Sports Media Weekly podcast features me and Michelle Beadle

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Thanks to Ken Fang of Fang’s Bites and Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal for having me on the 103rd edition of their Sports Media Weekly podcast.

Both guys do a great job breaking down the latest in sports media each week and always have interesting guests. It was nice of them to think of me.

I also appreciate getting top billing for the podcast since their second guest is Michelle Beadle. Considering she is the hottest thing in sports media right now, it sort of felt like a marquee that had Tom Dressen’s name over Frank Sinatra’s.

Listening to Beadle, you can see why she resonates with viewers. Besides having opinions, she’s entertaining and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Beadle had this response to all the Internet speculation about her future:

I read the Internet every day. It’s very bizarre to be reading about yourself. I wanted to correct people (with wrong information), but I couldn’t. I had to be silent. Every once in a while, I’m thinking, ‘Who are they talking about?’

Beadle said she chose to leave ESPN because NBC offers her multiple platforms for her talents. They include a new sports show on the NBC Sports Network. She said it would be “an opinion-based show.”

She said, “I want to have opinions on sports.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger Woods discusses ‘volatility’ of new media; relates it to LeBron

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Monday, the assembled reporters at media day for the AT&T National tournament in Washington received a special guest lecture in journalism from Professor Tiger Woods.

As many of you know, Mr. Woods didn’t learn about the craft in a classroom. Let’s just say the professor gained his knowledge from being out in the field, so to speak.

When asked about being judged on every swing, every shot, every tournament, Woods said:

Well, I think that’s the nature of the new media business.  The reason why I say that is obviously with the new 24‑hour news cycle and all of the different medias that that are now, there’s so many different ways for people to get information. And I think that we have talked about it a number of times on TOUR with myself with other players is that there is so many different ways that we can‑‑ so many different ways in which news is reported.

You’ve got to be able to stand out somehow to get eyes going to your site or to your media, and I think that’s one of the reasons why there’s the criticism that there is. I was looking at it the other day, if LeBron didn’t have a good game, then the Heat are done and he should retire.  I’m like, geez, guys, he just won MVP.  But I think that’s just the nature of the volatility of the new media in which we are involved in now.

Next week: A special guest lecture in journalism from Professor LeBron James.

 

Mushnick more politically correct in this entry on Jay-Z

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In case you missed it, Phil Mushnick weighed in again on Jay-Z. However, the New York Post columnist was more politically correct Sunday than in a previous rant about the rapper.

He wrote:

Nets point man, marketing strategist and part-owner Jay-Z last week said he fully supported President Obama’s reversal to support same-sex marriages. Discriminating against gays, Jay-Z told CNN, is “no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple.”

Agreed.

Of course, CNN didn’t dare ask Jay-Z why his rap songs have included hateful, vulgar references to homosexuals, including a Spanish slur for gays (not to mention violent, unprintably crude slurs of blacks and young women).

Yeah, I know, it’s “cultural.” Good for business, too. But be assured: Despite all the hateful lyrics he raps about women, gays, African-American men — how he makes his living — Jay-Z stands strongly against all forms of discrimination.

Compare that to what he wrote on May 4:

As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their  marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team  colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have  him apply the full Jay-Z treatment?

Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N——s? The  cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B—-hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with  hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the  way!

Although I’m sure Mushnick heard from Jay-Z’s fans again, Sunday reference to the rapper didn’t trigger nearly the firestorm that resulted from the first column. Guess it’s all about how you phrase things, right?

 

Woman element magnifies ESPN’s move to drop Ward off college football

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ESPN shifts announcers all the time, and the moves usually don’t produce headlines. Especially for a play-by-play voice for college football games on ESPNU.

However, news that ESPN dropped Pam Ward off its roster of announcers for college football Monday blazed through the Internet Monday. The story was among the most popular at USA Today’s site and elsewhere.

Why? Why do you think?

Ward is a woman. In fact, she and Beth Mowins were the only two women calling college football games for ESPN last year. When ESPN cuts the field of female play-by-play voices in half, that’s news.

And furthermore, Ward was the first woman play-by-play voice on college football, beginning her run in 2000. Ward even was labeled as “a trailblazer” in a statement by ESPN.

So her reassignment in that regard also is news. According to ESPN, she will  “continue to be a big part of our coverage plans across multiple sports including college basketball, softball, the WNBA and more.”

Just not college football on ESPNU.

ESPN gave her 11 years. It’s not as if Ward was moved out simply because she is a woman.

