Sports TV News
Bob Costas Doesn’t Listen To Outside Criticism
“I think if you don’t set the stage and frame it a little bit, then the casual fan isn’t drawn in as much and they don’t understand the dynamics of the series.”
Published
2 years agoon
By
BSM Staff
Bob Costas is serving as the play-by-play voice of ALDS between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians for TBS. He has received some criticism for his work from various outlets and sources, but he says he doesn’t listen to it.
The TBS announcer joined The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland Tuesday morning to discuss ALDS, before Lima brought up the criticism Costas has received.
“I see people like Mike Francesa and others that are critical of the way you call the sport,” Lima said after lamenting the lack of hearing Costas regularly over the course of the past few years. “I sucked up to you simply to ask this question: Does that hurt you? When you hear people come after you that way? Someone who has done it at your level for as long as you’ve done it.”
“I’m gonna give you an honest answer: I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to it because of the dynamics that we’ve been talking about. So I understand what it is. There was one comment — in line with what you’re talking about — ‘You don’t have to say these things about the Yankees. Everybody knows this.’ Does that person understand the nature of a national broadcast? Yes, everybody from Sacramento to Bangor, Maine knows who Aaron Judge is this year, but what about other factors within it.
I think if you don’t set the stage and frame it a little bit, then the casual fan isn’t drawn in as much and they don’t understand the dynamics of the series. Once you move along past the first couple of games, then the series takes on its own narrative and you do less of that. But today, for example, there has to be a little of that, because there will be casual fans tuning in — many of them for the first time because people tend to watch a deciding game, casual fans, more often than they would a game earlier in the series — so I understand everything that goes into that.”
Costas continued by saying no one can be more critical of him than he is.
“I’m also very self critical and I understand there are occasions when I don’t quite meet my own standard. I don’t quite accomplish what I set out to do, and I do understand that in possibly Game 1 of this series — because I was so well-prepared — I was trying to frame the series. In Game 1, the balance might have tilted too much to some of that background and history of the season and the history of the two franchises, which are interesting.
“Both have interesting and deep histories. It wasn’t that it was wrong to do or wasn’t done effectively. The proportion of the balance might have been a little bit out of whack. But after that? I think we just called the games the way we should call the games.”
Costas then mentioned with alternate broadcasts being in vogue, Major League Baseball should work with its network partners to formulate an alternate broadcast with the voices fans are familiar with.
“If the networks can figure out a way to cobble together the ratings — because let’s say if the Yankees play the Astros or the Yankees had played the Dodgers in the World Series, those are two huge markets — as long as they don’t give up the rating, I would think they could create an alternative platform where Cleveland announcers for this series and Yankee announcers for this series could call the game. They wouldn’t be able to have their own production crew. That would be unwieldy.
“But they could put their voices, in real time, over the pictures the network is providing. And as long as the rating locally, which would be drained a little bit in both cities, as long as that could be added to the network’s rating and as long as they played the same commercials so that the network wasn’t hurt in terms of revenue, that would be a reasonable alternative for people to have.
“Then Cleveland would have to, of course, decide if they wanted to put Tom Hamilton on television instead of on radio, and his style is suited greatly towards radio, but I’m sure he could adapt, but the point is why not allow that option to people? And I think a lot of people would sample both. They might go back forth, but at least they would have whatever their preference would be. And if the technology allows for it, I don’t see why baseball couldn’t go ahead and do it.”
Sports TV News
Bob Cole, Voice of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ Has Died
“Thank you for decades of love for his work, love of Newfoundland and love of hockey.”
Published
10 mins agoon
April 25, 2024By
BSM Staff
Bob Cole, the legendary voice of ‘Hockey Night in Canada’ has died at the age of 90.
“Thank you for decades of love for his work, love of Newfoundland and love of hockey,” his daughter, Megan Cole, told CBC News. She said her father had been healthy “up until the very end.”
Cole began his tenure as the play-by-play man on Hockey Night in Canada way back in 1969 when the games were carried by CBC Radio. When HNIC moved to TV in 1973, Cole came along. He was best known for his “Oh, baby!” catchphrase.
