The Big Weekend

The Big Weekend comes out of winter hibernation with a profile on Bill Raftery, who had a front-row seat to Jim Nantz saying goodbye to his college basketball friends. Then some Masters thoughts, including Scott Van Pelt on what's so special about Augusta as the best golf weekend of the year arrives. Plus, an interview with ESPN's Paul Hembekides, co-author with Mike Greenberg on Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Warner Bros. Discovery play-by-play voice extraordinaire Brian Anderson returns to the podcast to talk about calling LeBron James' quest to secure the NBA's all-time scoring crown, dig deep into the mechanics of his job, and reflect on his first All-Star nod. Plus, is Justin Rose back? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Adam Lefkoe, the host of TNT's Tuesday night NBA coverage, joined the show to talk about his new multiyear contract extension and the unique joy of working on a show willing to go in unpredictable places. Then, was that the best Detroit Lions win in 30 years? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This was a landscape-changing year for sports media. Big names found new homes, salaries skyrocketed and, as always, news came fast and furious. Over the past six months our panel of experts has watched, listened, read, compared, collated and debated the best from sports media in 2022. The result is our annual tribute to the industry. We present to you The Big Lead's 2022 Sports Media Awards. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We love our sports, don't we, folks? Especially on a weekend where all of your teams win, there's thrilling and important finishes around the country, and a World Series champion is crowned. Reacting to all the good stuff that happened for once, plus some media notes on FOX's new Saturday night primetime college basketball play, Chris Fowler remaining at the top of his game, Joe Davis laying out, and how a Super Bowl booth sounds at the midway mark of the NFL season. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Brooklyn Nets are juggling multiple controversies as Kyrie Irving continues to pass up opportunities to apologize and Ime Udoka has been selected, somewhat perplexingly, as the man to fix this mess. The Big Lead's Kyle Koster and Liam McKeone discuss all the tumult and if there's any hope on the horizon. Then, tonight is the night we'll know for once and for all if baseball is better than football based on how many people watch on television. You can taste the excitement in the air. As well as the sarcasm. What do these ratings-obsessed people think they're accomplishing and why do they want to live their lives like that? Plus, having the bravery to admit that, actually, a World Series no-hitter is pretty cool. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Phil Simms of The NFL Today and Inside the NFL joins the show to preview the epic Buffalo Bills-Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday. What makes Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen so special? What does the public miss when assessing quarterback play? Plus, Kyle and Liam make some picks for you to consume at your own risk. All that and essays on Adam Amin's thrilling NLDS broadcast, CGI dragons at Yankee Stadium and an all-time broadcasting bit involving Angela Lansbury. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One of the better sports weekends of the year has markets moving all over the place and only one podcast can tell you which way the wind's going to blow. We went to the Sports Stock Market to get some inside information for you, the financially prudent listener. Then, Ernie Johnson joined the show to discuss MLB on TBS postseason coverage, his love for fielding fungos, the quiet preparation before the storm, and calling games with his father. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Liam and Kyle, contractually obligated to make NFL picks against the spread, once again face the music after another unfortunate showing. And try to do better in Week 5. Will they ever get better at this? Well, there's no guarantee. Pray for us. This is getting bleak. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

LIV Golf reportedly has a very unique plan for their broadcasts and, honestly, we all should have seen it coming from miles away. Kyle and Liam have a very unique new plan for picking NFL games against the spread and climb out of the hole they've dug by Schrute-ing things up. Plus, let no one accuse us of not saying nice things about the ManningCast. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Miami Dolphins may be for real. The Buffalo Bills will not being going undefeated. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick aren't getting any younger. So is it time to finally count them out? A look at all the NFL Week 3 action and the sports media takes that will follow. Then, a very special International Baseball League of West Michigan playoff postgame show featuring one very depressed host and one extremely happy guest. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Aaron Judge's quest to smash home run records means it's time to fire up the debate over who deserves to profit from these historic baseballs. Should it be the lucky fans who could use the money? Spoiler alert: yes! The Score's NFL insider and NBA analyst Jordan Schultz also swings by to talk about his new role and the life of a newsbreaker. Finally, Kyle and Liam apologize for some bad gambling picks by offering more bad gambling picks. All that, and some long-simmering thoughts on the Amazon Thursday Night Football experience. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Week 2 of the NFL was a truly wild experience with remarkable comebacks happening all over the place. Tua Tagovailoa finally has his signature moment after a six-touchdown explosion against the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Flacco may still be elite. Kyler Murray is certainly not the best player in football yet he could be the most exhilarating. The Big Lead's Kyle Koster and Ryan Phillips zip around the league at a breakneck pace, along the way offering begrudging respect for Robert Saleh, panicking about the Bengals and Colts, and wondering if the Lions might be halfway decent. We straight-up defy you to find another podcast that talks about football. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amazon's Thursday Night Football debuts tonight and the sports media world is absolutely losing their minds over the possibility. While Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit are at the center of the frame, it's worth exploring how one of the alternate streams, featuring Dude Perfect, may be the true game-changer for the industry. Then, Week 2 NFL picks against the spread by two guys known to get 54 percent of them correct. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

America has been rocked by not one, but two pasta sauce-related traffic incidents in just a few days. What's in the hell is going on out there? Plus, Rory McIlroy may not be the face of the PGA Tour, but he's probably its heartbeat. And most importantly, Charlotte Wilder of Fox Sports drops in to talk about season two of the Ultimate College Football Road Trip. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Big Weekend begins on a Thursday with thoughts on FS1's retooled fall lineup, the potentially disastrous Fernando Tatis Jr. situation in San Diego, and LIV Golfers realizing they, like Gob Bluth, may have made a huge mistake. Plus, International Baseball League of West Michigan superstar Lendy Sosa discusses Week 14 action, the playoff chase and how much Sundays mean to him. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Big Weekend, a podcast that only exists because there's space at the bottom of our posts. How was your weekend? Did you catch Patrick Cantlay winning yet another Playoff event? How about that Adam Scott? Wrapping up the PGA Tour's penultimate event and looking ahead to next week. Plus, we announce a brand-new sponsor that may get us canceled. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The mainstream media continues to refuse to cover the International Baseball League of West Michigan, so we will once again fill that void. Thoughts on Week 13, which was jam-packed with top teams facing each other and exciting games. With only four more regular-season contests to play, the playoff picture is crowded at the top and liable to shift dramatically. Are the Mariners built to win the East? Can the Padres catch the Cubs? Which team might get hot and earn an unexpected bye? Plus some corny takes on the joy of watching a game from the bench. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It was back to the ballpark for the Cubs as the International League of West Michigan began its second half on Sunday. Jeremy Stokes joins the show to discuss the division races heating up, a much-needed rout, and how the next few weeks will shape the playoff picture. Plus, a brief review from the Field of Dreams, a place that still has the magic. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The slowest weeks on the sports calendar necessitate going through the drafts and unleashing holy hell. One of Fall Out Boy's biggest 38-year-old fans breaks down each and every album they've ever released. Some would say a giant waste of time. Others would appreciate the selfless devotion to bettering society. Plus, a defense of Chris Russo, expert list-maker, and a hot take on Rudy's dad from the movie Rudy and his Notre Dame-only policy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy