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Chris “Mad Dog” Russo Goes On Epic Rant Following Tom Thibodeau Firing

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Chris “Mad Dog” Russo Goes On Epic Rant Following Tom Thibodeau Firing

The New York Knicks made headlines just days following their dismissal from the Eastern Conference Finals by announcing that head coach Tom Thibodeau will no longer be with the organization. Consequently, this caused a wave of massive shockwaves through the world of sports media, with reactions coming in near and far after Thibodeau led his Knicks to the playoffs in four of five seasons at the helm. Among these reactions, there was no bigger and boisterous response than the voice of Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who was heard shouting out of his lungs in his disapproval of the firing on SiriusXM radio.

“Anybody who knows anything about basketball knows that Indiana had better players and more of them than the Knicks did,” shouted Russo. “This is such a ridiculous and such a stupid firing.”

Russo pointed his ire at Knicks executive chairman James Dolan, noting that this firing is not fair because of the success Thibodeau achieved, especially recently.

“(Leon) Rose doesn’t have any power there, Dolan does,” exclaimed Russo. “He sits on the baseline with a dopey hat on, thinking that he knows something, but he wouldn’t even know who George Mikan is. He knows nothing. He’s there because his own man was a brilliant businessman, and he took over. That’s what this is all about.”

Furthermore, the impassioned Russo continued his rant, saying he would be embarrassed if he was a New York Knicks fan today. He continued to implore that Dolan should be the one who should hold a press conference to face questions about this move.

“This is not fair what they did to this guy. Who gave his life and blood to the franchise and took him to the conference finals. They haven’t been there since 2000,” screamed Russo. “My God Almighty! And you get him out because you lost a raw, rugged six game series to Indiana? Oh, come on, please. What a disgrace.”

Meanwhile, the search for the next head coach of the New York Knicks will begin just two days before the NBA Finals begin between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Morgan Reed Joins 103.9 The Bear South Bend IN

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Morgan Reed Joins 103.9 The Bear South Bend IN

Morgan Reed has joined Rocker 103.9 The Bear in South Bend, IN. She takes over hosting the midday show from 10 – 3, following the “Jason Lee and Kluck” morning show.

Reed posted on Facebook, “Rock is a mindset, a pulse, and a way of life for me, and now I get to share that with you every day. Forever grateful. Tune in, and let’s turn it up.”

Photo Facebook Profile

According to the station’s website, the Fort Wayne native began her career in sound engineering and voice acting/voice over. She previously worked at the company’s Froggy 102.7 in Elkhart, IN. She is also the bassist for Graffiti Black.

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97.5 The Fanatic Names Ricky Bottalico, Bill Colarulo New Afternoon Drive Show

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97.5 The Fanatic Names Ricky Bottalico, Bill Colarulo New Afternoon Drive Show

Beasley Media Group and 97.5 The Fanatic have named their new afternoon drive show, Unfiltered with Ricky Bo and Bill Colarulo featuring Ricky Bottalico and Bill Colarulo. The show will begin airing weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m. on 97.5 The Fanatic beginning officially on Monday June 9. This occurs just over a month after host Tyrone Johnson departed afternoons, with Ricky Bottalico as the last remaining piece of The Best Show Ever? launched in 2022.

According to a release, the new program will be billed as the go-to destination for Philly sports fans seeking truth over fluff, promising bold, authentic, and unapologetic conversations that capture the passion and intensity of the city’s fanbase.

“Philly fans deserve honesty, and Bill and I are here to give it to them straight—no fluff, just great sports talk,” said Ricky Bottalico, a former Major League pitcher and longtime TV analyst. Bottalico spent parts of 12 seasons in the majors, including seven with the Phillies. His deep roots in Philadelphia sports and firsthand experience bring a competitive edge to the show.

Joining him is Bill Colarulo, who became one of The Fanatic’s most respected voices after joining the station in January 2024. A former trial attorney, Colarulo combines meticulous preparation with a lifelong love of Philadelphia sports. Furthermore, Colarulo is a graduate of Gettysburg College and Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law, he made the leap into sports media to pursue his passion for the game and the city.

