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1. During a tense fourth quarter on Tuesday night between the Lakers and Thunder, Luka Doncic made a crucial jump shot that put L.A. ahead 108–107. After making the shot, Doncic exchanged words with a spectator. However, referee J.T. Orr mistook this as Doncic speaking to him and subsequently ejected the star player from the game.
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Lakers’ radio announcer John Ireland was visibly upset by Orr’s decision. Ireland’s on-air reaction was a mix of disbelief and outrage, making for compelling radio. He loudly contested the ejection, managing to be emphatic without being excessive. Ireland’s interruption of analyst Mychal Thompson, who was attempting to clarify the situation, added to the drama.
Right after the ejection, Ireland exclaimed in frustration, “WHY?!?”
When Thompson tried to explain that Doncic was merely trash-talking a fan and not the referee, Ireland was quick to respond.
“This is an absolutely terrible decision by J.T. Orr, by the referee. Absolutely terrible. You cannot eject a star player from an NBA game for speaking to a spectator,” Ireland argued vehemently.
Ireland continued, “This is unacceptable. Oh my God. This should not happen in a game this exciting. This is one of the worst officiating decisions I have witnessed in my 25 years of broadcasting. I despise this call, and I would feel the same if it were against Shai.”
Despite the interruption, Ireland seamlessly returned to play-by-play, “The free throw is good, game tied at 108. You cannot, Mychal, eject a star player for talking to a spectator.”
Thompson attempted another explanation, but Ireland was not receptive.
“He didn’t think he was talking to the fan,” Thompson clarified.
Interrupting Thompson, Ireland shouted, “I DON’T CARE!!! Despite explanations from three Lakers, he persisted because his ego outweighed keeping Luka in the game.”
That’s captivating radio.
2. Last year I campaigned against this, and I’m here to do it again.
The extravagant food creations promoted at sports events might attract clicks on social media, but they are largely impractical for actual consumption at these venues. (And frankly, they’re a bit over the top.)
Whenever I see such items pop up in my feed, my initial reaction isn’t, “Wow, that looks delicious.” Instead, I think, “Who in their right mind would want to eat that while watching a baseball game?”
New at @Braves games: The Home Run Stack!
2 angus patties, candied bacon, house smoked brisket, red slaw, onion rings, curly fries with Carolina BBQ & Coca Cola BBQ. pic.twitter.com/dh0mjjHZJJ
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 8, 2025
Such a dish is impossible to eat without making a mess, likely costs an exorbitant amount, and almost guarantees a visit to the less-than-ideal stadium restroom afterward.
3. The nominations for the Sports Emmy Awards were revealed on Tuesday. The networks that received nominations were quick to boast about their achievements, flooding my inbox with self-congratulatory press releases. Here are some of the headlines from those emails.
“ESPN Inc. Garners Industry-Leading 63 Sports Emmy Nominations”
“Prime Video Secures a Record 21 Nominations Across 17 Categories for the 46th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards”
“NBCUNIVERSAL RECEIVES 48 SPORTS EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS – MOST SINCE 2013 – LED BY 2024 PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES”
“FOX SPORTS NOTCHES 31 SPORTS EMMY® NOMINATIONS”
“National Football League Scores 22 Sports Emmy Nominations”
While I think it’s unnecessary to get overly excited about awards, here are a few quick thoughts on the nominations.
It’s disappointing that ESPN’s Joe Buck wasn’t nominated for Outstanding Personality/Play By Play. The category includes Mike Breen, Joe Davis, Ian Eagle, Noah Eagle, and Mike Tirico. Buck’s colleague, Troy Aikman, did receive a nod in the Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst category.
As for the Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst category, I’m puzzled by John Smoltz’s nomination. The other nominees are Aikman, Peyton Manning, Greg Olsen, and Bill Raftery.
You can view the full list of nominations here.
4. Perhaps I’m just out of touch, but I find plays like the one by Marlins outfielder Derek Hill against the Mets on Tuesday far more impressive than the typical highlight-reel catches of outfielders robbing home runs at the fence.
Derek Hill makes an unbelievable catch! pic.twitter.com/B1FsQGLsiy
— MLB (@MLB) April 8, 2025
5. In last Monday’s Traina Thoughts, I discussed Caitlin Clark’s dominance in viewer ratings. Here’s another interesting fact: Last year, during Iowa’s NCAA tournament run, Clark’s games attracted huge audiences. The men’s national championship game between Houston and Florida, which was a nail-biter, attracted 18.1 million viewers. It was the most-watched men’s national championship game since 2019.
National Championship between Florida and Houston delivers 18.1 million viewers on CBS, capping off the most-watched Final Four weekend since 2017 pic.twitter.com/3FmBOMDGuF
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) April 8, 2025
The women’s championship game that year, featuring Clark, drew an even larger audience of 18.9 million viewers.
6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features an interview with CBS’s Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery.
The duo discuss their long-standing partnership, dating back to their days calling New Jersey Nets games together in the early 1990s. Eagle shares his impressions of Raftery, and they both recall humorous anecdotes from over the years.
Raftery also opens up about his famous catchphrases, discusses a viral moment from this year’s NCAA tournament, and reflects on whether he has considered retirement.
Eagle talks about the preparation involved in broadcasting the tournament, the challenge of covering four games in a single day during the first round, and the various broadcast partners he has worked with over the years.
Furthermore, Eagle discusses his new NFL partner this season, J.J. Watt.
Following Eagle and Raftery, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week’s topics include ongoing issues with MLB.TV streaming and Major League Baseball’s inadequate response to its streaming problems, along with the story of torpedo bats.
You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: It was 25 years ago today that Tony killed Salvatore Bonpensiero. The most underrated scene in that episode was Tony fighting with Artie after getting food poisoning.
Mike Johnson is a passionate news writer with a keen interest in current events. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he has a talent for uncovering the stories that matter most. Mike’s insightful articles and in-depth analyses have made him a trusted voice in the industry. He thrives on staying ahead of the news curve, providing readers with timely and relevant information. Whether it’s breaking news, politics, or social issues, Mike’s dedication to the craft ensures that his readers are always well-informed.