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Kendrick Perkins, Marcus Spears Team Up For Podcast

“ESPN has added seven new shows to their podcast network since July, which houses 35 shows and launched in 2005.”

Russ Heltman

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Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN is pairing two of its biggest personalities together for their own podcast. Kendrick Perkins and Marcus Spears are hosting Swagu and Perk on the ESPN Podcast Network.

The weekly show features all the antics and banter between Spears and Perkins surrounding the NBA and NFL. They’ll also mix in entertaining stories from their time in the NBA and NFL, along with their day-to-day lives.

“I’m excited to co-host Swagu & Perk with Kendrick,” said Spears in a press release. “We will be chopping it up about football and basketball of course, yet it will be more about life, growing up in Louisiana (for him Texas) and this journey we are both on as Black men, fathers, and husbands in today’s America. Can’t wait to have listeners hear us break down what’s happening in the world and most importantly – laugh with us. This will be fun above all else.”

The show debuts on Oct. 25 and joins one of the strongest podcast offerings in sports media. ESPN has grown its podcasting platform significantly over the past five years.

“Can’t wait for the world to hear me and my bro Big Swagu,” Perkins said about the project. “We’re about to bring a different flavor to the podcast world and we’ll be talking about anything and everything culturally relevant in sports, entertainment, and the world! deep-fried to be Cajun rubbed and deep fried in authenticity…get your popcorn ready!”

ESPN has added seven new shows to their podcast network since July, which houses 35 shows and launched in 2005. This project won’t take away any air time from Perkins or Spears. The former is making regular appearances on NBA Today throughout this season and will join the Wednesday edition of NBA Countdown starting in February.

Spears is a regular panelist on NFL Live and appears on Get Up. ESPN is banking that their infectious energy can entertain audiences on a whole different medium.

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FanDuel Parent Company Sets NYSE Listing Date

The date takes place just before Super Bowl LVIII.

Jordan Bondurant

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Flutter, the parent company of FanDuel, has revealed the date in which it plans to start being listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Trading on the stock will begin on January 29, the day after the AFC and NFC Championship Games, which will reveal the matchup for Super Bowl LVIII. The company will be found on the ticker as FLUT.

Flutter plans to delist from the Euronext Dublin exchange and keep a separate listing on the London Stock Exchange, according to Front Office Sports.

95% of FanDuel is owned by Flutter.

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Endeavor Partners With TNA Wrestling to Launch Streaming Service

“We are proud to partner with Endeavor Streaming on this initiative, and we look forward to continuing to provide our fans with the absolute best in new, classic and exclusive professional wrestling content…”

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A photo of the TNA+ logo

TNA Wrestling has announced it has entered into a new deal with Endeavor to launch a streaming service.

While previously utilizing the Impact Wrestling brand, Anthem Sports & Entertainment has revived the TNA Wrestling brand as part of a relaunch ahead of the new streaming service which will debut on Friday, January 5th.

“This is truly an incredible opportunity for us as we forge into an exciting new chapter of the TNA legacy,” said TNA Wrestling President Scott D’Amore. “We are proud to partner with Endeavor Streaming on this initiative, and we look forward to continuing to provide our fans with the absolute best in new, classic and exclusive professional wrestling content, available to them anywhere, anytime, on their favorite devices, when TNA+ launches on January 5.”

“Wrestling fans are some of the most passionate in the world of sports and entertainment and TNA+ is the perfect ‘always-on’ personalized OTT service to help TNA build a deeper relationship with its global audience,” added Endeavor CCO Pete Bellamy. “We’re looking forward to working with TNA to deliver the best streaming experience for wrestling fans.”

Price points are $9.99 per month or $95.99 per year for subscribers. An additional tier is available for $219.99 per year which will include the four “tent-pole” pay-per-view events.

The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise in the wrestling world. Impact Wrestling previously held partnerships with the AEW and New Japan wrestling promotions. Meanwhile, Endeavor recently completed its merger of WWE and UFC in a more than $20 billion deal.

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Dianna Russini: Joining The Athletic ‘Hardest Thing I’ve Done in My Life’

“Writing is really challenging, but really rewarding as well. I’m really happy. I love what I’m doing now.”

Ricky Keeler

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Dianna Russini
Courtesy: Joe Faraoni, ESPN Images

If you are looking for the NFL reporter who has the most headline-worthy stories this week, look no further than Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Russini had the story about how the Carolina Panthers team culture resembles The Hunger Games written with Joseph Person and the one where Zach Wilson was reportedly reluctant to play for the New York Jets again as their quarterback written with Zack Rosenblatt and Jeff Howe.

Russini was a guest on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on Friday and she said that despite some of the backlash she might get from fans from the teams she reports on, she hopes the credibility she has built up with past stories will allow people to trust she is reporting the truth. 

“When you have been doing this a long time and become a credible person covering the league, you hope that because of all the past stories you’ve done, you’ve built this trust with the audience and with the fans. What I realized over the last few days is it’s not that they don’t believe the report is accurate. They know the report is accurate, the story is just unbelievable.”

During this week, Dianna Russini mentioned that she has heard from Jets fans when she drops her kids off at daycare and hasn’t heard many great things. At the same time, even though some try to discredit her reports, she is not trying to pile on people’s misfortunes, but instead report the facts. 

“Unfortunately, it’s just my job to uncover the story and uncover the news. When the number two pick doesn’t want to play or is hesitant or reluctant, whatever word the Jets are comfortable with the world knowing about at this point, that’s a story to me. I feel bad for Zach. I’m not this cold, mean witch that wants to piss on the Jets organization, but this is a story.”

“People just want to blame someone and I understand it,” Russini continued. “At the end of the day, if I was a fan and there were reporters covering a team and being able to share everything that’s happening and giving you the truth, I would appreciate it.”

“The best part about reporting the truth is you are actually indifferent about it. I’m working on two other stories now. I’ve moved past it because I stand by my reporting on it.”

Since joining The Athletic three months ago, Dianna Russini said it has been the hardest thing in her career, but she is enjoying the reward of the hard work that she is putting into her writing. 

“The Athletic has been tremendous. No one told me it would be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Writing is really challenging, but really rewarding as well. I’m really happy. I love what I’m doing now. It took me 40 years to be able to really feel that and say that and express it. It’s really been a great three months already at The Athletic.” 

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