“Former Kings Matt Barnes and Chris Webber took to Twitter to condemn Napear. Shortly thereafter, the team announced that Napear was no longer part of the organization.”
Grant Napear has lost not one, but two jobs after a Twitter exchange with DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins initially Tweeted at Napear to get his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement. When Napear didn’t respond, Cousins turned to Napear’s co-host Doug Christie.
To quote an article written on Tuesday by BSM’s Brandon Contes, “The ‘all lives matter’ reaction to BLM generally represents a misunderstanding of and contempt for the movement.”
Napear was put on administrative leave by KHTK and the Kings. Former Kings Matt Barnes and Chris Webber took to Twitter to condemn Napear. Shortly thereafter, the team announced that Napear was no longer part of the organization.
Grant Napear statement following his resignation from the Sacramento Kings:
“I want to thank the fans for their overwhelming love and support. I will always remain a part of Kings nation in my heart.”
KHTK program director Jason Ross, who earlier in the day read a statement on air saying that Napear was on administrative leave from Bonneville, returned in the afternoon to say that he had been let go by the station. KTHK’s parent company Bonneville International put out a statement saying that the timing of Napear’s words were particularly insensitive.
“In the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death and the events of the last several days, it is crucial that we communicate the the tremendous respect that we have for the black community and other groups or individuals who have cause to feel marginalized.”
Now that Tom Brady is done on the field, it is only a matter of time before he makes his way to the broadcast booth. Before the 2022 season began, FOX announced that Brady had signed a ten-year deal with the network that will put him in the top NFL play-by-play booth and make him a brand ambassador.
That has created speculation and uncertainty for Greg Olsen, the current analyst on FOX’s top NFL crew, but it won’t stop there. The effects will almost certainly trickle down. Mark Sanchez was a guest on The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday and joked that he knows his place is a little less certain now than it was last week.
“I guess thanks for ruining the trajectory of my career for the second time, Tom,” Sanchez said with a smile. “I get drafted to the guy’s division. Now he’s gotta come to FOX and ruin everything here. I can’t get away from the guy.”
Mark Sanchez led the New York Jets to two AFC Championship Games during Tom Brady’s Super Bowl drought. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and the then-Washington Redskins during his ten-year NFL career.
He began his broadcasting career in 2019. He was first with ABC and ESPN as a studio analyst for college football. Before the 2021 NFL season, he moved to FOX, where he joined Kevin Kugler in the broadcast booth.
With a few years and plenty of reps under his belt, Mark Sanchez is a broadcast veteran. He joked that that will give him some clout over Tom Brady when the GOAT makes his FOX debut.
“Hopefully he doesn’t get too annoyed with the hazing we put them through as rookies here at FOX. Hopefully, it doesn’t get too annoying for him.”
Adam Jones left one Boston sports talker for another. Earlier this month, he left his nighttime show on 98.5 The Sports Hub to join Meghan Ottolini and Christian Arcand in afternoon drive on WEEI.
In an interview with Alex Reimer of WEEI, Jones made it clear that there was no bitterness towards his old station. It was just time for a lifestyle change.
“I had done 10 years at night,” he said. “My kid is going to be going to school next year. It’s a good life-work balance, which I know a lot of people probably overuse, but it will be a good life-work balance to be home at night for the first time in 10 years and be able to do dinners at home. And it’s a new challenge. I would like to be in a more prominent day part, and try to carve out a niche there, and try to be successful there. I think we did a good thing at night for 10 years, but nights are nights, and I honestly was ready for something different.”
Jones says he knew that if he wanted to make a move, it likely wasn’t going to happen on 98.5. The station’s daytime lineup has a very successful track record and management likely isn’t eager to do anything to jeopardize that.
“I hold no animosity towards 98.5…I think people wonder that and ask that. I get why you’re not gonna get rid of Fred, or Rich, or Wallach, or Beetle, or Zo, or Hardy, or Felger and Mazz and Big Jim. There are limited opportunities.”
Now, Adam Jones is focused on making things work with Mego and Arcand. He told Reimer that there is plenty to consider and that he and Mego are trying to find their goto hot buttons.
He said they are not trying to manufacture debates. They just want to make sure the show is entertaining and doesn’t bore listeners.
“I guess there’s a journalistic aspect to this job,” Adam Jones said. “I’m not a journalist, I’ve never pretended to be a journalist. I didn’t go to school for journalism. It’s not my job. My job is to be entertaining. People might disagree, and that’s fine.”
DraftKings, VSIN to Deliver 70 Hours of Content From Super Bowl Radio Row
“The on-site opportunity will allow DraftKings and VSiN talent to deliver real-time insights and enhanced content featuring celebrities and athletes as the media, entertainment and sports worlds collide in Phoenix for the big game.”
DraftKings will make its debut on Radio Row at Super Bowl LVII next weekend, and will feature more than 70 hours of original content centered around the event. DraftKings talent will be on hand for both audio and video podcasts, while several shows from VSiN will produce their radio shows live from Radio Row.
“We’re excited to bring together this team of talented individuals to cover what has historically been the most bet game of the year at our company,” said Stacie McCollum, Vice President of Content at DraftKings. “The on-site opportunity will allow DraftKings and VSiN talent to deliver real-time insights and enhanced content featuring celebrities and athletes as the media, entertainment and sports worlds collide in Phoenix for the big game.”
Podcasts from DraftKings featured at Radio Row include The Ross Tucker Podcast, The Sweat with Jessie Coffield and Emerson Lotzia, GoJo with Mike Golic Jr., and Golic and Smetty featuring the legendary Mike Golic and Jess Smetana of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.
God Bless Football, the podcast partnership between DraftKings and Meadowlark Media featuring members Stugotz and Billy Gil of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz will record three episodes from Radio Row.
Meanwhile, VSiN radio hosts and analysts will be stationed at Radio Row for the week. VSiN’s Follow The Money hosts Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard, The Lombardi Line host and former NFL General Manager Michael Lombardi,VSiN’s Final Countdown hosts Stormy Buonantony and Matt Brown, and VSiN Primetime host Shaun King will all be live in Arizona producing content for the sports betting network.
“VSiN has distinguished itself as a leading voice in the sports betting space, in part, by staying at the center of the sports betting action,” said Brian Musburger, founder and CEO of VSiN.
“Super Bowl LVII is the first to be played in a legal sports betting state and we’re thrilled to drop some of the industry’s leading sports betting experts right into the action to help new and experienced bettors alike prepare for one of the biggest days on the sports betting calendar.”
The entire DraftKings and VSiN schedule for the week is included below. All times listed are Mountain Time, and the schedule is subject to change.
