Sports With Friends

Latest Episodes:

407. PGA-LIV Merger Conversation with Ian O'Connor Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, there was a shocking announcement in the golf world that the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour would operate under one umbrella. LIV Golf is run by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and the future of both the PGA and LIV is in question. Ian O'Connor is a 5-time author, and longtime columnist for ESPN, the New York Post, and others. His books include The New York Times bestsellers Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski; Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time; Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry; and The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter. His first appearance on the podcast was Episode 166 to promote the Belichick book. In this episode, O'Connor answers the many questions as best he can, as many questions do not have answers just yet. The subject of sports washing is brought up, and the impact it has on sports fans. How much will fans accept just to see the games they want to see?

406. Mike Vaccaro, New York Post Columnist Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Mike Vaccaro has been a columnist at the New York Post since 2002. Recently, he underwent a harrowing medical procedure where his lower left leg was amputated. He recently wrote about it in a Post column and came on the podcast to tell his ordeal. He tells it triumphantly as this was the best option for him to return to as much of a normal life as possible, and he recently returned to the golf course. In this episode, Vaccaro explained how covering sports during the Covid-19 pandemic allowed him to undergo health issues and still cover games while not being able to attend them anyway. After the health talk, the episode becomes a sports conversation that includes the NBA's competitive balance challenges, whether Nikola Jokic is the face of the league, and whether fans care about their home teams as they used to. He also comments about New York baseball in 2023, whether the New York Mets outspend the New York Yankees. Follow Mike Vaccaro on social media @MikeVacc.

405. Damon Bruce On His New YouTube Show, Podcast May 31, 2023

Show notes

In March 2023, Damon Bruce had the #1 sports radio show in the San Francisco market. He was unceremoniously laid off as his show was eliminated from Audacy's lineup. Damon took his massive radio and social media following and created “Damon Bruce Plus,” a daily YouTube show that is converted to a podcast. https://www.youtube.com/@damonbruceplus In this episode, Bruce talks extensively about how he transitioned from traditional radio to the Internet, which is off to a great start. Then, he got into the following sports topics: the NBA and its 2023 Playoffs, the horrific Oakland Athletics situation, and the new rules in Major League Baseball. Damon's first appearance on Sports with Friends was Episode 318. Follow Damon Bruce on social media @damonbruce.

404. New Jersey Devils Play-by-Play Announcer Matt Loughlin May 24, 2023

Show notes

Matt Loughlin has been with the New Jersey Devils organization for 27 years. The last 17 have been as the radio/audio broadcaster. First, on WFAN Radio, and now on the Devils Hockey Network. Loughlin started with the team as their pre/post-game host on SportsChannel, FOX Sports Net, and ultimately MSG Network and did that for 10 years before transitioning to play-by-play. On TV, he also worked on New York Mets broadcasts. In this episode, Loughlin discusses his time with the Devils franchise. He explains the transition from TV to radio. The second half of the show is a breakdown of the current NJ Devils squad. They discuss superstar Jack Hughes and his brother Luke. They also address questions in coaching and goaltending situations. Follow Matt Loughlin on social media @MattLoug.

403. Jack Curry, YES Network May 17, 2023

Show notes

Jack Curry is an award-winning sports journalist. He spent 20 years covering baseball for the New York Times before shifting to television to work for the YES Network, where he has worked since 2010. He is the co-author of three New York Times bestsellers and has recently authored a new book on the 25th anniversary of the 1998 Yankees, a team that won the World Series and a total of 125 games. The book is entitled, “The 1998 Yankees: The Inside Story of the Greatest Baseball Team Ever.” Curry has won six New York Emmy Awards. In this episode, Curry explains the stories of that team. That season's headlines were dominated by the home run chase of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, and until the World Series, the country hadn't focused on the Yankees. Still, that team featured superstars like Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, and Bernie Williams, and had bench players like Darryl Strawberry and Tim Raines. Also covered in this episode, Curry discusses his role with the YES Network and discusses his thoughts on the current Yankees, specifically Aaron Judge, rookie Anthony Volpe, and manager Aaron Boone. Get the book here: https://a.co/d/1tZpTEG Follow Jack Curry on social media @JackCurryYES.

