Marchand Sports Media

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 41-minute sports media podcast, ESPN original and the retired head of ESPN’s communications, Chris LaPlaca is the guest on “The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.” Through the years, ESPN transformed from scrappy underdog to The Worldwide Leader in Sports to the middle of American politics’ divide. LaPlaca was the right-hand man to ESPN’s leaders like George Bodenheimer, John Skipper and Jimmy Pitaro. He goes into detail on specific situations and controversies, while explaining the goals of ESPN communications over the years and in the future.For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.comWhat’s on tap:* What was ESPN like when LaPlaca joined ESPN in the early days* The Mom & Pop aspects of the business * ESPN went from the underdogs and cool to the leaders in scrutiny* What is the head of ESPN’s communications trying to accomplish* LaPlaca says you never lie as a PR person* How do you deal with the politics and with commentators, like Jemele Hill, etc.* How ESPN handled calls from the White House for Hill to be fired* Why did suspensions to people like Bill Simmons make sense* How ESPN handled the Dan Le Batard politics situation* How you deal with social media and whack-a-mole* Understanding a crisis vs. an issue* Stuart Scott and his critics* How Stephen A. Smith has a thick skin* LaPlaca remembers losing his temper with Marchand * Marchand says he would rather argue with PR people before a story than after* Bodenheimer told LaPlaca he needed him always available* Pitaro has said he never called LaPlaca where LaPlaca didn’t pick up* Why LaPlaca, Adrian Wojnarowski and Mike Vaccaro love St. Bonaventure so much* The old days fighting in Rudy Martzke’s column with Vince Wladika’s, Lou D’Ermilio, Dan Bell, Greg Hughes, Leslie Anne Wade and more* The truce with Wladika that Abe Madkour couldn’t believe* How Josh Krulewitz has done succeeding LaPlaca* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Tuesday (or earlier): Marchand & Meterparel* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 29-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel go in-depth on how ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro changed the relationship with the NFL post-John SkipperFor access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.comWhat’s on tap: * How post-John Skipper, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro has changed the network’s relationship with the NFL* What the ESPN-NFL Media deal can mean for the long-term* Why RedZone is so important* The reason ESPN’s DTC should go after MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network* ESPN better get the DTC technology correct* Where ESPN, Disney and Hulu are likely eventually going* What is next for Shannon Sharpe after ESPN cut ties with him, while Sharpe’s The Volume deal is ending* Ochocinco could be on-deck for First Take* Comparing YouTube’s first NFL game crew — Kurt Warner and likely Rich Eisen — to Netflix’s Christmas booths* Why UFC should be considered in the Fox-Indy Car deal * How did MLB’s Speedway Classic work out* Why ESPN, MLBN and The Athletic’s MLB trade deadline coverage was so good* MLB Network’s Ryne Sandberg touched all the bases* Alex Faust’s Apple mishap and how a play-by-player feels* Bob Iger vs. Gorilla Monsoon as greatest Ithaca College alumnus* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Thursday (or earlier): Chris LaPlaca is The Main Event* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 40-minute sports media podcast, Alex Flanagan is the guest on The Main Event with Andrew Marchand. Flanagan goes into detail how she went from a network sports reporter, who worked the sidelines on John Madden’s final Super Bowl in 2009, to an agent, representing people like Kimberley A. Martin, Rob Stone and Lisa Byington. It is a fascinating journey.For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.comHere is what is on tap: * Why after 25 years as a sportscaster, Flanagan transitioned to an agent* Her dad was in the Marine Corps, her mom was a rancher, she wanted to be on ‘60 Minutes’* She never questioned that she couldn’t do something* In 1993, on her first broadcasting job, she made $50K in the “middle of nowhere” Minnesota * She ran the Teleprompter with her foot* How she got her big break into Fox Sports on a Joe Buck show* Keith Olbermann became a mentor for her* Covering Kobe, Shaq and Barry Bonds for ESPN* How Mark Shapiro introduced Hollywood and sports and her place in it* Eric Weinberger at NFL Network brought her in from ESPN and then NBC arrived* She did Thursday Night Football, Notre Dame and Sunday Night Football pregame* How John Madden put “her in her place”* The nerves of working her first Super Bowl* Her great respect for Andrea Kremer* She did not know it was her Super Bowl responsibility to set-up the head coach halftime interview* The advantage of having been on-air as an agent* What is her pitch to prospective clients* How she looks at Pat McAfee’s arc as one to