While the Oklahoma City Thunder won its first NBA championship in franchise history with a defeat of the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game series, the NBA Finals finished with its lowest average viewership since 2007, excluding the seasons directly impacted by the global pandemic (2020, 2021). Furthermore, the seventh game of the series was the only contest to average more than 10 million viewers, but all games nonetheless still registered as the seven most-watched broadcasts on television since the first week of May. Despite the NBA Finals going seven games for the first time since 2016, Gilbert Arenas does not believe there is anything in particular that people will remember about the series in a decade from now.
Arenas made the remark in an interview with Dan Patrick on Monday, and his opinion on the series quickly circulated across the internet. Jerry Recco, anchor for the Boomer & Gio morning show on WFAN, cued up sound of Arenas giving his answer and contextualized the situation by explaining how the first half of Game 7 featured back-and-forth play and an injury to Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton. Arenas argued that people do not remember much about small-market teams playing in the NBA Finals, and upon pointing to the Toronto Raptors’ championship, Recco asked board operator Eddie Scozzare to stop the audio.
“See, I disagree with him,” Recco said. “I think we do. I actually do think we talk about Kawhi Leonard and the shots that they made, but I do understand his point that they are not two monster organizations, but I thought ‘nothing’ was a little harsh.”
Arenas launched his podcast, Gil’s Arena, in 2023 under a partnership with Underdog Fantasy through which he has interviewed various NBA players and personalities about the league. Earlier in the year, Underdog Fantasy signed the entire cast to multiyear contract extensions and expressed that it aims to pass ESPN First Take in average viewership by the end of the year. Gregg Giannotti, co-host of the morning program on WFAN, proceeded to give his opinion on the matter following Recco.
“This guy’s taken it to the extreme with his opinions, and he knows that’s what [is] going to get him in this business and doing well,” Giannotti said of Arenas. “This is Gilbert Arenas’, this is the same guy who said that the reason why Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t succeed is because he’s built like a woman.”
Nicky Cassano, a former college baseball player and founder of Nicky Cass Media, was in the studio guest hosting with Giannotti amid the absence of co-host Boomer Esiason from the show on Tuesday. Cassano opined that the NBA Finals was a good series and referenced how he has a friend who is a Thunder fan and remembers his reaction upon learning that Kevin Durant was going to join the Golden State Warriors.
“I don’t agree with Arenas at all,” Cassano said. “I think for certain people, I think it’s going to be a moment to remember.”
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Grant Hill will be joining NBC Sports as a game analyst for its coverage of the National Basketball Association beginning in the fall, continuing his run behind the microphone calling games. Hill, who retired from the NBA in 2013 and is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will be on the airwaves for the company as the league makes its return to NBC and debuts on Peacock.
“I’m incredibly excited to join NBC Sports as part of their NBA coverage. The NBA has been such a meaningful part of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing the game I love with fans across the country,” Hill said in a statement. “To be part of NBC’s return to the NBA — a network with such a rich basketball legacy — and its debut on Peacock is truly an honor. I can’t wait to get started this fall.”
In addition to his role with NBC Sports, Hill signed a long-term extension with TNT Sports to serve as a lead game analyst for its coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship amid its joint coverage of the tournament with CBS Sports. Furthermore, he will call basketball games within the BIG EAST Conference and Big 12 Conference beginning during the 2025-26 season. Hill has experience playing basketball at both levels as a two-time NCAA basketball champion at Duke University and seven-time NBA All-Star selection. Additionally, he won a gold medal with Team USA while competing at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. and won the NBA Sportsmanship Award three times in his career.
Outside of his broadcasting work, Hill is the managing director of the U.S. Men’s National Team for USA Basketball. Moreover, he is also a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks, the co-owner of Orlando City SC within Major League Soccer and the Orlando Pride within the National Women’s Soccer League and part of the ownership group for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. Hill joins a roster featuring various former NBA players taking part in the NBA on NBC and Peacock, including Michael Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter.
“With an unparalleled basketball resume which includes Coach K calling him the best player to ever suit up for Duke, Grant will be a tremendous asset to our coverage,” Sam Flood, executive producer of NBC Sports, said in a statement. “He’s an accomplished broadcaster whose basketball IQ, insight, and intellect will continue to resonate with NBA fans across the country.”
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A Chico, California, resident accused of stabbing a co-worker at Results Radio made his initial court appearance Monday in Butte County Superior Court.
Kevin Leeson, 30, was arraigned on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
The suspect was arrested after Chico Police responded to reports of a stabbing at Results Radio located on Manzanita Court in Chico. Upon arrival, police found the stabbing victim trapped on the rear patio. Other employees had evacuated the building.
Police rescued the victim by breaching a fence. The unidentified person did not require medical attention.
According to reporting by Action News Now, police determined that Leeson intended to kill several of his co-workers. The station employed Leeson in an undetermined capacity.
Police credit quick response by employees with preventing others from being harmed.
Bail has been set at $555,000, and Leeson was remanded to custody.
Leeson will return to court on Wednesday for further arraignment.
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As the Independence Day holiday nears, cable news networks are setting their coverage plans. Fox News and CNN have both unveiled what they have planned for the 4th of July.
Fox News will feature a wide array of patriotic-themed programming in its “Proud American” coverage.
From 8-11 PM ET, the network will air The Big Independence Day Special from FOX Square in New York. Johnny Joey Jones, Carley Shimkus, Aishah Hasnie, and Griff Jenkins will lead the network’s coverage during the three-hour special.
Fox News will also have correspondents stationed throughout the country, with Abby Hornacek reporting live from Myrtle Beach as part of the network’s “Breakfast with Friends” segment during FOX & Friends.
Additionally, Fox News Audio will feature three separate one-hour specials leading up to Independence Day. Field of Valor — a special hosted by Brian Kilmeade — will be available to affiliates. The program will describe tales of some of America’s greatest professional athletes who also served in the United States military. Meanwhile, podcast host Kennedy will have a special including Jimmy Failla, Dr. Drew Pinsky, and Rosanna Scotto.
Finally, Johnny Joey Jones will continue his Great Americans podcast series to include interviews with country music artist John Rich, Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), and Tunnel to Towers CEO Frank Siller, among others.
At CNN, the network will broadcast a special from 7 PM to 1 AM ET. The Fourth in America will be anchored by Dana Bash. She’ll be joined by Boris Sanchez from Washington D.C., while Victor Blackwell and Sara Sidner will anchor coverage from San Diego.
Including in the special will be musical performances from a variety of artists and genres, including Noah Kahan, Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley, Sting, Nelly, Counting Crows, Vanilla Ice, and The United States Air Force Band, among several others.
The network’s coverage will include live look-ins at Independence Day celebrations around the nation, including in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia.
Coverage of the special broadcast will be available on CNN, and will stream on CNN.com, as well as the network’s connected TV and mobile apps.
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Mike Arlo was awarded the inaugural Career Achievement Award recently at the 88th Annual Summer Convention of the Virginia Association of Broadcasters. The award honors Arlo’s five decades in radio.
Arlo wins the inaugural award, which celebrates extraordinary dedication, impact, and excellence in broadcasting.
Carol Commander, General Manager of Hampton Roads Media Group, said, “Mike Arlo is more than a voice on the radio; he is a cornerstone of Hampton Roads broadcasting. His dedication to his craft, our listeners, and our community represents the very best of our industry.”
Arlo’s career began in 1975 with “Arlo On Your Radio” at FM 99 WNOR, Norfolk. In 1996, he joined Classic Rock 106.9 The Fox.
Arlo has gained recognition over the years for his lively presence on air, along with his active participation in community initiatives and dedication to local causes. His influence has become closely associated with rock radio in the area, resulting in a loyal fan following and earning the respect of his colleagues.
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Pablo Torre, the creator and host of Pablo Torre Finds Out, has been embarking on and releasing episodes documenting investigative journalism forays into the world of sports. Torre departed his full-time role in ESPN and launched the podcast with Meadowlark Media, which has proliferated in prominence and prestige through impactful reporting and deep dives into esoterica and hidden occurrences. Over the last few months, he has garnered particular attention surrounding his examination of the relationship between University of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson.