“This city lives and breathes sports, and getting the chance to be part of that conversation every afternoon with Ricky is something I don’t take for granted,” Colarulo said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to bring passionate, informed, and entertaining Philly sports talk to our listeners every day.”

Additionally, station leadership expressed strong confidence in the new pairing.

“Ricky and Bill’s ability to connect with our audience through compelling insight and thoughtful commentary make them the perfect team for afternoons on The Fanatic,” said Paul Blake, vice president and cluster manager at Beasley Media Group Philadelphia. “Their chemistry is undeniable, and we’re confident they’ll deliver a must-listen experience every afternoon.”

Scott Masteller, program director at 97.5 The Fanatic, echoed the excitement.

“I’m thrilled to bring Ricky and Bill together for afternoons on The Fanatic,” Masteller said. “Ricky’s passion, energy, and deep knowledge of the game, combined with Bill’s sharp analysis and connection with our audience, make for a dynamic duo that’s going to resonate with Philly sports fans in a big way.”

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Major League Baseball Viewership up Across the Board in 2025

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Major League Baseball Viewership up Across the Board in 2025

Major League Baseball is enjoying a surge in viewership both in the United States and Japan, as the game as been enhanced with rule changes aimed at enhancing the pace of play for a better viewing experience. With more than two months of the 2025 season completed, national broadcasts on FOX, ESPN and TBS have all posted double-digit percentage gains in average viewership compared to last year.

Meanwhile, MLB games on Japan’s NHK and the league’s own streaming platform, MLB.TV, are also experiencing significant growth. The updated figures were released by Major League Baseball on Tuesday.

MLB on FOX is averaging 1.841 million viewers per game, an increase of 10% over last season. ESPN has seen even stronger gains, with a 22% rise to 1.740 million average viewers per game—the network’s best MLB performance through this point in the season since 2017. Despite ESPN and MLB going public about their upcoming rights agreement coming to an end following this season, Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN in particular has generated its most-watched season in eight years, since 2017, according to Nielsen. The franchise is averaging 1,719,000 viewers, up 16 percent from 2024. It is also up six percent from last year in the P18-49 demographic.

In addtion, the June 1 Sunday Night Baseball match up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees was the most-watched in seven years, since August 2018. The World Series rematch averaged 2,729,000 viewers and peaked with 3,085,000 viewers at 8:30 p.m. ET. The game broadcast was up 65 percent from last year’s comparable game and up 81 percent from the 2024 Sunday Night Baseball full season average.

TBS’s MLB Tuesday coverage is also hitting milestones, up 16% year-over-year and off to its best-ever start for regular season broadcasts. Notably, viewership among adults aged 18-34 has skyrocketed by 69% over last season.

Additionally, the MLB Network Showcase Game series has seen a 13% uptick in viewership overall, including a matching 13% boost in the key 18-34 demographic. Studio programming on MLB Network is also trending upward. MLB Central is up 3%, Intentional Talk has grown 7%, and Quick Pitch has improved 3% compared to 2024.

Internationally, Japan continues to demonstrate a strong appetite for Major League Baseball. Viewership across NHK channels is up 22%, averaging 2.7 million viewers per game. That figure excludes the season-opening Tokyo Series between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, which drew an average of 24 million viewers per game. NHK is on pace to deliver MLB’s most-watched regular season ever in Japan, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth since 2021.

Streaming numbers also underscore baseball’s momentum. MLB.TV has logged a 27% increase in viewership over 2024—which was previously the most-watched season in the service’s history. Through games played on Monday, June 2, fans have consumed more than 7.5 billion minutes of MLB.TV content.

