Colin Cowherd Podcast - Steph Curry The Most Impactful Athlete Ever? ESPN Dumps MLB, WNBA Needs To Embrace Caitlin Clark,
Feb 27, 2025
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In this discussion, sportswriter Ethan Strauss, known for his insights on the Golden State Warriors, joins to debate Steph Curry's impact on elevating the franchise's value. They liken Caitlin Clark to Curry in women's sports and critique the WNBA’s missed chances to leverage her popularity. Strauss suggests college basketball as a prime opportunity for broadcast investment. They also scrutinize ESPN's recent dumping of MLB rights, question past media blunders, and analyze Jeff Bezos's influence on The Washington Post along with the broader media landscape.
Steph Curry's impact has transformed the Golden State Warriors into a top franchise, showcasing the financial power of star athletes.
Caitlin Clark has emerged as a pivotal figure in women's sports, highlighting the missed opportunities for the WNBA to capitalize on her popularity.
ESPN's decision to drop MLB broadcasting rights raises questions about the network's strategic direction and past missteps in sports media.
Deep dives
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The Evolution of the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have transformed from a struggling franchise into one of the most valuable teams in the NBA, largely due to the impact of Steph Curry. Historical analysis shows that before Curry's arrival, the franchise was relatively obscure and garnered little media attention. His star power, coupled with significant draft choices and a strong supporting cast, has completely reshaped the team's identity and financial value. The change serves as a fascinating case study in how pivotal players can drive both on-court success and franchise valuation.
Steph Curry's Lasting Impact on Basketball
Steph Curry's influence on basketball transcends individual achievements, radically altering the game's style and approach. His exceptional shooting ability has led to a cultural shift where long-range shots have become more common, affecting how teams strategize offensively. Analysts note that while his style has been emulated, it’s challenging for others to replicate the skill level that makes him so effective. As a result, Curry has helped promote a more exciting and unpredictable style of play, echoing throughout all levels of basketball.
The State of Women's College Basketball
Women's college basketball is at a pivotal moment, with emerging stars like Caitlin Clark drawing significant attention and redefining the sport's landscape. As schools and institutions recognize the potential market for women's sports, there’s a growing opportunity to capitalize on talented athletes, further elevating their visibility. This evolution is contrasted with the traditional struggles of the WNBA, as issues surrounding market recognition and equitable promotion raise questions about the sport's future. The success of players like Clark and Angel Reese could potentially lead to a renaissance in women's sports, requiring adaptive strategies from leagues and media alike.
Colin’s joined by Ethan Strauss, sportswriter and host of the “House of Strauss” podcast!
They start by talking about the revival of the Golden State Warriors brand to now being considered one of the top 5 most valuable franchises, debate how much of that valuation can be attributed to Steph Curry and agree he’s the most transformational athlete in American sports history (3:00).
They discuss Caitlin Clark being the “Steph Curry” of women’s sports and why the WNBA has missed opportunities to capitalize on her popularity (12:00).
They put on their business executive hats and pick their top sports events/leagues etc that they would choose to buy the broadcasting rights to or make changes to and Ethan identifies college hoops as a huge opportunity (25:45).
They pivot to ESPN dumping the broadcasting rights to Major League Baseball and question the move happening at a time when baseball has experienced a resurgence with star players on the biggest teams in the biggest markets (31:30). They also recount some of ESPN’s biggest whiffs in the past including passing on signing a rights deal with the UFC, and discuss the importance of avoiding confirmation bias in business, life and politics (39:00).
They dive into the story that Jeff Bezos is mandating changes to the opinion section at The Washington Post, debate whether that mandate was out of line and talk about why traditional media is severely lacking in self-awareness (1:01:15).
Finally, they discuss the rapid changes to government being made by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk and whether the media’s hair on fire response is overblown (1:10:00).
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