Awful announcing opened its voting for their 2015 People’s Sports Media Awards, and I really enjoyed the hell out of it…
I encourage you to go vote yourselves, but I thought I’d share my picks and why I made them.
1) Best Live Event Coverage
– EPL on NBC
– World Cup on ESPN
– Sunday Night Football
– College Football Playoff on ESPN
– NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner
My Pick: NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner
Why:
The drama really sells itself with the tourney, but the production really outdid itself this year. Only CBS/Turner could make long stretches of back-to-back missed shots feel compelling, but seriously…
Ron Hunter falling off his chair, UAB over Iowa State, crying Nova piccolo player…And to do so without Steve Kerr and Greg Anthony too?…Thanks, Raftery. And “One Shining Moment”.
2) Best Sports Documentary
– Playing for the Mob (ESPN)
– Verne Lundquist: In Your Life (CBS)
– I Hate Christian Laettner (ESPN)
– The Day the Series Stopped (ESPN)
– Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker (MLB Network)
– Of Miracles and Men (ESPN)
My Pick: Of Miracles and Men (ESPN)
Why:
One of the greatest athletic achievements in the history of the United States, in the view of its opposition. Enough said.
3) Best Studio Show
– The Men in Blazers Show (NBCSN)
– College GameDay (ESPN)
– Inside the NBA (TNT)
– World Cup Tonight (ESPN)
– Match of the Day (NBCSN)
– That Other Pregame Show (CBS Sports Network)
My Pick: Inside the NBA (TNT)
Why:
This show is about as entertaining as it gets and Charles Barkley is a big reason for it. Shaq feels forced and awkward, but they make the most of his deficiencies with humor. When Kenny Smith isn’t spoiling slam dunk contests over the public address system, he is an excellent analyst. And Ernie Johnson’s bowtie game is flawless…I considered College GameDay, but the celebrity picker segment can be a mixed bag and makes me want to change the channel.
4) Best Daily Show
– Olbermann (ESPN2)
– Fox Sports Live (Fox Sports 1)
– Outside the Lines (ESPN/ESPN2)
– PTI (ESPN)
– The Dan Patrick Show (NBCSN)
– MLB Tonight (MLB Network)
– SportsCenter 11 PM ET (ESPN)
My Pick: The Dan Patrick Show
Why:
The Dan Patrick Show is my kind of show. I would love to work on that show and with their team. They have excellent chemistry including the producers on topics with Patrick. Nothing is forced. There isn’t an agenda. And it’s entertaining each and every day…even when there are guest hosts for the show.
This used to be SportsCenter for me, but they care more about debates and analysis from “experts” I don’t want to hear from than the highlights I want to tune in for.
5) Best Studio Host
– Rebecca Lowe (NBC)
– Rece Davis (ESPN)
– Liam McHugh (NBC)
– Rob Stone (Fox)
– Adam Zucker (CBS)
– Bob Ley (ESPN)
– Ernie Johnson (Turner)
– Lindsay Czarniak (ESPN)
My Pick: Rece Davis (NBC)
Why:
This was the toughest field because all of those recognized are great enough for votes, but Rece Davis is my guy. Extremely excited to see him take over College GameDay for football season because he’s a natural. Excellent charisma, fun, informative, great chin…
6) Best Studio Analyst
– Pedro Martinez (Turner)
– Greg McElroy (SEC Network)
– Charles Barkley (Turner)
– Joel Klatt (Fox)
– Seth Greenberg (ESPN)
– Kyle Martino (NBC)
– Clark Kellogg (CBS)
– Doug Glanville (ESPN)
My Pick: Charles Barkley
Why:
Barkley. Is. Appointment. TV.
He may not have the greatest or most informed opinion, but you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t entertaining. That’s why he has hosted SNL a handful of times…I would say that I also considered Joel Klatt and Doug Glanville because their content and insight is incredible.
7) Best Play by Play Announcer
– Arlo White (NBC)
– Al Michaels (NBC)
– Dan Shulman (ESPN)
– Ian Darke (ESPN)
– Ian Eagle (CBS/Turner)
– Doc Emrick (NBC)
– Brian Anderson (CBS/Turner)
– Dave Pasch (ESPN)
– Mike Tirico (ESPN)
My Pick: Ian Eagle
Why:
There are excellent names on this list. Doc Emrick is the pro of pros and should have been my pick. However, I’ve fallen in love with the job Ian Eagle does. He is that great mix of “New School” and “Old School”. He has this impeccable skill of remaining calm and professional while emphasizing excitement on a huge play. Awesome sense of humor and has that ability of making a blowout sound interesting.
