{"id":1185,"date":"2024-12-02T15:56:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T19:56:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/charles-barkley-shocked-to-learn-about-espns-inside-the-nba-deal-online\/"},"modified":"2024-12-02T15:56:54","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T19:56:54","slug":"charles-barkley-shocked-to-learn-about-espns-inside-the-nba-deal-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/charles-barkley-shocked-to-learn-about-espns-inside-the-nba-deal-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Barkley Shocked to Learn About ESPN’s ‘Inside the NBA’ Deal Online!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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1. <\/strong>Even though TNT will no longer broadcast NBA games after this season, Charles Barkley will continue his employment with Warner Bros. Discovery. This follows the arrangement for WBD to license Inside the NBA<\/em> to ESPN starting in the 2025\u201326 season.<\/p>\n

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Despite this, Barkley does not hesitate to criticize WBD leadership. He has openly voiced his dissatisfaction with WBD CEO David Zaslav, especially highlighting poor communication within the company, a concern he discussed earlier on SI Media With Jimmy Traina<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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On a recent episode of The Bettor Angle<\/em> podcast, Barkley disclosed that no one from WBD had officially informed him or his colleagues on Inside the NBA<\/em> about the licensing agreement.<\/p>\n

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“It’s actually quite amusing: They haven’t even notified us that we’ve lost the NBA,” Barkley commented on WBD’s communication practices. “We found out through the media. And about the deal with ABC\/ESPN, I learned through online. It’s ironic because colleagues like Scott Van Pelt, Brian Windhorst, Elle Duncan, Bob Myers, who are my friends, texted me to welcome me to the ESPN family. And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ TNT didn’t even have the decency to inform us directly. It felt like we were just traded. If I were to trade someone I respected, I’d at least give them a heads-up, not let them find out through others or online.”<\/p>\n

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While it seems likely the WBD\/ESPN deal will proceed smoothly, there are currently some tensions. Barkley’s discontent with his upper management is evident, Shaq has not yet signed a contract with WBD for the 2025\u201326 season, and Kenny Smith mentioned that some issues still need to be resolved. However, there is still about 10 months to address these concerns.<\/p>\n

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It is questionable whether the issues between Barkley and WBD management will be resolved soon. The failure to inform the Inside the NBA<\/em> team about losing the NBA broadcast rights and the subsequent licensing deal with ESPN is considered highly disrespectful.<\/p>\n

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2. <\/strong>I’m tempted to change the name of this column from “Traina Thoughts” to “What Are We Doing.”<\/p>\n

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Every day, I encounter things that make me wonder what exactly is going on in the world.<\/p>\n

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A recent incident involved Baker Mayfield during Tampa Bay’s victory over the Giants. After scoring a touchdown, Mayfield mimicked the Italian finger gesture famously used by New York quarterback Tommy DeVito last season.<\/p>\n

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BAKER pic.twitter.com\/fHuu8bnWMF<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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Surprisingly, this gesture became a major news story for one NFL reporter, who not only asked several unnecessary questions about it but also seemed frustrated when Mayfield did not engage in her line of questioning. It was quite an embarrassing moment.<\/p>\n

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“Tribute to Tommy, yeah. He’s a good dude, he’s got swag.”<\/p>\n

Baker Mayfield on his celebration referencing Tommy DeVito today: pic.twitter.com\/yZQ1TqquG0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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3. <\/strong>Despite suffering a recent injury, NBC’s Mike Tirico managed to call the Eagles-Rams game last night. The veteran broadcaster had torn his Achilles the previous week.<\/p>\n

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NBC’s Mike Tirico calling the #Rams<\/a>–#Eagles<\/a> game despite dealing with an injury. He tore his left Achilles on Monday and is in a boot along with using one of the mini bikes to move around.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Joe Reedy (@joereedy) November 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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Mike Tirico is playing through the pain, calling the games with a torn Achilles. <\/p>\n

“St. Denis Medical here we come, baby,” Cris Collinsworth. pic.twitter.com\/8VqlGw3mrK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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Despite his injury, Tirico’s performance remained strong, especially during his call of Saquon Barkley\u2019s impressive late-game touchdown.<\/p>\n

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WOW SAQUON WOW pic.twitter.com\/DliVWBTUVn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) November 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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4. <\/strong>The most humorous incident over the football weekend involved Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz. With his team leading Mississippi State 39\u201320 and just about a minute left in the game, he boldly told the opposing players to “Shut the f— up or I\u2019m gonna score.”<\/p>\n

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“HEY, MISSISSIPPI STATE, STFU OR I’M GONNA SCORE” <\/p>\n

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz was talking CRAZY on the sideline pic.twitter.com\/Ae4ILVCwLM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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5. <\/strong>I’ll just leave this here.<\/p>\n

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font choices matter pic.twitter.com\/KAEKLPDeAL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) November 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

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6.<\/strong> This week\u2019s SI Media With Jimmy Traina<\/em> podcast features an interview with ESPN president Burke Magnus.<\/p>\n

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Magnus shares all the details behind the bombshell news that Warner Bros. Discovery will continue to produce Inside the NBA<\/em>, but it will air on ESPN starting next season.<\/p>\n

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Magnus explains how the deal came about, why ESPN has zero intentions of changing anything about the show, when the show will air and why ESPN\u2019s current NBA studio show, NBA Countdown<\/em>, will continue next season.<\/p>\n

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Magnus also talks about ESPN\u2019s plan for its lead NBA booth, why it\u2019s not a lock that a third person will join Mike Breen and Doris Burke and what the network\u2019s plan is for Hubie Brown, who will call his last game this season at 91 years old.<\/p>\n

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Other topics covered with Magnus include ESPN\u2019s partnership with Pat McAfee, where contract negotiations stand with Stephen A. Smith, what role ESPN plays in getting an NFL game flexed, the SEC\u2019s ratings dominance, Lee Corso\u2019s future and much more.<\/p>\n

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Following Magnus, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly \u201cTraina Thoughts\u201d segment. This week, we discuss Netflix\u2019s streaming issues for the Mike Tyson\u2013Jake Paul fight and what it means for the NFL, Bluesky adding users who are not happy with Twitter and more.<\/p>\n

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You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina<\/em> podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.<\/p>\n

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