ESPN is bringing its alternate broadcast strategy to college football. Peyton Manning appeared on The Pat McAfee Show Thursday to announce that McAfee and his crew would anchor six alternate broadcasts of major games for Omaha Productions on Saturday nights this season.
“We have officially agreed, alongside Omaha Productions, to simulcast six big-ass college football games this season,” McAfee said. “We will be on ESPN2. The main cast will be on ESPN. Omaha is obviously helping us along the way and we will be running it.”
McAfee said that when he was first approached by Manning he expressed shock that ESPN wanted him on the air. Manning joked that the network doesn’t want McAfee. It wants Omaha Productions and Omaha wants McAfee.
The shows have not yet been scheduled. Most games in college football’s power 5 conferences are not scheduled until the prior week. With the AP Top 25 and CFP Top 25 both changing regularly, they too will play a role in determining what goes into the primetime slot.
Pat McAfee and his crew will be live in their Indianapolis studio. The former punter at the West Virginia University said that the majority of people appearing on the alternate broadcast each week would be in studio, but there would be occasional guests.
“There’s gonna be give aways. There’s gonna be a lot of action I think during this,” he added.
Omaha Productions adds college football to the NFL and the US Open on its roster of alternate broadcasts. The company is also working on a future MMA alternate broadcast.
“I’m honored to be your teammate again, if you will,” Peyton Manning said in response to McAfee thanking him for the platform and opportunity. “You will kill this. You know this. Everybody is fired up to watch. I guarantee it!”
The NFL announced Wednesday they would appeal the decision by former federal judge Sue L. Robinson to suspend Deshaun Watson for six games and 92.3 The Fan’s The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima said the NFL’s decision is driven by media reaction.
“My son woke up this morning — 2:00 AM — throwing up all over my bathroom. Not the worst thing I’ve dealt with today,” Carman said. “The national media has been very, very, very, very upset. There’s no other way to say it.”
“I should have known. I should have realized when shows like Pardon The Interruption, when this stuff gets brought to light — I mean we saw national news had this over the last 24 hours — I should have known that the NFL was gonna cave to the public perception”, Lima said. “They had a day and a half to sit and marinate on what they should do. Guys, I hate to say it, but nobody had your back. Nobody had Deshaun Watson’s back and nobody had the Browns back.”
Carman then alluded to the national media’s reaction that the suspension was too lenient as the reason the NFL decided to appeal the suspension.
“The problem is, you have a sports league that cares about what the media says, cares about what everyone else thinks. They got Kyle Brandt, on their own network, ripping them. One of the people that’s in their highest honor club, Kurt Warner — Hall of Famer — saying you have to establish a new precedent here,” Ken Carman.
Doug Lesmerises, a writer for Cleveland.com, joined the show to discuss the NFL’s decision. Lesmerises recently wrote a column pointing out that Robinson’s ruling points out Watson, in her eyes, is guilty of sexually assaulting the women interviewed for the NFL’s disciplinary hearing, but he too fought back against commentary he thought unfair of Browns fans.
“What do you think of some of the national pundits going after Browns fans at (training) camp?” Carman
“I hate it. It’s pompous. It’s so stupid,” Doug Lesmerises said. “How you have enough energy when you have Deshaun Watson, and (Browns owners) the Haslam’s, and Andrew Berry, and the criminal justice system and everything that’s actually at play here, and you have enough energy, after blaming them, to go after fans?”
Carman later added “if I were to go to camp and somebody gets an autograph I’m supposed to look down at 12-year-old Junior and say ‘do you feel good about yourself? You 12-year-old kid.’ Good god, who the hell am I? Come on! I can be upset about Deshaun Watson, and the Browns, and all that stuff. But I’m not gonna blame the fans. I’m not gonna blame a kid for getting an autograph. It’s silly. It’s such a punching down thing.
“It’s just some of the lowest common denominator thing we do in the media,” Carman said. “Of all the things, come on. There’s a guy out there practicing and fans are going to root for him.”
ESPN Films announced Thursday that production has begun on a new 30 for 30 documentary focused on Bill Walton.
The Basketball Hall of Famer is viewed as one of the more eccentric figures in sports history. Combined with his basketball prowess in both college and the NBA, and his love of The Grateful Dead, politics and activism, Walton is often a divisive figure in the sports broadcast world.
ESPN says Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Artis Gilmore, World B. Free, Robert Parish, Jim Gray, Luke Walton, Jamal Wilkes, Brent Musberger, and Bob Ryan have all been interview subjects for the story.
The documentary will be directed by Steve James, who also directed Hoop Dreams, as well as Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.
No release date was revealed by ESPN. Walton has worked as a college basketball color commentator for the network since 2012. He had previously worked on ESPN’s NBA coverage from 2002-2009.
Sports Map Radio is adding to its lineup. The network has announced the addition of The Cash-In with Jason Page. The show will debut on September 5th and air weeknights from 10p-1a ET.
The new nightly program, which will be produced in conjunction with Page’s new company, Decibel 88, is expected to become the first show on the network to focus on the world of sports betting, fantasy sports, and pick ‘em games. Plans are to provide opportunities for listeners to win prizes too.
“Every segment, our goal will be to entertain and inform,” said Page. “Our aim is to be a companion to the games our listeners are watching. Turn the sound down and hang out with us for the fastest three hours in all of sports radio.”
Page’s radio career includes national stops at SiriusXM, NBC Sports Radio, and the BLEAV Podcast Network. He’s also worked locally for ESPN New York, 95.7 The Game, and ESPN Radio 1410.
“Jason Page is a wonderful addition to our lineup,” said Gow Media COO and Program Director, Craig Larson. “His ability to combine thought provoking topics and humorous anecdotes make for must listen radio.”
Cumulus Media has announced a net revenue of $236.7 million in the second quarter of 2022, a 5.4% increase over the same period in the previous year.
After posting a loss of $5.9 million in the second quarter of 2021, the company reported a net income of $8.7 million in the second quarter of this calendar year.
In the digital category, Cumulus reported a significant 20.3% increase to $37.8 million, while radio revenue was $127 million. That beat 2021 second-quarter numbers by 5.1%.
“Our ability to deliver yet another quarter of strong results is testament both to the quality of our strategic plan and the discipline and relentlessness with which we implement it,” CEO Mary Berner said.
“Given our track record, we have tremendous confidence in our ability, under this plan, to grow shareholder value,” she later added.
Former television news executive John Severino has died. He was 85.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Severino died at his home in Los Angeles Wednesday. Credited with creating the “Eyewitness News” format, he served as the Vice President and General Manager of WLS-TV in Chicago, as well as with ABC in Los Angeles and New York.
Later, he was the President of the television station division of CBS, where he had oversight of each of the network’s owned and operated stations.
He also worked with Prime Ticket — the cable outlet created by Lakers owner Jerry Buss in the mid-1980s — which aired Los Angeles Lakers and Kings games.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally, his sons Mark and David, eight grandchildren, and brother Larry.
WIBC Radio host Tony Katz ripped Apple TV host and veteran advocate Jon Stewart for allowing his emotions to dictate some of his actions during conversations prior to the passing of the PACT Act.
According to va.gov, the bill expands VA healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
The former “The Daily Show” host made national headlines recently for singling out GOP lawmakers for allegedly attempting to stonewall the bill.
“His passion is not a substitute for rational thought,” Katz said on his Indianapolis show Wednesday. “And he was wrong in his absolute viciousness towards Republicans and not recognizing the grossness of the politicization from the political left.”
The WIBC host reiterated that he was glad to see the PACT Act pass and acknowledged the obvious sentiment that Americans want to see people taken care of who fought for the freedoms we enjoy.
Katz said Stewart’s emotional pleas to lawmakers and the public to pass the bill were obstructed by the narrative that if the bill didn’t pass then “you don’t care about veterans.”
“You’re not a thinker, you’re a screaming petulant child who wants a cookie,” stated Katz. “Take two seconds to think and get it done. If the money is not properly allocated, how do you know it will be used for your thing?”
Katz suggested that maybe the reason the bill didn’t get passed sooner was because Stewart was being “irrational.”
“It’s time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be.” That’s how the legendary Vin Scully would greet countless thousands of Dodgers’ fans every time they’d watch or listen to a game. His gift was making every single listener/viewer feel like he was your buddy, the guy sitting next to you at the game or a bar or wherever. Vin made everyone feel special because that’s who he was.
