OT: Changes at ESPN

[Pawsox]

Kind of surprised, but then again, not really. I don't understand the love for Mike Greenberg, but they do have a long term contract with him.

ESPN said it would cancel its flagship morning radio program, “Golic & WIngo,” while bringing Mike Greenberg, half of the team that helped the Disney sports-media giant carve a bigger business in the audio world, back to the medium as part of a reworking of its national lineup.

Greenberg, who spent 17 years with co-host Mike Golic on the morning radio program “Mike & Mike,” will keep his duties on the ESPN mid-morning TV program, “Get Up,” which he has helped anchor since the Spring of 2018. But he will also lead a new two-hour radio show that airs between noon and 2 p.m. weekdays. His former partner, Mike Golic will leave mornings along with Trey Wingo. The pair has hosted their program since November of 2017.

 

[Palatine]

Golic's media career is inexplicable. The only possible exception is that space aliens control our satellites.

 

[mauconnfan]

Golic's media career is inexplicable. The only possible exception is that space aliens control our satellites.

Agree but his son is more inexplicable. He was dreadful to listen to.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Agree but his sons is more inexplicable. He was dreadful to listen to.

Nepotism rarely works out well for the second generation.
And yes Junior was brutal.
Absolutely no chemistry between big Mike and Wingo.
OTOH I haven't watched or listened to a single second Greene's Get Up.

 

[Fantana]

You haven’t missed anything. Greenberg’s show is just as bad as you might imagine.

sounds like Keyshawn Johnson and jay Williams will take over the wake up show. It’s hard to get worse than golic and wingo but damn if ESPN is gonna try.

 

[glastonbury50]

People still listen to radio?

 

[bendm]

espn sucks. their only good program is college game day

 

[Tampahusky]

Golic and Wingo is horrible, hopefully Scott Van Pelt sportscenter got canned also

 

[Palatine]

People still listen to radio?

Radio is usually much better than TV. On TV the hosts only care about how they look. They think in segments. They rarely listen to their own guests and hardly ever ask interesting follow up questions even when the guest makes it obvious they should. On radio, you hear actual conversations and even on occassinal insight. Much, much better than TV.

 

[Hoophound]

Van Pelt seems to be royalty there.

Mike and Mike was an ok show. They should have stayed together. Greenberg is likely to have a 2-3 year run and have to move on again. Golic is probably going to have to retire or work locally.

 

[Hoophound]

Radio is usually much better than TV. On TV the hosts only care about how they look. They think in segments. They rarely listen to their own guests and hardly ever ask interesting follow up questions even when the guest makes it obvious they should. On radio, you hear actual conversations and even on occassinal insight. Much, much better than TV.

True. Howard Stern has become a great interviewer as he ages. Nothing on tv compares.

 

[glastonbury50]

Radio is usually much better than TV. On TV the hosts only care about how they look. They think in segments. They rarely listen to their own guests and hardly ever ask interesting follow up questions even when the guest makes it obvious they should. On radio, you hear actual conversations and even on occassinal insight. Much, much better than TV.

Was moreso referring to podcasts but I definitely understand what you mean. I listen to a lot of media and definitely appreciate certain aspects of it. I honestly can't remember the last time I watched sportscenter and I was a DAILY watcher my entire childhood. I remember watching it twice certain because they used to just have the same segments on repeat.

 

[JimHurley]

ESPN isn't even about sports anymore. I used to watch SportsCenter every day before school, every day when I got home from school, and I fell asleep to it. Nowadays I can't even watch a single show without getting irritated. Every program is now centered around politics or social issues. When I turn on ESPN, I want to see SPORTS. Enough of our lives are politicized as it is. It's sad to see what ESPN has evolved into.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

It's sad to see what ESPN has evolved into.

Inadvertent but illuminating.

 

[Goatmeat]

Came here hoping to see they were going bankrupt and closing up shop. A bit disappointed tbh.

 

[TheChamps990411]

espn sucks. their only good program is college game day

I still enjoy PTI from time to time. Other than that I agree the cupboard is pretty bare.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I like the Golics, but once Mike & Mike split, it was only a matter of time.

Jr. probably ends up in Miami. Sr. has a nice retirement home in Arizona from what I have been told.

 

[Deadrody]

Radio is usually much better than TV. On TV the hosts only care about how they look. They think in segments. They rarely listen to their own guests and hardly ever ask interesting follow up questions even when the guest makes it obvious they should. On radio, you hear actual conversations and even on occassinal insight. Much, much better than TV.

