Out of Our League

Four NFL teams are obligated to say yes to NFL Films and HBO but none of them want it. Mike and Charles discuss the history and future of the groundbreaking show. Plus Michael Jordan’s big payday and why Rob Manfred is his own worst enemy. All that plus Jason’s Wormbyte on a Sky Sports announcing legend and no Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week???

The Nuggets, Golden Knights and Man City were all crowned champions this week. Mike and Charles discuss how they got there, how Vegas has become a dominant sports town in a very short time, the success of Stan Kroenke and the Saudi's influence on an ever changing economic sports landscape. Plus Jason's Wormbyte on why the US Soccer team needs to hire Pep Guardiola now and the Mike Smith...

Mike and Charles discuss the shocking announcement of the PGA TOUR/LIV Golf merger and break down the ramifications and the unknowns, and there are many. In light of big coaching hires for big dollars this week in the NBA they continue their conversation about the value of leadership. Jason's Wormbyte focuses on the media ramifications of the PGA TOUR/LIV deal and the Mike Smith Sports Moment...

Reflecting off the Miami Heat's improbable Game 7 victory and a debate in the postgame between Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley on whether coaches matter, Mike shares what great leadership and coaching looks like for championship teams. And that was the last show for Tim Kiely, the Producer of Inside the NBA, retiring this week; Charles talks about how he revolutionized television. P...

Mike and Charles discuss the emotional highs of the past week in sports juxtaposed to the economic underbelly of a competitive industry. Plus they take you inside the decisions from the NFL’s May meeting including the ramifications of Thursday Night Football flexible scheduling. Jason’s Wormbyte on a crossroads for RSN’s and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the week. And a reminder to Please like a...

The Spurs, Peacock and Brian Windhorst in Paris....Mike and Charles discuss the Spurs winning the Victor Wembenyama lottery, the NFL awarding Peacock an NFL Playoff game and ESPN's Brian Windhorst's memorable interview, plus Jason's Wormbyte on college football reform and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week

The NFL regular season schedule gets released Thursday Night, and many changes are taking place. Charles' experience sitting in the room in years past informs us unpacking the process, the evolution, the competitive aspect, who's impacted how, and the NFL's attempts to turn it into a media event. Plus, Jason's Wormbyte on the expanded College Football Playoff and the Mike Smith...

it's a dream second round playoff scenario for the NBA. Mike and Charles discuss ratings, injuries, whether the regular season even matters, was the Bucks season a failure, and compare the legacies of Steph and LeBron. Plus a quick post mortem of the NFL Draft. Jason's Wormbyte on the Run for the Roses and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week.

On the eve of the NFL Draft Mike and Charles welcome their very first guest, Kara Henderson Snead, former NFL Network anchor and reporter and wife of Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead. Plus Jason's weekly Wormbyte on Wrexham being promoted and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the week. Enjoy!

Mike and Charles disagree about whether the NBA  should have suspended Draymond Green. Are the Commanders actually sold??? Now that MLB has improved the game, how do they fix their media strategy? Plus Jason's Wormbyte this week when it comes to soccer less is more and the MIke Smith Sports Moment of the Week. Please like and subscribe.....

Charles and Mike discuss the blatant tanking job by the Dallas Mavericks last week. What does the NBA do to protect the fans? and with the NBA playoffs scheduled to start two teams are fighting with themselves! Plus a look back at the Masters, Jason's Wormbyte and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week. Enjoy!

Mike and Charles talk about the overwhelming ratings success of the Women's NCAA tournament as well as the historic amount of money paid out this week for an NWSL expansion franchise. Plus the Endeavor/WWE deal and a possible cheating schedule with the Arizona Cardinals. Jason's Wormbyte on the Masters and the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says baseball is open to changing their new rules midseason? Mike and Charles discuss why the NFL would never do that. The NFL Annual meeting includes efforts to improve Thursday Night Football and why Flex Scheduling is a bad idea, Commanders' bids are in, and Lamar Jackson’s options. Sports as soft power: Robert Kraft’s stand on antisemitism and the NHL Pride in...

It's our 50th episode! Japan says sayonara to the USA. Mike and Charles discuss the exciting conclusion of the World Baseball Classic, the impact of Shohei Ohtani, were the serious injuries to two front line players worth it, and how can MLB avoid being irrelevant until October?  How has international competition affected the popularity of other sports and how the NFL is planning to have thei...

Charles and Mike discuss the eerie similarities of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers as the Packers Quarterback seems on his way to wearing green in the Big Apple. Mike breaks down the economics of NFL Free Agency and why state income tax matters. Hello Florida! The NBA punishes Ja Morant. Was it enough and where is Andrew Wiggins and will he be back this season? Why Gary Lineker may be the most popul...

Mike and Charles discuss the Lamar Jackson situation, the NFL Combine (has it jumped the shark?), Ja Morant and what the NBA might do? Speaking of the NBA, could Adam Silver be the next CEO at Disney and are they similar jobs? A good week for Liverpool fans and Jason's Wormbyte features three things that normally don't go together. Plus the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week. Enjoy!

The NBA faces a variety of issues including the CBA, Load management and the approaching playoffs likely to be lower rated without LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Based on their experience at the NFL, Mike and Charles discuss how Roger Goodell and the NFL owners might approach these issues if they were in charge. Plus for years the NFL did not allow dual ownership but now they do and  the...

With all of the economic news of franchise sales and RSN insolvency, Mike provides insight on what is going on and how the NFL is insulated from what European soccer and MLB are experiencing. Plus, is the NBA headed for a lockout? and what a subpar event the NBA All Star Game has become. President's Day at the NFL is hardly a break and Charles explains why it was one of the busiest times of t...

Mike and Charles lean on their own NFL experiences at the Super Bowl to talk all things from the big game from turf to officiating, halftime show and Fox.... Plus the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week and Jason's Wormbyte paying homage to a giant in the sports media world who passed away on Super Bowl Sunday.

Mike and Charles talk about the seismic NBA trade deadline and the player entitlement that drove it. Plus Brady, Romo and Irvin working or not working on TV. It's Super Bowl Week and preparations are being made and NFL futures are being decided with new coaching hires. A reflection of the last Super Bowl in Phoenix and how will the halftime show turn out.  Jason's weekly Wormbyte on Supe...

Mike and Charles weigh in on what might look like a very different NFL in just seven years time. They also have some observations from last weekend including why does a tech savvy league still use chains to measure a first down??? Jason stops by with his weekly Wormbyte on Apple's new series the War for Football plus the Mike Smith Sports Moment of the Week. This week's episode is brough...

Mike and Charles break down the NFL playoffs from economic, competition and media angles and how the league makes these decisions. An outage in London for one of the Premier League's biggest rivalries and a new deal for the LIV/CW. Plus Jason's Wormbyte on Netflix's new tennis show and the Mike Smith sports moment of the week. Enjoy! --

Mike and Charles look back on a week where the NFL had to make some unprecedented decisions that could affect competitive balance. Will there be more changes going forward? They also unpack the League's strategy around playoff scheduling, dive into the annual head coaches losing their job after the season and Jason's Wormbyte breaks down the 100 most viewed shows of the year. Plus the Mi...

Charles and Mike both draw on their experiences at the League and in Sports Media to look back and examine how the NFL and ESPN handled the life threatening injury to Damar Hamlin that occurred during the Bills/Bengals game on Monday night. They draw on comparisons from other sports and speculate how the league office will manage the coming weeks. Jason, who is a veteran of both ESPN and NFL Netwo...

Our first annual Out Of Our League Awards! Eight categories from the best and worst in sports business and media.  Also Mike and Charles have a take on the new Sunday Ticket deal, how the Carlos Correa/Mets deal is bad for baseball, the same ol' New York Jets and remembering Franco Harris. Plus Jason's year end Wormbyte on the key takeaways in sports media and the coveted Mike Smith Spor...