On Tuesday morning, Torre released an episode of his show where he divulged that he had obtained a full 61-page document that provides information about how the National Football League works. The findings evince details surrounding the NFL Management Council, along with a closed-door hearing featuring witness testimony from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, three quarterbacks, eight owners, leaders within the NFLPA and several agents and executives. Torre wrote a blog post about the episode in which he revealed changes to his show.
“You may have heard, recently, that while I proudly remain at Meadowlark Media, PTFO has officially left the DraftKings Network after a surreal and incredible run,” Torre wrote. “But this means that as I type this to you, right now, our weird little show about journalism is genuinely independent – and searching for a new licensing partner (more good news on that front soon, I hope).”
Meadowlark Media and DraftKings extended their partnership last month with a multi-year agreement that included the continued distribution of the Le Batard & Friends network across audio, television, social and digital channels. The portfolio of programs within this deal consist of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, South Beach Sessions, Mystery Crate, Nothing Personal with David Samson and a forthcoming football program. Torre’s show is operating independently at the moment following a “conscious uncoupling” with the company, which previously sold advertising for his show.
Torre announced that he was activating paid PTFO subscriptions on Substack, granting users the option to support the program and receive access to premium benefits. Within his announcement, he stressed that audio and video editions of full episodes will not be hidden behind a paywall. The difference, he explained, will be subscriber benefits, such as exclusive meetings and digital artifacts, that he is currently in the midst of brainstorming.
“To be clear: we’re not gonna paywall the audio or video of the full episodes themselves. You can still consume as you always have. I’ve simply learned that in the age of independent digital media, if people want to economically support the work that you and your exhausted team are doing, you should let them.”
ESPN has announced that Shane Gillis will be hosting the 2025 ESPYS from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. on Wednesday, July 16 airing at 8 p.m. EST/PST on ABC and streaming live on ESPN+. Gillis, who is the creator and star of Tires on Netflix, is currently on an international stand-up comedy tour that spans approximately 40 cities and has already broken records in 18 arenas. Outside of his touring as a comedian, he is also a former collegiate athlete who maintains a passion for the games, and he appeared in a Super Bowl commercial alongside Post Malone and Peyton Manning.
Over the years, the ESPY Awards have had a variety of hosts from the world of sports, music and entertainment, some of whom include Tracy Morgan, Stephen Curry and Danica Patrick. Serena Williams, the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, hosted the awards ceremony last summer, which ended up accruing its largest audience in five years. Gillis will be hosting this ceremony for the first time before resuming his comedy tour a few days later.
“I’m excited to be at The ESPYS this year,” Gillis said in a statement. “I like sports, so this should be a good time.”
The ESPY Awards ceremony is entering its 33rd year recognizing the most memorable moments in sports airing live on linear television. The program will also be available to stream on demand the next day on Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. ESPN will be co-producing the ESPY Awards with Full Day Productions, which has Connor Schell and Dave Chamberlin executive producing the show from the company. Through the awards show, ESPN raises awareness and funding for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, a charity founded by the network and former basketball coach Jim Valvano at the inaugural ceremony in 1993.
“Shane is not only one of the top comedians today, but also a huge sports fan, which made him an easy choice to host The ESPYS,” Craig Lazarus, ESPN vice president and executive producer of The ESPYS, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to work with him to create an entertaining show celebrating this year’s best moments in sports and are excited to see what he’ll do on stage.”
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Former Fox News colleagues Tucker Carlson and Clayton Morris offered a blunt critique of cable news, warning that the medium is in steep decline while fueling dangerous narratives for profit. During a conversation on Carlson’s show, the pair expressed concern over the industry’s future.
Morris, who left television in 2017, said cable networks have returned to a familiar playbook of promoting conflict. “It’s almost like they went to their shelf, dusted off the manual, and started lining up every show with the same rhetoric,” Morris said. He described how networks stoke fear by showcasing military targets and hyping threats, reminiscent of coverage leading up to the Iraq War.
Carlson echoed the sentiment, arguing that cable news no longer provides genuine journalism. “Where is the journalism? I don’t understand it,” Carlson said, adding that he was “enraged” watching recent coverage that he believes glorified military action and framed dissent as unpatriotic. He also criticized the industry’s reliance on an aging audience, noting, “That audience is not getting any younger… I don’t know anybody watching right now who’s buying a cable box.”
Both hosts agreed that traditional cable news faces an uncertain future as younger audiences migrate to streaming platforms. “Those massive salaries and everyone living large off of cable subscriptions—I think that era is gone,” Morris concluded. Carlson added, “The idea that people are going to pay for a cable subscription in order to get their CNN or Sean Hannity—that’s dying.”
They also expressed frustration over a perceived lack of intellectual curiosity on cable news. Carlson argued that asking critical questions is often portrayed as disloyalty. “It’s incurious. We can’t ask questions, and if you ask questions, that’s an endorsement of that position,” he said. Carlson and Morris believe the media environment has contributed to a culture where alternative viewpoints are marginalized.
In closing, the conversation pointed to the growing appeal of independent media. Both Carlson and Morris urged viewers to seek out platforms that prioritize transparency over profit. As Morris put it, “It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens to the cable news landscape in the next few years.”
“Some personal news: I’m no longer with KNX,” Archer wrote. “After 10 good years, it’s hard to say goodbye to so many talented friends and colleagues.
“Ironically—or maybe poetically—this Saturday marks my 45th anniversary in radio,” Archer continued, noting that he got his radio start while in high school. “So yes, I’ve been here before. More soon.”
Archer first joined KNX News in 2015 after previously serving as a midday news anchor at crosstown KFI-AM 640. He also worked in music radio in the past with roles in Orlando, Miami, and Los Angeles, in addition to spending time at Westwood One.
In a post to his Substack, Archer elaborated and said he was open to remaining in the news format.
“I’m not going to say I’ve got irons in the fire or that I’ll be announcing something soon. I’m just now stoking that fire. But I’m open. And grateful. And maybe even a little excited,” Archer wrote. “One thing I’ve learned in my life: it’s fine to say yes quickly, but always wait before you say no. There are far more surprises hiding in yes than in no.“
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In the world of professional sports media, you need to be prepared for anything. Overtime changes headlines and buzzer beaters affect narratives as sports provides change at a moment’s notice. Jorge Sedano was already working for ESPN Radio covering the NBA Finals when he got a phone call that required change, leading to an opportunity of a lifetime stepping in for his teammate and friend Lisa Salters.
Prior to Game Two of the NBA Finals, Salters stepped away from her duties with ABC to attend to a family medical issue. In the moment, Sedano was called into action, prepared for anything, albeit with a heavy heart.
“When it was determined that she [Salters] wasn’t going to come back, they asked me to do it. Of course, I said yes,” said Sedano. “I’ve been through what she’s going through. I’ve lost a parent, so I know how challenging that is. I felt bad considering what she was dealing with, but on the other side you’re excited for the opportunity. You do this because you want to do the work at the highest level.”
After eight seasons covering NBA games for ESPN, Sedano said he was honored to be asked to fill in for Salters. For three games of the NBA Finals, Sedano shifted from sidelines on radio to television. Salters eventually returned to the sidelines on the ABC telecast for Games Five through Seven as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games.
The opportunity for Sedano wasn’t a first on television, but it was his first during the NBA Finals. Recalling his experience, he felt confident about his work, noting the major differences in working sidelines on radio compared to television covering the biggest event of the NBA calendar.
“On radio you’re basically a professional eavesdropper,” explained Sedano. “You have very limited opportunities on radio. You’re basically trying to peek into the huddles to see if you can get any information [on] what the coaches and players’ interactions are,” said Sedano. “With television, there’s a lot more planning that’s involved because people are building graphics for you and building packages for you depending on what it is. There’s a lot more work because of the visual elements of it.”
While adjusting to the top team during the NBA Finals was a challenge, Sedano was no stranger to the members of the broadcast team. The relationships and chemistry Sedano developed over the past eight years working regular season games with Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, and Doris Burke provided a sense of normalcy in a somewhat chaotic moment.
“That is the beauty of mixing us up during the regular season,” explained Sedano. “God forbid something like this happens; you know how to dance with each other. There is no awkwardness. There’s no trying to fit in. Everyone knows how to do their job together because they worked together.”