Yet there will be people who assume that’s the case. Let a woman call the WNBA or college softball. But by golly, don’t let her near a football game.

Ward had her fair share of critics, most notably Awfulannouncing.com. Her face is prominent at the top of AA’s site in its Mt. Rushmore of least favorite announcers, joining Dick Vitale, Tim McCarver and Craig James.

Tuesday, AA’s Matt Yoder did an installment of “The Pam Ward Chronicles,” detailing her mistakes on college football play-by-play dating back to 2007. It’s fairly brutal stuff. It has to be devastating for Ward to be the brunt of such an assault on her work.

I made an attempt to talk to Ward Tuesday, but an ESPN spokesman said she isn’t doing any interviews.

According to an ESPN insider I talked to, Ward “didn’t make more mistakes than (any male) play-by-play announcer.” It happens if you’re on the air long enough.

The insider praised Ward and said: “Voice aside, she wouldn’t be getting the same kind of criticism if she was a man.”

Perhaps, but we’ll never know for sure because Ward is a woman. A woman who made news because she no longer will be doing college football for ESPN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beadle on over-coverage of her: It’s ridiculous

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Hopefully, we’re about to enter a Michelle Beadle-free zone for a while. But first, one last word from the women herself.

Even Beadle was embarrassed about the excessive amount of attention that has been focused on her in recent weeks. In an interview with USA Today, she said:

I find it ridiculous. It’s a little stupid. I’ve changed jobs a couple dozen times since I started in an amusement park at 16. … I got a little sick of myself. It’s been an odd situation. Hopefully, it will come and go and everybody will get back to their business. Very weird. Who knew?

Of her decision to move to NBC, where she will be involved in sports and entertainment programming, she said:

I’m 36 and I knew whatever I signed next would be a threeish-year deal. If I was 25, you’d have time to play with. You know, with high-def TV, women get the short end of the stick.

Anything else? OK, that should be enough Michelle Beadle for a while.

 

Real Sports preview: Lolo Jones explains why she’s still a virgin

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Nothing sells more than a 29-year old American virgin running for the gold medal, right?

In an HBO Real Sports interview (Tuesday, 10 p.m.), Lolo Jones tells Mary Carillo why she is saving herself for her future husband.

Speaking of sacrifices, here’s Jones talking about training for the London Olympics.


Yep, that’s what I call good marketing. You’ll be hearing plenty about Lolo Jones in a couple of months.

 

Breaking: Beadle to get show on NBC Sports Network

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NBC officially announced the addition of Michelle Beadle to the roster Monday, and it included this surprise: She will have a new show on the NBC Sports Network.

The release says:

As part of the agreement, NBC Sports Group will develop new programming for NBC Sports Network featuring Beadle.

In an interview with 1070 The Fan in Indianapolis, Beadle said:

A new sports show probably around the end of the summer. I’m not leaving sports.

It makes sense for the NBC Sports Network to develop programming for Beadle. People definitely are interested in her as evidenced by the vast speculation about whether she would leave ESPN. You can bet her new show will generate plenty of advance publicity.

NBC showcased her personality with this quote from Beadle in the release:

This gig is the perfect blend of the two things I am most passionate about – sports and pop culture. I look forward to getting back to New York City and immersing myself into a myriad of NBCUniversal platforms, while trying to kick ass and have some fun along the way.

Take that, ESPN.

The release outlines her new gig across NBC’s platforms.

Beadle, who will be based in New York, will serve as a correspondent for the nationally syndicated entertainment news program, “Access Hollywood,” which is anchored by Billy Bush. Beadle will cover all major red carpet events, including movie premieres and fashion week, plus report on all breaking Hollywood news. Beadle will also serve as a correspondent for NBC Sports Group’s big-event properties including this summer’s London Olympic Games, which she will also be covering for “Access Hollywood.” Beadle will also have a role in the 2012 NFL Kickoff and Horse Racing’s Triple Crown, as well as other NBC Sports Network programs. As part of the agreement, NBC Sports Group will develop new programming for NBC Sports Network featuring Beadle.

One thing is for sure: You definitely haven’t heard the last from Michelle Beadle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feherty on Donald Trump: Self-effacing pompous windbag

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David Feherty is on quite a run.

Last week, he interviewed former president Bill Clinton. This week, his Feherty show features at Donald Trump (Monday, Golf Channel, 10 p.m.).

