Father of twins; fan of Toronto/NYC/Buffalo; Host of Sports Media Podcast; SBJ contributor; Alum: SI/The Athletic/Sportsnet. Part of two countries 🇺🇸🇨🇦
Toronto, Ontario
Joined March 2009
- Tweets222K
- Following609
- Followers178K
- Likes3.5K
Richard Deitsch retweeted
NEW PODCAST: If interested in the U.S. midterm elections, the guest is @kkondik, the Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball and an election forecaster I really admire.
There are more parallels between election forecasting and sports analysis than you might imagine. We talk about that — and the state of the midterms as Sabato's Crystal's Ball sees it.
It's a one-time change up from sports media but something I really wanted to do a week out of the U.S. elections.
LISTEN: swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tf…
From CNN/SSRS this morning. This race is an opera.
The U.S. Senate race that fascinates me most is Kansas. I was a poly sci major. This stuff always fascinates me.
The state last elected a DEM senator in 1932. (I mean, Babe Ruth was still playing and hit 42 homers that year). Moran won his race by 23 points in 2022. Everything about the historical fundamentals says this should not be close. (I know Kansas has flipped parties in Gov. races; just talking Senate.)
Yet the polls (which I certainly don't take as gospel) show it neck and neck between Marshall and Hamilton. GOP throwing money there is obviously the tell.
Fascinating. If anyone follows me from Kansas, which would be cool, I'd love your quick take in the mentions. Thx.
I think Troy Aikman is the best working NFL analyst today. So I have a certain POV here obviously.
It is mind-boggling to me that he would not call games next year.
But this is indeed where we are.
If you want to play fantasy sports broadcasting booking, as many in the business do:
If I were Prime Video, I would spend whatever it takes to try to land Ian Eagle and Aikman as my lead NFL booth.
Do I expect that to happen? I do not.
DALLAS-Great night at @interabangbooks discussing “The Game” with @troyaikman and 110 book lovers. (They all came to see me, of course.) Stories flowed, as did some news: Aikman said he thought there was only a “50-50” chance he’ll do TV next year. The league hopes he will.
HERE's THE PODCAST:
swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tf…
NEW PODCAST: If interested in the U.S. midterm elections, the guest is @kkondik, the Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball and an election forecaster I really admire.
There are more parallels between election forecasting and sports analysis than you might imagine. We talk about that — and the state of the midterms as Sabato's Crystal's Ball sees it.
It's a one-time change up from sports media but something I really wanted to do a week out of the U.S. elections.
LISTEN: swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tf…
Via @nytimes: "Nvidia Chief Seen as Target of Chinese Spy Plot. A Chinese businesswoman who had a close relationship with Jensen Huang was found to be passing intelligence to Beijing. President Trump was briefed and took no action."
A massive story with global implications that will no doubt be discussed FAR LESS in certain circles than a single line on The Cheesecake Factory.
nytimes.com/2026/10/29/us/po…
Very cool to see someone as overjoyed from winning during a live interview as Cooper Pratt just was.
I’m so angry that this man has taken one of the sacred artifacts of Americana — double smash cheeseburger bites — and uses them to besmirch hardworking patriots like you and me.
Again: I am calling on my beloved Fox News to abandon its longtime headquarters in the Socialist Mecca of New York City as a symbolic gesture that this cannot stand, this will not stand.
I want you to know that my hand is touching your hand for this gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world. I’m proud of you, thank God I have you, and I love you.
I love you!
Obama tonight on his Cheesecake Factory line: "They mobilized a whole of government response to that joke. Not to inflation, but to that joke. The White House even called the Secretary of the Treasury. This is the man who is in charge of the economy. The person who's supposed to be figuring out how to make your life more affordable. The guy who's supposed to be figuring out how to lower inflation. And reduce interest rates. They told him he should hold a press conference in front of the Cheesecake Factory."
Really interesting.
Fun little aside: During the frantic negotiations over the weekend, an unlikely ally emerged-- the @WWE . At one point, sources told ESPN that Steve Koonin Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO reached out to WWE President Nick Khan and asked if he'd be willing to move the telecast of this week's Smackdown to accommodate Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night.
Smackdown usually airs at 8 p.m. on Friday nights on USA Network, which is the broadcast network for this game. If Game 6 were to be played from 7-9 pm at State Farm Arena, the WWE would have to move an hour later.
Koonin, the former President of TBS, had known Khan for decades. Khan told him they'd be fine with the later broadcast window if that’s what was needed to help the WNBA Finals play in a more appropriate arena.
After that sign off however, new concerns were raised by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about playing a potential Game 7 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Night. So that plan fell apart and the league moved back on to the idea of playing at 12:30 pm on Thursday.
Smackdown will remain at its regularly scheduled time. The Dream announced earlier Wednesday that Thursday’s Game 6 is sold out. espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/503…
I taped a great podcast today with @kkondik, the Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball and an election forecaster I really admire.
There are more parallels between election forecasting and sports analysis than you might imagine. We talk about that — and the state of the midterms as Sabato's Crystal's Ball sees it.
It's a one-time change up from sports media but something I really wanted to do a week out of the U.S. elections.
TO LISTEN TOMORROW:
swap.fm/l/4apy5A6FmakGYZa2Tf…
Donald John Trump just announced that he and James Michael Johnson will do an election eve telerally for Julia Letlow, who is running for Senate in Louisiana.
Trump won the state by 22 percent in 2024
22. Percent.
In sports media, the rule of thumb is to watch what media companies do and not what they say.
Again: This dude @WinWithJMC below is the one to follow for that great state.
This dude below is probably the most notable Louisiana election data analyst.
Something fascinating to me as an election junkie is the black EV turnout in his state this year. These are massive spikes from 2022.
What will it mean? I have zero expertise on LA politics but I thought it was really interesting.
I am endlessly fascinated by this race.
Sen. @RogerMarshallMD (R-KS): "This is one of the best economies I've ever seen in my lifetime."
ATTENTION fans of @TempoBasketball:
NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 – The WNBA Draft Lottery 2027 presented by State Street Investment Management SPY will be broadcast in the U.S. on Sunday, Nov. 15, on ESPN, from 7:30-8:00 p.m. ET, following the broadcast of the UConn vs. Louisville women’s basketball game, the WNBA announced today. TSN will distribute coverage of the event in Canada.
I think it's fun that the New York Times is not fake news today for many.
Tomorrow, it will return to fake news for many.
None of that reaction is performative or kayfabe, either.
Former Communications Director for Senator Lindsey Graham below.
Notable thoughts given the Andrews-Graham NYT/Siena poll today.
I was there in SC Senate 2020 - the @LindseyGrahamSC vs Jaime Harrison race.
Our OWN internal polling showed it being very, very close.
Our daily tracking was always 0-3 points and would vary back and forth. NEVER outside the margin of error.
One of the things about living in Canada — at least in my experience — has been meeting so many Canadians who have voted for multiple parties throughout their voting life. Like you might vote for your Liberal riding candidate in the Federal and then for the Conservative or NDP candidate in your riding Provincially or vice versa.
It's pretty refreshing and it's how I would approach it.
There is obviously some tribalism here but it's so significantly less than the U.S. right now. I voted for both parties during my life in the U.S. and I don't remember as a kid things being as bloodsport tribal (unless I am romanticizing it).
So I'm always thinking: what are the reasons for this and when did it change?
One thing for sure: Social media is absolutely a contributor to it.