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Scott Van Pelt: ‘I’ll Bet Money That ‘First Take’ Hasn’t Done Segments’ on Indiana Pacers During Regular Season

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Scott Van Pelt: ‘I’ll Bet Money That ‘First Take’ Hasn’t Done Segments’ on Indiana Pacers During Regular Season

Defying many of the projections ahead of the NBA Playoffs, the Indiana Pacers recently won the Eastern Conference and subsequently advanced to the NBA Finals where the team will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a best-of-seven series. The two teams emanate from designated market areas ranked No. 25 and No. 47, respectively, and while both teams have plenty of star power and appeal on the court, the lack of a major-market team competing in the series is raising some concerns surrounding potential ratings. Even so, ESPN SportsCenter anchor and Monday Night Countdown host Scott Van Pelt placed the onus on himself for not granting the team more attention throughout the year.

During a recent episode of the SVPod, Van Pelt spoke about how the team was effectively flying under the radar throughout the year but possessed all of the ingredients to win the Eastern Conference. With an experienced head coach in Rick Carlisle and star forward in Pascal Siakam, both of whom have won NBA championships, combined with star guard Tyrese Haliburton and significant depth, the team will now be aiming to win its first NBA championship. Within his remarks, Van Pelt referenced a script he wrote for SportsCenter in the event the team defeated the New York Knicks, which ended up being the case.

“The point in the script that I’ve written is I’ll bet money that First Take hasn’t done segments on them during the regular season,” Van Pelt said. “I’ll bet money they haven’t, but that’s not knocking them because I know having done our show, we didn’t lead SportsCenter with the Pacers like ever unless they were playing another star-laden team. They were the other team opposite the Lakers, the Bucks or whomever, so it’s on all of us to have missed it.”

As Van Pelt’s employer prepares to commence these proceedings, he wondered if a team with the components to win a championship constructed similarly in the NFL would also be ignored. Looking back on how he went about covering the Pacers this season, he held himself accountable for not being better in this regard and is glad to see the team will now get attention being in the NBA Finals.

“I’ll just give myself a failing grade as it relates to acknowledging the Pacers as potentially being what they were,” Van Pelt said. “When we talked East, we were like, ‘Look, it’s going to be Cleveland and Boston. We draw the line under them,’ and the question was, ‘If anyone, who might it be?’ Well, maybe the Knicks and then the Pacers. Yeah, they score the crap out of the ball, Carlisle’s done it before. It was just they were hiding in plain sight, so I just feel like collectively hand up, bad job from me to not acknowledge what they were or not acknowledge that they could have been this when they’ve already shown to a degree they could.”

ESPN will be broadcasting the NBA Finals on ABC for the 23rd consecutive year and feature the broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, analysts Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters. Coverage will be preceded by NBA Countdown with Malika Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers, Kendrick Perkins and Shams Charania. The first game of the NBA Finals from Paycor Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. will begin at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC.

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Jake Tapper: I Don’t Avoid A Story Just Because Fox News is Covering It

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Jake Tapper: I Don’t Avoid A Story Just Because Fox News is Covering It

Jake Tapper has often been critical of Fox News in its coverage on a variety of issues in recent years. However, he admits he doesn’t view the network the way others in cable news do.

During an appearance on The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg, Tapper shared that some members of the media had believed the White House when it said that videos or photos of President Joe Biden had been “completely false.”

That’s when Goldberg, who previously served as a contributor to Fox News before resigning in protest of the network’s documentary with Tucker Carlson which suggested the January 6th Insurrection was a false-flag operation by the United States government, said that many in the news media tend to write off stories reported by Fox News as unfactual.

“The Fox News effect is real,” said Goldberg. “If Fox News takes something seriously, there is a thermostatic reaction from a lot of the mainstream media not to,” adding that there were “lots of examples” to point to as proof.

While Jake Tapper agrees by noting that for Fox News, “the track record isn’t exemplary.” Despite that, he would often have the adverse reaction to some of his news media colleagues when it came to stories from the network.

“Somebody asked me like, ‘Was there an effect when Fox News covered something about Biden that you would revulse from it?’, and actually it was the exact opposite,” said Tapper. “I would be like, ‘What is this? What is this point? What happened? What happened? What happened?’ So, I had the opposite effect. But I think you’re right that that is a phenomenon. ‘Oh, Fox is covering it. It must be false,’ and that’s not the case.”

