Sports Media with Richard Deitsch

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcaster Donnovan Bennett joins the Sports Media Podcast following Toronto’s Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 World Series. In the podcast we discuss the Game 7 loss; if winning is the only thing that matters here; the biggest moments in Game 7; how we should think about Jeff Hoffman giving up the tying home run in the ninth inning and Daulton Varsho's at-bat in the bottom of the inning; upcoming free agents Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, Shane Bieber, Chris Bassett, SerAnthony Dominguez, Ty France, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa and what we would do with the free agents and what we expect the Blue Jays to do, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Booger McFarland, an ESPN college football and NFL analyst with a rich background as a player, shares insights from his 11 years at ESPN. He discusses the balance between covering college and NFL football, revealing how fan feedback differs across both realms. Booger dives into the coaching changes at LSU, Indiana's rise under coach Kurt Signeitti, and the evolving landscape of sports gambling. He also reflects on his desire to return to live game calling, emphasizing the shift in analyst perspectives, and shares a thrilling high-stakes card game story from his travels.

Booger McFarland, former NFL player turned ESPN and ABC studio analyst, shares some wild stories from his football days. He dives into the intriguing world of card games played during flights, revealing the rules and high stakes involved. The highlight? He recounts an astonishing moment where he pocketed up to $22,000 while flying! McFarland's insights on sports gambling and the camaraderie among players on these journeys make for an engaging discussion.

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcaster Donnovan Bennett joins the Sports Media Podcast following Toronto’s Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. In the podcast we discuss the remarkable run of the Blue Jays this postseason; Trey Yesavage’s incredible performance; the continued effectiveness of the bottom of the Blue Jays order; why the Dodgers have struggled'; scenarios for Game 6 and Game 7, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 558 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch featuresKen Belson, who writes about sports, power and money for The New York Times. He is the author of a new book, "Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the N.F.L. Into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut." In this podcast, Belson discusses how does one go about reporting on NFL ownership; where the ownership power-centers are in the NFL; Goodell's goal of reaching $25 billion in total revenue by 2027; why the games are too much of a narcotic for people to care en masse about health; how NFL owners are navigating Donald Trump's criticism of Bad Bunny playing halftime of Super Bowl; what will be the impact of private equity firms buying minority stakes in NFL teams; how ownership looks at sports gambling and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 557 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features Dani Wexelman and Jenny Cavnar, who lead SiriusXM’s pre-game shows on the MLB Network Radio channel prior to every World Series game. In this podcast the guests discuss the goal of a good baseball pregame show; expectations for the rest of the World Series; working in a male-majority business; the importance of prep for their jobs; Cavnar discusses her role as the  play by play caller for the Athletics, the first woman to serve as an MLB team’s primary play by play announcer for television; Wexelman discusses the challenges of navigating a non-linear career in MLB media; their respective dream interview subjects from anyone in the history of the game, and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here's a short clip from our interview with Ken Belson, who writes about sports, power and money at the NFL and for The New York Times. He is the author of a new book, "Every Day Is Sunday: How Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Roger Goodell Turned the N.F.L. Into a Cultural & Economic Juggernaut." In this preview clip of the full interview later this week, Belson discusses how the NFL owners look at sports gambling. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Vorkunov, a senior sports business writer at The Athletic, dives into the fusion of basketball and business. He discusses the unique challenges of launching an independent podcast and his insights on NBA media rights and valuations. Vorkunov explores the NBA's global strategy, including potential expansions in Europe and Africa. He highlights the burgeoning opportunities in women's basketball and assesses the proposed Project B league's rivalry with the WNBA. With a keen eye on future growth, he outlines the factors driving women's sports into the spotlight.

Here’s a short clip from our upcoming interview with Mike Vorkunov, a basketball writer at The Athletic who covers the intersection of business and basketball. In this clip, we discuss how the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers-Aspiration story will play out. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this podcast, longtime Canadian sports broadcasters Donnovan Bennett and Arash Madani join the Sports Media podcast following Toronto's Game 7 win over the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series. In this podcast we discuss the remarkable season the Blue Jays have had; how Game 7 was won; where George Springer's seventh-inning home run ranks in franchise history; John Schneider's managerial decisions; how the pitching staff sets up for the Dodgers series; whether we would role the dice and start Trey Yesavage in Game One; how would we use Bo Bichette in the World Series; our predictions and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices