Connect with us
Jim Cutler Demos

Sports TV News

Kenny Albert Believes Hockey Is Easiest Sport To Announce

“Baseball to me is the most challenging if you don’t do it every day because there is so much down time in between pitches and you have to rely even more so on the analyst.”

Avatar photo

Published

on

On Wednesday night, the NHL on TNT will begin its second season with a doubleheader of action. In Game 2 of the doubleheader, Kenny Albert will be on the call with Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones, and Jackie Redmond as the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche host the Chicago Blackhawks (9:30 PM ET).

Albert was a guest on the latest episode of The Wormcast: How Sports Media Happens Podcast on Tuesday and he said NHL on TNT in its first year went very well and mentioned how having ex-players ask questions to current players before the game made for better answers.

“I thought year 1 went very, very well. I loved some of the things that Turner decided to do with the pregame crew. Those guys would do the interview with players before the games on the ice for example. Those of us in the booth can ask the same 2-3 questions to a player before the game and you might get the same stock answers. What are the keys tonight? What are the biggest challenges against your opponent? When you have a Wayne Gretzky or a Rick Tocchet or an Anson Carter or a Paul Bissonette asking the questions, the players certainly react to that.”

Going into that first season, Albert mentioned that they wanted to take the great work that NBC did in the prior 15 years and add to it.

“I think the mantra was to take what NBC had done over the decade and a half and move forward and enhance the broadcast. I thought both networks did an outstanding job.”

Albert has one of the unique distinctions of having been a play-by-play announcer for all four major sports (MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA). To the surprise of many, Albert said that hockey is the easiest one to call and if you don’t call baseball everyday, it will be a challenge.

“There are similarities to all 4, but also major differences. To me, hockey is the easiest and most people think it would be the hardest…On the radio, you have to be so descriptive and give the time and score a lot more often no matter what the sport is. Hockey, on radio in particular, you are just calling the game for 60 minutes. Football is the most rhythmic. Baseball to me is the most challenging if you don’t do it every day because there is so much down time in between pitches and you have to rely even more so on the analyst.”

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Sports TV News

Katie Mox Signs Contract Extension with CBS Sports

“I will be taking my talents to South [Florida]” to join the amazing HQ team in Fort Lauderdale!”

Barrett Sports Media

Published

on

Katie Mox
Courtesy: Katie Mox

CBS Sports betting analyst Katie Mox has signed a contract extension with CBS Sports. Mox made the announcement via her X account.

“Happy to share I have extended my contract with CBS Sports and that “I will be taking my talents to South [Florida]” to join the amazing HQ team in Fort Lauderdale!” Mox posted.

Mox was hired by CBS Sports in August 2022, added the Pick Six Podcast in March 2023 and then was added as a fantasy sports contributor for That Other Pregame Show prior to the start of last year’s football season.

Mox is a host and sports betting analyst for CBS Sports and SportsLine. She is an anchor for SportsLine on CBS Sports HQ in addition to her podcast hosting duties. Mox also serves as a football and basketball betting analyst for programs such as CBS Sports HQ Spotlight, Fantasy Football Today, and The Early Edge.

Mox has also hosted shows for MSG Network in the past and is part of Omaha Productions’ podcast lineup on ESPN.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

Bill Belichick to Appear in All ‘ManningCast’ Alternate Presentations Next Season

Manning stated that Belichick will appear early in the game, likely during the first quarter, to provide his insights and analysis pertaining to the action.

Barrett Sports Media

Published

on

Bill Belichick
Courtesy: Adam Glanzman, Getty Images

While there are still several months until the start of the NFL regular season, anticipation is building towards the action on the field. The Kansas City Chiefs will take the gridiron as back-to-back Super Bowl champions and aim to continue their dynasty, becoming a consistent presence at the top of the AFC. Bill Belichick departed his role as general manager and head coach of the New England Patriots this past season and knows what it is like to be part of a dynasty, having won six Super Bowl championships in 17 years. For the upcoming season, he will be part of the Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli alternate broadcast presentation produced through a partnership between ESPN and Omaha Productions.

Belichick will be part of every ManningCast next season, as divulged by Omaha Productions founder and two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Peyton Manning during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Manning stated that Belichick will appear early in the game, likely during the first quarter, to provide his insights and analysis pertaining to the action. Additionally, Belichick will make weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show during the NFL season and also participated in its Draft Spectacular broadcast from the NFL Draft in Detroit.

“I said, ‘Bill, we want you to come on. Look, we’d love to go behind the ropes on the defensive side as to kind of what the Eagles are going to have to do to stop Patrick Mahomes, right? And if you ever run out of things to say, just make fun of Eli, right? That’s always sort of a time-filler,’ and Bill doesn’t like Eli,” Manning explained. “We all know that – two Super Bowls – so it’s just a match made in heaven.”

As a former NFL quarterback, Manning remembers Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy meeting with him early in the week to break down the opposing defense and guiding him on how to plan for a contest. Looking back on it, he believes that the instruction from a defensive-minded coach ultimately made him a better quarterback. Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told Manning that Belichick did the same with him at the beginning of the week and how to overcome the challenges presented by the opposing defense.

“I think the audience is going to be fascinated at how smart he is,” Manning said. “Look, you guys saw how witty he is. I watched the Draft show you guys did; it was awesome. He’s quick-witted, he’s funny and like I said, he’s brilliant when it comes to defense and offense.”

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading

Sports TV News

ESPN Set to Begin 28th Season with WNBA; ‘WNBA Countdown’ Expands Coverage

Barrett Sports Media

Published

on

Graphic for WNBA Tip-Off on ESPN
Graphic Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN, which has carried WNBA games since its inception in 1997, will begin its 28th season with a doubleheader that features Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever in game one at the Connecticut Sun followed by two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces hosting the Phoenix Mercury. The games will be shown on ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+.

Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe will call game one with Tiffany Greene, Debbie Antonelli and Angel Gray handling game two.

In a release, ESPN said it “will utilize a WNBA Finals-level production setup for Indiana’s first game to document Clark’s debut. Comprehensive coverage will feature multiple camera angles, including Below and Above the Rim Cam viewing options, roving RF handheld cameras, and player mics.”

WNBA Countdown, ESPN’s pregame show, will feature two different desks for its ESPN and ABC broadcasts throughout the regular season. LaChina Robinson will host for ESPN’s broadcasts. She will be joined by analysts Monica McNutt and Carolyn Peck, a former WNBA head coach and GM who has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. ABC’s broadcast team will feature a new lineup with SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan leading the way, along with Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter.  

The first regular season edition of the show will originate live from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut with Robinson, McNutt and Peck. A second show will include coverage of the Aces championship ring ceremony and banner unveiling.

Duncan, Ogwumike, and Carter will make their WNBA Countdown on ABC debut Saturday, May 18, prior to the Indiana Fever at New York Liberty game.

Sign up for the BSM 8@8

The Top 8 Sports Media Stories of the Day, sent directly to your inbox, every morning at 8am ET.

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

Barrett Media Writers

Copyright © 2024 Barrett Media.