Full Ep: NBC Dumps Drew Brees, NBA/Stanley Cup Playoffs Heat Up & Will Tom Brennaman Return? 5 18 22

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SMW Podcast

The Sports Media Watch podcast network features the flagship show with Jon Lewis and T.J. Rives, "Tell Me a Story I Don't Know" with George Ofman and the "Announcer Schedules Podcast" with Phil de Montmollin and Mike Gill.

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Comments 3

Nate Johnson says:

4 years ago

Thom Brennaman on the other podcast did sound apologetic, remorse, understood about the impact on what he said, etc. To follow-up what I posted back in 2020 following being sent off air, let’s understand that Bally Sports took over FOX Sports Regional Networks. So everything is under new ownership and personnel, though many that call local live broadcast games maintain their positions. I’m saying that because the regional network is no longer under his old ownership and possibly management, so the ball would be in their field if they express interest.

When it comes to Big FOX, it came down to him calling the NFL because he was no longer with College Football or the MLB on that network. I to do this day believe the NFL has some strong stay to not have Brennaman call games on their network and I went as far to say had it been Jim Nantz the NFL would’ve acknowledged CBS to not allow him to call NFL games.

So all in all, I believe him not being back on FOX is because of FOX partnership with the NFL. I doubt FOX would want the NFL to feel uneasy about Brennaman calling their games and to be honest Brennaman is not worth it FOX for that come to even be a contact of some sort over.

Will there be a right time for a reunion with FOX? Brennaman is under the age of 60 which isn’t bad in the sports broadcasting industry. We are two years after the matter. Seems like he’s still in good contact with old FOX friends. Who knows how things will look and become in the next 3 or so years. Never say never.

How about with the Reds? MLB has been an interesting industry under Rob Manfred. While I believe the Reds wouldn’t mind reuniting with Brennaman, with or without social media response I could see the MLB quickly reacting to that though we’re talking about a local network talk. I could see that eliminate the radio, yet alone the TV broadcast regardless of Bally Sports thoughts.

Final point, I did note back in 2020 about I hope FOX was keeping account on Brennaman’s actions following that matter and the big reason is because 1.) Best way to show your apologetic is by action, not by words alone and 2.) I believe in 2nd chances and no one being cancelled unless the person itself as Kevin Harlan once said has no regard for human life. It does seems like he want to be back into his occupation at the level of platform he was once at and while I understand the angle of how competitive the industry is and no guarantees of receiving your position back or elsewhere, there comes that moment on if society has simply given up on 2nd chances or avoiding someone being cancelled. It begs to ask if we’re in a time where rooting for someone’s downfall and maintaining them to their downfall is the victory unlike triumph and bouncing back. I ask that because FOX has an excellent platform to use that in their advantage on being opposite of cancelling someone yet have the best heart in hand and while that opportunity is not shut, they definitely had a great time and use of doing that in 2021 following a 2020 year that brought so much attention to societal issues.
esl says:

4 years ago

Guys,
I thoroughly enjoy the podcast. Always enjoy listening weekly.
Some great points about Marv and Tirico and how things would have turned out differently if there transgressions happened in the social media world today. Would not have been able to recover so quickly, if at all.
Regarding Brees, and Brady to come, I look at 2 former all time great quarterbacks and their introduction to broadcasting. Joe Montana and Joe Namath. I am comparing Namath to Brady. Roone Arledge wanted Namath for years while he was still playing. He wanted Namath to do MNF while he was still playing with the Jets (when his games were on Sunday). Never happened. However, finally when Namath retired and Cosell was off MNF, Arledge was finally able to get Namath. The 1 year on MNF was a disaster. Namath was awful and was unable to criticize anyone. Could this be the case for Brady? Fox is taking a big risk. And I am comparing Brees to Montana. Joe Montana came in with a lot of hype to NBC. He was just as bad as a studio analyst. That lasted 2 seasons. Montana did not want to do it anymore. He said this is not for me. Not sure if Brees will want to do this anymore.
- Paulsen says:
  
  4 years ago
  
  Thanks for listening — always appreciated. Good comparisons with Namath and Montana. I believe O.J. Simpson was similar as well.

SMW Podcast

Bomani Jones joins the pod, plus thoughts on Ernie Johnson's exit, World Series ratings and more

0:000:00

Nielsen has reprocessed the viewership for NBC’s four NFL games from Week 1-3 of the season. The Patriots-Seahawks Kickoff Game has been updated to 25.2 million, up from an originally-reported 25.1 million. The Week 1 Cowboys-Giants “Sunday Night Football” game has been updated to 25.82 million, up from 25.66 million. Colts-Chiefs the following week has been updated to 24.43 million, up from 24.29 million. Finally, Rams-Broncos in Week 3 has been updated to 20.96 million, up from 20.77 million.