follow* What are the benefits of having an agent* Where does she see the business going* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Tuesday (or earlier): Marchand & Meterparel* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 35-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel go in-depth on the potential ESPN-NFL Media deal and why it could be revolutionary.For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.comWhat’s on tap:* Why the ESPN-NFL Media deal could be revolutionary during the Great Rebundling* What ESPN could do with the NFL Media assets it may gain* Why Comcast is thinking about restarting NBC Sports Network* How CBS Sports may be on the verge of becoming a sports behemoth* With Richard Jefferson back with Mike Breen on ABC/ESPN, what is the network considering with Doris Burke* ESPN brings in “The Rich Eisen Show” to anchor its national radio, which feels a bit like a do-over* Pat McAfee and a Jomboy Media producer apologize, and why your audience must be considered* Colin Cowherd has a Nick Saban and Arch Manning theory that we take for a spin* Ian Baker-Finch says goodbye on CBS after nearly two decades* Some fine camera work from YES with Aaron Judge* Jeff Teague’s LeBron mistake* What did Marchand & Meterparel think about the Hall of Fame introductions* The Stephen Colbert comparison to Michelle Beadle & Cody Decker* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Thursday (or earlier): Alex Flanagan is The Main Event* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 43-minute sports media podcast, Pucks’s John Ourand joins for his monthly appearance on The Main Event with Andrew Marchand. Marchand & Ourand go deep into the potential ESPN-NFL Media deal.For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.comWhat’s on tap …* What the potential ESPN-NFL Media deal means* What is likely in the deal* How could it impact NFL Network* Why Red Zone would be important* How could the deal compare to 1987 when an 8-year-old ESPN acquired NFL games that changed its trajectory* What ESPN is going try to accomplish with its app* The reason ESPN should try get MLB Network into the fold* What MLB should do in its current negotiations* Should MLB extend early on Fox’s World Series deal that is up after 2028* Apple, F1, MLS MLB, oh my* What is Netflix’s end game in sports* Should networks loan Netflix its sportscasters* How much should WNBA players be paid* Does Ourand thinks his beloved Washington football team will change its name* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Tuesday (or earlier): Marchand & Meterparel* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 36-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel go deep into Fox Sports’ and Barstool Sports’ big deal on “Everybody Loves Sports Media.”For access to our twice-a-week podcasts sign-up as a free or paid subscriber at AndrewMarchand.com Here’s what’s on tap:* Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks’ big swing with Barstool Sports makes sense* The Fox-ESPN sports media war is still roaring* How should Fox Sports use Dave Portnoy on Big Noon Kickoff* What the Barstool move might mean for Pat McAfee at ESPN* Jimmy Pitaro could be in summer deal making mood with NFL and MLB * Is it smart that Netflix is giving Drew Brees another shot* What was right and wrong at the All-Star Game and ESPYs* Karl Ravech vs. Ryan Ruocco on the pre-All-Star events* Legendary producer, Pete Macheska, does his final All-Star game* The NBA won’t expand until it gets its local rights settled* What are Elle Duncan and Sarah Spain doing* NBA local rights, expansion and what the league must figure out* Should Fox’s top MLB studio crew of Derek Jeter, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez be on more* Why Craig Carton could return to WFAN and Sal Licata’s comments* Ourand’s attendance at a Joke Writing Conference* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Thursday (or earlier): John Ourand is The Main Event* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comRebecca Lobo joins The Main Event with Andrew Marchand for a 36-minute conversation. Lobo is one of the great stories in basketball history. In terms of popularity out of college, she may have been the closest comparison to Caitlin Clark. She was a heck of a player at UConn, as an Olympian and in the WNBA. Her stardom was so strong she felt the resentment from some of her contemporaries. She has been a long-time ESPN commentator as she is its No. 1 game analyst on the WNBA and Women’s College Hoops.To become a free or paid subscriber click here at AndrewMarchand.com* Rebecca Lobo and Steve Rushin are one of the great sports media power couples* How Larry Bird helped shaped Lobo growing up in Massachusetts* The first female basketball role model was …* She planned to be a lawyer because there was no pro league* “Regis & Kathie Lee” and how UConn’s undefeated changed the media coverage* What was Geno Auriemma like as a coach* In 1996, Lobo was kind of Caitlin Clark of that time because of her popularity from college* This was