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It's a special episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast. We had some great discussions with many incredible people in sports media over the past year and we put together a collection of clips from 2025. We thank you for listening/viewing the podcast, and have a happy 2026.
-:19: Howie Rose on not being comfortable hearing his Pete Alonso home run call on Mets plane (Episode 83)
-9:50: Andrew "McLovin" Perloff on why he left "The Dan Patrick Show" (Episode 85)
-12:45: Larry McReynolds on Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s fatal crash and praise of Mike Joy leading broadcast (Episode 87)
-18:37: Tony Reali on reaching out to Jay Mariotti over the years (Episode 94)
-25:02: Mike Greenberg on the success of "Mike and Mike" (Episode 101)
-30:34: Dan Orlovsky on praying for Damar Hamlin while on ESPN (Episode 107)
-34:51: Verne Lundquist on "Happy Gilmore 2" and meeting Post Malone (Episode 108)
-43:09: Jordan Schultz on Pablo Torre's journalism (Episode 119)
-49:49: Joe Davis on claims of Dodgers bias on Fox MLB broadcasts (Episode 120)
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox NASCAR insider Bob Pockrass. Brandon and Bob discuss a wide range of topics including all the happenings in the 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit and settlement, getting called out by Michael Jordan, the NASCAR playoff system, and more.
-2:25: 23XI/Front Row vs. NASCAR lawsuit/Michael Jordan testifying
-16:13: Charter system
-26:59: Media reaction to lawsuit/SRX/Michael Jordan’s relationship with NASCAR
-40:10: NASCAR ratings/reaching younger viewers
-47:56: NASCAR Playoff system
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Host Brandon Contes interviews NFL/MLB on Fox announcer and Chicago Bulls voice Adam Amin. Brandon and Adam discuss a wide range of topics including being Drew Brees' broadcast partner, the Indianapolis Colts signing Philip Rivers, working with Stacey King on Chicago Bulls broadcasts, and more.
-2:10: Philip Rivers signing with Colts
-6:01: Calling national and local games in NFL, MLB, and NBA
-14:42: Inspiring future broadcasters/Being friends with Wayne Randazzo and Joe Davis
-27:25: Chicago Bulls
-37:21: Interest in NBC-Amazon NBA games/Preparing for calling different sports/Calling Tigers-Mariners 15 inning playoff game
-51:31: Fox NFL Sunday
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN SEC football analyst and co-host of “McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning” Cole Cubelic. Brandon and Cole discuss a wide range of topics including Lane Kiffin going to LSU, SEC football as a whole, Paul Finebaum's consideration and decision not to run for U.S. Senate, and more.
-2:10: SEC football
-20:22: Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU
-28:23: Players feelings when coaches leave
-42:42: NIL/Transfer Portal/CFB commissioner
-53:15: Paul Finebaum
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Host Brandon Contes interviews New York Mets field reporter/play-by-play broadcaster Steve Gelbs. Brandon and Steve discuss a wide range of topics including Aaron Glenn's handling of the media, Steve's initial struggles on the Mets' broadcast and hesitation to move to play-by-play, and more.
-2:07: New York Jets QB situation/Aaron Glenn/Aaron Rodgers on Jets
-19:35: Being a New York Yankees fan growing up
-25:55: New York Mets early broadcasts
-43:09: Developing relationships with players
-1:02:50: Big calls and free agency
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Fox NFL and MLB broadcaster Joe Davis. Brandon and Joe review one of the best World Series ever, discussing Joe's favorite calls from the World Series and calls he wished he could redo. We also talk about accusations of bias because Joe also calls games for the LA Dodgers, Kevin Burkhardt's overnight trip from hosting the World Series to calling the NFL, how Joe would feel of President Donald Trump was in his broadcast booth for a game, and more.
-2:13: 2025 World Series
-17:26: Blue Jays broadcast/Dodgers bias
-22:14: Shohei Ohtani
-24:24: Redoing World Series calls/Joe Buck/Kevin Burkhardt
-30:19: Donald Trump
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Host Brandon Contes interviews NFL insider, host of "The Schultz Report," and co-host of "Why Is Draymond Green Talking About Football?", Jordan Schultz. Brandon and Jordan discuss a wide range of topics including the craziness of the NFL trade deadline, Pablo Torre's take on insiders, working with Draymond Green, and being friends with Max Kellerman. Jordan broke news during recording that Asante Samuel Jr. was visiting the Carolina Panthers, as well as the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. That resulted in some breaks during recording (fast forwarding through the dead air), but it's an interesting look at how an NFL insider gets and reports their info.
-2:18: NFL trade deadline/Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades
-15:58: Breaking Asante Samuel Jr. news
-19:41: Missing out on Josh McDaniels story
-23:42: Being an insider
-29:30: Breaking more Asante Samuel Jr. news/breaking down process
-34:12: Dealing with being in the Schultz family
-40:52: Pablo Torre’s take on insiders
-51:53: Draymond Green
-59:12: Max Kellerman
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Voice of the Minnesota Timberwolves and NBA/WNBA play-by-play for Prime Video and NBC Michael Grady. Brandon and Michael discuss a wide range of topics including Alex Rodriguez owning the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards and the "Face of the League" talk, being able to call nationally televised games for two companies, and more.
-2:05: Staying busy in the NBA
-3:57: Minnesota Timberwolves
-9:55: Early work
-17:14: Brooklyn Nets
-28:39: NBA on NBC/NBA on Prime Video
-46:46: WNBA on Prime and NBC/Peacock
-58:00: Anthony Edwards “Face of the NBA”
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Voice of the Charlotte Hornets Eric Collins. Brandon and Eric discuss a wide range of topics including his NFL broadcasting debut and his upcoming NBA work with Prime Video, working opposite Vin Scully at the Los Angeles Dodgers, calling Charlotte Hornets games while Michael Jordan was owner, and more.
-2:12: Calling first NFL game
-5:38: Doing NBA games for Prime Video/Dell Curry
-10:22: Broadcasting style
-30:18: Los Angeles Dodgers
-35:59: Charlotte Hornets/Michael Jordan
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Host Brandon Contes interviews author Rich Podolsky, whose new book "Madden & Summerall--How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting" is out wherever you purchase your books. Brandon and Rich discuss stories from Rich's book, which takes us through the broadcasting careers of John Madden and Pat Summerall when they were at CBS Sports. Rich was a staff writer at CBS and got to know the pair, but he especially became lifelong friends with Madden. Rich gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of the hall of fame coach and one of the defining voices of pro football.
-2:11: “Madden & Summerall”
-7:42: CBS Sports/Friendship with John Madden
-18:07: Madden with Pat Summerall
-35:00: Madden's influences
-39:21: Madden video game
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN football analyst and co-host of the "Scoop City" podcast, Chase Daniel. Brandon and Chase discuss a wide range of topics including how Kirk Herbstreit helped him call football games, Arch Manning's struggles, Jaxson Dart being the man on the New York Giants, and more.
-1:55: Calling college football games
-13:17: Studio work at ESPN
-16:34: Working at Fox
-25:04: Coaching?
-27:26: Arch Manning
-32:10: Jaxson Dart
-34:30: Playing surfaces/London NFL team
-38:26: Quarterback play/Travis Kelce
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Host Brandon Contes interviews editor-at-large at The Ringer and co-host for "The Press Box" podcast, Bryan Curtis. Brandon and Bryan discuss a wide range of topics including Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and reinstatement, Bill Simmons' influence on sports media, Molly Qerim leaving "First Take," Tom Brady's conflict of interest, and more.
-2:13: Jimmy Kimmel/Stephen A. Smith
-11:34: Career origins/Skip Bayless
-17:40: Bill Simmons/Grantland/The Ringer
-25:27: Molly Qerim
-28:30: Tom Brady
-38:03: Pat McAfee/“Inside the NBA”
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Host Brandon Contes interviews co-host for ESPN's "Unsportsmanlike" Evan Cohen. Brandon and Evan discuss a wide range of topics including him working on "Morning Men" and "Unsportsmanlike," his reaction to Molly Qerim leaving "First Take" and guest hosting, his interaction with Howard Stern, and more.
-2:08: ESPN Radio, hosting “Unsportsmanlike”
-12:45: “Morning Men” and SiriusXM
-28:29: Sports talk radio simulcast on TV
-44:55: Hosting “First Take”/Stephen A. Smith/Molly Qerim
-55:03: Miami Heat/Stugotz as a camp counselor/Howard Stern/Good Karma Brands
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Host Brandon Contes interviews former NFL player and analyst on "The NFL Today +" Kyle Long. Brandon and Kyle discuss a wide range of topics including growing up with Howie Long as a father, getting drafted by the Chicago White Sox but deciding to play football instead, being friends with Travis Kelce, and more.
