Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Sports With Friends

This episode continues the tradition of being the last episode of the calendar year 2024. Since 2017, Scott Seidenberg has joined this final episode. The title says it all. “2 Jews Hanging Out on Christmas Day” was born out of necessity when the show first started having sponsors. Now, Scott rejoins the show every year to lament the year and talk about the goings-on in the sports world. With his 7th appearance, Scott has supplanted LaTroy Hawkins as having been on the most of anyone in the nearly 500 episodes of this podcast. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from everyone involved in Sports w/Friends. See you in 2025!

Former MLB Outfielder Johnny Damon played in the big leagues from 1995-2012. He came up with the Kansas City Royals and after a short stint with the Oakland A's, Damon signed a four-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. During his Red Sox tenure, he participated in the iconic ALCS between the Red Sox and the New York Yankees in 2003 and 2004. He also was a part of the '04 World Series championship, erasing the team's 86-year-old “Curse of the Bambino.” In 2006, he signed a free-agent contract with the archrival Yankees, ultimately winning his second World Series championship in 2009. In this episode, Damon discusses a new venture he's involved in with a new sports drink entitled “A-Game.” He also explains the process of leaving Boston for New York and how the Red Sox didn't offer him a contract. He also explains in detail the impact of former teammate Cory Lidle's untimely death from a plane crash in 2006 had on his life and career. He also talked about the 2005 movie “Fever Pitch,” and the impact that had on the 2004 team, and the fandom that followed it. Finally, he discusses the changes he sees in baseball since his playing career, including the recent mega-contract that Juan Soto signed with the Mets. For more information about A-Game: https://drinkagame.com/

Longtime CBS Sports football and basketball studio host Adam Zucker is also a Syracuse alum. Continuing the string of having Syracuse alums on this podcast, Zucker graduated in 1998. After doing local TV and radio, he began working for a fledgling upstart cable network called College Sports Television or CSTV. CSTV was eventually acquired by CBS and has morphed into what is now known as the CBS Sports Network. Zucker has been a part of CBS football and basketball broadcasts. In this episode, Adam discusses his career ascension. He also weighs in on the recently released bracket for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. He also discusses the growth of the NCAA basketball tournament, and the impact conference realignment has had on that sport.

Claire Smith is a pioneer in sports writing. She was the first ever female Major League Baseball beat writer, covering the New York Yankees for five seasons starting in 1982. She became a national columnist and worked at the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and later ESPN. In 2017, she was the first female to win the Baseball Hall of Fame's BBWAA Career Excellence Award, formerly the J. G. Taylor Spink Award. She is currently a professor at Temple University. In this episode, Smith tells stories from her illustrious career. She tells stories of both racism and sexism, including a 1984 incident where she was asked to leave the San Diego Padres clubhouse during the NLCS because she was a woman. She told stories about dear friends and allies Steve Garvey, Dave Winfield, Don Baylor, Dusty Baker, and countless others. She is an icon in her profession.

Brian Geltzeiler is the founder of Hoopscritic, an NBA blog. He is a financial advisor who created a broadcasting career from that blog. Hoopscritic led to many radio appearances and eventually a job with Sirius/XM NBA Radio. He has also appeared on NBA TV. In this episode, Geltzeiler explains his fantastic origin story. He goes into great detail about how his blog led to his radio appearances. He also talks about the NBA's recent new national broadcasting contracts and the recent deal to move the award-winning TNT show “Inside the NBA” to ESPN next season. He also covers the story of Bronny James' rookie season playing with his father, LeBron James. Also discussed is the race in the NBA's Eastern Conference between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.

In November 2024, longtime baseball announcer Dave Sims was named the new radio play-by-play voice of the New York Yankees. Sims replaces John Sterling who held the position since 1989. Sims has been the TV/Radio voice of the Seattle Mariners from 2007-2024. Sims has an extensive career and is one of the first voices on WFAN radio, the flagship station of Yankee games. In this episode, Sims tells the story of leaving Seattle for New York, and how this is all full circle for him. He discusses all of his stops along the way, having grown up in Philadelphia, and worked primarily in New York. Dave has called NFL football and NCAA college basketball in addition to baseball. He's also one of the original voices of MLB Radio in 2000/2001 and was instrumental in helping Seth leave Seattle ironically, and head to MLB.

The southeast United States was impacted heavily by two hurricanes in October 2024. Hurricane Helene and Milton affected lives and property in many states, including Florida. On October 9th, Hurricane Milton destroyed the fiberglass roof of the ballpark this month, leaving it open to the elements. With the Rays set to open the season at home on March 27, there's unlikely time to put on a new roof. Adding to the issue is a plan for a new ballpark, tentatively scheduled to open in 2028. That begs the question, why repair the Trop just to tear it down? If the Rays cannot play there in 2025, where could they play? Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin joined the podcast to discuss the facts of the situation and present all the options for the baseball team. Topkin has covered the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly St. Petersburg Times) and http://tampabay.com since the very beginning. He offers a unique perspective on the problem facing the ballclub and has insight as to what options the team actually has and why. Disclaimer: This conversation is about a sports topic and it is not intended to put the needs of a baseball team ahead of the numerous people who have been impacted by both hurricanes. Donate to the American Red Cross here: https://www.redcross.org/

