
SI Media With Jimmy Traina
Every week on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast, host Jimmy Traina sits down for an informal conversation with the biggest broadcasters, athletes, sports personalities, celebrities, and anybody else interested in sports or media. Plus, get a window into the storylines Jimmy is following closest in the weekly Traina Thoughts segment.
Latest episodes

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 28min
Richard Deitsch on Stephen A. Smith, Caitlin Clark & More
Episode 559 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with the Athletic's sports media reporter, Richard Deitsch, about all latest sports media news..Topics discussed during podcast include how Stephen A. Smith became an ongoing story during the NBA Finals; the ratings for the Pacers-Thunder series; whether all the off-court storylines regarding Caitlin Clark help or hurt the WNBA; a couple of recent live broadcasting moments that made headlines; Amazon vs. NBA for next year's NBA coverage; the WWE's upcoming Netflix series that promises an unprecedented behind-the-scenes-look and much more.Following Deitsch, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the sad state of New York baseball, the new season of "Quarterback" on Netflix and the trailer for the new Bruce Springsteen biopic featuring Jeremy Allen White. In addition, Jimmy answers listener emails.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jun 19, 2025 • 1h 21min
Joon Lee Calculates the Cost of Being a Sports Fan
Episode 558 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with sports journalist, Joon Lee.Earlier this week, Lee wrote a story titled, '$4,785. That’s How Much It Costs to Be a Sports Fan Now," for the "New York Times." The piece detailed what it costs someone to be a sports fan in 2025, from the abundance of streaming services sports fans need to subscribe to the massive increase in cost of attending live events. Lee explains how costs have skyrocketed in such a short time, how the fractured broadcast schedule has hurt sports fans, what's happened to sports bars in recent years and much more.Lee also shares insights into the current state of sports media, discusses getting laid off from ESPN in 2023 and why YouTube is dominating the digital landscape.Following Lee, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss Father's Day, feedback that came in after Jimmy bashed the Savannah Bananas, Stephen A. Smith playing solitaire during the NBA Finals, the new "Naked Gun" trailer and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 7min
Mailbag: NBA Finals, Greg Olsen, John Cena's Heel Turn & More
Episode 557 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" is an all-Mailbag edition followed by the weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment.Jimmy tackles listener-submitted questions regarding the NBA Finals ratings, the presentation of the NBA Finals by ESPN, the way the NBA drags out the NBA Finals schedule, NFL Network's lack of respect for "Good Morning Football," All-Star Games, Brian Windhorst's status with ESPN, Greg Olsen's future, where the former ESPN MLB package of games will end up, John Cena's heel turn, the WWE controversy surrounding R-Truth, favorite late-night hosts, best decade for pop culture and more.Following the Mailbag, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the lack of juice for the NBA Finals between Netflix's amazing docuseries, "American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden," the appeal of Oz the Mentalist and the Savannah Bananas, the anniversary of "The Sopranos" final episode and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 29min
ESPN NBA Analyst Richard Jefferson
Episode 556 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with ESPN lead NBA analyst Richard Jefferson.Jefferson talks about calling his first NBA Finals, how he's changed his style since becoming a lead analyst for NBC/ABC, whether the Pacers have a chance against the heavily favored Thunder, his vices, the LeBron James-Stephen A. Smith dust-up, the NBA's replay system, mixing it up on social media with Bill Simmons, why he likes calling blowouts, whether the NBA is rigged, ESPN making him button up his shirts, working with Ian Eagle and much more.Following Jefferson, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the Knicks losing to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, New York firing head coach Tom Thibodeau, Stephen A. Smith going to SiriusXM, another Sal ailment, the time Jimmy faked falling down a flight of steps and their most-hated athletes. The segment wraps with Jimmy reading and reacting to "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" Apple reviews for May.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 29, 2025 • 1h 27min
Andrew Marchand on ESPN DTC, Reggie Miller & More Sports Media News
Episode 555 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with The Athletic's Andrew Marchand about all the latest sports media news.Topics include: What does ESPN's direct-to-consumer product mean for ESPN+?; Who has done the better job hiring NBA talent for next season: NBC or Amazon?; Reggie Miller's work calling Knicks-Pacers;How will "Inside the NBA" look on ESPN?; How will Caitlin Clark's two-week absence due to injury affect Fever ratings?; NFL schedule release; Pablo Torre's reporting on the Bill Belichick/girlfriend soap opera and much more.Following Marchand, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the Knicks-Pacers series, an old "30-for-30" that Jimmy recently watched, Ben Stiller vs. Pat McAfee and the best Ben Stiller movies. Sponsored by: Underdog SportsMust be 18 plus (19 plus in Alabama and Nebraska; 19 plus in Colorado for some games; 21 plus in Massachusetts and Arizona) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org. In Arizona, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXT-STEP to 53342. In New York, call the 24/7 HOPE line at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENYAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 22, 2025 • 1h 24min