Fifty years later, Cole was finally done as a hockey broadcaster. He announced that 2018-19 would be his final season in the booth before the season had begun. April 6, 2019, his career came to an end with a Maple Leafs’ shootout loss to the Montreal Canadians.
Sports TV News
Report: Bill Belichick to Have Recurring Role on ManningCast
The report he also notes there could be a podcast in the works for Belichick through Omaha Productions.
Published
1 day agoon
April 24, 2024By
BSM Staff
Last week an ESPN.com report on former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said he was close to signing a deal with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. A new report from Andrew Marchand of The Athletic says all signs point to Belichick being a recurring guest on Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, also known as the ManningCast.
Belichick recently announced on The Pat McAfee Show he will take part in their Draft Spectacular on Thursday night for day 1 of the NFL Draft. McAfee has stated on a couple of occasions that he would like to have Belichick as a regular guest on his show, as he has done previously with Aaron Rodgers and Nick Saban.
In Marchand’s report he also notes there could be a podcast in the works for Belichick through Omaha Productions. The Athletic and ESPN have previously reported Belichick is also writing a book which will focus on leadership.
So, while not coaching this season, Belichick looks to stay very busy. Those close to the second winningest NFL head coach of all time, believe his plans are to be back on the sidelines next season.
Sports TV News
Joy Taylor, MJ Acosta-Ruiz to Co-Host Fuse Media ‘Like a Girl’ Series
“We remain steadfast in our mission to create and distribute content that ignites the ambitions of the next generation of trailblazing women.”
Published
1 day agoon
April 24, 2024By
BSM Staff
Fuse Media is embarking on a second season of Like A Girl, which includes conversations with athletes, executives and coaches who own the aforementioned phrase. The series grants viewers perspectives regarding issues that women face on and off the field, including equal pay, mental and reproductive health and race inequality. The company named Joy Taylor and MJ Acosta-Ruiz the hosts of the show, building off their chemistry that began with a friendship while attending Barry University.
Taylor and Acosta-Ruiz are also executive producers of the show, which will premiere over the summer. Outside of her work with Fuse Media, Taylor is the host of Speak on FOX Sports 1 featuring LeSean McCoy, Emmanuel Acho and James Jone. Additionally, she co-hosts the Two Personal lifestyle podcast with Taylor Rooks. Acosta-Ruiz is the host of NFL Total Access and co-host of the El Huddle Podcast through NFL Media. Moreover, she works with women’s empowerment groups including A Seat at the Table and aspires to continue amplifying voices of marginalized communities.
Previous guests on the show have included Olympic medalist April Ross, WNBA player Angel McCoughtry and Paralympic three-time champion Anastasia Pagonis. The first season of the series was a six-part program that was previously hosted by Beija Marie Velez that premiered last March.
In addition to the return of Like A Girl, Fuse Media has announced the creation of She Leads, a series of short-form videos that aim to inspire the next generation to shatter glass ceilings. The series will be focusing on highlighting the women who break barriers and subsequently inspire others. The short-form videos are aimed to connect with social media-focused audiences and encourage women to advocate for themselves and defy stereotypes.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to create and distribute content that ignites the ambitions of the next generation of trailblazing women,” Tania Campos, head of affiliate marketing and special projects at Fuse Media, said in a statement. “By amplifying women’s voices, we not only celebrate their leadership but also catalyze meaningful action through an engaging mentorship series, impactful narratives, and entertaining content.”
Last week, Fuse Media agreed to a partnership with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and the El Rey Rebel FAST Channel to start a Friday Night Fight series set to commence on Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. EST. The series will look back at memorable fights of the past, including De La Hoya’s bout against Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas.
On the following Saturday, May 11, the company will air Combate Global MMA, the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise that is exclusive to Fuse Media in English. Lucero “La Loba” Acosta will square off against Alejandra “Azul” Lara in a three-round flyweight main event live from Miami airing on Fuse at a start time to be determined.