The southeast United States was impacted heavily by two hurricanes in October 2024. Hurricane Helene and Milton affected lives and property in many states, including Florida. On October 9th, Hurricane Milton destroyed the fiberglass roof of the ballpark this month, leaving it open to the elements. With the Rays set to open the season at home on March 27, there's unlikely time to put on a new roof. Adding to the issue is a plan for a new ballpark, tentatively scheduled to open in 2028. That begs the question, why repair the Trop just to tear it down? If the Rays cannot play there in 2025, where could they play? Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin joined the podcast to discuss the facts of the situation and present all the options for the baseball team. Topkin has covered the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times (formerly St. Petersburg Times) and http://tampabay.com since the very beginning. He offers a unique perspective on the problem facing the ballclub and has insight as to what options the team actually has and why. Disclaimer: This conversation is about a sports topic and it is not intended to put the needs of a baseball team ahead of the numerous people who have been impacted by both hurricanes. Donate to the American Red Cross here: https://www.redcross.org/

Chad Finn is a sports and sports media columnist for the Boston Globe. He is the editor of “The Boston Globe Story of the Red Sox” and the recently released “The Boston Globe Story of the Celtics.'' Finn joined the Globe from the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire in 2003 as a sports copy editor and page designer before moving to the writing side and taking over the sports media beat in 2009. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards, including for a multimedia project in 2018 on LeBron James's time in the NBA summer league in Boston. In this episode, Finn discusses the process of gathering archival coverage of the Celtics and putting together the recent book. He also talks about the emergence of former Patriots greats Tom Brady and Bill Belichick on television. He also discusses the state of sports radio, specifically in Boston, and the future of Major League Baseball on television with upheaval surrounding the regional sports network and an upcoming negotiation with ESPN. Order The Boston Globe Story of the Celtics here: https://a.co/d/flWtNwW

Former NBA Center Etan Thomas makes his second appearance on the show. At the time of this episode's release, the NBA season will commence in six days. This is the final season of the NBA on TNT, as there is a new television contract starting next season. Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 to 2011, mostly with the Washington Wizards. In college, he was a star at Syracuse. Now, he is a television commentator, blogger, author, and political and social activist. In this episode, Thomas discussed the unique situation in Los Angeles where LeBron James is playing with his son Bronny. He commented on the importance of the New York Knicks being competitive and if the Boston Celtics are primed for a repeat championship. He also discussed the emergence of the WNBA in popularity and ratings.

Kevin Brown recently completed his 6th season calling Orioles games on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). Brown is a graduate of Syracuse University and worked in Syracuse with the AAA-baseball team, the Syracuse Chiefs. He is also a play-by-play announcer for ESPN. In this episode, Brown tells the story of his ascension to his current position with the O's. He also addressed the controversy last year where he was removed from the booth for a short time and the outpouring of support from the baseball, broadcast, and fan community. He also talked about the unique brethren Syracuse alums are in the broadcast industry, and comments on the various Cuse alums in the baseball broadcast industry.

In 2024, longtime New York Yankees radio announcer John Sterling announced his abrupt retirement, effective immediately. With three-quarters of the season left, the Yankees decided to split the play-by-play duties among three broadcasters. Emmanuel Berbari is one of the three and called dozens of games this season. Sterling announced that he was returning to the booth for the final week of the regular season and playoffs through the potential World Series. Berbari is the youngest of the three broadcasters. In this episode, he explains his background calling games for Siena and filling it on WFAN radio. He was assigned Yankee post-game shows, and last season was given the opportunity to call three Yankees games in Pittsburgh. He explained how he was chosen, and offered insight as to the future for himself and the Yankees booth.

Wesley Walker played wide receiver for the New York Jets for 13 seasons from 1977-1989. He was an NFL All-Pro, a 2x Pro Bowl representative, the NFL receiving yards leader in 1978, and a member of the New York Jets Ring of Honor. In this episode, Walker recounted the many highs and lows of his illustrious career. He speaks candidly about making the NFL without vision in one of his eyes. He discusses the passionate fan base the Jets have, and their recent decision to go back to the uniform and logo that Walker helped make famous.

In 2024, HBO and MAX released a new four-part docuseries that chronicles the life, career, and scandal of baseball legend Pete Rose. “Charlie Hu$tle & the Matter of Pete Rose” examines all the intricacies of the Pete Rose story. Rose is heavily involved in the documentary but did not have creative control. Instead, the show is a deeply detailed count of all aspects of his betting on baseball, and subsequently being banned for life by the sport. Greg Grunberg is an actor who has been in countless movies and TV shows. He is best known for Heroes and has also been in both Star Wars and Star Trek. He came on the Hall of Justice podcast and mentioned his role as executive producer of the Pete Rose documentary. In this episode, Grunberg tells elaborate stories about the making of the documentary, and how they convinced Pete Rose to take part even when he couldn't control the subject matter. He also gave insight as to how MLB was involved in this film.

