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Turner Sports Exec Says Draymond Green Has ‘Bright Future’ As Broadcaster

“Green has been open about his desire to find a second professional life in the media. He told Marc Stein of The New York Post that he had a goal of being the NBA’s answer to Tony Romo.”

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Draymond Green has never been shy about expressing an opinion. Just look at his rant earlier this week about the media and the league holding team owners to a lower standard than players when it comes to dealing with roster moves.

That quality is why Tara August, Turner Sports’ senior vice president of talent relations and special projects, told Richard Deitsch the Golden State Warriors forward will likely wind up on television when his playing career is over.

“Draymond has a long, bright future in television,” August said. “There’s very few players, especially active players, who are as comfortable as he is giving opinion and not being nervous about the fallout, which people might find shocking. When people talk about him on the air, he’s quick to defend himself or call them out. He’s OK with giving criticism and critiques about what he sees about players, teams, coaches, and being comfortable and authentic. He really isn’t trying to go after anyone — he’s just speaking his mind about what he sees, and he’s OK with people agreeing with it or not, much in the same way that Charles [Barkley] has always been. He’s just authentic and comfortable in his own skin and really has a great mind in watching the game. We really think he’s got great potential long-term.”

Green has already done some work for Turner. Last July he was part of the special presentation The Arena, which lead into the league restart inside the Walt Disney World bubble. He also made multiple appearances on Inside the NBA during the playoffs.

August says that in those appearances, Green showed how invested he was in being his best on television.

“He was doing homework, he attended production meetings, he had ideas that he was bringing into the fold. He really took it seriously and was excited about it. Each time he made appearances with us, we would hear from him before the show about ideas or games or highlights.”

Green has been open about his desire to find a second professional life in the media. He told Marc Stein of The New York Post that he had a goal of being the NBA’s answer to Tony Romo.

Draymond Green is 30 years old. He is signed through the end of the 2023-2024 season. At that point, he will be 34 years old. He already has three world championship rings. Is it possible that he is thinking about an early retirement or is it more likely that Draymond Green will take every opportunity he can to get some broadcasting reps in because when you are playing in the NBA, you don’t get many chances to call NBA games?

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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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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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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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