Awful Announcing Podcast

It’s been one of the most exciting EPL seasons on record and NBC has earned rave reviews for their first year coverage of the league. The biggest game of the season takes place this Sunday at 8:30 AM Eastern when Liverpool hosts Manchester City in what some are calling a winner take all title clash. To talk about it all we’re pleased to welcome to this week’s AA Podcast one of NBC’s Premier League analysts, a man who knows the league very well from his nearly 500 apperances in English football, Robbie Mustoe. Robbie joined NBC this season after working at ESPN for several years on their global soccer coverage. Today, we chat about...-How soccer coverage has evolved in the states and what excites him most about the response to NBC's EPL coverage.-Why EPL fans in America may have it better on television than fans in the UK.-How Liverpool have leapt to the top of the EPL table in a huge surprise.-Why manager Brendan Rodgers has been Liverpool's catalyst and how he might line up the team against Manchester City.-Who the real favorite in the three-way title hunt is at the moment. Will Chelsea's Champions League pursuit distract them?-Arsenal and Everton's battle for fourth.-The relegation dogfight between Fulham and Norwich City (10 AM ET this weekend on NBCSN)-Which player is Robbie keeping an eye on at this year's World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s WrestleMania week and we’re pleased to welcome WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross to the podcast. Good ol’ JR has seen his popularity increase in the sports world as his most famous calls have become a favorite soundtrack to some of the most exciting plays in sports. These days JR writes for Fox Sports and has just launched one of the top rated podcasts on the internet. We talked with JR for a wide-ranging, in-depth podcast about the wrestling business and its evolution, his writing at Fox, announcing in his future, and so much more. Topics include…-What excites him most about his post-WWE career and his WrestleMania anthology series at FoxSports.com.-WWE slowly moving its way alongside mainstream sports at places like Fox and elsewhere.-How the WWE Network is another bold move from Vince McMahon and why it may be a gamechanger for sports and entertainment.-JR’s favorite eras from his career in the wrestling business.-The evolution of professional wrestling from being presented as sports to sports entertaiment to purely entertainment.-How that evolution affected broadcasting and his approach as an announcer.-Dealing with pro wrestling bias as an announcer and who the closest announcer in sports would be to being able to pull off a wrestling telecast.-Why it helped him as an announcer to not know the outcome of matches.-Would there be an opportunity with Fox to step back behind the microphone and call UFC fights?-On Daniel Bryan: “I think he has the ability to be the lead guy as far as the championship is concerned.”-Looking ahead to WrestleMania 30 and JR’s thoughts on some of the big matches on the card and the top young stars in WWE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ONIONS!!!!!We're pleased to be joined by one of the most beloved announcers in all of sports on today's podcast, Bill Raftery. He's been a part of NCAA Tournament coverage for CBS for many years and continues to be one of the highlights of the television production. His classic calls, humor, exuberance, and enthusiasm are a trademark of one of the finest careers in broadcasting. Today Raf joins us to talk a little bit about that career and this year's tourney...-Working Big East games with Gus Johnson and how Gus used to play basketball in New York City with Bill's son.-Working with Verne Lundquist and the chemistry behind their partnership.-Balancing bringing fun to the broadcast while still teaching the game.-The Dayton Flyers as this year's Cinderella and his admiration for Scoochie Smith.-Looking ahead to the East region and the meaning of playing in MSG.-A look ahead to the Iowa State-UConn and MSU-Virginia matchups.-How many more tournaments does he plan to call in the booth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the middle of March Madness we welcome one of the play by play men who called Thursday's action on one of the best days in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Brian Anderson of Turner & CBS may be more known more as a baseball announcer from his work for TBS baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers, but this is his third year working the NCAA Tournament. He chats with AA today about the exciting games from Orlando yesterday. Topics include...-How much sleep he got after Louisville-Manhattan ended well after midnight.-The mental challenge of announcing 4 games in 1 day and resetting for each broadcast.-Where yesterday ranked among his favorite days in the broadcast industry-His experience with college basketball and what it means to call tournament games.-How the St. Louis-NC State game was one of the most unique games he's ever seen and how St. Louis' fouling strategy fueled an epic comeback.-Manhattan being a tough matchup taking Louisville to the brink.-The upcoming Brewers season and how the team is dealing with Ryan Bruan coming back from suspension.-Who's more likely to provide an upset tomorrow - Pitt over Florida or St. Louis over Louisville. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we're joined by one of the broadcasters that will be covering March Madness for CBS and Turner - Allie LaForce. In addition to being a sideline reporter for the NCAA Tournament, Allie is also the co-host of CBS Sports Network's late night program Lead Off with Doug Gottlieb. The 25 year old from Ohio has had a quick rise through the industry in the last year and she chats with us about that ride and her assignment this weekend in Buffalo. Topics include...-How a beauty pageant winner and basketball player gets into sports broadcasting.-How CBSSN found her through her YouTube reel and why prospective broadcasters need to do everything they can to get their name out there.-What's unique about working on a program that airs at Midnight ET and how that presents something different compared to other sports networks.-The different challenges of hosting and reporting.-The experience of working four games in one day at the NCAA Tournament and the preparation that goes into it.-The Ohio State-Dayton matchup as the one she's looking most forward to in the first round.-Her Final Four picks and why Syracuse might be on upset alert.-What's left on Allie's bucket list.All that and more on this week's AA Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast we welcome Seth Davis from CBS and Sports Illustrated to talk about the NCAA Tournament and his new biography on John Wooden. Seth is a veteran sportswriter who has also served for over a decade as a television analyst in college basketball and brings that unique perspective to viewers. In today's podcast, we discuss...-Why he was motivated to writing a book about John Wooden and presenting the coach in a three-dimensional way.-The mythologizing of college coaches.-Whether contemporary media can learn to balance building up and tearing down coaches.-Building towards March and what it's like to cover the NCAA Tournament.-Working with his CBS and Turner colleagues in Atlanta.-Who's the fourth #1 seed?-Which bubble teams have helped and hurt themselves the most during Championship Week.All that and more on this week's AA Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast we're joined by one of the best new television analysts working in sports today - ESPN's Seth Greenberg. After a lengthy coaching career, Greenberg moved to Bristol from Virginia Tech after the 2012 season and he's quickly cemented himself as one of the sport's most enthusiastic and insightful voices. Today we talk about a number of topics touching on Seth's TV career and the current season including...-How working in television is refreshing compared to the daily grind of coaching.-How much of his coaching personality comes through in front of the cameras?-Whether or not he would consider a return to coaching and what friends in the profession tell him about his second career.-Wichita State's unbeaten season and the pressure now facing the Shockers.-Syracuse's precipitous fall and why teams have figured out the Orange.-Why the Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball and the Big 10 has the most teams who can win the national championship.-Explaining Ohio State's struggles this season.-Why conference realignment has hurt the game.-The pressure of being on the bubble being the toughest experience he had in coaching.-Some super sleeper NCAA Tournament picks that could help your bracket pool. All that and so much more with Seth Greenberg on today's podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming out of the Sochi Winter Olympics we welcome back NHL on NBC lead analyst Eddie Olczyk to the program to talk all things hockey. Eddie will be a part of the first network television broadcast of an NHL game since 1974 when the Penguins play the Blackhawks in Soldier Field on Saturday night. With such a momentous occasion upon us, what better time to get caught up with Edzo. On today's podcast we discuss...-His recent comments about aspiring for a return to coaching, his desire to teach, and what kind of opportunity it would take to leave NBC.-Where the USA-Russia game and T.J. Oshie shootout heroics rank in his most memorable moments in the booth.-How the NHL can use the Olympics as a springboard the rest of the season.-Whether or not the NHL would be crazy to abandon the Winter Olympics and what other opportunities might exist for international hockey.-The significance of the Stadium Series for hockey and Saturday's matchup.-The Blackhawks serving as a blueprint for the rest of the league to build a perennial contender.-And we try to get Eddie to give us some way-too-early prognostications for this year's Kentucky Derby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's edition of the Awful Announcing Podcast, we're trying something new. For the first time, we have multiple guests and they are all from our awesome staff. Ken Fang, Steve Lepore, and Joe Lucia all hop aboard a roundtable broadcast breaking down NBC's coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi and the highlights and lowlights of these games for the network. We also share some of our favorite moments from the Olympics so far and why everything can be explained by a classic Simpsons reference. Topics include...-Best & Worst Moments from NBC's coverage thus far.-Bob Costas' pink eye and how the network handled an unexpected "crisis"-The live versus tape delay debate and why NBC's effort towards sports fans is better in 2014, but still a long ways from perfect.-Record ratings for NBCSN and whether or not the Olympics actually pulls them ahead of Fox Sports 1 in the race for #2 behind ESPN.-Why did the Bode Miller interview receive such an immense backlash?-Tara Lipinski & Johnny Weir being the stars of Sochi and how NBC can use them going forward.-Favorite moments from the Olympic competition - hockey and curling feature prominently here.-An overall grade for NBC's coverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've saved the biggest guest for the AA Podcast thus far for our 78th episode as broadcasting legend Marv Albert joins us before TNT's All-Star Game coverage this weekend. Regarded as "the voice of basketball," Albert has been on hand to witness many of the greatest moment in NBA history. In addition, he's called Super Bowls, Stanley Cup Finals, NCAA Tournaments and much more as one of the top announcers of the last 50 years. Today we talk with Marv about the All-Star Game, the season so far, and his career in broadcasting. Topics include...-What makes the All-Star broadcast unique from any other.-Top storylines, surprises, and disappointments of the season so far.-The Indiana Pacers trying to knock off the Miami Heat and whether they'd be playoff favorites if they get the East's top seed.-The change at the top of the league with Adam Silver replacing David Stern.-The evolution of pro basketball and how the game is played differently now versus the 70s, 80s, and 90s.-How Marv's signature "YES!" call originated, which is a fantastic story.-Expanding his announcing portfolio calling the NFL and NCAA Tournament for CBS Sports. Also, why Jim Nantz should remain in place as the Final Four's lead announcer.-His broadcast influences growing up and advice to younger announcers on being yourself.-Why Willis Reed's heroics in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals is still his most memorable call from his illustrious career. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.