-2:08: Chicago Bears Week 1
-15:22: Media career
-21:02: Howie Long
-23:26: Baseball career
-29:53: Broadcasting/YouTube Brazil game/Stephen A. Smith
-36:01: Kansas City Chiefs/Patrick Mahomes/Travis Kelce
-41:48: Week 1 overreactions
Photo courtesy of Mary Kouw/CBS
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Host Brandon Contes interviews host of "The Rich Eisen Show" and NFL Network Rich Eisen. Brandon and Rich discuss a wide range of topics including ESPN buying NFL Media and the NFL owning a piece of ESPN, hosting "SportsCenter" for the first time in over 20 years and paying tribute to Stuart Scott, "The Rich Eisen Show" moving to Disney+ and ESPN, and more.
-2:11: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
-6:30: NFL-ESPN deal
-22:09: “The Rich Eisen Show” and Pat McAfee
-41:10: Hosting “SportsCenter”
-52:37: NFL on YouTube, best NFL PBP, Super Bowl on streaming, New York Jets
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN college football staff writer Bill Connelly. Brandon and Bill discuss a wide range of topics including Bill Belichick at North Carolina, NIL and the transfer portal, whether or not promotion/relegation can work in college football, and more.
-1:54: Bill’s books, NIL, realignment, and network influence
-16:04: Common complaints, running for CFB commissioner, parity
-28:25: Pro/rel in college football, Donald Trump, pay-for-play
-35:54: Analytics
-40:59: Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Arch Manning, conspiracy theories
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Host Brandon Contes interviews Damon Amendolara, host of "The D.A. Show With Babchik." Brandon and Damon discuss a wide range of topics including working for Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and having a show on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio channel, Mo Gaba calling into Damon's radio show and Mo's legacy, being fed up with what John Fisher is doing to the A's, and more.
Damon's YouTube channel @damonamendo (also Damon's social media handle) has weekly live shows, Q&A's, and monthly member's only chats.
-1:45: Mike Francesa
-7:27: Going to Syracuse
-15:04: Working in Kansas City and Boston
-26:30: Mo Gaba
-37:33: Leaving CBS Sports Radio for Sirius XM
-46:50: Mad Dog radio audience
-52:33: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo/Stephen A. Smith and Mad Dog Radio
-57:19: Covering John Fisher moving the A’s
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Host Brandon Contes interviews broadcasting legend Verne Lundquist. Brandon and Verne discuss a wide range of topics including Verne's time on the "Happy Gilmore" movies, the behind the scenes details of his iconic calls over his near 60-year career, his various broadcast partners, and more.
--2:01: “Happy Gilmore 2”
-15:35: Retirement/Iconic Masters calls
-35:34: Starting broadcasting career/Being Terry Bradshaw’s NFL broadcast partner
-50:55: SEC on CBS/Gary Danielson/Bill Raftery
-1:05:36: Current events
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Host Brandon Contes interviews ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky. Brandon and Dan discuss a wide range of topics including staying at ESPN and whether or not he considered leaving, praying for Damar Hamlin and having his autistic son on air during World Autism Awareness Day, his various food takes, and more.
-1:53: Staying at ESPN
-15:51: Being at ESPN/memorable moments
-29:41: Youth sports/coaching aspirations
-39:07: Working studio, booth, and debate shows
-43:58: Food takes
-49:03: Lloyd Howell and JC Tretter resigning from NFLPA/Matthew Stafford retirement
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Host Brandon Contes interviews founder of The IX newsletter, The Next, and author of "Becoming Caitlin Clark," Howard Megdal. With the WNBA All-Star Game coming up, Brandon and Howard discuss his new book along with a wide range of topics including Caitlin Clark's talent and her rise in popularity, how the media covers Clark, the WNBA's role and its responsibility in Clark's popularity with the rise of women's basketball, and more.
NOTE: We recorded before Clark re-aggravated her groin injury on July 15.
-1:51: Focusing on women’s sports coverage
-6:10: “Becoming Caitlin Clark” book
-12:44: Caitlin Clark talk
-26:01: WNBA talk, league growth, and their preparation for Caitlin Clark’s fame
-42:35: Christine Brennan’s Caitlin Clark book
-45:12: New York Mets season
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