As the 2024 NFL season has begun, questions are being answered about who the best and worst teams will be. This episode focuses on the financial value of the 32 NFL teams. Michael Ozanian makes his second appearance on the podcast after he released the valuations on the new CNBC Sport platform. Ozanian is the Senior Sports Reporter for CNBC, based at the network's Global Headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. He is a lead reporter for CNBC's business of sports vertical, CNBC Sport. Ozanian focuses on the intersection of sports and money and provides his unique rankings of the most valuable sports leagues and teams. He reports on breaking news, insights, and analysis of the inner workings of the sports industry across all CNBC platforms. Before CNBC, Ozanian was with Forbes where he began in the statistics department in the mid-1980s and later transitioned into writing about high-priced stocks. He was the co-host of Forbes SportsMoney, a four-time Emmy Award-winning television show on the YES Network. In 2016, he made his first appearance on the podcast, Episode 64. Eight years and a new title later, he returned to the show. Check out CNBC Sport at https://www.cnbc.com/sports/.

CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon is making his fourth appearance on the podcast. This time is to preview the upcoming 2024 NFL season, which commences the day after this episode's release. Catalon joined CBS Sports full-time in 2013. He serves as a play-by-play announcer for the NFL ON CBS, NCAA men's basketball, and golf. He has served as an announcer for the Network's Masters coverage since 2021, as well as serving as a host for select PGA TOUR events since 2020. Catalon has served as the preseason voice of the Buffalo Bills since 2015. In addition to his time at CBS Sports, Catalon has worked five Olympic Games for NBC. He also worked at Tennis Channel, SNY, and in local television for over a decade in Burlington, Vt. and Albany, N.Y. In this episode, he talks about his new broadcast partner Jason McCourty who joins Tiki Barber and AJ Ross in their CBS NFL broadcast booth. He also comments on the new kickoff rules and previews various teams that have high expectations. He also comments on how the NFL enjoys parity but in this particular season, there are so many title contenders.

Steve Hogan is the CEO of Florida Citrus Sports which oversees both the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and the Pop-Tarts Bowl (both played in Orlando, Florida). Both games are played at Orlando's Camping World Stadium which recently received an allocation of $400 million for renovations. The NFL Pro Bowl is returning to Orlando for the sixth time in eight years, and there is talk about playing a potential home game for the Jacksonville Jaguars and/or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hogan was instrumental in introducing the world to the first edible mascot at the Pop-Tarts Bowl in December. Named “Strawberry,” the mascot was the hit of Bowl Season and showed how bowls are working to market themselves in different ways. The Pop-Tarts Bowl was honored with the Best Brand Activation Award at the prestigious Sports Business Journal Awards in May. He is a thought leader in college football and can talk about the upcoming season with new looks in the SEC and Big Ten (Citrus Bowl conference staples). The new 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) starts this year, and there is fast momentum toward expanding to 14 teams soon (perhaps as early as 2026). It has been reported that the Rose Bowl is seeking to get out of the College Football Playoff semifinal rotation starting in 2026. Hogan addresses the state of the college football landscape as the 2024 season commences. This episode begins with a small tribute to the New York radio station WCBS Newsradio 880 which went off the air on August 25, 2024.

Aaron Rodgers is the subject of a new book. Rodgers will go down in history as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He is also one of the most controversial figures in sports today. Ian O'Connor is a longtime reporter and author of five previous books, including four straight New York Times bestsellers. His new book “Out of the Darkness – The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers,” is released the same week as this episode. In this episode, O'Connor details the over 250 people he spoke to putting this book together. He also told the story of his meeting with Rodgers after completing the first manuscript. He covers his football greatness, but also Rodgers' controversies including his anti-vaccination stance during COVID, his comments about comedian Jimmy Kimmel, and his potential running for office with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. O'Connor is making his third appearance on the podcast. His first was episode 166 promoting his Belichick book and episode 407 on the reported PGA-LIV golf merger. Get “Out of the Darkness” here: https://a.co/d/20yEA5A

Longtime friend of the show Andrew Siciliano makes his third appearance on the podcast (Episodes 182 & 192). He has been hosting the Olympic Gold Zone, a livestream broadcast on Peacock as a supplement to the main NBC Olympic coverage. Every day during the 2024 Paris Summer Games, Gold Zone airs from 7 am to 5 pm (EDT) and sends viewers from all the different sports, much like the NFL does with its Red Zone coverage. Ironically, Siciliano and current Red Zone host Scott Hanson are a main part of the Gold Zone coverage. At times, Siciliano and Hanson are on-screen together after having separate Red Zone channels for over a decade. In this episode, Siciliano compares hosting the Olympics to his NFL coverage. He addresses any potential “rivalry” with Hanson (who came on the podcast Episode 382). He also gives insight as to his broadcasting future.

There is so much going on in the sports media business. Alex Sherman of CNBC covers media, technology, and telecommunications for CNBC. He joined CNBC in Jan. 2018 after almost 10 years at Bloomberg, where he worked as a media reporter. He recently spearheaded a new venture for CNBC focusing on sports coverage. It involves programming beyond linear television, including podcasts, social media, and new technology. It can be found at cnbc.com/sports. In this episode, Sherman discusses the recent NBA right package, the current NBC coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBC's investment in the English Premier League, plus NHL and MLB analysis.

