COVID-19

Baseball talk on Edmonton’s TSN 1260

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I’m always excited to talk to radio friends in Canada. It looked like I blew a chance to do so this week when I didn’t respond to a text message soon enough, but I ended up getting passed to another show on Edmonton’s TSN 1260. And I’ve never talked to morning host Dustin Nielson before, so that was fun.

Naturally, we talked baseball and whether or not MLB will have a 2020 season. What was once a question of COVID-19 safety concerns is now a money dispute. And I don’t think that bodes well for MLB playing this year.

Thanks to the crew at TSN 1260 — including producers Ryan Holt, Matthew Iwanyk, and Hernan Salas — for having me on. As I mentioned at the end of that segment, I hope to listen to the station’s Sandwich Draft when it happens. I have definite thoughts on sandwiches!

WISE Sports Radio MLB spot: May 27, 2020

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It’s looking less likely that we’ll see Major League Baseball play a 2020 season after team owners submitted a new proposal to players which calls for salary cuts up to 40 percent.

As Pat Ryan and I discussed on Wednesday’s WISE Sports Radio baseball segment, even the lowest-paid players make money that would be lucrative for almost anyone in regular life. But when someone making $35 million is looking at being paid $8 million instead, maybe it’s apparent why players aren’t too keen on billionaire owners crying about reduced revenues.

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WISE Sports Radio MLB segment: May 20, 2020

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Last week looked like it could be the final stand for Major League Baseball with team owners and the players union set to discuss the final proposal for a 2020 season being played. While many have focused on the COVID-19 restrictions that would be implemented, the greater concern might be salaries.

On Wednesday’s WISE Sports Radio baseball segment, Pat Ryan and I chat about the many rules players, umpires, coaches, and ballpark staff would face if MLB games are played. And if there isn’t a season, will the players ultimately be blamed?

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Talking ‘The Last Dance,’ sports without fans on Richmond’s The Fan

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The Last Dance concluded Sunday on ESPN and an audience starved for any kind of sports event averaged 5.6 million viewers for the 10-part Michael Jordan docuseries. Will we ever see anything like this again?

Wes McElroy from The Fan in Richmond (910 AM, 105.1 FM) invited me on his show to chat about that, sports telecasts with no fans (and maybe no announcers on site), and the Monday Night Football broadcast booth.

Thanks to Wes for reaching out and inviting me on. I don’t get to chat about sports media as much as I’d like on the radio (or podcasts) these days, so it was fun to do so.

WISE Sports Radio NFL hit: May 14, 2020

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The NFL doesn’t have to worry about its regular season for another four months, so the immediate concern isn’t the same as baseball currently faces. But will we really have football in the fall? Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is a believer.

On Thursday’s WISE Sports Radio NFL segment, Pat Ryan, Mike Gore, and I look at all the obstacles to clear. Additionally, we talk about former Michigan defensive lineman Taco Charlton, the XFL feud between Oliver Luck and Vince McMahon, and the Los Angeles Rams’ new uniforms.

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