Sports With Friends

Last year, Scott Seidenberg from NBC Sports Radio and ESPN New York joined the show because they had nothing else to do. Everything was closed, and so many people were busy celebrating. That show was apparently a hit, so they did it again. This year, the show tackles the NBA on Christmas Day again, but with new issues facing the league, and the schedule-makers. Plus, an evaluation of the 2019 NFL season and Seth's adoration for the Star Wars Holiday Special. Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottsOnAir

At the 2019 Winter Meetings, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and representatives from MILB took jabs at each other. At odds is MLB's reported proposal to eliminate potentially up to 42 minor league franchises. The public dialogue escalated and there were rumors that MLB wants no agreement with the minor leagues. This week Garrett Broshuis, a lawyer with Korein Tillery's St. Louis office, represents dozens of former minor league baseball players in a wage-and-hour action challenging the pay scheme for minor leaguers. He joined the show to give insight into what is going on, why this is going on, and offers suggestions of the impact it will have both on players but also small towns across the United States. Follow Garrett Broshuis on Twitter @broshuis

In December 2019, NBA ratings were down 23% on TNT, 20% on ESPN, and 13% on regional sports networks, according to the Athletic. What are reasons for this? What does the trend of people dropping cable service in favor of streaming apps have to do with it? To get insight on "cord-cutting" as we enter 2020, this episode features Tom Richardson, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University teaching Sports Digital Media and Marketing as well as SVP of Strategy and Development for Mercury Intermedia, a software company specializing in cross-platform app design and development, with clients such as Comcast, Red Bull and TED. Tom goes in-depth on the state of streaming sports as we enter a new decade. Viewing habits have changed, and people are watching less and less live events. Still, highlights and social media is having a big impact on the habits of sports viewers. Follow Tom Richardson on Twitter @ConvergenceTR

Sweeny Murti has covered the New York Yankees for WFAN since 2001. Before that, he was a producer and anchor for the station. Sweeny tells an amazing tale of how he got into the role, and goes through some of the highlights of being with the team for nearly two decades. Also, Sweeny talks about the beginning of his career and discusses the changes facing both baseball and the broadcasting industry. Follow Sweeny on Twitter @YankeesWFAN

Daniel Leslie Schayes (find out why we used his full name in the episode) played 18 years in the NBA playing for 7 teams from 1981-1999. He also has been a broadcaster for years since his retirement from the league. In this episode, they discuss how his career began, and also what the NBA was like during the "Magic, Bird, Jordan" era. He also comments on the current NBA, and the challenges it faces. Follow Danny on Twitter @DanSchayes

Lawrence Moten, all-time leading scorer in Syracuse Basketball history, joined Seth for a live broadcast from Trappers in East Syracuse. The show was originally broadcast on ESPN Radio Syracuse, and audio is courtesy of Galaxy Media. In the episode, Moten discusses his time playing for the Orangemen, and gives insight on the current 2019 incarnation of Jim Boeheim's crew. Plus, Seth tells the story of the time Coach Boeheim screamed at him.

The 2019 Major League Baseball season came to a close when the Washington Nationals won their first-ever World Series. Sam Fortier was a beat reporter for that team for the acclaimed newspaper the Washington Post. On the show he details the story of the team from their slow start to their winning the Wild Card to their improbable run through the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series. Also covered is Fortier's start at the Daily Orange in Syracuse, and concludes with the World Series parade and White House visit, the latter coming with a bit of controversy. Follow Sam on Twitter @Sam4TR

On October 19, 2019, the Houston Astros won their 2nd AL Pennant in 3 years. At a clubhouse celebration, then-Assistant General Manager Brandon Taubman taunted a group of female reporters, referring to Roberto Osuna, the closer the Astros acquired while he was suspended 75 games for violating MLB's domestic-violence policy. Two days later, after Sports Illustrated reporter Stephanie Apstein reported the incident, the Astros called the story a fabrication. Acclaimed Sports Reporter Christine Brennan for USA Today, a commentator on ABC News, CNN, PBS NewsHour and NPR, and a best-selling author, joined the show to discuss the events that took place. Before the episode concluded, the topic of the eventual World Series Champion Washington Nationals' trip to the White House came up. There, National Catcher Kurt Suzuki put on a "Make America Great Again" hat on when he addressed the crowd. That controversy was the subject of the second half of the episode. Follow Christine Brennan on Twitter @Cbrennansport

At the start of the 2019-2020 NBA season, veteran NBA reporter Sam Amick of the Athletic joins the show to discuss the season that has just commenced. The show discusses the recent controversy involving China, and the financial ramifications it has and will have on the league. Plus, Amick discusses the Athletic's focus on strong journalism, and gives some thoughts on some of the league's new contenders. Seth and Sam hosted a show together on Spreecast back in 2013.

The San Francisco 49ers are 6-0 on the date of this release. This week, they announced that Levi's Stadium will be the first stadium in professional sports to feature food and beverages standard/pre-paid in ticket prices for Season Ticket Holders. Topics in this episode include the Niners hot start, the topic of fan engagement at sports venues in 2019, and the new food/beverage service. It ranged to include Personal Seat Licenses vs. the Secondary ticket market, and the recent Colin Kaepernick situation. Follow Al Guido on Twitter @AlGuido

Former ESPN executive John Wildhack left that network in 2016 to become the Athletic Director at Syracuse University. This episode focuses on his journey from the early days of ESPN to the juggernaut that it became, while also covering some of the issues facing ESPN in recent years. Then, the show transitions into a deep dive into the state of Syracuse Sports. More specifically, the football and basketball programs. Plus, they discuss the Carrier Dome, the move to the ACC, and all the ramifications of those decisions, with a focus on the future.

The 2019-2020 is only a week old, and this episode is a deep dive into the state of the league, plus teams to look out for. Brian Compton joins the show to discuss how there are 20+ teams that could go on a Stanley Cup run. He also detailed the experiences of covering the last 2 champions (St. Louis Blues in '19, Washington Capitals in '18). Also covered in this episode are the building drama surrounding the last 5 years of the New York Islanders, the emergence of the new Seattle NHL Franchise. Seth offers some classic Prudential Center stories. Follow Brian Compton on Twitter @BComptonNHL.

Noah Eagle graduated from Syracuse in May, 2019. He is the son of CBS/YES Network/Westwood One play-by-play man Ian Eagle. He joined this episode recently after being named the new radio voice of the Los Angeles Clippers, just months removed from graduation. This incredible story is also amazing because of the path he took to get there. He also offered his reaction to the potential critics, and how Seth knew his Dad longer than he's been alive. Noah answers all the questions, and also outlined his journey through Syracuse University and the incredible legacy radio station of WAER.

This episode is a deep dive into sports business with a foremost expert in the field, Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg. He details his reporting goals, and what a Bloomberg subscriber looks for in sports business journalism. Then, the conversation covered the NFL, MLB, and NBA and asked tough questions about challenges and successes facing all three leagues. Follow Scott on Twitter @soshnick.

Bode Miller an Olympic and World Championship gold medalist, a two-time overall World Cup champion in 2005 and 2008, and the most successful male American alpine ski racer of all time. In a candid and intimate interview, he discusses his skiing career. He also delves into the impact of the tragic loss of his daughter in a drowning accident has had on both his and his family's life. The episode was recorded at the "BOMBER Penthouse" in midtown Manhattan, where the Lone Mountain Land Company was celebrating their new, long-term partnership with the legendary Olympic Skier.