This is the second episode about the Peacock docuseries “Bronx Zoo '90.” The documentary is the story of the 1990 New York Yankees, a last-place team in a most tumultuous year. One of the series' executive producers Brian Hunt is the President of Believe Studios. He joins the podcast to discuss how the original 8-part series written by Joel Sherman for the New York Post was picked up by the streaming service Peacock and turned into the docuseries. In 1990, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was banned for life (he would be reinstated years later). Mel Hall brought cougars into the Yankee clubhouse and dated a teenager (He's currently serving a 45-year prison sentence after being found guilty of two counts of sexual assault against minors.). Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter but lost the game. The team was rock bottom, but that team is considered the starting point of rebuilding the Yankees into the dynasty that won three championships in four seasons in the late 90s. Hunt is President of Believe Studios, and Head of Development at Believe Entertainment Group, an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning, New York City-based entertainment company. Hunt leads the company's studio division, developing and producing high-profile content for Digital (video + podcasts), TV, and Film. In this episode, Hunt explains how he and his team figured out that the 1990 Yankees were a story worth telling. He also went to the high school where Mel Hall dated that 15-year-old girl and she took him to the prom. This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SWF and get on your way to being your best self.

The unique story of the 1990 New York Yankees was retold in 2020 in an 8-part series featured in the New York Post by Joel Sherman. It was then picked up and told again in a new docuseries on Peacock entitled, “Bronx Zoo '90.” Joel Sherman has worked at the New York Post since 1989 -- for seven years as the New York Yankees beat writer and since 1996 as the Baseball Columnist. He has also worked at MLB Network as an on-air Insider for nearly a decade. The 1990 Yankees are about a last-place team in a most tumultuous year. The owner George Steinbrenner was banned for life (he would be reinstated years later). Mel Hall brought cougars into the Yankee clubhouse and dated a teenager. Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter but lost the game. The team was rock bottom, but that started the rebuild into the Yankee dynasty that won three championships in four seasons in the late 90s. In this episode, Sherman recounts covering the Yankees in 1990. He explained how during Covid in 2020, he crafted the series of articles that led to the docuseries. He also speaks about the differences between covering baseball then and today.

Tim Brown is one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. He spent sixteen years with the Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders. A 9x Pro Bowler, Brown caught 100 touchdown passes and holds the record for most consecutive starts by a receiver with 176. At Notre Dame, Tim Brown won the 1987 Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Award. He has been involved in a number of entrepreneurial ventures since his playing days, including becoming the Commissioner of The Arena League, a new football league slated to begin in late 2024. Brown is a regular competitor in the upcoming American Century Championship, which is a celebrity golf tournament that takes place annually in Lake Tahoe. Among the 80-plus participants in the field are: Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, Charles Barkley, Josh Allen, Colin Jost, Annika Sorenstam, and actor Miles Teller. This year marks the 35th year of celebrity golf and will be televised with coverage on GOLF Channel, Peacock, and NBC from July 12th through the 14th, 2024. In this episode, Brown talks about his legacy with the Raiders, and the issues the fanbase faced after the recent move to Las Vegas. He also discusses the recent realignment in college sports, including the transfer portal and NIL payments. This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SWF and get on your way to being your best self.

Kevin Millar played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1998 through 2009. He won the World Series in 2004 with the Red Sox. Since his playing days, Millar is currently a broadcaster for MLB Network and a commentator for NESN (New England Sports Network). Millar is competing in the upcoming American Century Championship, which is a celebrity golf tournament that takes place annually in Lake Tahoe. Among the 80-plus participants in the field are: Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, Charles Barkley, Josh Allen, Colin Jost, Annika Sorenstam, and actor Miles Teller. This year marks the 35th year of celebrity golf and will be televised with coverage on GOLF Channel, Peacock, and NBC from July 12th through the 14th, 2024. During his playing days, Millar was a frequent guest of Seth's at both MLB Radio and Sirius/XM. This episode opens with a callback to a radio bit involving old cell phones. This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SWF and get on your way to being your best self.

Former NFL quarterback and broadcaster Joe Theismann returns to the podcast for the first time in three years. His previous appearance was Episode 306. In it, we spoke about his incredible football career and the catastrophic leg injury that ended it. This appearance references that moment but does not retell that story. Theismann is competing in the upcoming American Century Championship, which is a celebrity golf tournament that takes place annually in Lake Tahoe. Among the 80-plus participants in the field are: Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, Charles Barkley, Josh Allen, Colin Jost, Annika Sorenstam, and actor Miles Teller. This year marks the 35th year of celebrity golf and will be televised with coverage on GOLF Channel, Peacock, and NBC from July 12th through the 14th, 2024. In this episode, Theismann discusses the legacy of the golf classic, and offers opinions on Tom Brady joining FOX, Alex Smith's (who suffered a similar leg injury) retirement, a lack of quarterback depth in today's NFL, and much more.

