Pat McAfee had a weekend for the ages

by | Sep 18, 2023 | Sports | 0 comments

Pat McAfee Had a Weekend for the Ages

1.  Summer is here! Sports Illustrated Put out “The Power List,” where we looked at the 50 most influential figures and forces in sports. Pat McAfee created the list, while I wrote the blurb. Here was my opening sentence: “There isn’t a hotter sports media star today than this 36-year-old.”

I may have undersold McAfee’s status based on the weekend he just experienced.

McAfee’s fans were not happy when he signed the huge deal with ESPN. They claimed he was selling out. Some criticized ESPN’s decision to partner with someone who was the antithesis of traditional media, and who, GASP, used curse words.

McAfee discussed the backlash even (cheap Plug coming) SI Media with Jimmy Train.

I think it’s safe to say after this weekend that McAfee’s fans and ESPN should feel like they hit the jackpot.

Here’s the guest list McAfee provided for his audience Friday, when he took his show on the road to Boulder, Colorado: Deion Sanders, The Rock, Aaron Rodgers.

Consider that. McAfee’s show featured the hot coach in college-football who is the man behind the most talked-about story in college-football. He was the first to interview the player behind the most talked-about story line in college football. After his season-ending injury, he had the first interview with the player who was responsible for the No. Oh, and just for fun, he also threw in a ridiculously popular movie/wrestler/pop-culture icon.

This came on the heels of McAfee’s announcing that Rodgers, Nick Saban and J.J. Watt would be weekly guests on his program.

A few hours after McAfee’s ESPN show ended, he showed up, expectedly, on SmackDown, which was held in Denver. That’s right. SmackDown McAfee appeared in a segment alongside The Rock.

McAfee appeared on the screen again in the morning. College GameDay He also shaved it with Deion.

Two things struck me about McAfee’s dynamic weekend. One, after some of his fans voiced their displeasure about his joining ESPN, I haven’t seen or heard one complaint from them now that the show is up and running on the World Wide Leader. No matter what you think of McAfee’s work ethic, it is impressive. The guy doesn’t seem to sleep much. You’d think he might take it easy after the weekend he had, but there he was Sunday tweeting all day about NFL action. If you are a McAfee fan, you can’t deny that he doesn’t ever disappoint or half-ass when it comes to providing content.

ESPN and McAfee unfairly took some heat when McAfee’s deal was announced around the time the company was having mass layoffs. I said then that the two things had nothing in common. ESPN is a company that wants to make profit. The deal was made to make money. This weekend proved why ESPN wanted to team up with McAfee.

The content and buzz McAfee provided to ESPN, particularly on social media, must have been overwhelming.

And in his two weeks on ESPN airwaves, he’s dropped only one f-bomb.

2. Regarding The Rock’s surprise appearance on SmackDown Friday night, more than four million people have watched the full segment, which included one of the loudest pops he’s ever gotten.

The TV ratings are a good indicator of the quality of television. SmackDown drew 2.4 million viewers, up 24% from the previous week, and was the No. The Rock’s appearance was the No. 1 broadcast TV show that night. And that was all with zero promotion for The Rock’s appearance.

3. From last Monday’s Traina Thoughts in which I reviewed YouTube’s version of NFL Sunday Ticket: “There were actually two negatives about YouTube’s presentation, one minor and one very large. The minor negative is that YouTube didn’t put up the multiview options until 10 to 15 minutes before kickoff. YouTube needs to get these up at least a half hour before kickoff so fans can plan out their viewing strategy.”

Also: “My final rating for Week 1 of NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is an 8.75. Put up the multiview options by 12:30 ET, and it’ll be a 9. Give fans customizable multiview, and it’ll be a 10.”

Well, we’re up to a 9 for NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube because the multiview options were up before 12:30 ET. Youtube, you did a great job.

4. Two things were particularly beautiful about this video. Belichick being Belichick Mike Tirico is utterly enraged by the fact that Belichick is Belichick.

5. The Bills had former linebacker Takeo Spikes on the field to pump up the crowd before Sunday’s game against the Raiders. They then put him in his seat during the game that was highly problematic This led to an amusing tweet.

6. BizNasty could go all journalistic and fire an NHL coach over the weekend. Paul Bissonnette did a fantastic job. Last week on his Spittin’ Chiclets Biz and Ryan Whitney discussed in their podcast the fact that Columbus Blue Jackets Coach Mike Babcock made players show their phone’s camera roll. 

This led to Biz revealing that he’s heard from other players that Babcock has pulled this move and invaded their privacy. The Blue Jackets then released a statement defending Babock, but Biz wasn’t having it and kept up the pressure.

On Sunday, Babcock resigned. The statement sounded more like a firing.

7. The latest SI Media with Jimmy Traina The interview is with Scott Hanson. He has been hosting the NFL RedZone Channel for 15 years.

Hanson talks about what he remembers from hosting his first show 15 years ago, what has changed about the channel over the years, the use of the term “witching hour” and the show’s enormous popularity.

Hanson also talks about his after-show routine when he hasn’t eaten for seven hours or gone to the toilet. ET breaks down the games, people who shouted out him and RedZone.

Following Hanson, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week we talk about the Aaron Rodgers’ injury, Tom Brady’s nonsense, and Week 1 in NFL. Also, we read the most recent reader reviews for SI Media with Jimmy Traina Apple Podcasts

Listen to or download the podcast by clicking below. Apple, Spotify You can also find out more about the following: Google.

You can watch it on YouTube SI Media with Jimmy Train YouTube

8. The Random Video of the day: The Rock’s career has been filled with some of the biggest pops ever.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts Check it out SI Media with Jimmy Traina The following are some of the most effective ways to improve your own effectiveness. Apple, Spotify You can also find out more about Google. You can also follow Jimmy Twitter, Instagram You can also find out more about the following: TikTok.

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