"Proven chemistry is difficult to manufacture. ESPN already knows this pairing works. With another opening on First Take, the easiest decision may also be the smartest one."
The whole discussion was terrific, but I wanted to share the answers to just the first question Mike McVay asked which was, "What is the strength of the sports talk format?"
"Without [Imus], I don't know exactly where the station is. He validated Mike and Chris, like [he was] the engine...To leave him off seems irresponsible, but I'm going to leave him off."
It's understandable to be cautious of unsolicited sales calls but dismissing them outright could mean overlooking valuable opportunities for innovation and growth.
"The fact that I've done it for so long would make you think, 'oh, he's got it down, he has the system, he found the secret sauce.' No, it feels the same way every year."
"Proven chemistry is difficult to manufacture. ESPN already knows this pairing works. With another opening on First Take, the easiest decision may also be the smartest one."
"I use the term irresistible on this show. That’s the moments I’m chasing in this show. It’s the one you can’t resist when it shows up in your feed. You’ve seen it five times in that ten second clip, and you’re still unpacking some of the feelings behind it. That’s what success will look like for me building out a roster of shows bringing those feelings out in different ways."