Sports TV News
Sports Media Reacts to Scary Situation in Cincinnati on Monday Night Football
“When something so significant and unprecedented happens on television, most go to social media to talk about it.”

Published
11 months agoon
By
BSM Staff
It was a scary scene Monday night as medics performed CPR on the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin. The defensive back collapsed during the first quarter of Buffalo’s much-anticipated matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.
When something so significant and unprecedented happens on television, most go to social media to talk about it. Members of the sports media were no exception.
I am beginning to get quite scared, looking at what happened, the ambulance on the field and the reactions of all the players.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 3, 2023
Damn, this is scary. Prayers up for @BuffaloBills Safety Damar Hamlin — who’s in critical condition. Just praying this brother survives and ends up okay.#🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 3, 2023
We use these cliches. “Going to war”, “willing to die”, “give it all”. That’s all talk. It’s a game. A game! You never suit up & think you’re not going to make it home. I can’t imagine what he & the Bills are going through. Please pray for Damar & his family! I’m fucking shook!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 3, 2023
This is just devastating.
— Jamie Erdahl 💍 Buckman (@JamieErdahl) January 3, 2023
i hope the players know they really don't have to play if they don't want to. in this moment, nobody can make them play. nobody.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) January 3, 2023
Tonight we should all be praying for Damar Hamlin.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) January 3, 2023
I’m sick watching this.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 3, 2023
Clips from the ESPN broadcast were shared across Twitter. In addition to video, there was plenty of praise for ESPN’s talent in the way they reacted in a scary moment,
Really appreciate the compassion and perspective of Ryan Clark and Scott Van Pelt shared talking through this heartbreaking situation involving Damar Hamlin.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2023
Listening to Lisa S. and SVP get emotional during the broadcast is evidence of just how impactful and emotional these events are for ALL of us…whether we personally know Damar Hamlin or not.
— Aaron Taylor (@AaronTaylorCFB) January 3, 2023
Absolutely impossible spot for them, but ESPN, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Suzy Kolber, Adam Schefter, Booger McFarland, Scott Van Pelt & Ryan Clark couldn’t have done a better job doing 3 straight hours of live news coverage of a tragic story w/ very little information.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) January 3, 2023
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Suzy Kolber, Adam Schefter and Booger McFarland did a great job in an impossible spot tonight.
— Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) January 3, 2023
Want to give credit to Scott Van Pelt, Ryan Clark, Lisa Salters, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and everyone else on ESPN right now.
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) January 3, 2023
There is no right thing to say. There is no update to give. And yet they're all on our TVs giving us anything they can.
Incredible work by all involved 🙏
Tonight is a night you really want thoughtful people on air. You want people who don't speculate. You want people with basic humanity. Lisa Salters, Booger McFarland, Ryan Clark, Joe Buck, Scott Van Pelt and pretty much everyone on ESPN so far has really done this tonight.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 3, 2023
Also, ESPN has not shown the Hamlin replay once since the situation was obviously serious. Classy. The producers behind the scenes deserve praise, too, for the coverage that many sports fans haven’t been able to turn away from tonight. https://t.co/w8xxDlJU8p
— Ryan Porth (@Porth670) January 3, 2023
Yes I saw what the unnamed stooge tweeted. I’d rather focus on the job true pros like Scott Van Pelt, Booger McFarland, Ryan Clark, Suzy Kolber, Lisa Salters, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and others have done and are doing in a remarkably tough spot right now.
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) January 3, 2023
FOX’s Skip Bayless found himself in the spotlight in the situation for the wrong reason. His tweet suggesting that it is important for the league to figure out when to resume the game was met with criticism from colleagues across the industry.
I’m embarrassed for some of my colleagues who sometimes show NO HUMANITY….
— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) January 3, 2023
Damar Hamlin’s LIFE is in the balance.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 3, 2023
Get your head out of your Ass. https://t.co/EpnnzyJrpb
We're seeing the kindest, most heartfelt side of Twitter tonight, in the wake of Damar Hamlin requiring CPR during MNF.
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) January 3, 2023
But, we're also seeing the worst of Twitter. Hard to believe some can be so cruel and callous.
Please lead w love and light. We only get 1 shot at this life.
For the millionth time, @realskipbayless – and I’ve known you for 32 years – you are a soulless fucking piece of shit. https://t.co/lUrg45M9fm
— fishsports (@fishsports) January 3, 2023
It is easy for fans to feel helpless in these moments. Some media members took it upon themselves to share information and links for people to donate to a toy drive organized by Damar Hamlin’s charity.
Damar Hamlin started a toy drive two years ago, as he prepared to try and make it in the NFL, and set a goal to raise $2,500. Bills fans found it tonight, and started donating to it.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 3, 2023
Current donation total: $905,464
Here's the link …https://t.co/pNIudOsFO2
Sports TV News
The CW to Air 2023 Barstool Arizona Bowl
After going streaming-only last year, the 2023 Barstool Arizona Bowl will also air on the CW.

