Menu
Media

Berman Still Sparking Talk Around HR Derby Despite Not Being On Call

The continued absence of longtime host Chris Berman from the T-Mobile Home Run Derby sparked more conversation last night on Twitter. Berman has not called the event since '16, and The Athletic's Chris Vannini wrote, "Say what you will, but I miss Chris Berman's excitement in the Home Run Derby. He hit moments. Some incredible performances tonight feel a bit flat." The Daytona Beach News-Journal's Zach Dean: "I can remember the 2016 Home Run Derby when everyone wanted to 'mute' Chris Berman. Now, he’s trending and it’s because everyone misses him!" Panama City-based WJHG-NBC's Joel Sebastianelli: "I hope everyone who complained about Chris Berman spends eternity in purgatory listening to announcers use indoor voices to deliver serious analytical breakdowns of the #HRDerby. You know, like tonight. But on a loop. Forever." Forbes' Maury Brown: "I know he’s got his fans, but I think I speak for many when I say that not having Berman do the HR Derby makes it much more enjoyable." Former AP sports writer Rusty Miller: "You know who wins the Home Run Derby? We all do, because we don’t have to listen to Chris Berman call it anymore." ESPN Radio St. Louis 101.1's Austin Huff: "Somewhere Chris Berman is exhausted, watching this Derby in his living room reclining his chair back back back back back back back." 

RATINGS ROUNDUP: ESPN and ESPN2 last night combined to draw a 4.5 overnight rating for the Derby, which saw Mets 1B Pete Alonso defeat Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Last year, ESPN and ESPNews drew a 4.4 overnight for Bryce Harper’s win. Last year’s telecast also had TV competition around coverage of President Trump’s discussions with Vladimir Putin. Two years ago, with names like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge in the field, ESPN drew a 5.7 overnight for the Derby (Austin Karp, THE DAILY).

ALTERNATIVE NATION: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal writes fans were "doing it wrong" if they did not watch ESPN2's Statcast coverage. The net featured Jason Benetti, Eduardo Perez and MLB Statcast analyst Mike Petriello "talking strategy and actually making sense of the competition." Rosenthal: "As someone who typically feels Statcast data should be used sparingly, lest the viewer drown in statistics, the graphics and the commentary were interesting. Plus, it was fun to hang with the Benetti-led combo" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 7/9).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2019/07/09/Media/HR-Derby-ratings.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2019/07/09/Media/HR-Derby-ratings.aspx

CLOSE