This year’s NBA Finals was filled with adjustments, not just in the play on the court but also literally on the court. The broadcasts of the series were filled with criticism and complaints. Outcry over signage, logos, and style of the presentation was a larger talking point in media circles than the games themselves.
Sedano, who also hosts afternoon drive on ESPN Los Angeles with co-host Scott Kaplan, said that he tried not to pay attention to the feedback of the broadcasts because of his focus covering the Finals. He did note that conversation did arise while hosting programs on ESPN LA 710 and didn’t stray away from the conversation.
“I feel like we live in a world where everybody’s a critic now and everybody’s got a megaphone for it on social,” explained Sedano. “I just tune most of it out. On the talk show sometimes my co-host or producers will ask questions and I’ll be honest with them about stuff… The logo thing, you hear it a little bit every year but certainly this year was more amplified.”
Striking the Balance Is a Team Effort
Sports radio has been the foundation of Sedano’s expansive sports media career. Elevating from his beginnings in Miami at the turn of the century to hosting nationally on both FOX Sports Radio and ESPN Radio and landing at ESPN Los Angeles in 2016.
For much of his career, Sedano has always balanced hosting on sports radio with calling play-by-play and working game broadcasts. The work balance requires Sedano to have a strong and dependable co-host on his sports radio programs, which he found with veteran host Scott Kaplan when they were teamed together in 2020.
“He’s fantastic. I’ve known him for 25 years. I was his intern at one point, so that’s how far back our relationship goes,” explained Sedano. “He’s so willing to play a role, and we all play a role on the show. His role is to stir the pot and bring a lot of the fun. Whereas I bring more of the ‘snark’ and the information. We like to call it sports infotainment.”
Sedano believes the north star guiding the Sedano & Kap program is an emphasis on fun, while not shying away from tough conversations when they arise. The city of Los Angeles recently has been the epicenter of the news media’s coverage of protests arising from ICE raids within the city limits. With a mindset that sports radio tends to be the escape from the realities of daily life, Sedano noted the difficulty in balancing discussions about games with other items potentially top of mind for their local listeners.
“We don’t hide from it. Certainly, when it crosses over into sports in any capacity,” Sedano said. “Overall, our position on the show since we’re being guided by fun is that we try to be the distraction. We’re not shying away from letting people know, ‘Hey, this is what transpired today.’ We just give the facts, keep it very simple. Maybe a brief comment but certainly keeping it in a news-like format when those situations arise.”
There Are No Bad Questions for Those Who Desire To Listen
Having fun as a north star has been traditional for Sedano in every line of work throughout his career. After a quarter century in sports media, the 47-year-old Sedano has done more than most of his peers. While he looks forward to continuing his role with co-hosting on ESPN LA and continuing to work the NBA broadcasts on ESPN Radio, his passions lie in calling play-by-play.
“I’ve been self-taught in a lot of ways. I came in as a radio guy and learned the artistry in the nuances of television. Radio helped in regard to a lot of those talk shows, it’s very similar except you’re just doing it on camera,” explained Sedano. “The beauty of play-by-play, I didn’t know what to expect when I got in. I was so flattered by the amount of people who are so great at it, who were willing to take my call and help me learn the nuances of it.”
For the last four years, Sedano’s path has led to several play-by-play opportunities calling NBA, NFL, and college football games on ESPN Radio and, more recently, television play-by-play for college football contests. The feedback that he has received has not only guided his approach but also has fueled his desire to continue working the craft.
“Reps are the most important thing, but if you have a game plan coming in and you have questions, and I had a million of them. To be able to reach out to someone like [Mike] Breen, Mark Jones, and Dave Pasch has been invaluable,” said Sedano. “I’ve asked them about anything. They’ve allowed me to kind of fast-track this thing where I feel like I’m getting pretty good at it.”
Always a student of the game, Sedano continues to soak in his studies while gaining experience at the same time. When preparation meets opportunity, Sedano doesn’t lean on luck, instead aspiring for more and testing himself to continue growing within a sports media landscape that is constantly changing.
“Hopefully I continue to get more and more of those opportunities amongst different sports, because that’s where I’d like to take my career on television,” explained Sedano. “I’m very happy with what I’m doing with ESPN LA and Good Karma Brands in Los Angeles. I’d like to do those two things for the rest of my career.”
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