Goldberg, who now works as a contributor at CNN, said that Fox News is guilty at times of obsessing on incorrect stories or overinflating the importance of others, but clearly has done quality journalism at times.

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Shaquille O’Neal Opens up About Beginning of Relationship With Charles Barkley

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Shaquille O’Neal Opens up About Beginning of Relationship With Charles Barkley

In the closing moments of the finale of Inside the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal revealed in his final comments his appreciation for each of his teammates on set. When addressing fellow analyst Charles Barkley, O’Neal stated that he loved Barkley “like the older brother he never had,” but would “whoop his a**” if Barkley said something to interrupt his thoughts on set at that moment.

Later, O’Neal expanded on his relationship with Barkley on The Pivot Podcast with Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor. The basketball hall of famer explained how his relationship with Barkley dated back to their playing days, following a fight on the court in 1999 when O’Neal played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Barkley played for the Houston Rockets.

“By the time I got to the locker room, my uncle Jerome hands me the phone. My mom and Charles’ mom who’s been best friends for 20 years, I never knew,” said O’Neal. “Both of them on the phone. ‘Y’all cut that s**t out.’ Hello. Who’s this? ‘It’s your mama and this Charles’ mama, don’t you hit my baby.’”

Afterward, Shaq explained how, following the conversation with both mothers, he and Barkley were laughing about the fight. Moreover, the conversations both had with their mothers following the incident led them to “dab up” and move on.

“He’s a great guy. He makes me say, man, if I had a big brother, I wish I had a big brother like that,” noted O’Neal. “He speaks his mind. He’s going to say what he wants to say, and he doesn’t care.”

In addition, O’Neal revealed that the only reason he went to work for TNT Sports in the first place was because of his respect for Ernie Johnson. Johnson had interviewed O’Neal when he was a rising star before his run at LSU, and the now hall of famer never forgot that.

“He was nice to me. So, when it came time when ESPN wanted to offer and TNT too, I said I get to sit next to Ernie? It was like a whole special turnaround moment,” said O’Neal. “He’s a perfect man. Respectful, nice, caring, professional. It’s been an honor to sit next to him for all these years.”

Ultimately, the former NBA center wrapped the interview by saying all he’d like to be remembered by is that he was a nice guy.

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Finale of ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT Most-Watched Show in Two Years

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Finale of ‘Inside the NBA’ on TNT Most-Watched Show in Two Years

As the Indiana Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks and advanced to the NBA Finals, the final edition of Inside the NBA to air on TNT Sports averaged 3.5 million viewers on Saturday, rendering the most-watched edition of the show in two years. Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Shaquille O’Neal hosted the final version of the show on the network from the atrium inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse amid a capacity crowd. The quartet expressed their gratitude for their time on TNT while also conveying their appreciation for being able to remain together next season on ESPN platforms.

The six-game series between the Knicks and Pacers averaged 6.96 million viewers on TNT and truTV, which was up 10% from the Celtics-Pacers series last year. According to Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, the NBA Eastern Conference Finals tilt achieved the strongest viewership among iterations of the round that ended in six games or fewer in the last 11 years. The final game of the series this past Saturday night averaged 8.12 million viewers across the two networks, finishing as the most-watched game of the NBA season.

Warner Bros. Discovery will no longer hold U.S. broadcast rights to the National Basketball Association beginning next season, but it will continue producing the award-winning studio program under a sublicensing agreement between TNT Sports and ESPN. In addition, TNT Sports reached a separate 11-year deal with the league that includes a global license to create, produce and distribute new and existing NBA content across platforms and also air live games in some territories outside of the United States.

“The NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 marked the culmination of TNT’s 40-year history of live NBA games on the network,” Luis Silberwasser, chairman and chief executive officer of TNT Sports, said in a statement. “It has been a privilege to be associated with the NBA over that span, building what undoubtedly will be considered one of the greatest partnerships in the history of sports media.