Published
2 hours agoon
November 30, 2023By
Jeff Kotuby
The Barstool Arizona Bowl just secured an additional broadcast home — The CW.
The news broke earlier today on Twitter from the official Barstool Arizona Bowl account. The 2023 Barstool Arizona Bowl will stream once more on Barstool.TV but can also be found on your local CW affiliate.
🚨BREAKING🚨- The 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl is partnering with @TheCW Network as the official Broadcast partner for the Bowl. We are thrilled to be able to bring the most cutting edge postseason experience to college football fans across the nation. pic.twitter.com/rvDlbyL5NR
— The Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl (@theARIZONABOWL) November 30, 2023
Fear not, Stoolies — your favorite Barstool personalities won’t be replaced by The CW’s broadcast teams. Pardon My Take’s Jake Marsh confirmed that he will once again assume play-by-play duties, while his bosses Dan “Big Cat” Katz and Dave Portnoy will join him as color commentators. Caleb Pressley and Adam “Rone” Ferrone will act as sideline reporters.
Last year, Barstool ditched a traditional media platform to air their bowl game after reports surfaced that CBS wouldn’t work with Barstool to broadcast the game. Instead, the company streamed the game direct-to-consumer on Barstool.TV, the company’s streaming platform. Ratings were about on par with a streaming-only event, with 1 million total viewers, 500,000 unique viewers, and a high of 130,000 concurrent viewers according to Front Office Sports.
Last year, Ohio defeated Wyoming 30-27. We’ll find out which two teams will play in this year’s Barstool Arizona Bowl following this weekend’s college football slate.

Jeff Kotuby is a nationally-published journalist with bylines on many popular broadcasting and pop culture sites, including The Streamable, eBaum’s World, Twin Galaxies, and more. Jeff grew up in the shadows of New York City and cultivated his love for sports media with the classic broadcasting voices of the area, like Mike & The Mad Dog, Mike “Doc” Emerick, and Michael Kay. You can reach Jeff on Twitter @JeffKotu3y.
Sports TV News
CFP National Championship Game Could Rotate Between Partners in New TV Deal
According to Front Office Sports, ESPN and FOX have already made presentations to the CFP.

Published
2 hours agoon
November 30, 2023By
BSM Staff
Ahead of the College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion to 12 teams in the 2024 season, the playoff could look to have the National Championship Game rotate among its media partners every year.
The goal through the process would be to maximize the scope of the media rights fees and cross-promote the game once the existing 12-year, $5.64 billion rights deal with ESPN expires, sources have told Front Office Sports.
Various media outlets have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring rights to the CFP, including ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and Warner Bros. Discovery, along with streaming providers Amazon Prime Video and Apple. Michael McCarthy and Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports reported the news of the prospective structure, along with several media companies that could be involved in the bidding.
Within the report, it is stated that no structure of a deal has been agreed upon at the moment. Last year’s contest between Georgia and TCU averaged 17.2 million viewers on ABC, which made the contest the least-watched National Championship Game since the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) came into existence in 1999. According to Front Office Sports, ESPN and FOX have already made presentations to the CFP, and ESPN could be reportedly willing to forgo part of the CFP to pay for other rights, such as the National Basketball Association.
The discussion surrounding the CFP comes at a time when NASCAR recently announced seven-year media rights deals with CBS, NBC, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Amazon Prime Video worth a combined $7.7 billion. Moreover, the Big Ten inked a seven-year, $8 billion deal with CBS, NBC, and FOX that began this season and is slated to run through 2029.
ESPN will broadcast the National Championship Game on Jan. 8, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET.
Last year, the network presented an alternate broadcast featuring Pat McAfee and members of his program, The Pat McAfee Show, broadcast on ESPN2 while Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Molly McGrath were on the traditional presentation on ESPN.
Sports TV News
Andrew Whitworth: Being on Amazon Prime Video Keeps Me Connected to Football
“I just finished this incredibly long football career, but I feel like I’m 18 years old and I just got a fake ID and I can go to a club.”

Published
4 hours agoon
November 30, 2023By
BSM Staff
After 16 seasons in the NFL, Andrew Whitworth is officially retired from playing the game, but he is still very much around the gridiron as a member of Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football studio broadcast team.
Whitworth is on-site at the games every week behind the desk as an analyst on TNF Tonight where he provides his insight and expertise regarding the action on the field. The four-time Pro Bowler is situated alongside Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman, and Ryan Fitzpatrick, along with host Charissa Thompson.
In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, Whitworth described how he is looking at the game of football in a different light now that he is retired. Within his remarks, he conveyed that he is not sure if he was necessarily a fan of the sport when he was playing, something he acknowledges is ludicrous to state but a legitimate question he has. Rather than viewing the game as a whole, he was more focused on his role as an offensive tackle and being able to effectuate scoring drives by stopping defenses.
“I just finished this incredibly long football career, but I feel like I’m 18 years old and I just got a fake ID and I can go to a club,” Whitworth said. “That’s how I feel watching football now – I just want to consume everything I can.”
Immediately after the final season of his career – which ended with a Super Bowl championship as a member of the Los Angeles Rams – Andrew Whitworth wanted to discover a way to remain involved in the sport. There were options, he shared, to stay within the Rams organization, along with opportunities to work with other teams. His mindset was focused on the art of storytelling though and how to promulgate and discuss a sport that granted him a successful career.
“Being in these stadiums, it keeps you so connected,” Whitworth said. “And every week it seems, I’ve got players asking me, ‘Hey man, you got any thoughts on my game? Things you could help me with?’ For my last five or six years in the NFL, I was kind of a coach-player, mentoring guys. Now, I’m getting to do that a little bit while also covering the games, which has been great.”
Andrew Whitworth outlined a typical week as a member of the Amazon Prime Video Thursday Night Football broadcast, which begins with a production meeting on Monday mornings and subsequent research and film study. In the afternoon he coaches a junior high basketball team for his son and then proceeds to coach his other son’s football team. The film study continues on Tuesday before traveling to the city where the game is taking place that night.
“As soon as I get to that city, I start putting together a tape to talk about and show the producers,” Whitworth said of his Wednesday routine. “We all get together, usually at the hotel, and spend [four to five] hours having dinner and talking about the game.”
Another production meeting takes place on Thursday morning before touring the city and finding enjoyable things to do throughout the day. The crew then arrives to the stadium to do the broadcast that night – in this case, a matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks, which begins with TNF Tonight at 7 PM ET.