Vinny Del Negro played in the NBA from 1988-2001, as well as playing and winning an Italian League Championship. He starred in college at NC State and played most of his games for the San Antonio Spurs. He also had two NBA coaching stints with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 9.1 points per game and scored over 7,000 points. He is currently an analyst for NBA TV. Del Negro is the 2021 winner of the American Century Championship, which is a celebrity golf tournament that takes place annually in Lake Tahoe. Among the 80-plus participants in the field are: Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, Charles Barkley, Josh Allen, Colin Jost, Annika Sorenstam, and actor Miles Teller. This year marks the 35th year of celebrity golf and will be televised with coverage on GOLF Channel, Peacock, and NBC from July 12th through the 14th. In this episode, Del Negro talks about how golf replaces basketball in order to satiate the competitive fire that is within him. He also comments on the recent Boston Celtics NBA Finals victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He also weighs in on the recent college realignment and the transfer portal. Get the 2024 Fantasy Football Almanac here: https://a.co/d/4RKUzv1.

Jamie Seh is the News 6 Sports Director in Orlando, Florida. She can be seen nightly doing the sportscast at 6 pm and 11 pm. Jamie has been in Orlando for nearly 15 years. She is an alumnus of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and served as the Sports Director at the famed WAER radio station. In this episode, Jamie explains her career journey and the sacrifices she endured during her career ascension. She also discussed the challenges of being a woman in a very male-dominated field, and how today there are more women than when she started. She also discussed Orlando sports, and how much she covers Tampa and South Florida teams.

Legendary basketball player and broadcaster Bill Walton died on May 27, 2024. The iconic player starred at UCLA and then played for the Portland Trail-Blazers, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. He then embarked on a second career as a basketball analyst for both ESPN and the Pac-12 Network. He was 71. Also, that same week, the Pac-12 Network went off the air after the breakup of the Pac-12 conference that took place after this past season. Roxy Bernstein was on the air after the last live event and was a frequent partner of Bill Walton's. Roxy joined the show to discuss both of those and his rise in the sports media business. Bernstein is a play-by-play broadcaster of college basketball, NHL, and football for ESPN, the Pac-12 Network, and the Oakland Athletics. Twenty years ago, he was a regular contributor to Seth's MLB Radio show in the mid-2000s.

Front Office Sports is a leading multi-platform media and news organization covering the intersection of sports, business, and culture. It was listed on Inc. 5000 in 2023 recognizing the fastest-growing private companies in America. Owen Poindexter is a senior writer for Front Office Sports and host of the daily podcast/video FOS Today. That podcast can be found at https://frontofficesports.com/podcast/. Poindexter has written for The Athletic, Forbes, Wired, Slate, Marie Claire, Commonwealth, Alternet, Salon, The Hardball Times, and others. This episode covers the NBA TV rights negotiations, the NFL/Netflix Christmas Day games, the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the Comcast/Xfinity dispute with Bally's Sports Networks.

Glen Macnow has been on WIP since 1993. He is known as a hard-nosed reporter and author of regional best-sellers. He also hosts the Philadelphia Eagles official radio pre-game show and has been a commentator on Phillies and Flyers broadcasts. He has hosted more than 7,000 shows on Philadelphia radio. Nicknamed “The Professor, ” Macnow has been an integral observer of this city's unique sports scene. He recently announced that he will be retiring from the radio station this summer. Before coming to WIP, Macnow was a newspaper reporter in Florida, Michigan, and ultimately the Philadelphia Inquirer. Macnow is also an accomplished author. He has written five books for adults and 15 for children. He is part-owner of the Conshohocken Brewing Co. In this episode, Macnow discusses the evolution of his career., and the current state of radio vs. the spoken word in audio. He also shares some incredible memories from his time at WIP.

Before there were podcasts, iPhones, or even sports radio, there was Sports Phone. Originally based in New York, Sports Phone was a phone number someone could call and hear an announcer give what is commonly known as a sports update. Many of those anchors went on to have incredible broadcasting careers and got their start working for Sports Phone. Media veterans Scott Orgera and Sports Phone alum Howie Karpin joined the show to discuss the story behind Sports Phone. Their book, 976-1313. : How Sports Phone Launched Careers and Broke New Ground features never-before-told tales of triumph and tragedy, a mix of hilarity, inspiration, and regret from the broadcasting hopefuls and sports junkies that comprised the brains and voices behind the pioneering operation. In this episode, they talk about the many anchors who worked for Sports Phone and the countless number of callers who would call in to get the scores. They also discussed how gambling enhanced the volume of callers, despite it not being legal as it is now. For more information on the book, visit https://9761313.com/ and get the book here: https://a.co/d/hJKgYJ6

The American Association is one of the great names in the history of professional baseball leagues in the United States. The first American Association was formed in 1902 as an independent minor league for the larger cities in the midwestern area of the U.S. Joshua Schaub was appointed Commissioner of the current iteration entitled the American Association of Professional Baseball on March 1, 2019. Schaub is the chief executive for the American Association and oversees the American Association's operations, media, expansion, revenue initiatives, technology enhancements and emergence, public relations, and relationships in professional baseball. Schaub is the former CEO and co-owner of the Joliet Slammers baseball club of the Frontier League, a board member of the Frontier League and Prospect Leagues, and has previously worked in the Milwaukee Brewers scouting department as an intern and associate scout. In this episode, he explains what the difference between an Independent League and the recently former MLB Partner League. He also explains the inner workings of the Association and answers many questions about how to measure its success. This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/SWF and get on your way to being your best self.