“Every time we went on the air, our TNT Sports production team and world-class talent strived to elevate and redefine the way fans watched the NBA. In many ways, the NBA on TNT and Inside the NBA became synonymous with the league. We have been thrilled to often exceed the expectations of the fans we serve – a testament to the amazingly talented TNT Sports team – and our fans have rewarded us with their loyalty and appreciation. For that, we are incredibly proud and very grateful.

“We wish the league much success in the years to come and we look forward to continuing to produce Inside the NBA. Most importantly, to our fans, we say thank you.”

The NBA Playoffs have averaged 4.2 million viewers thus far, representing a 3% year-over-year improvement for the matchups on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, truTV and NBA TV. TNT Sports finished its slate of postseason games equaling the average of 4.2 million viewers, up 1% from the previous year. The broadcast team for the final series featured play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan, analysts Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy and sideline reporter Allie LaForce.

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Spotify Returns Podcast From Steve Bannon to Platform Nearly 5 Years After Ban

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Spotify Returns Podcast From Steve Bannon to Platform Nearly 5 Years After Ban

Nearly five years ago, Spotify banned the podcast hosted by Steve Bannon for what it labeled as inciting violence. But now the company has reversed course.

In November 2020, Bannon’s show was removed from the platform after stating he’d like to put the heads of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray on pikes “as a warning to federal bureaucrats.” At the time, Spotify argued that it incited violence, while Bannon insisted it was a metaphor.

Steve Bannon’s WarRoom re-emerged on Spotify this week. He noted the move during his show on Monday.

“Big story this afternoon, we are back on Spotify as of this morning,” said Bannon. “We’ve been off Spotify for four or five years. We’re back on.”

Previously, the show was still available on other platforms like Apple Podcasts, but Spotify had remained reluctant to return the program to its platform.

In a statement, the company said it had re-evaluated its relationship with the program in recent weeks.

“Following its temporary suspension and a constructive dialogue with the show’s team, new Bannon’s WarRoom episodes are available on Spotify,” the company said.

Upon his return to the platform, Bannon created headlines during his program on Monday by arguing that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) should be imprisoned for his support of Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Steve Bannon served as an advisor to President Donald Trump during his initial run for the presidency, as well as the first year of his administration. His podcast has become a popular one in the Make America Great Again movement, and often features prominent allies of Trump’s, as well as current and former lawmakers.

In addition to airing on-demand on platforms like Spotify, the podcast from Steve Bannon airs live on the digital video platform Real America’s Voice.

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Riser House Entertainment Adds Three To Nashville Team

BMM Staff
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Riser House Entertainment Adds Three To Nashville Team

Nashville-based Riser House Entertainment has added three new team members. Alex Heimerman, Haley Irvine and Eliza Charette join in streaming, product management and label relations.

Jennifer Johnson, Riser House President, said of the new teammates, “At Riser House, we don’t just chase trends, we build legacies. As our roster grows with some of the most authentic artists in music, it’s only fitting that our team grows too. We’re thrilled to welcome a powerhouse trio to the Riser House family. Alex brings sharp strategy and electric energy to the room. Eliza has a spark and spirit that turns ideas into momentum. And Hayley? She’s all heart, steady, passionate, and dialed into making the wheels turn.”

Adding, “We’re boutique, but make no mistake, we’re building something bold. The future of music is personal to us at Riser House.”

Heimerman will assume the role of Vice President, Streaming & Strategic Partnerships. Previous stops include The Trenches, Universal Music Group Nashville and Red Light Management.

Irvine will manage day-to-day product strategy and execution across the label’s roster as Product Manager. She arrives from BMG/Broken Bow Records, where she served as Manager of Recorded Finance and Project Manager

Charette joins as Project and Label Relations Coordinator, supporting artist campaigns and label operations. Previous stops include Big Loud and live ticketing and booking at Madison Square Garden.

Riser House’s artist roster includes Mitchell Tenpenny, Dillon Carmichael, Meghan Patrick, LANCO, Stephan Day and Wldlfe.

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