not easy when she was picked for the Olympic team and the head coach did not really want her* She did not feel embraced by the 1996 Olympic team* In light of her experience, what did she think of Clark being left off the 2024 Olympic team* There are three players over the last 40 years, who changed the ratings: Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Clark* How would she rate the progression of the WNBA* How women’s college basketball helps the WNBA * She says she was terrible on-air when she started* The funny story how she met her husband after he criticized the WNBA* How she would change youth sports* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Tuesday: Marchand & Meterparel* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 34-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel provide inside information and opinions.For full access to our twice-a-week podcasts subscribe at AndrewMarchand.comHere’s what is on tap:* Why Marchand thinks Apple’s sports strategy stinks* The reasons F1 may regret taking Apple’s $150M per year instead of ESPN’s $90M per* Apple is clearly in fourth, maybe lower, among the big digital streamers, who have tried sports* What is going on in the live rights marketplace and F1* Where the NFL Media and ESPN talks stand* The Marchand Plan of what MLB should do with its rights* How to create reach, revenue, simplicity & scarcity* Why MLB should consider going early with Fox Sports & the World Series before 2029* Roger Goodell receives a “What’s Down” for defending Thursday Night Football flex* WFAN’s Evan Roberts gets a “What’s Up” for being nuts on his European vacation* Charles Barkley and Dan Patrick receive “What’s up” props* Will Clark goes after Rafael Devers and causes a media storm* Beef of the Week: Sally Jenkins vs. John McEnroe* Will there be more Tyler Dunne-types in sports writing? Yes and no* Papa Clicker Review: Homestands: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America by Will Bardenwerper* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Thursday (or earlier): Rebecca Lobo is The Main Event* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comOne of the best NFL longform writers in the country, Tyler Dunne, started his own Substack, Go Long, five years ago and now has a very nice six-figure income. He goes into how it all happened on The Main Event with Andrew Marchand.To listen to the full 35-minute podcast and all our archives & future pods subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com* How Tyler Dunne went from newspapers to Bleacher Report to starting his own Substack in 2020* What was his level of confidence going on his own to cover the NFL instead of trying to go to another publication after B/R layoffs in 2020* He was stuck on 300 paid subscribers for what seemed like forever* The big Aaron Rodgers’ trade story turning point around six months in* “There is the NFL that exists at podiums and then there is the NFL that is the NFL”* What is the access like for an independent NFL writer* The famous Sean McDermott story in which Dunne reported that the Bills’ coach used the 9/11 hijackers as an example of teamwork* How the Bills invited Dunne to meet with McDermott for a couple of hours after the series* Adam Schefter tweeted out the McDermott news, but didn’t put a link, which caused a social media uprising — Dunne gave his view * Dunne had an in-depth back and forth after his Dave Gettelman piece with Giants VP of communications, Pat Hanlon, was written* The specific numbers of paid subscribers he has* Where he sees Go Long going* How much travel does Dunne do to produce his longform stories* He wakes up at 3:30 a.m. to get some quiet time to work before his family’s day starts* He got a call from an NFL head coach on his very early morning ride to Starbucks to work* The amazing Syracuse sports writing class that Dunne was part ofRelated Main Event podcasts* Peter King* Adam Schefter* Michael Kay* Chris (Mad Dog) Russo* Joe Buck* Ian Eagle* Adam Schein* Chris Oliviero* Steve Raab* Joel Sherman* Ryan Ruocco* Ramona Shelburne* Jason Benetti* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Tuesday: Marchand & Meterparel* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.andrewmarchand.comIn the 36-minute sports media podcast, Andrew Marchand and Jon Meterparel provide inside information and opinions.For full access to our twice-a-week podcasts subscribe at AndrewMarchand.comHere’s what is on tap:* ESPN and MLB are talking again, why local is the key to an agreement* How likely are ESPN and MLB to get something done* What changes MLB should implement to own July 4th* How WFAN, sports radio and social media impact players’ performance* Why Randy Moss and the Mets’ SNY broadcast team are what’s up* Why Dave Sims and MLB Network are what’s down* Beef of The Week: Namomi Osaka vs. ESPN & Aggregators* What leagues should be wary of in a streaming world* Remembering Lyndon Byers* Sponsor: WSC Sports … Tell them Marchand sent you* On Deck Thursday (or earlier): Tyler Dunne is The Main Event* Subscribe at AndrewMarchand.com