On April 18, 2024, the National Hockey League announced that the Arizona Coyotes were being sold to the owners of the NBA's Utah Jazz, and would begin play next season at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Coyotes relocated to Arizona in 1996 after they were the original Winnipeg Jets franchise. They played in America West Arena (home of the Phoenix Suns) from 1996-2003 and Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona from 2003-2022. In 2022, the Coyotes played in Mullett Arena, a 5,000-seat structure on the campus of Arizona State University. Once a potential arena deal had been shut down, the Coyotes' fate had been sealed. Notably, the NHL said that if the Phoenix Metro area could build an area, they would get an expansion team and the Arizona Coyotes' colors and uniforms would return. Luke Lapinski is a talk show host on 98.7 FM Arizona Sports. For 15 years, he was the pre/post/intermission host of the Coyotes on whatever radio station they were airing on, until the move to Utah. He joined the podcast to discuss what led to the Coyote's relocation, and whether the Coyotes could get a team back with a new arena. He also discussed the many job losses in the Coyotes organization and weighed in on the Phoenix market as a sports town.

Award-winning media veteran Keith Dawkins was hired by the Harlem Globetrotters in January 2022. He spent 17 years at Viacom (now ViacomCBS), was elevated to the position of Executive Vice President at Nickelodeon where he oversaw and grew some of that brand's most beloved and successful networks. Dawkins also launched the Nickelodeon Sports initiative which saw him strike strategic partnerships with the likes of NFL, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, MLS, WWE, and a variety of pro athletes. The originators of basketball style, influencers on today's game, and skilled athletes of the highest order, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents since their founding in 1926. Proud inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, their mission to spread game and bring entertainment to the world continues to drive them today. The Globetrotters are basketball innovators who popularized the jump shot, slam dunk and the half-court hook shot. In this episode, Dawkins explains his goals for the future of the Globetrotters, and how they plan to use streaming services and social media to grow awareness to a new generation while being fan service for the people who remember them. He also commented on the state of the NBA, WNBA, and college basketball and offers insight on how athletes become Globetrotters. For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official website: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Acclaimed golf reporter Bob Harig makes his third appearance on the show to recap the 2024 Masters Tournament which took place on April 11-14th, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. Scottie Scheffler won his 2nd Masters title. He last won in 2022, when Harig recapped that Masters in Episode 346. Harig also joined following the 2022 US Open in Episode 356. In this episode, Harig breaks down the fact that Scheffler is clearly the #1 player in golf and has not achieved the superstardom that preview #1 golfers have held. He also discussed the saga of Tiger Woods, who made his 24th consecutive cut at the Masters, and then proceeded to have his career-worst 3rd round. Harig also weighed in on the lengthy resolution to the proposed merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. He discusses any potential negative impact that lack of resolution has meant for the game, and whether it has slowed the sport's growth. Harig's new book, "Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods,” details the recent comeback of one of the game's greatest icons. It can be purchased here: https://a.co/d/inB30DV.

John Smoltz was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 after a 21-year career, 20 of which were spent with the Atlanta Braves. Smoltz is currently the lead analyst for MLB Coverage on FOX Sports. Smoltz is an 8-time All-Star and a 1995 World Series champion. He won the NL CY Young Award in 1996 with a blistering 24-8 record. After an arm injury, he converted to a reliever in 2001 and set NL saves record in 2002 with 55. He is the only pitcher in history to record 200 career wins,150 saves, and 3,000 strikeouts. Smoltz is participating in the Invited Celebrity Classic which is a nationally televised PGA Tour Champions competition that features 78 PGA Tour Champions and 40 sports and entertainment stars. The event occurs between April 19-21, 2024, at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas. It is live on the Golf Channel all three days. Golfers include Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, and Colin Montgomerie. Other sports athletes include Smoltz teammates Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. Former Sports with Friends guests Derek Lowe, Mark Mulder, and Pudge Rodriguez. Also, former players Jon Lester, Joe Carter, Kevin Millar, Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, Brian Urlacher, Adam Thielen, and Robbie Gould. In this episode, Smoltz talks about how the younger fans know him from his announcing days on FOX. He also talks about the evolution of the sport, and what works and what doesn't. He talks extensively about playing for Bobby Cox and the role Golf played both during his baseball career and in the years since he retired.

In 2023, Phil Nevin held his first major league managerial position, managing the Los Angeles Angels. Before that, Nevin played 12 big league seasons between 1995 and 2006 for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Minnesota Twins. He has previously served as a coach for the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. Nevin joined the show to discuss both his playing and managing career. He also offered unique first-hand insight into Shohei Ohtani, whom he managed with the Angels. He also discussed Aaron Judge, who he coached with the Yankees in 2022. Nevin was also a mutual friend of the late Darryl Hamilton. Part of the conversation is sharing stories of Hambone. Nevin is participating in the Invited Celebrity Classic which is a nationally televised PGA Tour Champions competition that features 78 PGA Tour Champions and 40 sports and entertainment stars. The event occurs between April 19-21, 2024, at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas. It is live on the Golf Channel all three days. Golfers include Vijay Singh, Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, Lee Janzen, and Colin Montgomerie. Other sports athletes include Nevin, Tom Glavine, Jon Lester, Joe Carter, Kevin Millar, Greg Maddux, Tony Romo, Albert Pujols, Brian Urlacher, Adam Thielen, and Robbie Gould. Next week, hall-of-famer John Smoltz, who is participating, joins the show.