Here’s Feherty on his impressions of The Donald:

David’s view: The Donald is one of those people you have an opinion one way or another. He’s an extraordinary mixture of pompous windbag and self-effacing…I don’t know how to describe it. He’s not beyond making fun of himself, and then in the next sentence, he’ll tell you how wonderful he is. I wanted to see if there was somewhere in between.

I genuinely like him. Having said that, I can find something to like in everybody I meet. I don’t recall ever bumping into anybody where I thought, “God, what a miserable asshole,” with the definite exception of my first wife.

Hair: The cold opening to the show was about his hair, which he took in good humor.

My hair was very long. All over the place. I think, what the hell am I going to do with this? A comb appears from off-camera. I said, “Man that’s one helluva comb.” We widen out the shot and it’s Don Trump. He’s standing there and he says, “Yes, it is.”

He’s into the whole thing, willing to do whatever we wanted. Obviously, he’s a fan of the game, and a lot of fun to be around.

Golf: His course in Bedminster (Trump National in New Jersey). I thought, my God, this place is magnificent. The way Donald Trump puts things on, they could play a Ryder Cup there. Or a PGA Championship. They’ve played it on worse courses.

His public persona works against him in terms of getting an event like that. I would love to see Trump having an involvement in one of those events. If he’s going to do it, he’s going to do it right. You could see by the quality of what he’s done. And just the way he is.

The experience: The view from the penthouse, my God. The first thing he says is, “We’ve got to dress you.”  I was wearing jeans and a nice shirt, vest, sports coat and tie. Sort of homeless chic. He orders a suit from three floors down. And it comes up and it fits me perfectly.

Punchline: I told him I bought an inflatable Rosie O’Donnell as a gift. But we had been inflating it for two days and it still was a little floppy so he’s going to have to wait.

 

 

 

 

Sherman Q/A with Jim Rome: Doing nothing would be greater risk

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If Jim Rome talks smack in the forest, but nobody hears it, does it count as smack?

Rome is well into his second month hosting his new show Rome on CBS Sports Network. Thus far, the latest version of Rome has evolved into a fast-moving show that continues to attract big-time guests: David Stern, Aaron Rogers, Matt Kemp, Justin Verlander, Charles Barkley among others.

“It’s early on, but I am as proud of this show as any show I’ve ever done,” said Rome in his distinctive tone during a phone interview with me.

Yet having said that, Rome is well aware of the reality of his new situation. CBS Sports Network doesn’t have any ratings data for Rome’s new show, but you don’t have to be a Nielsen expert to know it is a fraction of what it was at his former home on ESPN.

I tell Rome my boys, ages 16 and 14, used to watch his show all the time. They came home from school, turned on ESPN and took in the late afternoon block of programming. So much for homework.

They haven’t altered their routine to accommodate Rome’s switch. Television viewing is habitual, I tell Rome, and at 5 p.m. (Central), they are watching SportsCenter instead of flipping to CBS Sports Network for Rome’s show.

“I get it,” Rome said. “I need a buy-in from those kids.”

Then Rome said, “If you want, I’ll tell them myself.”

Unfortunately, the boys weren’t home on this day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually get a call from Rome. He is so passionate about his new endeavor, he would go door-to-door to attract viewers.

Rome actually is counting on the conventional methods (word-of-mouth and promotion) to build an audience. He knows it will take time and that he may be playing to a mostly empty room for a while.

Rome, though, remains confident he made the right decision, and he continues to stress there is more involved to this move than just the CBS Sports Network show.

Here’s my Q/A with Rome.

What’s your assessment of the show thus far?

I was ready for a new challenge, ready for a new show. We’re hitting it hard. It’s early on, but I am as proud of this show as any show I’ve ever done.

We’re putting so much more into it. I always liked the last show that I did, but it became kind of static. Four burns off the top of the show. Then you’d get an interview. Then you’d get a panelist. Then you’d get one burn at the back end of the show.

This is much more labor intensive. We’re trying to get 7-8 burns at the top. Then we’ll do an interview. If there’s not a good interview, then we’ll double up on the panel. A lot more content. It feels like it moves faster. It feels like the 2.0 version of what I was doing.

Could you have done the same thing for ESPN? Could you have said I want to change the format of the show?

It’s a real interesting question. We just thought we were doing as much as we could do. Everyone was happy with the show. It never came up. At one point they came to me and said, instead of having two people on your panel,. go ahead and have one person. We always thought we were giving as much as we possibly could. It wasn’t until I left where we all said, ‘Look, you can’t do the same show you’ve always done. You’ve got to do more and be better.’