Now, unfortunately it’s time to talk about the passing of an absolute legend. Scully died earlier this week at the age of 94. Scouring Twitter and reading reactions to his death, there’s one theme I noticed. Most everyone that watched him or listened to him, Dodgers fan or not, say it feels like they’re losing a friend. Not that Vin’s career needed any validation, but to me, that’s the mark of a great broadcaster. Being there, through the ups and downs and being a trusted voice that people could rely on if they had a bad day or a great day.
Vin’s passing leaves a void in our industry that will never again be filled. I say that, not just because he was the greatest baseball play-by-play announcer to ever crack a mic, but because he was a tremendous person. He seemingly had time for everyone. Even a green around the gills play-by-play apprentice, me.
In 2004, when I was with the Cubs broadcast team, we made our annual trip to Los Angeles. I had been traveling with the team for a couple of years at that point, but never had the chance to meet Scully. I mentioned this in passing in the booth one afternoon. Pat Hughes, Ron Santo and our producer Matt Boltz started talking about Vin. Hughes said something to the effect of, let’s go visit him after the game. I thought nothing of it. But sure enough, after the postgame show, Pat motioned to me to come with him. I will admit, I was nervous. Out of character for myself, I didn’t know what I was going to say to him. I even had a baseball with me for him to sign. Such a geek.
We made our way through the press dining room at Dodger Stadium and tucked away in one of the back corners was a doorway marked “Private”. Pat and I entered the private dining room for the Dodgers broadcasters and there was Vin and the rest of the crew. Pat was greeted immediately by the guys and proceeded to introduce me to everyone. He saved Vin for last. The ever-gracious Scully stood up from his chair and stuck out his hand. I’ll never forget what he said and in his dulcet tones, I can still hear it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Andy, I understand you’ve been doing some play-by-play, how’s that going?” Floored, I managed to speak and told him that it was a work in progress, but I was happy for the chance. He told me to keep at it and shook my hand. He then noticed the baseball in my hand, and asked if I wanted him to sign it. The fanboy in me, shook my head and I still have that ball in my collection.
I moved on to San Diego and saw Vin numerous times. I almost literally ‘bumped’ into him before a Dodgers/Padres game at Petco Park. Vin would walk the hallways in the broadcast area to ‘warm up’ before a broadcast. I marveled at this man, who still seemingly had that nervous energy that we all experience before going on the air. He would stroll up and down humming, not loudly, but with enough volume that you could hear him. He told me that was how he exercised his voice in getting ready for a game. It was amazing to see and hear, then get the explanation.
Scully was a decorated man, winning many awards. He was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1982, receiving the Ford C. Frick Award. He was given a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and had his microphone retired by the Dodgers.
This great gentleman broadcast baseball for 67 years. Starting in Brooklyn in 1950 and finishing in Los Angeles in 2016. Scully worked for both CBS and NBC during his career and not only covered baseball, but on CBS he called NFL games from 1975-82. In his final telecast for the network, he was on the call for the NFC Championship Game, when Joe Montana hit Dwight Clark in the endzone for ‘the catch’ that put the 49ers into the Super Bowl. He also was on the network’s golf coverage as well as tennis.
At NBC he did baseball and he did it well of course. He called four All-Star Games, four NLCS and three World Series. Scully had some memorable calls in the Fall Classic. Scully provided the call for one of baseball’s most memorable plays when Bill Buckner’s error in the 10th in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series gave the Mets an improbable win over the Red Sox:
“Little roller up along first. Behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it! “
Scully also called Kirk Gibson’s famous homer during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series:
“High fly ball into right field, she i-i-i-is … gone!”
Scully said nothing for over a minute, allowing the pictures to tell the story. Finally, he said:
“In a year that has been so improbable… the impossible has happened!”
Well before those moments, he was part of so many legendary and unforgettable calls with the Dodgers. Upon his retirement Dodgers fans voted on his greatest calls of all time. There are too many to list here, but a couple come to mind immediately.
Scully had a flair for the English language. He would say things in a way that made the listener/viewer feel like they were right there with him. He set a scene unlike any other broadcaster. Take for example the 9th inning of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965, a 1-0 win over the Cubs at Dodger Stadium.
