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U.S. Ryder Cup team hires golf media’s Justin Ray to lead analytics department

Jim Furyk found his new analytics team, and it includes one of golf media’s most recognizable stats voices. The U.S. Ryder Cup team has hired Justin Ray and Hunter Stewart to lead its data analytics operation ahead of the 2027 matches at Adare Manor, according to Golfweek, replacing Scouts Consulting Group, which had supported U.S.…

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha adds 7 million Instagram followers overnight

If you ever questioned the power and popularity of soccer as the world’s game, the story of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha should put all doubts to rest. The 40-year-old goalkeeper was the unlikeliest of World Cup cult heroes with a remarkable performance that led the tiny island nation to a heroic 0-0 draw with Spain…

Former USMNT manager Bob Bradley weighs in on American soccer media during World Cup

Bob Bradley led the U.S. Men’s National Team through some of its most memorable moments in modern history as manager throughout the 2010 World Cup cycle, which included qualification for the tournament in South Africa, a historic second-place finish in the 2009 Confederations Cup which included a 2-0 win over Spain in the semifinal, and…

MLS

‘Hockey Night in Canada’ leaves CBC after more than seven decades

For the first time since 1952, CBC will no longer air National Hockey League games. The news was announced in a joint statement by Sportsnet, the exclusive Canadian rightsholder, and CBC. “After a successful 12-year partnership, Sportsnet and CBC today announced the public broadcaster will no longer carry NHL broadcasts after the current season as…

NHL

Mikal Bridges: Becky Hammon comments motivated Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first championship in 50 years, won Finals MVP, and scored 45 in the clinching victory. And in doing so, he won a victory for small guards of all places and times. There were serious questions about whether Brunson could ever lead the Knicks to a title,…

Does sports media need Victor Wembanyama to be a villain?

This originally appeared in Tuesday morning’s edition of The A Block, Awful Announcing’s daily newsletter with the latest sports media news, commentary, and analysis. Sign up here and be the first to know everything going on in the sports media world. The NBA Finals ended Saturday night with the Knicks winning their first championship in over…

NBC extends Friday U.S. Open coverage through conclusion of second round

NBC’s coverage of the U.S. Open will look just a bit different this year as the network tries to take advantage of the late hours of Friday’s second round. According to a report by Josh Carpenter in Sports Business Journal, “the NBC broadcast network will carry coverage through its conclusion on Friday” rather than shifting…

UFC, Paramount never planned to simulcast White House event on CBS, per report

UFC CEO Dana White teased the possibility of UFC Freedom 250 being simulcast by CBS when the event was being planned for the White House lawn last year. But it appears that possibility was never under serious consideration. According to a report in Sports Business Journal, “UFC and Paramount always planned to have Sunday’s White…

Analysts: Fox-Roku deal will ’embolden’ NFL to negotiate new TV deals this year

It’s fair to say the NFL’s ongoing effort to negotiate new broadcast deals several years before its post-2029 opt-out has not gone according to plan. The league has faced hurdles in the form of federal scrutiny of its antitrust exemption, which more or less facilitates the model by which broadcast rights are sold to media…

NFL

ESPN greenlights docuseries on Toronto Tempo, Serena Williams and Ryan Reynolds among EPs

The Toronto Tempo will be the subject of a new ESPN docuseries. ESPN announced Monday it has greenlit “Setting the Tempo,” a four-episode series on Canada’s first WNBA franchise, directed by Kathleen Jayme, whose previous credits include the ESPN 30 for 30 “I’m Just Here for the Riot.” The series will follow the Tempo’s all-women…

Donald Trump will reportedly be allowed to lift World Cup trophy with winning team

President Donald Trump will reportedly be afforded the ability to lift the World Cup trophy on-stage with the victors during next month’s final at MetLife Stadium, according to a report by Ben Jacobs of the U.K. outlet talkSPORT. Many will recall, Trump lifted the trophy alongside Premier League side Chelsea after they won the FIFA…

Fox likely making upwards of $250M on hydration break ads during World Cup

As the fifth day of World Cup competition draws to a close, Fox’s hydration break strategy has become abundantly clear. Despite reports of a “hybrid approach” that would supposedly see the network show the field and players during at least some hydration breaks, Fox has instead opted to go to full-screen advertisements during each and…

Scott Van Pelt: Victor Wembanyama villain narrative is ‘overstated’

The media has landed on Victor Wembanyama’s villain arc as one of its top storylines coming off an incredible NBA Finals, but ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt is pushing back. Wembanyama not only skipped out on media, gave out cocky quotes and denied his Knicks opponents customary handshakes after the series, he also roughed up several…

Famed Boston sports radio host Eddie Andelman dies at 89

Eddie Andelman, the Boston radio pioneer who some call the “godfather of sports radio,” has died at age 89. The news was announced by Andelman’s three sons on Monday. “From humble roots in Dorchester, he went onto great success in business and broadcasting,” the brothers wrote. “Some call him the godfather of sports radio. He…

Kansas City, Los Angeles top local ratings for early World Cup matches

Local ratings are in for the United States men’s national soccer team’s World Cup match against Paraguay, and the cities most interested in the game may not be the ones you expect. According to Michael Mulvihill, the President of Insights and Analytics at Fox Corporation, Kansas City had the highest English-language ratings for United States-Paraguay.…

MLS

Joe Buck advised Mike Breen on calling Knicks in NBA Finals

Joe Buck regrets his call of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2006 World Series win, and he didn’t want Mike Breen to make the same mistake. Breen has called Knicks games for more than three decades, and he’s been their lead voice since 1997. Additionally, Breen has now called 21 consecutive NBA Finals for ESPN and…

FIFA World Cup VAR official accused of making White supremacist hand gesture on TV broadcast

Update [7:09 p.m. ET]: FIFA has reportedly cleared the referee in question, calling the gesture an “involuntary twitch.” Both the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and the official released statements on Monday. Our original story runs below. During Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao in Houston on Sunday, a quick TV shot showed the VAR referees in their Dallas…