402. Jaguar TCS Driver Mitch Evans (Formula-E) May 10, 2023

Show notes

Mitch Evans has been a Formula-E driver for Jaguar TCS Racing since 2016, which happened to be Jaguar's initial season in the circuit. Evans is originally from New Zealand, and at the time of this episode, is currently 4th in the championship standings through nine races out of a total of 16. He has two first-place finishes and three podiums this season alone. In this episode, Evans goes in-depth on how reliant a driver is on his team's instructions during a race. In Formula-E, the goal is to finish first but conserve energy in the process. That way, you are assured that you will have enough battery power to finish the race. Evans also talks about his teammate, Sam Bird (Episode 185 of Sports with Friends), and what it's like to be competing against your teammate and every other driver in the race. He also explained the importance of qualifying because batter preservation is not a priority. Follow Mitch Evans on social media @mitchevans_.

401. College Basketball with CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein May 03, 2023

Show notes

Longtime College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein has been with CBS Sports since 2010. Since 2021, he's been a part of the CBS/TNT coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Rothstein also hosts the “College Hoops Today Podcast” via Compass Media, the only college basketball podcast that runs 52 weeks out of the calendar year. He is also an in-studio correspondent for both WFAN and CBS Sports Radio. Rothstein worked with Seth at 1050 ESPN Radio in New York from 2009-2010. In this episode, Jon explained his attitude towards breaking news on social media, and how recent changes in the platform affect his efforts. This episode also tackles the transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), and the growth of March Madness. Rothstein also addresses the growth in women's college basketball and whether the NBA's G-League is a competition to college hoops. Follow Jon on social media @JonRothstein.

400th Episode! Eli Manning (6th Appearance) Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

For the 400th episode of Sports with Friends, 2-time Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning returns to the podcast for his 6th appearance. This appearance ties Manning with LaTroy Hawkins for the most appearances in the history of this show. Eli previously appeared on the first-ever episode of the podcast. He also appeared on Episodes 74, 99, 139, and 200. This is his first appearance since his playing career came to an end. In this episode, Manning discusses his post-playing life. He talks about the Manning-Cast with his brother Peyton. He also talks about “Eli's Places,” especially the episode where he went undercover as “Chad Powers” and tried out to be a walk-on at Penn State. Eli discusses his reasoning behind joining social media, and how he tries to stay relevant after his playing days came to an end. This episode also focuses on the origin of Sports with Friends, and how Eli Manning was instrumental in the beginning of this show. He discusses his charity work, especially how he worked with Seth for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. A special thank you to all the listeners who have supported this show through 400 episodes.

399. The NHL Pride Night Controversy Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

During the 2022-2023 NHL Regular Season, all 30 Teams held a Pride Night, during which players wear jerseys celebrating the LGBTQ+ community either during warmups or games -- or both. This season, various players and a few teams objected to the activity and refused to participate for a variety of reasons. Tara Slone recently completed her first full season as a content contributor for the San Jose Sharks and has also joined NBC Sports Bay Area on their Sharks broadcasts. She has been outspoken about the controversy on her social media. Sharks Goalie James Reimer was one of the players who refused to participate and said it was due to his religious beliefs. Before the Slone interview, this episode aired a small portion of an interview that former Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke did on Sportsnet in Canada on March 25th, 2023 regarding the controversy. Follow Tara Slone on social media @TaraSlone.

398. Boston Red Sox Radio Announcer Joe Castiglione Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

Since joining the Boston Red Sox in 1983, Joe Castiglione has been the lead play-by-play announcer for over 40 years. In 2023, Castiglione announced that he was scaling back and would only do 81 scheduled games. At 76, he has been part of the fabric of Red Sox baseball for four decades. In 2022, he was honored by the club and named to the Red Sox Hall of Fame. In this episode, Joe opens up about his decision to do fewer games, and how awkward it is to watch the Red Sox on TV. He also comments on MLB's new rules for 2023, and how they were necessary to make the game more watchable. Then, the floodgates opened, and stories of his years with the Red Sox and the many players he has amazing friendships with came out. He spoke specifically about the heartbreaking 1986 World Series, and the incredible ALCS battles with the Yankees in 2003-2004, culminating with the first World Series championship in 86 years. He discusses his relationship with Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and countless others.

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