The Play-By-Play

After a one week break, we are back to talk NBA. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen cover the top sports media storylines from the NBA Finals in a special Buy or Sell segment on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -3:30: ESPN NBA broadcast booth staying the same? -11:03: Stephen A. Smith being totally gone from NBA postseason coverage? -16:20: “Inside the NBA” will s...

Doris Burke is getting lots of criticism and praise for her NBA broadcasts. Are low ratings for this year's NBA Finals due to two small market teams competing? Warner Bros. Discovery splits into two separate companies. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including who may host "Pardon the Interruption" after Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilb...

After 36 years, "Inside the NBA" ends on TNT as it heads to ESPN. Many complain about Yankees/Dodgers on Apple TV+. Bill Simmons goes off on Pablo Torre for his Jordon Hudson/Bill Belichick reporting. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including a discussion about Dan Le Batard's subreddit on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:59: En...

ESPN's NBA broadcasting trio of Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Richard Jefferson is rough. Dan Le Batard and Meadowlark Media stick with DraftKings. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including our under-45 announcer draft on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:40: ESPN NBA broadcast crew not working out -18:14: “Kyle Hamilton of the We...

The NFL released their 2025 and they are looking to set viewership records. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese playing each other bringing out discourse among the public. "Around the Horn" ends this Friday. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including the NBA playoffs on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -2:00: NFL schedule release -17:10:...

Michael Jordan shockingly heads to "NBA on NBC." After over 20 years, Rich Eisen is heading back to ESPN. The U.S. Senate discuss the future of sports streaming. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner, who was at the sports streaming hearing, discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:56: Michael Jordan announced for “NBA on NBC”...

Caitlin Clark returns to Iowa for preseason basketball. John Skipper leaves Meadowlark Media as Dan Le Batard's company has an uncertain future. Amazon continues their NBA hiring. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including the NBA playoffs on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:46: Caitlin Clark preseason return -21:40: John Skipper...

Shedeur Sanders dropping in the NFL Draft had everyone talking. Shannon Sharpe is on a leave of absence at ESPN. Jordon Hudson had a massive problem with CBS' softball interview with boyfriend Bill Belichick. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Sam Neumann discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:03: Shedeur Sanders becomes the talk of...

WrestleMania 41 was lackluster. Lee Corso announces his retirement. And everyone had takes about Nico Iamaleava. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Mel Kiper Jr. and Brian Windhorst, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:25: WrestleMania 41 -19:40: Lee Corso retiring Week 1 of 2025 College Football season -33:09: Stock Wat...

CBS had a perfect situation with the Masters. The UFC-ESPN negotiating window ends without a deal. Is streaming finally going to take over cable? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including how the Trump administration is handling RSN's, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:45: A perfect Masters -23:57: ESPN’s exclusi...

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James going at it. Gary Danielson announces his retirement, resulting in CBS to make moves in their college football and NFL broadcasts. Peter Schrager leaves NFL Network for ESPN. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen, along with AA head Ben Koo, discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:47: Stephen A. Smith vs....

Dan Hurley rubs many the wrong way, so is that why he's great for college basketball? Is Shohei Ohtani the face of Major League Baseball. Are the lack of Cinderellas really what's destroying college basketball. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including an in-depth discussion with Morning Consult's Ellyn Briggs on how Gen Z consumes sports, on the lat...

How does the media talk about Bill Belichick's and Jordon Hudson's relationship? People taking NFL insiders to task on how they report free agency news. Who are some of the top stars of online sports media? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:41: NFL insiders criticized for how they report free age...

Stephen A. Smith and ESPN finally have a deal and the TGL is entering the playoffs in their first season. Awful Announcing's Brandon Contes and Drew Lerner join Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:01: Stephen A. Smith’s new ESPN contract with Brandon Contes -32:23 TGL entering playoffs with Drew Lerner -50:33: Wh...

A discussion about who's the face of the NBA devolved into the usual NBA discourse. President Donald Trump is anywhere and everywhere in the sports world. John Cena shocked everyone by becoming a bad guy in WWE. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:37: NBA “Face of the League” talk fueling negative...

What is Stephen A. Smith's political endgame? The New Yorker's Jay Caspian King joins Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen to discuss. Ben and Brendon will also talk about ESPN opting out of their MLB contract after 2025, as well as various NBA topics including Richard Jefferson and Brian Windhorst on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -2:04: ESPN opts out of MLB righ...

The NBA and NHL made changes to their All-Star Game format. One worked, one didn't. More podcasts are becoming TV programming. Will the trend continue? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more, including Caitlin Clark's agent speaking out on the WNBA on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:30: Are All-Star Games fixable? -13:35...

How did Tom Brady do in his first Super Bowl as a broadcaster? Why did people vote Lamar Jackson for first team All-Pro but vote Josh Allen for MVP? Dan Orlovsky may leave ESPN? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Adam Silver's reaction to NBA criticism on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:44: Fox’s Super Bowl broadcast/Tom...

Two weeks of Super Bowl coverage is going to bring repeated talking points. Sports betting companies are cutting funding for sponsored content. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:27: Podcast speed -3:19: Luka Dončić trade to Lakers -24:55: Nick Wrigh...

Two weeks of Super Bowl coverage is going to bring repeated talking points. Sports betting companies are cutting funding for sponsored content. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including Deion Sanders and the Dallas Cowboys on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -2:23: Super Bowl storylines you’re going to get tired of hearing -6:09:...

Tom Brady rose to the occasion during the Commanders-Lions game. Bill Simmons is reportedly likely sticking with Spotify. Amazon hires Kevin Harlan for their NBA coverage. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including "Bussin' With The Boys" leaving Barstool Sports on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:36: Ohio State winning national...

The first 12-team College Football Playoff is almost over. How did ESPN do? NFL head coaches are rarely traded so why does everyone in sports media want the Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics, and we discuss our NFL announcer rankings with AA's Andrew Bucholtz, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:54: ESPN Coll...

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/playbyplay for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self. Fox Sports is rocked with a sexual battery and discrimination lawsuit. "WWE Raw" makes its long-awaited debut on Netflix. Jason Kelce's late night show was a dud. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topi...

As we enter 2025, we take a look at some sports media storylines in the next year. Awful Announcing publisher Ben Koo discusses those topics with Play-By-Play hosts Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen. Time Stamps: -1:29: College football changes -14:19: Social media and sports -29:25: NBA and their new media partners -39:31: UFC media rights -50:08: Launch of ESPN Flagship -1:01:22: Where does Bill Sim...

As 2024 closes, we take a look back at the year in sports media with our year-end awards, The Awfulies. Awful Announcing's Sean Keeley, who compiled this year's results, talks about some of the winners with Play-By-Play hosts Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen. Time Stamps: -:54: Remembering 2024 in sports media -7:33 Sports Media Person of the Year - Tom Brady -12:28: Best Moment of 2024 - Pat McAfee...