For the millionth time, what were your motivations for the move?

I felt like I had done same show for so long. At this point in my career, I said I could keep doing the same thing. I thought there is risk inherent in not trying to stretch and try something new. On top of that, let’s be honest. If it was just a straight swap, simply moving show to CBS Sports Network,  maybe that’s something I wouldn’t have done. They’ve offered me so many other things. They put me on Letterman. I was on the set of the Final Four; I was on the pregame show for the AFC Championship game, and there are more opportunities, including a show on Showtime. When CBS calls and offers you that, you don’t say no.

Do you consider yourself a person who likes to take risks?

Am I a risk guy?  Doing nothing would have been a greater risk. But I’m pretty calculating. Sometimes, you have to push yourself.

I’m trying to get in and hopefully make a difference. It’s a big swing. Guys like us who have done this a long time, you’ve got to take a shot.

You mention a Showtime program. What will that be?

It’s going to come out in the Fall. I’m not trying to hide anything, but there’s really not anything new at this point.

What was it like to see all the billboards and ads promoting the new show?

They had this unbelievable roll out when they made the announcement. In my entire career, I never had that kind of promotion in radio or TV. That in of itself was an incredible thing for my career, for my brand.

When I got to New York to do Letterman, I saw a billboard of myself. Somebody took a picture of me standing next to it. I emailed it to my wife. She literally cried. She couldn’t believe it. It was an amazing feeling, and a surreal feeling. It made me want to do well for these folks because they put it out there for me.

You’ve had great guests thus far.

Maybe, it’s the relationships I have with these guys that they want to come on with Rome, whatever that show might be. They’ll get a fair interview and hopefully a smart interview. But it feels good.

How do you reach the viewers who turn on ESPN and leave it on?

You’re exactly right. It’s the De facto channel. You don’t have to find anything. You just turn your TV on. My feeling is, I only can do what I can do. I’m constantly trying to say this is where we are, this is what we’re doing. I try and use Twitter and my radio show to get the word out.

Look, they’ve got a 40-year head start on us and everyone else. ESPN is ESPN. It’s a monster. I understand it isn’t going to change overnight. I’m determined to keep grinding it out every day and do everything I can to get your kids to tune into that network.

There aren’t any ratings for your show. How do you know if people are watching?

I hear from the radio listeners. I get the feedback through Twitter and the radio show. That’s how I know people are seeing the show. We have to tell people where to find it. That’s the challenge. Exactly where are you and when are you on? That’s the challenge thus far.

Do people still say to you, ‘You’re crazy, why did you leave ESPN?

Yeah, little bit. Once in a while. It’s not just the one show. It’s the whole platform. It’s been great. They were very good to me at ESPN. I had a great run there. CBS has been awesome. It’s a great company to work for. They give me a lot of support. I’ve never once looked back.

It’s a big picture thing. I’m not so locked in that it’s just the TV show. I’m reaching so many different places across the platforms. Once I made the decision, once I’m in, I’m all in. It might sound trite, but I’m trying to do the best TV show I can do every single day. That’s what I’m focused on. It’s going to take some time. As long as I can do a TV show I’m proud of, that’s the only thing that matters.

So no buyer’s remorse?

I’m not like that. I thought about this for a long, long time. Once I decided to do it, I was all in. No buyer’s remorse at all.

I know what I signed up for. I understand where I am right now. I know I’m supposed to help drive the eyeballs to this network.

 

 

 

 

Stephen A enjoys Jay Pharoah’s impression on SNL

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You know you’ve reached a new level of celebrity when Saturday Night Live starts to goof on you. SNL locked in on ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Saturday.

Stephen A. had a favorable impression of Jay P’s impression. On his Twitter feed, he said:

Saturday Night Live spoofed me last night. And I got to admit: it was damn HILARIOUS! Loved it! Hysterical!!!

Then on SportsCenter, he said:

“It was hysterical…but I would never wear that shirt w/that tie.”

And one more from this morning:

“Loved it! It was Hilarious. Comical. Especially the looks/facial expressions. I’m still laughing!”

The skit didn’t appear on the actual show. It ran as a bonus on SNL’s site.

I think the bit killed. I wouldn’t be surprised if Pharoah’s Stephen A becomes a regular character on Weekend Update.

Next, I’m looking forward to SNL’s take on Skip Bayless.