All articles tagged with #sports media
Boomer Esiason blasted Abdul Carter for criticizing Jaxson Dart’s appearance with President Trump, calling Carter a 'child' and saying his social-media post was inappropriate; Carter later said he and Dart spoke man to man and walked back his AI-video claim, with the piece noting Carter’s rough rookie season in 2025 and Dart’s brighter moments for the Giants.
The piece argues Inside the NBA remains the premier sports studio show, praising its mix of humor and personality during the Knicks–Cavaliers East finals (from the crew singing New York, New York to Barkley’s playful robot gag), while highlighting memorable moments around the playoff atmosphere (Landry Shamet’s Knicks-fan take, a touching TikTok of a young Knicks supporter named Carmelo, and Cavaliers seating drama). It also notes Barkley’s interview on the SI Media podcast and concludes that Inside the NBA is still at the top of its game despite playoff chaos.
Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner’s 15-second ad criticizing private equity and Red Sox ownership aired during a Red Sox game but was pulled by NESN for unauthorized third-party IP; Platner says the move impacted momentum in his Maine race, while NESN cited advertising standards and IP concerns tied to Fenway Sports Group’s ownership.
A Mexican sports journalist, Fernando Vargas, was carjacked at gunpoint during a live TV interview at a gas station in Morelos. The thief demanded valuables as Vargas and the host watched in shock; Vargas escaped unharmed, but his wallet, phone, and car were stolen. The broadcast cut to dark as the incident continued outside the vehicle, and authorities had not announced any arrests as of the report.
The Cavaliers squander a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter, allowing the Knicks to force overtime and win 115-104 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Postgame, Charles Barkley blasted Cleveland on Inside the NBA, calling the effort a 'damn choke job' and criticizing the late-game execution as the crowd cheered in Madison Square Garden.
Sports Media Watch analyzes the NBA's decision to air a second‑round Game 7 on Amazon Prime Video, framing it as a litmus test for streaming’s ability to attract marquee viewership and comparing Prime’s performance with traditional broadcast windows on ABC/NBC. The piece notes NBC’s strong Sunday‑night numbers and situates Prime within the broader shift of league rights toward streaming, suggesting a typical Game 7 could land in the 6–7 million viewer range (with occasional higher peaks), illustrating the ongoing tension between revenue‑driven streaming deals and broad audience reach.
The piece defends ESPN’s Shams Charania for breaking the 2025–26 NBA MVP news ahead of Prime Video’s planned reveal, arguing that breaking-news dynamics have evolved and that criticism misses the point, while also highlighting a carousel of other recent sports-media moments—ranging from Bill Belichick’s coffee quip to Shaquille O’Neal’s LSU master’s degree and various SI Media features.
Sean Keeley argues that Skip Bayless’s Friday reunion on First Take with Stephen A. Smith isn’t a nostalgic revival but a modern nostalgia play aimed at a ratings pop. The piece contends the Embrace Debate era left little lasting cultural impact, with few iconic moments or memes, and the reunion reads more like curiosity sparked by ESPN’s past than a meaningful, desired return.
Prime Video will exclusively stream three Duke men's basketball neutral-site nonconference games per season, marking its first foray into college sports. The inaugural schedule features Duke vs. UConn in Las Vegas (Nov. 25), Duke vs. Michigan at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 21), and Duke vs. Gonzaga in Detroit (Feb. 20), with Prime Video producing all games. Duke will also participate in ESPN-owned neutral-site events in 2027‑28 and 2028‑29 as part of the deal, expanding Prime Video's live-sports portfolio.
CBS Sports removed a gambling-odds angle from its coverage of Brendan Sorsby’s departure from Texas Tech after the QB disclosed a gambling addiction and sought treatment; the piece had tied his absence to FanDuel odds, prompting backlash. Sorsby reportedly placed thousands of bets and now faces an uncertain 2026 season as he focuses on treatment, highlighting the tension between sports betting’s industry growth and concerns about addiction and media ethics.
NCAA announces expansion to 76 teams for men’s and women’s brackets, but the traditional 64-team bracket remains intact with more early play-in games; the roundup also covers Reds’ free-pizza promo, Anthony Davis’s Foul Play prank on Cooper Flagg, YouTube TV’s new fully customizable multiview, the Kentucky Derby horse Further Ado, Jimmy Traina’s SI Media podcast, and a Seinfeld birthday clip.
First-round TV coverage favored faster, more decisive picks, with Ty Simpson’s 13th‑overall selection stealing the moment. Ian Rapoport delivered a strong insider scoop about the Steelers and Makai Lemon, while Pat McAfee’s hybrid show mixed humor and analysis (including Ty Schmit’s Mel Kiper Jr. impression). The author also praises Daniel Jeremiah as the top TV draft analyst and notes Greenberg’s interview with Roger Goodell as solid but predictable.
Pride of Detroit promotes Pride of Detroit Direct, a premium email newsletter with bonus Lions content—editorials, film breakdowns, and exclusive podcasts—announcing a draft-focused lineup of pre- and post-draft episodes, weekly columns from editors and contributors, and a monthly mailbag for subscribers.
Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after a 19-year run as Steelers coach, is set to join NBC’s Football Night in America as a top studio analyst, joining Maria Taylor and Jason Garrett in a revamped pregame show. NBC aims to refresh the program after dismissing Tony Dungy, with Fox also showing interest, as networks renegotiate NFL rights; Tomlin’s move solidifies his status as a premier NFL TV voice and leaves open the possibility he could return to coaching someday.
Kevin Kisner apologized for criticizing CBS's Masters coverage on Barstool’s ForePlay podcast, saying he crossed the line with comments about live-shot delays and production; he stressed CBS is a PGA Tour partner and that he respects their work, noting his own multi-hat role as NBC's lead golf analyst and the challenges of live broadcasting as Rory McIlroy won the Masters.