ESPN's Tony Reali
Episode 554 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with ESPN's Tony Reali.Reali talks about the end of "Around the Horn" after hosting the show for 23 years, the vagueness from ESPN about the show's cancellation despite strong ratings, his contract status with ESPN, whether he's had talks with ESPN about staying with the network and what his future looks like.In addition, Reali reveals one regret he had while hosting the show, whether he thinks his reluctance to do interviews and social media hurt him, what he plans on doing during his time off, making a personal connection with fans of ATH and much more.Following Reali, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals, what Finals matchup ESPN/ABC wants, the Juan Soto fallout from the Subway Series, Netflix's new documentary on Brett Favre, George Wendt's passing and a dilemma over free Knicks ticketsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 15, 2025 • 1h 37min
ESPN Legend, Chris Berman
Episode 553 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with ESPN legend Chris Berman.Berman talks about signing a contract extension with ESPN that will keep him with the network until 2029–his 50th year at ESPN, working the Super Bowl on Valentine's Day in 2027 and the "Fastest 3 Minutes In Sports."Berman also discusses turning 70, the simplicity of "NFL PrimeTime," whether he's still mad that NBC and the NFL killed "PrimeTime," Brent Musburger finally winning the "Pete Rozelle Television and Radio Award," the circus currently surrounding Bill Belichick, recent concerts he's attended and much more.Following Berman, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss the NBA playoffs, NBC hiring Michael Jordan to be a "special contributor," the NFL schedule, Sal's Mother's Day and Jimmy's dad having a remote control disaster.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 8, 2025 • 1h 22min
"Roundball Rock" Composer John Tesh
Episode 552 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with the composer of NBC's NBA theme song, "Roundball Rock," John Tesh.Tesh talks about the recent announcement from NBC that "Roundball Rock" will return as the the network's theme song for the NBA for the next 11 years, what the negotiations were like with NBC, the popularity of the song, how the song got created and landed on NBC, getting spoofed on "Saturday Night Live" and why people weren't satisfied with Fox using the song on its college basketball coverage.Tesh also discusses what it was like to host "Entertainment Tonight" for 10 years, becoming a reporter at CBS's New York affiliate at just 22 years old, what it was like to date Oprah Winfrey in the '70s and much more.Following Tesh, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss Sal's Mother's Day dilemma, the NBA playoffs, another wrestler going off on Hulk Hogan and Roku airing MLB games. Jimmy also reads Apple reviews from April for "SI Media With Jimmy Traina."Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

May 1, 2025 • 1h 23min
Bryan Curtis on Mel Kiper, Bill Belichick & More
Episode 551 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features a conversation with Ringer Editor-At-Large, Bryan Curtis.Topics covered with Curtis, who also hosts the "The Press Box," podcast, include the reaction to Mel Kiper's performance regarding Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft, ESPN's overall draft coverage and decisions on which talent to use and not use on air.Also discussed with Curtis is Bill Belichick's disastrous "CBS Sunday Morning" interview, Belichick's book tour and which interviewer would have the guts to ask Belichick tough questions.Other topics include Shannon Sharpe taking a leave from ESPN, TNT using remote broadcasters for NHL playoff games, Aaron Rogers's future in broadcasting, Amazon's NBA hires and a surreal moment on "60 Minutes."Following Curtis, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins Jimmy for their weekly "Traina Thoughts" segment. This week, they discuss WrestleMania 41, terrible betting losses and how to sell a baseball card collection.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Apr 24, 2025 • 1h 3min
Jim Miller on ESPN-NFL Media deal, DTC and more
Episode 550 of "SI Media With Jimmy Traina" features an interview with author and journalist, Jim Miller.Miller, who wrote the book on ESPN, shared his insight into numerous topics regarding the Worldwide Leader.How will ESPN's expected deal to acquire NFL Media, which includes the NFL Network and the Red Zone channel, play out? What will ESPN's direct-to-consumer product look like and what will the monthly cost be? After opting out of its deal with Major League Baseball, could ESPN end up signing a new deal with the sport?In addition, Miller also weighs in on ESPN's deal with Warner Brothers Discovery to air "Inside the NBA," how ESPN's partnership with Pat McAfee has gone and how ESPN views Stephen A. Smith's possible Presidential run.Miller, who also wrote a book about "Saturday Night Live" also discusses the show's recent 50th anniversary episode and the "The SNL50: The Homecoming Concert."Sponsored by: Underdog FantasyMust be 18 years or older. 19 years or older in Alabama and Nebraska; 19 years or older in CO for some games, 21 years or older in Massachusetts & Arizona) and present in a state where Underdog Fantasy operates. Terms apply. Void in Colorado for some games. Concerned with your play? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.ncpgambling.org; In Arizona call: 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXT-STEP to 53342; In New York Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY(467369).Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy