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Rich Shertenlieb: NFL, NBC Wouldn’t Let Anyone Find Out If Tom Brady Has Covid

“They’ve got too much riding on this game. The amount of money, the amount of advertisers, the amount of viewers they know they’re going to be getting on Sunday night.”

Derek Futterman

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June 11, 1997. Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan is battling symptoms of the flu, and, despite pleas from his team and family, decides to play the game anyway. Playing 44 minutes, Jordan put up a performance for the ages, scoring 38 points on five assists and three steals. In the contest notoriously referred to as the “Flu Game,” the Chicago Bulls took a three-to-two series lead over the Utah Jazz, and would go on to win the NBA Finals two nights later at home, giving Jordan his fifth of six N.B.A. championships.

September 30, 2021. Tampa, Fla. Prior to the immensely-promoted matchup between Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, parallels could undeniably be drawn between this event and what occurred over two decades ago. A seven-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest quarterback in National Football League History, Brady will return to the place where it all started Sunday night. At practice in Tampa, Brady spoke to reporters and, like Jordan that night in 1997, sounded hoarse and under-the-weather, likely blaring alarms in the minds of both sports media outlets and football fans.

On Friday morning, “Toucher and Rich” on 98.5 The Sports Hub spoke about Brady’s demeanor, and what his illness could mean for this game, which is expected to draw a record-breaking viewing audience across multiple platforms.

“Tom Brady yesterday obviously sounded like crap,” said Rich Shertenlieb, co-host of the Boston morning drive program. “Even if he tested positive [for COVID-19], the NFL would, in no way shape or form let that go public. They’ve got too much riding on this game. The amount of money, the amount of advertisers, the amount of viewers they know they’re going to be getting on Sunday night. I do believe in shenanigans and I think they would keep that away.”

The 44-year-old quarterback is vaccinated against COVID-19; however, there remains a risk of breakthrough cases as new variants of the novel coronavirus, most notably the Delta variant, spread throughout the United States.

Aside from record-setting levels of viewership, the world of sports betting is also thriving in the days leading up to the primetime matchup.

“[The game is] already on pace for record-setting betts,” said Shertenlieb. “You take a look at how much money Vegas is bringing in, and it’s absolutely absurd. There was a report yesterday that [this game has had] 25% more bets than any other game.”

Earlier in the show, co-host Fred Toucher said, “Part of what makes sports fun is the suspension of reality.” As sports fans and citizens alike strive for some sense of normalcy after a difficult last year-and-a-half, not seeing Brady play in a matchup that has been hyped up for weeks on end, including the creation of a poignant trailer to Adele’s pop ballad “Hello,” would unequivocally be a major letdown. Sunday Night Football on NBC will be simulcast to Peacock and Universo, with pregame coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ahead of the 8:20 p.m. kickoff. In a press release, NBC called the matchup “one of the most anticipated regular-season games in NFL history.”

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Compass Media Networks Promotes Three Members to Oversee Play-by-Play Sports Platform

“It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

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Logo for Compass Media Networks

Compass Media Networks has announced the promotions of three long-standing executives, Robert Blum, Tyler Brewer, and Chris Kleiber, who will collectively oversee the content creation, production, and distribution of the company’s play-by-play sports platform.

“For over 16 years, Compass Media Networks has set a standard of excellence for national play-by-play sports with Chris, Rob, and Tyler playing a vital part in our success,” said Peter Kosann, CEO/Founder of Compass Media Networks. “It is our pleasure to give these three talented executives their day in the sun, knowing that they will continue to work incredibly hard to carry on this tradition of excellence.”

Robet Blum has been appointed Vice President & General Manager of Sports and will also continue to serve as Vice President of Affiliate Sales for News-Talk and Sports. Tyler Brewer has been appointed Executive Producer – Sports Programming. And Chris Kleiber has been appointed Senior Producer – Sports Programming.

Compass Media Networks broadcasts annually over 100 play-by-play sporting events involving college men’s basketball and football (including the Big Ten Tournament and the Big Ten Championship Game), NFL 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday Doubleheaders, and complete coverage of the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders. The broadcasts are distributed across hundreds of terrestrial sports, news-talk and music stations as well as digital distribution platforms such as SiriusXM, Verizon Mobile, and the Varsity App.

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Charley Steiner Injured; Tim Neverett to Handle Dodgers Radio Play-by-Play

“This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes.”

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photo of Charley Steiner
Courtesy: Los Angeles Dodgers

As the Los Angeles Dodgers get set to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in their first home game on Thursday, team play-by-play voice Charley Steiner has revealed he will not be doing games at the beginning of the season due to a severe back injury.

Through the Dodgers, Steiner posted a statement which said, “Over the winter, I landed on the Injured List with three compound fractures in my back. (I don’t recommend it.) With the start of the baseball season upon us, the Dodgers are ready to go – but I’m not. This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes. I look forward to returning to the mic later this season. In the meantime, go Dodgers!”

TrueBlueLA.com reports Tim Neverett will handle play-by-play duties while Steiner recovers. Neverett called the first two regular season games with Rick Monday as the Dodgers started the season in South Korea. Neverett and Monday did not travel with the team, however, they called those games in a studio back home.

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Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi Put a Bow on The Ronnie & TKras Show After Nearly 10 Years

“Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

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Photo of Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi
Courtesy: iHeartMedia

After nearly 10 years, The Ronnie & TKras Show with Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi came to an end today as the duo broadcast their final show on remote with many listeners, friends and co-workers on hand. Earlier this month, WDAE announced changes to its programming lineup which will take place starting tomorrow. Ronnie Lane will take on a new role as host of the Tampa Bay Rays pre-game show The Inside Pitch. Tom Krasniqi will continue on in afternoon drive with producer Chris Mathis for The Drive.

Their final show kicked off with station voice Jim Cutler saying, “…Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

And with that went three very fast hours of looking back on a nearly decade-long run for Lane and Krasniqi. “It seems kind of surreal, doesn’t it?” said Lane.

Mathis had several special guests lined up for the final show and many others left voice messages which were played coming out of breaks. Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford took part in the final show. Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks also called in and, at first, identified himself as “Pete from St. Louis” before asking what the hosts thought of the Rays bullpen.

“I’m telling you man, when I hear all of these tributes it really brings a tear to my eye, Ronnie,” said Krasniqi. “It’s a surreal moment…It makes me feel so fortunate and blessed to be in this position sitting next to you all these years. This is one of those moments where I am almost speechless and just so incredibly overwhelmed by the support and the love that everyone has shown here today.”

Lane responded, “…Our time together is really coming to an end. I might get a little emotional before this show is over, but we have had a great time and been through many ups and downs…This business is crazy and for us to be able to do what we are doing and doing it on our terms…And for a company that believes in both of us to give us this opportunity to go in different directions with the same company is truly amazing…It doesn’t happen like this always in this business, usually it’s an ugly goodbye.”

As the show came to an end, Lane reminded everyone, “It has been a blast, but we’re not freakin’ leaving!”

“We’re not leaving folks,” ‘TKras’ said. “Thanks very much for being a part of our lives and thanks for having us as part of yours. Onward and upward. You are dismissed.”

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