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Bomani Jones Says NBA Deserves Scrutiny, Leeway In Season Restart

“Throughout this segment, Jones did bring up the importance of balance whenever social issues come up in sports.”

Ricky Keeler

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We are about two weeks away from the start of the NBA season when the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans will square off in Orlando, Florida (6:30 p.m ET, TNT). While the spotlight will be on the games itself, a lot of people in the sports media industry are going to pay close attention to how these games are televised and produced.

On the latest episode of The Right Time with Bomani Jones, Jones spent a segment talking about how the NBA games need to be treated with the same level of scrutiny as a television show and how it is ironic that he is saying this.

“In the end, what they are producing is a television show. These basketball games are a television show and you got to figure it out with this emphasis on these matters and how to make a good television show around that,” said Jones referring to the emphasis that is put on Black Lives Matter.

“You cannot be in a situation if you are the league where an adherence to amplifying the cause becomes bigger than the television show itself. That’s not going to work. That’s going to be a problem.”

There is a lot of uncertainty as to how the NBA will incorporate addressing social issues during the game itself. While Jones said he did not know the middle ground, he did say that they need to keep the larger cause in mind when thinking about what they want to do.

“I hope the NBA is careful in the way they do it. I don’t know the middle ground. Where is the space that is effective, but is not corny overkill. They need to be concerned about this if they are really concerned about the larger cause in the way that they say…This is ambitious what they are saying what they want to do. I will give them grace if they get it wrong. I don’t need to slam them for getting it wrong, but you have to get it right.”

Throughout this segment, Jones did bring up the importance of balance whenever social issues come up in sports. He mentioned how when discussing what to talk about, he does realize that just because someone agrees with him on an issue, that does not mean it should be talked about all the time.

“We can’t come out here running an NPR program. You as a listener, even those of you who agree with me on a lot of these matters, you are not sticking around for that all the time. That’s not what you want.” 

Jones did bring up a good example of that balance when he talked about when he was co-hosting High Noon with Pablo Torre. When they were planning out a topic on social issues, Jones knew that the content was important to get the viewer to stay with the program.

“If we want to go here, we can’t be a little bit good. We have to be very good or great if we are going to go in these directions. I have to feel very confident that it is a piece of content that is worthwhile and that will stick with you. That’s what I feel about the NBA.”

The NBA is going to be under the microscope for many different reasons if the season does start on time and the eye of the viewer will not only be on the product on the court, but also how the game is produced and televised since there will be no fans at the game in-person. 

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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Colorado Rockies & DirecTV Reach Agreement to Carry Games on TV

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination for their favorite local teams. We will continue to work with MLB…so fans can get their games.”

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Colorado Rockies

Breathe easy, Rockies fans — you will be able to watch your club on linear TV this year. At the buzzer, DirecTV and the Colorado Rockies agreed on terms to distribute the team’s games throughout its local service.

Starting today, DirecTV Choice subscribers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska, and Northern New Mexico can now watch the Rockies on a special channel simply titled, “ROCKIES.” The games will be available on DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM via channel 683.

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination to get all their favorite local teams,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “We will continue to work with MLB, the NBA, NHL, and other top leagues and their local franchises so the most avid fans can get the games they want while other customers have more choice over the content they want to pay to have in their homes.”

Reports just days ago out of Colorado said there were “no guarantees” the Rockies would not find a TV home in time for Opening Day following the sunsetting of AT&T SportsNet. The only other way to watch the team is to use its direct-to-consumer Rockies.tv streaming service, which fans say is too pricey for a team that lost 103 games last season. Luckily, the team was able to secure a TV home for 2024, though the future is still uncertain.

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Erin Andrews Reveals Infertility Journey in Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview

FOX reporter Erin Andrews sat down with ‘The Today Show’s’ Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

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Erin Andrews

FOX reporter Erin Andrews shared her story of infertility and surrogacy with NBC’s Today Show. Last summer, Andrews and her husband welcomed a baby boy via surrogate after trying for a decade to get pregnant via IVF, during which she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, she sat down with Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

Andrews says Welker’s announcement on the Today Show made her think a baby could be possible. “I remember Kristin Welker’s announcement on your show,” Andrews said last year, “and I actually watched that the morning Mac was born, because that just hit me.”

When they finally sat down, Welker asked Andrews why her journey resonated with the sports reporter so much:

“Because I see myself in you. Kristen, the video of you moderating debates after you’re waiting on bad news or maybe you just received it, that’s me. I can tell you every stand-up I’ve done at a football game where I’ve gotten the news that it didn’t work. I’d be talking about Tom Brady going for this record and my record is that I still was failing…I would have chest pains every time I was waiting for the call if it worked, and I knew it wouldn’t work.

Erin Andrews on ‘Today’

Andrews knew surrogacy was the only path to having a child. Although her family’s first attempt failed, her second attempt was a success, and she got to hear her child’s heartbeat for the very first time. The pair discuss the complex emotions that come with surrogacy, saying that bonds with their child could be affected because they didn’t carry their child. However, Welker assured Andrews that those feelings go away once you can talk to your child.

Once her son was born in June, who Andrews called, “a miracle,” she then talks about her child glowingly, talking about how he is just like mom — vocal. “He’s all me,” she says.

Andrews supports Baby Quest, a non-profit that grants money to families in need of IVF or surrogacy to have a baby but don’t have the funds to pursue these expensive treatments. Both Andrews and Welker acknowledged how difficult and unattainable their journies are for some families — and Andrews even used the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative to raise awareness for her cause.

“People don’t need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help,” Andrews said.

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