8) Best Game Analyst
– Bill Raftery (Fox/CBS)
– John Smoltz (Fox/MLB Network)
– Jay Bilas (ESPN)
– Cris Collinsworth (NBC)
– Eddie Olczyk (NBC)
– Hubie Brown (ESPN)
– Bill Walton (ESPN)
– Taylor Twellman (ESPN)
My Pick: Eddie Olczyk
Why:
The point I made about Emrick in the category before applies here. Eddie Olczyk is aware, he’s objective (even when his Blackhawks are on the national broadcast), and he helps teach the audience the game. John Smoltz does a similar good job, but I don’t get enough Smoltzy to hold him in that high of a regard. Hubie Brown also gets consideration because he will at least call the game he is assigned to…unlike Jeff Van Gundy.
9) Best Sideline Reporter/Analyst
– Allie LaForce (CBS)
– Michele Tafoya (NBC)
– Tracy Wolfson (CBS)
– Rachel Nichols (Turner)
– David Feherty (CBS)
– Brian Engblom (NBC)
– Doris Burke (ESPN)
My Pick: Feherty
Why:
I love the work Rachel Nichols does. Doris Burke deserves more credit for what she brings to a broadcast. And Brian Engblom is a badass…But Feherty is just so…Feherty.
10) Best Newsbreaker
– Adam Schefter (ESPN)
– Ariel Helwani (MMA Fighting/Fox)
– Ken Rosenthal (Fox)
– Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo)
– Jay Glazer (Fox)
– Bob McKenzie (NBC/TSN)
– Chris Mortensen (ESPN)
My Pick: Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo)
Why:
Bob McKenzie is very close to being this guy for the NHL, but Adrian Wojnarowski is the definitive newsbreaker for the NBA…In the NFL, Schefter and Jay Glazer along with several others battle each other for that title. Ken Rosenthal is great but is in a same situation as the football guys battling with Jon Heyman and others for scoops. Only one of these guys has their own #hashtag designated to them and makes you refresh their Twitter timeline for breaking news: #WojBomb.
11) Best Podcast
– Men in Blazers
– The Jay & Dan Podcast
– The BS Report
– The Art of Wrestling
– The Starters
– His & Hers
My Pick: The Jay & Dan Podcast
Why:
I don’t listen to many podcasts and I’d really like to change that, but Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole have the personalities and opinions that I want more of after they are done with a shift on FOX Sports Live. I hear ‘Men in Blazers’ is great, but I don’t watch soccer. And I don’t like Bill Simmons…like REALLY don’t like BS.
12) Best in Social Media
– Katie Nolan
– Bruce Arthur
– Men in Blazers
– Richard Deitsch
– Spencer Hall
– Jay Onrait
– Scott Van Pelt
– Jay Bilas
My Pick: Richard Deitsch
Why:
Again, some very good people to choose from. Jay is hilarious and so is Van Pelt. Jay Bilas is fascinating with his hip-hop knowledge. Bruce Arthur gets plenty of Retweets. Spencer Hall gets me with his appreciation for Justified and similar TV programming. And I used to like Katie Nolan the most until she turned her platform into immature mob shaming….Richard Deitsch is my guy though. There are few people as consistently informative as Deitsch. He is unbiased and fair in his critiques of all media outlets. Deitsch also gives you credible insight into these outlets that you won’t always find elsewhere.
13) Best Media Feud
– Dan Patrick vs Colin Cowherd
– Mike Francesa vs Fox Sports 1
– Bill Simmons vs The Authority
– Keith Olbermann vs New York Daily News
– Bill Simmons vs Mike & Mike
– Jay Glazer vs ESPN
– Dan Dakich vs WEEI
I loved the Jay Glazer feud with ESPN because he was calling them out on something many have been complaining about for years. But sometimes Glazer gives me that “Guy Fieri” vibe and that’s just uncomfortable for everyone involved…Dan Patrick vs. Colin Cowherd was the most compelling, and resulted in the best Mortal Kombat style finisher. FATALITY.
14) Sports Media Entertainer of the Year – Which sports personality had the best year?
– Rebecca Lowe
– Bill Raftery
– Men in Blazers
– Pedro Martinez
– Bill Walton
– Bill Simmons
– Mike Francesa
– Bob Ley
My Pick: Bill Walton
Why:
I can only explain this with a simple question…WHEN ISN’T BILL WALTON HAVING THE BEST YEAR?
michaelpiff 