When Koufax struck out Harvey Kuenn for the game’s final out, this is what Scully said to paint the picture as perfectly as Koufax painted the corners that night:
“You can almost taste the pressure now,” he said as the ninth inning got underway. ” … There are 29,000 people in the ballpark, and a million butterflies.”
“It is 9:46 p.m.,” Scully said. “Two and two to Harvey Kuenn. One strike away. Sandy into his windup, here’s the pitch … swung on and missed, a perfect game!”
There were then 38-40 seconds of nothing but crowd noise.
“On the scoreboard in right field, it is 9:46 p.m. in the city of the angels, Los Angeles, California. And a crowd of 29,139 just sitting in to see the only pitcher in baseball history to hurl four no-hit, no-run games, and he’s done it four straight years. And now he’s capped it; on his fourth no-hitter, he made it a perfect game.”
Brilliant. Simple, yet incredible. The first of the three perfect games Scully called, took place in the 1956 World Series. Don Larsen faced the Dodgers in the Bronx and as the game went into the 9th inning, Scully epically described the tense feeling building at Yankee Stadium.
“Well, all right, let’s all take a deep breath as we go to the most dramatic ninth inning in the history of baseball,” he said.
Scully later described Yankee Stadium “shivering in its concrete foundation” as 64,517 fans hung on every pitch.
When Larsen struck out Dale Mitchell on a called third strike to end the game, Scully said, “Got him! The greatest game ever pitched in baseball history by Don Larsen, a no-hitter, a perfect game in a World Series.”
“When you put it in a World Series, you set the biggest diamond in the biggest ring,” Scully said.
Scully was the gem of the biggest kind. I’ve heard many words used to describe the man upon his passing. Gentleman, kind, warm and friendly are a few. To me, Vin always displayed class. Even as his final game in the booth for the Dodgers came to an end, he eloquently said so long:
“You know, friends, so many people have wished me congratulations on a 67-year career in baseball, and they’ve wished me a wonderful retirement with my family, and now, all I can do is tell you what I wish for you. May God give you, for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life seems, a faithful friend to share; for every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer for each prayer. You and I have been friends for a long time, but I know, in my heart, I’ve always needed you more than you’ve ever needed me, and I’ll miss our time together more than I can say. But you know what, there will be a new day, and, eventually, a new year, and when the upcoming winter gives way to spring, ooh, rest assured, once again, it will be time for Dodger baseball. So, this is Vin Scully wishing you a pleasant good afternoon, wherever you may be.”
A year after he signed off, the Dodgers advanced to the World Series for the first time in 29 years. Dodgers’ fans started a petition for him to come out of retirement and call the games on Fox. Joe Buck was even on board. Scully declined, preferring instead to lay low. “I honestly don’t feel I belong there and I would not want anyone to think I was eager for a spotlight.” Scully said. He added, “I’ve done enough of them.”
I think any of us, that got to meet him, watch him or listen to him over the years would disagree with that last statement. You could never get enough of the great Vincent Edward Scully. Thankfully his voice lives on through audio recordings and YouTube videos to show the younger generation how it was done. And done so well for so many years. It’s always hard to say goodbye, to someone you feel like you knew, even if you never had the chance to meet him.
Vin, I raise a microphone to you. Thank you for your graciousness and for the gift you bestowed upon all of us. I wish you a peaceful rest. And we all know where you’ll be, in our hearts and fondest memories forever.
Linda Cohn has lived her dream for the last 30 years at ESPN. She tells Stephen Strom about the ups and downs, the moment she thought she was being let go and the advice that calmed her down before going on live TV.
Joel Utley has announced he is retiring from broadcasting and as the voice of the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.
Utley retires after 61 years as the team’s basketball play-by-play announcer which is a college basketball record. He broadcast 1,933 Kentucky Wesleyan games during that span, also a record for total games called. He began his career on December 2, 1961 when KWC defeated California State University – Northridge, 100-64.
Utley also is the only broadcaster in the nation to call 12 NCAA Basketball Championship games (all levels) including eight Division II titles.
“It was a tough decision to make, but the timing is right to step down,” Utley said. “What I have done as a broadcaster reflects my love for KWC. My career has been beyond any dreams I ever had.”
He is a member of the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and in September, Utley will be inducted into the Kentucky Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame.
