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Journalists seem unanimous when it comes to the looming baseball strike…they do not like it. But lost in their pleas to keep playing ball is the argument that a strike might actually fix all the economic woes that currently plague Major League Baseball. Bob talks to syndicated columnist and ABC News commentator George Will.
Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn died on Tuesday at the age of 85. Hearn spent 42 years calling basketball games, popularizing terms like “double dribble” and “slam dunk.” OTM Producer-At-Large Mike Pesca looks back.
Compared to his failed XFL football league, Vince McMahon’s wrestling league is flourishing. But compared to what it used to be, World Wrestling Entertainment is struggling big time. WWE is rapidly losing viewers for Smackdown! and Monday Night Raw, shows that once drew big ratings in primetime. Bob talks to Washington Post staff writer Paul Farhi.
With South Korea co-hosting the World Cup, it’s soccer fever in the lower half of the once-united peninsula. As for North Korea, the isolated communist nation is stealing broadcasts of the games to show its citizens. But they don’t know South Korea is host; officials from the North don’t want to promote their adversary. Host Mike Pesca talks to BBC correspondent Caroline Gluck. FIFA.
With North Korea’s penchant for filched football broadcasts, it’s only a matter of time before sports infiltrates the state-controlled airwaves. OTM provides this promotional spot for an all-sports network on North Korean TV.
ESPN radio recently fired four staffers after searching the company email database and finding offensive material in their outboxes. That’s right, the network that brought you an un-bleeped Bobby Knight is clamping down on the vulgarity in its newsroom. Bob talks to Denis Horgan, Jr., canned after 10 years as a producer at the sports network.
The Brewers beat the Twins 19 injections to 15 last night. Just kidding, of course; the Brewers lost. But steroid use is now the big issue in baseball after an article claiming half the players shoot up to gain muscle mass. Even former slugger Jose Canseco says he’s writing a book that will expose all the players using. Mike chats with former pitcher Jim Bouton, author of Ball Four.
Despite a lackluster finals, TV ratings were up overall for pro basketball this season for the first time since Michael Jordan retired. Much of this success may be coming from the NBA’s marketing plan this year to revisit the days of the ABA in the ‘70s - afros, dunks, 3-pointers, and a whole lot of funk. Leon Wynter reports.