Jim Duquette was a longtime baseball executive. He served as General Manager of both the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles. He began working as a broadcaster first for MLB.COM, then Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. In 2009-2010, he hosted “Power Alley” with Seth Everett. Recently, he has also been a baseball analyst for Sportsnet New York (SNY). In this episode, Duquette reflects on the transition from the front office to the broadcast booth. He also discussed the various shows that he hosted with Seth. He then gives his take on the current way baseball is played, and how analytics have changed the overall product. In 2012, Duquette was in the Mets radio booth for Johan Santana's no-hitter, the first no-hitter in New York Mets history. Finally he gives a medical update on his daughter, who is thriving after Jim donated his kidney to her, also in 2012.

Ronnie Lane is a longtime talk show host in many markets over his long and illustrious career. For the last decade, he has been a host on “Ronnie and TKras” on WDAE sports radio in Tampa, Florida. Recently, Ronnie announced he was leaving the long-running talk show to take a hosting role in Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers coverage for the station. In this episode, Ronnie explains what led to this decision, and how the role has evolved over the years. He also talked about the ability to discuss the state of the Rays franchise and their stadium woes as well as on-field daily stories. He also explained how in the post-Tom Brady era, Bucs football is at an all-time fever pitch in the city. He also laments that the Tampa Bay Lightning have created an event around their games, and the fan base has taken off just as the population in Tampa/St. Petersburg has grown.

Everett Fitzhugh has been the radio voice of the NHL's Seattle Kraken since the team's inception in 2021. Fitzhugh has the distinction of being the first and only African American play-by-play announcer in the NHL or any other level in hockey. His career began in various minor leagues including stops in Cincinnati and Youngstown. He called a pre-season game between the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins in 2018. In this episode, Fitzhugh speaks about the significance of being the first black NHL announcer. He tells the story about how he got connected to the Kraken and his upbringing in Detroit. His fandom for the Red Wings in the mid-90s sparked his passion for hockey. Fitzhugh also has the distinction of being the first “Everett” interviewed on Sports with Friends.

Longtime sportscaster Matt Dery joined the show. Dery is a Syracuse alum, and he and Seth went to school together. Recently, another member of their Syracuse brethren passed away unexpectedly. Mike Cranston was a sportscaster and reporter in multiple cities and is the former play-by-play voice of Winthrop University. MD joined the show to reminisce about their fallen friend and tell some Syracuse stories. He also discussed the Lions' resurgence in the NFL and the recently released Barry Sanders documentary. MD also compares his adopted city of Detroit to his childhood hometown near Cleveland, Ohio. Check out Matt Dery's Locked on Lions show here: https://apple.co/4c5G73Z.

On February 17th and 18th, 2024, the NHL held two regular-season outdoor games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The first game featured the New Jersey Devils hosting the Philadelphia Flyers, while the second game was between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. The Devils played their first game at the Meadowlands since 2007. They spent the first 25 years in New Jersey playing at the Meadowlands Arena, which is across the parking lot. Flyers Pre/Post-Game Host Jason Myrtetus joined the podcast to review the Stadium Series and compare this outdoor to the five others that the Flyers have participated in. In this episode, they discuss the improvements made to the outdoor game since its beginning in 2008. Myrtetus also spoke about new Team President Keith Jones. The episode also addresses the 2018 Canada Junior Hockey scandal that has led to the arrest of Flyers goalie Carter Hart Devils forward Mike McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote. They also address the legacy of former #1 pick Nolan Patrick.

NY-Area-born Tyler Adams is a soccer star in the English Premier League for AFC Bournemouth. He is also a key component of the US Men's National Soccer Team. Adams began his career with the New York Red Bulls and then moved to England to play with the sport's elite. He first joined Leeds United, and then was recently transferred to Bournemouth. He is recovering from injury at the time of this recording. Bournemouth is competing in the 5th round of the FA Cup, England's oldest trophy. The competition includes clubs from all levels of English football. Fifth Round matches feature 16 remaining Clubs, including Tyler's Bournemouth who take on Leicester City on February 27th. The iconic Emirates FA Cup Trophy heading to the United States for a historic first visit. Intentionally, New York was chosen as the first American destination, a traditional first point of US entry for visitors from other countries and home to some of the nation's most active and diverse soccer fans. The Emirates FA Cup 'New York Takeover' is a weeklong celebration of the competition, kicking off on Thursday, February 22nd. The Emirates FA Cup ‘New York Takeover' will include multiple stops where fans may take a photo with the iconic trophy plus two watch parties on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 27th-28th where fans can come join in SoHo to watch a selection of 5th Round matches, meet FA Cup and USMNT legend Tim Howard, experience the magic of the FA Cup through amazing, augmented reality and win amazing FA Cup prizes.

