competitive and continue to attract new listeners while also not losing sight of what his former home has accomplished in the market.

From his perspective, both radio stations can be successful just like in other markets that have multiple sports radio stations.

“I have a big place in my heart for The Sports Hub and what that meant to my career,” said Thomas. “I’m not disillusioned that we’re going to beat The Sports Hub but I think that EEI can be competitive and there’s a lot of markets with two or three sports stations and Boston is certainly one of those markets where you can have two very successful sports stations. That’s our goal. We want to be in the race and I think that we’re getting there.”

Thomas brings a unique skill set to his role as Market Manager at Audacy Boston because much of his career has been on the programming side. In transitioning from being Vice President of Sports Programming for CBS Radio to being the Brand Manager at The Sports Hub to where he was before WEEI as Market Manager for Good Karma Brands in Chicago, Thomas is all about bringing people together and having the entire staff on the same page.

And there are pages involved in the job that Thomas never dreamed he would have to worry about.

“My life involves a lot more spreadsheets,” chuckled Thomas. “I never expected that. I didn’t get into radio to do math. It used to be programming and sales never saw eye-to-eye. It just was a constant kind of battle between both sides of the building and now I think we all realize that in order to be successful, we all have to work together and help each other.”

Thomas has looked on as the entire sports radio industry has evolved over the years. There was a time when a host or hosts would take phone calls and have a civil conversation about what was going on in the world of sports. Today, there seems to be an increase in the passion level of both the callers and the hosts and sometimes that can lead to some testy moments.

But that is not something that happens all of the time leading to a misconception of what sports radio has become, especially in the Boston area.

“The overall perception of sports radio, in my opinion, everywhere is that it’s all just so negative and it’s a cesspool of people that are just pissed off,” said Thomas. “I think that there’s that element to it and that’s what sports radio and just being a fan is about. We all yell at our radios or yell at our TVs during games because we’re passionate and that’s what makes the format is that passion. I think sports radio, like all of us in life, we’ve all kind of evolved and I don’t think you have to go on the radio and scream to get your point across. Sports radio has kind of changed in that way too.”

For Thomas, the radio industry has been his blood, and that includes working for and learning from his brother Bruce Gilbert, a long-time radio executive and currently the Senior Vice President of Sports Content and Audience for Cumulus. During the late 80s, Gilbert was working mornings at a radio station and hired his brother to do the overnights giving Thomas his first full-time radio job.

Thomas has received a lot of quality advice from his brother going all the back to their younger days.

One piece of advice came when they were younger.

“Get out of my room!” said Thomas when asked what his brother has taught him.

And when the laughter stopped, Thomas was serious about what his brother has meant to him.

“Bruce has been an incredible influence on my radio career,” said Thomas. “He’s helped me all along the way and Bruce has always been a great sounding board. But also he’s like ‘Man, you just have to be yourself and trust your gut’. And that’s probably the best radio career advice that he’s ever given me because he’s right.”

Mike Thomas has used all of that advice to become a huge success in the radio industry. And now as he begins his third year as Market Manager for Audacy Boston, his goals are to continue to help WEEI evolve and become a success in the market while it goes head-to-head with his old station The Sports Hub.

“I just want us to continue on the path that we’re on which is internally this is now a fun place to work which is so important in my opinion and the culture is so important,” said Thomas.  “Externally, I want to continue on the road of ‘Hey have you listened to WEEI lately?’ If you consume the station now compared to pre-COVID and before, it’s a different product and I think people would enjoy it.”

And so far, with Thomas at the helm for the last two years, more and more people have been listening to what WEEI has to offer.

Danny Rouhier: NBA Created Tournament Because It’s ‘Desperate For Eyeballs’ During NFL Season

BSM Staff
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The NBA In-Season Tournament debuted on Friday night, and 106.7 The Fan hosts Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier were having a hard time figuring out why the NBA’s version of the FA Cup in soccer should matter to them.

On Grant & Danny Friday, Paulsen didn’t quite get the choice to have a random draw of teams for pool play in the month-long tournament.

While he did appreciate that teams like the hometown Washington Wizards will have special court and uniform combinations for these tournament games, Grant didn’t understand the format of the competition as a whole and why it’s supposed to be a big deal.

“Because I’m me, and maybe it’s just that I’m cynical and I hate everything, I can’t grasp this,” Paulsen said. “I don’t understand why I’m supposed to care about this.”

“The NBA is trying to do something,” Rouhier responded. “Good try, thank you. I just can’t care, because they’re doing the regular season in conjunction with this tournament.”

Danny Rouhier continued that the whole idea of the tournament was just an effort by the NBA to stay relevant during football season portion of their campaign.

“They’re so desperate for eyeballs,” Rouhier said.

Grant Paulsen continued by saying that fans aren’t ultimately going to see playoff intensity in these tournament pool play games, but if the players care a bit more than the typical regular season contest, there is a chance it could be more interesting.

“I’m not convinced that they will. I think it’s gonna look the same and feel the same,” he said. “So you’re just telling me that this game was special? I don’t really get it.”

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