They're no different than any of the other "journalists" working in TV today.

 

[M.S.G.]

Golic and Wingo is horrible, hopefully Scott Van Pelt sportscenter got canned also

Wait, what? SVP deserves to be canned? He's not amazing but he's pretty much the best thing they have going.

I swear the BY has some of the oddest takes around

 

[phillionaire]

They shortened the Lebatard show from 3 to 2 hours for Greeny's radio show. So stupid, why would you cut an hour out of the only sports radio show that doesn't need sports to be entertaining?

 

[eebmg]

My opinions

Keyshawn Johnson. Smart Alec it all about him.
Jay Williams Way too serious. Never smiles
Mike Golic Jr. Very sharp. Best insights but delivery, voice (and recently his thighs) drive me nuts
Golic Sr. Steady middle of the road guy. Best common sense. Respect that he is a worker and grinder, Sorry to see him go.
Wingo: Bleech. Now he can live life playing golf (hopefully with Greenie to follow)

 

[djct1999]

The only thing I try to listen to on ESPN is Rothenberg, DiPietro, and Canty. At worst, they are entertaining. At best, they talk about the topics I want to listen to.

 

[Dove]

ESPN isn't even about sports anymore. I used to watch SportsCenter every day before school, every day when I got home from school, and I fell asleep to it. Nowadays I can't even watch a single show without getting irritated. Every program is now centered around politics or social issues. When I turn on ESPN, I want to see SPORTS. Enough of our lives are politicized as it is. It's sad to see what ESPN has evolved into.

My SportsCenter viewing has been nonexistent since about 2010. And once MLB Network debuted I stopped watching Baseball Tonight. And with NFL Network there is no need to watch ESPN's NFL stuff. I get my DanO material from the Twitter.

 

[Deepster]

Wait, what? SVP deserves to be canned? He's not amazing but he's pretty much the best thing they have going.

I swear the BY has some of the oddest takes around

The SVP Sportscenter with "Bad Beats" and Stanford Steve sucks. I generally like SVP, but that format isn't what I care to see in a "Sportscenter" slot.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Does anyone even listen to sports radio during working hours? Seems like biggest audiences are morning and afternoon commutes.
I catch some sports radio while driving in to work, maybe a bit if running errands or going out during lunch and then catch some on the ride home. And unless I'm on a road trip there isn't any chance I'm listening to sports radio at night.
Even if they record them for listening later or put them on a podcast, I'd never hear a second of the new Greenie show, Mike Jr show, Fitz, Spain, etc. Part of the pain when you have to have so much content to cover so many mediums.

 

[mauconnfan]

Hey maybe there's a chance they won't be a Duke station come college hoops time too?

 

[TRest]

I don't know much about radio but thought it was telling that after years of doing a daily show, Golic (as far as I know) could never be left alone in the booth.

 

[HCCForever]

People still listen to radio?

I still listen to radio in my car. I don't want to hassle with streaming from my phone while driving.

I used to listen to ESPN in the mornings driving to work or when taking my lunch. I never got the ESPN love affair with Greenberg either. Cutting down Le Betard's show for Greenberg's show makes no sense to me either. I like Le Betard's irreverent approach to sports and enjoy listening to guys like Tim Kurkjian. But then again, I am not part of the target demographic either.

 

[alexd]

ESPN isn't even about sports anymore. I used to watch SportsCenter every day before school, every day when I got home from school, and I fell asleep to it. Nowadays I can't even watch a single show without getting irritated. Every program is now centered around politics or social issues. When I turn on ESPN, I want to see SPORTS. Enough of our lives are politicized as it is. It's sad to see what ESPN has evolved into.

It's strange how a few years ago, ESPN tried to steer clear of politics and parted ways with people who wouldn't walk the line (Jemelle Hill). Now, it's almost all they do. Especially since there's no live sports to talk about. "First Take" with Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith might as well be prime time MSNBC.

 

[JimHurley]

It's strange how a few years ago, ESPN tried to steer clear of politics and parted ways with people who wouldn't walk the line (Jemelle Hill). Now, it's almost all they do. Especially since there's no live sports to talk about. "First Take" with Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith might as well be prime time MSNBC.

Exactly. Jemele Hill was, and still is, unbearable to listen to regarding sports. She can’t report on a single story without incorporating race into the conversation. Max Kellerman, just forget it. I can’t stand the dude. He adds nothing to any topic.