During Super Bowl week, it was revealed that FOX, ESPN (Disney), and Warner Bros. Discovery were creating a new streaming app that would incorporate live sports content from all three companies. Super Bowl 58 averaged 123.4 million average viewers, making it the most-watched television program ever. Regional sports networks are on the brink of elimination, and yet sports rights have never been in higher demand. The College Football Playoff just signed with ESPN and the NBA national rights are currently being negotiated. Demetri Ravanos, writer for Barrett Sports Media, joined the show to discuss this and many sports media topics. Ravanos is also the host of College Football Bubble Bath, found on YouTube and other social media. His recent story on the new streaming service can be found here: https://barrettsportsmedia.com/2024/02/13/disney-spiderweb-for-espns-future/.

This episode previews the Super Bowl 58 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. Aaron Taylor played six seasons in the NFL, playing in two Super Bowls, and winning one. Taylor is a 2021 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, having played his collegiate career at Notre Dame. In this episode, Taylor sets the scene in Las Vegas, which is hosting its first Super Bowl. He talks about the impact of Taylor Swift's attendance at Chiefs games, and how that may impact viewership of the Super Bowl. Taylor does take issue with Seth Everett's coverage of Super Bowl 32, where his Packers lost to the Denver Broncos, a team and game that Seth covered. Aaron Taylor is involved in Future Fans, a game designed to help kids understand that the game is the hardest part. For more information, visit futurefans.com.

Longtime NFL reporter turned author Gary Myers makes his third appearance on the show. (Episodes 49 and 117) Myers has been covering the NFL since 1978. He wrote for the New York Daily News starting in 1989. He's been an insider/analyst for HBO's Inside the NFL and the YES Network's This Week in Football. His new book, Once a Giant: A Story of Victory, Tragedy, and Life After Football, chronicled the New York Giants 1986 championship and focuses on the years after football. In this episode, Myers previews the Super Bowl 58 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. They discuss the impact Taylor Swift has had on the league, including the vitriol. Get Once a Giant here: https://a.co/d/aO3xNJl

On January 8th, 2024, the University of Washington was playing in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the University of Michigan. The Huskies hadn't won a national title since 1991. After the build-up of unprecedented proportions, the Huskies lost to the Wolverines 34-13. Four days later, Washington's head coach Kalen DeBoer was named the new head coach of the University of Alabama, replacing the legend, Nick Saban. Soon after, several players, including starters entered the transfer portal. Between that and graduation, suddenly the Washington roster was dissolving. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks missed the playoffs finishing 9-8. After 14 seasons, including two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, the Seahawks fired head coach Pete Carroll, the most successful coach in franchise history. This roller coaster of emotions brought back Dave “Softy” Mahler from 950 KJR in Seattle. The long-time radio host makes his second appearance on the podcast, his first being Episode 190.

Longtime sports reporter/broadcaster Sam Adams recently announced that he was retiring from covering sports after three decades to pursue stand-up comedy full-time. Adams is best known for being a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News until the paper's demise in 2009. Since then, he has done various radio and TV shows, while honing his craft as a stand-up. In this episode, Adams talks about his extensive experience in the Denver sports media scene, highlighting the 1996 Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Championship and the 1998 Super Bowl Championship for the Denver Broncos. One career highlight that Adams considers is the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He also tells the origin story of his stand-up comedy career. During the podcast, he pays homage to legendary Denver radio host the late Thierry Smith, who has a unique connection to this podcast. Follow Sam's stand-up career at samadamsdoescomedy.com.

Steve Gelbs has been the New York Mets on-field reporter for regional cable network SNY since 2015. In 2014, he took over for Kevin Burkhardt, in the 10 years since Gelbs became the studio host for SNY's New York Jets coverage. Two years ago, he began freelancing as a commentator on NHL Network. In this episode, the Syracuse alum talks about the 2014 season, where they met, and where Steve was introduced to the Mets broadcast. He also talks about the evolution of baseball over the decade on the field, and the recent rules changes in baseball. He also discussed the Jets 2023 season, and how the Aaron Rodgers injury was covered on TV. He also talked about working with the NHL; his passion is for the New York Rangers.

The first episode of 2024 discusses College Athletics and the role Name, Image, and Likeness money is impacting athletes. While NIL has been in college sports since 2019, the changes to the transfer portal have been similarly consequential. In 2021, the NCAA changed transfer rules that eliminated an athlete from having to sit out a year when changing schools. David Kelley PhD, CAA is a Professor and Master's Program Coordinator of the Sport Administration Program at the University of Cincinnati. He recently attended the National High School Athletic Directors Conference where the subject was NIL and the Transfer Portal. Kelly is also a coordinator of the Cincinnati Public Schools first annual CPS All-Star Showcase. Proceeds from this event will go to CPS Project Connect, a program founded in 1996 that helps provide CPS students experiencing homelessness with backpacks, school supplies, uniforms, transportation, after-school tutoring, and more. For more information go to https://abccincy.org/cpsallstarbb23/.