The Play-By-Play

Sports media is overwhelmingly negative about the NBA. Conservatives take issue on Caitlin Clark's TIME Athlete of the Year interview. Bill Belichick is going to coach for the Tar Heels. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:00: Negativity from sports media world on NBA -27:17: Bill Belichick going...

Stephen A. Smith reportedly signs a five-year, $100 million extension with ESPN. Kirk Herbstreit appeared miserable on ESPN's College Football Playoff selection show. Netflix announces their NFL studio and booth lineup. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:54: Stephen A. Smith’s new contract with ES...

Tom Brady is 13 weeks in his NFL broadcasting career, and did his first Thanksgiving game. How is Brady doing? Has he improved? How long will he continue broadcasting? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod, Brendon Kleen, and Sean Keeley discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:18: Tom Brady on Thanksgiving Fox broadcast -30:28: Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Tre...

ESPN is pulling the plug on "Around the Horn" after nearly a quarter century on the air. Tom Brady continues his first year as a broadcaster. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, with guest Jake Fischer from The Stein Line, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:25: ESPN canceling “Around the Horn” in 2025 -15:26: Jake Fischer comes on...

Netflix's tech issues made it difficult to watch the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight. "Inside the NBA" finds a new home. More people are heading to Bluesky. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:23: Netflix’s tech issues during Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight -18:22: NFL Christmas games being “make or break”...

Drew Brees makes a surprise appearance on "Monday Night Countdown." Dave Portnoy drops multiple diss tracks on Country music star Zach Bryan. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, as The Athletic's Chris Vannini joins us on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:54: Drew Brees shows up on “Monday Night Countdown” -20:31: Chris Vannini comes...

Election Day was yesterday. Sports media talking heads were all over that. Joel Embiid is suspended three games for shoving Marcus Hayes. Bob Costas is retiring from play-by-play. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including why Election Night cable TV news sucked on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -2:22: Election talk in sports med...

Election Day is coming and sports is an important part to both campaigns. The 2004 Boston Red Sox have a new docuseries on Netflix but who is it for? Jason Kelce getting a weekly late night show on ESPN? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including discussing the passing of Cleveland Browns radio voice Jim Donovan, on the latest episode of The Play-By-P...

The NBA season starts on Tuesday and the media side of the sport is headed for massive change. Is LeBron James "undercovered" by sports media? The Ringer hires four including Todd McShay. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, including the reaction to Deshaun Watson's Achilles tear on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:35: ESPN still l...

Kendrick Perkins' NIL company taking advantage of high school athletes? ESPN announces their NBA broadcasters but don't announce specific teams. Fox expected to get some competition for World Cup rights. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Drew Lerner discuss these topics and more on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:05: ESPN 2024-25 NBA broadcaster announcement -21:31: Dan Mu...

Shams Charania is heading to ESPN to replace Adrian Wojnarowski. AEW renews their media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. MLB and ESPN are reportedly negotiating a change in their rights deal. Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss these topics and more as Drew Lerner stops by to participate in an NFL broadcaster fantasy draft on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Tim...

After years since the announcement, "Mr. McMahon" debuted on Netflix. ESPN surprisingly lets go of Zach Lowe. Kamala Harris does a podcast and it's "All the Smoke?" Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss these topics plus have some praise for "Scoop City" and Diana Taurasi's impact on the WNBA on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -:57: “Mr. McMahon” Netflix doc...

What does Cris Collinsworth's new contract mean for the future of NFL broadcasting? Why is there a scripted TV show about Aaron Hernandez? And what are our sports media takeaways from Caitlin Clark's rookie season? Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss these topics and more as Lyndsey D'Arcangelo stops by on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play. Time Stamps: -1:09: Cris Collin...

Adrian Wojnarowski make the shocking decision to retire as ESPN's NBA insider to become GM of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team. Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the ultimate Woj bomb and what the future may hold for other NBA insiders on this live bonus episode of The Play-By-Play. You can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe,...

Shannon Sharpe accidentally posting himself having sex on Instagram Live. Is a Pistons beat writer moving to cover the Knicks a sign of change for The Athletic? Was sports media being condescending toward Tua Tagovailoa? Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss all that and more, including ESPN getting their money's worth for Jason Kelce this Monday night on the latest episode of T...

On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the Fox broadcasting debut of Tom Brady, the ESPN debut of Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick's numerous appearances. The guys also discuss the changes on "The NFL Today," Greg Olsen's pivot to the No. 2 Fox NFL broadcast booth, and Colt McCoy's rough broadcast. Time Stamps: -1:47: Tom Brady broadcast boot...

On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the debut of Fox Sports 1's "Breakfast Ball," the season premiere of "College GameDay" with Nick Saban's debut, Kirk Herbstreit going heel and Pat McAfee getting drunk, and Deion Sanders and Colorado banning The Denver Post's Sean Keeler from press conferences. Time Stamps: -:07: Welcome to The Play...

On the first episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss ESPN firing Robert Griffin III and Sam Ponder, Ariel Helwani announcing that he's partnering with Yahoo Sports and the social media feud between ESPN's Mina Kimes and Clay Travis. Time Stamps: -:06: Welcome to The Play-By-Play! -3:03: Podcasting -18:49: Ariel Helwani partners with Yahoo Sports -33:51...

The Play-By-Play is a sports media talk show brought to you by Awful Announcing. Join AA writers Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod as they discuss, debate and dissect the latest happenings in the sports media world and provide their unique insight on the industry’s biggest names and newsmakers. Subscribe to The Play-By-Play on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are found. Hosted on Acast. See acast...