On Thursday night, the lives of over 50 basketball players were changed forever from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. at the 2023 NBA Draft. First overall draft selection Victor Wembanyama was the headline attraction, and the French phenom’s arrival to the Association attracted more than 12,000 people to celebrate at a watch party from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Brandon Miller and Sterling “Scoot” Henderson were the next two selections by Charlotte and Portland, respectively, followed by the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar.
Coverage of the night was broadcast across multiple platforms owned by The Walt Disney Company, including ESPN, ESPN Radio and ABC. While there were a variety of analysts on the ESPN broadcast including JJ Redick, Andraya Carter and Jay Bilas, the ABC broadcast was more predicated on storytelling and featured the duo of Kevin Neghandi and Stephen A. Smith. Yet it was a moment before the proceedings officially commenced that caught the attention of some astute viewers involving Smith and Wembanyama penetrating far beyond the stark height difference.
Instead of asking him about basketball or the draft process itself, Smith chose to ask Wembanyama about his outfit. Many draft picks entered the arena flaunting expensive jewelry and flamboyantly immersing themselves into the professional lifestyle, and it was indeed part of the NBA Draft Red Carpet Special. Yet Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan morning host and FOX Sports football analyst Mark Schlereth could not help wondering just what exactly was happening.
“I’m like, ‘What in the world are we doing?,’” Schlereth said. “We’re going to talk about what you’re wearing going into the NBA Draft? I was just like, ‘You lost me,’ and maybe that’s because I’m just an old fart but Lord have mercy, aren’t there other things to talk about than the suit that you’re wearing?”
Smith has hardly concealed his desire to broaden his media coverage beyond the world of sports, hence why he podcasts three times a week on his eponymously named program, The Stephen A. Smith Show. The topics discussed on that program do not always directly pertain to sports and include conversations about politics, pop culture and hard news. Nearly every week, different media outlets are covering what Smith has to say on the podcast, with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich even granting him his own segment.
“He wants to host the Oscars [and] he wants to run for president,” Chad Andrus said while filling in for Mike Evans on the show. “[Stephen A. Smith] doesn’t think he’s a sports talking head; he thinks he’s a superstar appealing to everyone.”
The Walt Disney Company choosing to put Smith in its red carpet coverage and then on ABC to interview draft selections in a more casual, relaxed setting was a different viewership experience from the traditional linear broadcast. There was less time devoted to analysis about the draftees from Smith and more dedicated to storytelling and questions related to lifestyle. Basketball fans more interested in the culture of the game were inclined to watch ABC, while those looking for focused conversation and news likely watched ESPN.
I just love competition — but I’m not a huge NBA guy compared to what I like NFL wise,” Schlereth said. “The NBA Draft — it felt like ESPN is trying to make it the NFL Draft. Right off the bat, it just made me like, ‘Oh my gosh, you have got to be kidding me.’
Schlereth observed that Smith’s on-air performance had some resemblance to an audition for the Academy Awards. He does not doubt that Smith is deliberately trying to display what he can do beyond informing and entertaining viewers weekday mornings on First Take and trying to fulfill his own goal of being the No. 1 media personality of all time.
“I know Stephen A. well enough to know that – yes, he doesn’t think he’s a superstar; he knows he’s a superstar,” Schlereth said.
“Well he’s paid like one, so it’s kind of tough to argue,” Andrus replied.
The road to 700 for Kincade in Philly hasn’t always been an easy one. One thing John has been dealing with has been a colon cancer diagnosis back in the spring that led to a brief time away from the show.
Still, Kincade was thankful for the listeners who’ve continued to tune in and get the show to this point.
“In radio, if you could find a show that’s faced more adversity in 700 shows, I’d like to buy them a beer. That is what I would say to you,” Kincade added. “We appreciate all of you being a part of us for 700 shows, and we hope you’re gonna be with us for the next 700.”
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett Sports Media. He’s a multimedia journalist and communicator who works at the Virginia State Corporation Commission in Richmond. Jordan also contributes occasional coverage of the Washington Capitals for the blog NoVa Caps. His prior media experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, WRIC-TV 8News and Audacy Richmond. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.
It’s been a few days since VP of programming for iHeart Twin Cities Greg Swedberg attempted to get Taylor Swift’s attention ahead of Sunday’s Chiefs/Vikings game in Minneapolis. But Swedberg’s offer for Swift to come to the KFAN FM 100.3 broadcast booth and potentially do some play-by-play with Paul Allen still stands.
Swedberg was a guest with Paul Allen on Tuesday. Allen, the radio voice of the Vikings, asked Swedberg what exactly the plan was for Swift if she happened to see him and say hello.
“I thought she could come in and give you a break on play-by-play,” Swedberg joked.
“That’d be sweet! That’d be great!” Allen responded.
Swedberg has known Taylor Swift since she was a teenager just breaking through on the country music scene. While he said he wouldn’t consider them close friends, they know each other as associates.
Allen asked what would happen if she did show up. She usually rolls pretty deep with security and the like, so the situation in the broadcast booth could be crazy. But Swedberg did say he realizes Swift likely isn’t going to come say hello or anything on Sunday. He acknowledged that it’s possible Taylor doesn’t even show up in Minnesota at all. He just wishes some people would let people enjoy things.
“It’s a bit. Pretty much everything we do here is a bit to a certain extent,” he said. “But, I wouldn’t rule it out. It’s possible.”
“We would make room, wouldn’t we?” Allen asked.
Paul asked Greg the possibility that Swift and Travis Kelce’s family could be situated in a suite near the broadcast booth. Swedberg said if that’s the case, it would make it hard for her to ignore stopping in to say hi.
“If she wants to come in, it’s a quick trip from that booth – I’ve made that little trip myself – into your booth,” Swedberg said.
“It’s an extreme longshot, but hey, you know somebody for 17 years you take a shot,” he added. “And she’s very conscious of PR, and it would be a great scene!”
Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett Sports Media. He’s a multimedia journalist and communicator who works at the Virginia State Corporation Commission in Richmond. Jordan also contributes occasional coverage of the Washington Capitals for the blog NoVa Caps. His prior media experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, WRIC-TV 8News and Audacy Richmond. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.
Are Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the NFL in cahoots to drive publicity for each other? That’s what WEEI morning host Greg Hill believes.
During The Greg Hill Show Tuesday, the Boston-based host led a discussion about whether or not Swift was more popular than the NFL. Co-host Courtney Cox argued that it’s undeniable she is more famous than the NFL on the global stage. Meanwhile, colleague Jermaine Wiggins argued the pop start isn’t even the most popular artist in America.
“The reason this came up is because of the massive fraud, charade that is being pulled on America by all of them,” Hill said. “And that’s Kelce, that’s her, and that’s the NFL. Who is it benefiting the most? I think Courtney is right. I don’t think Taylor Swift needs the publicity.”
Producer Chris Curtis claimed 2.5 million people in Brazil watched Super Bowl LVII, while only 2 million attempted to get tickets for Swift’s shows in the country. Cox argued that was an apples-to-oranges comparison.
Hill maintained the alleged relationship between Swift and Kelce is simply a ploy by the NFL to seek out a new potential fan base with Swift’s massive following.
