1. I thought the Chip Caray non-controversy controversy that I wrote about on Monday would be the most nonsensical thing I covered this week.
I was wrong.
Here’s another broadcasting story that I don’t understand at all and makes no sense. During Sunday’s Fever-Aces game, ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo disagreed with a foul call.
“They disagree with you,” Lobo’s broadcast partner, Pam Ward, said.
“They do, and I disagree with them, and that’s fine,” Lobo said. “That’s what makes America great, right Pam Ward?”
For some unknown reason, Lobo then said she should rephrase her statement, with Ward agreeing.
“Difference of opinion,” Ward suggested.
“That’s a better way to say it,” Lobo replied. “Sorry about that.”
"I should rephrase that" https://t.co/U3rxWphcId pic.twitter.com/7XJNgWMmov
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) June 22, 2025
Sorry? Sorry about what? Sorry that you said being able to disagree with people is what makes America great? Why the hell would you apologize for that?
If the theory is that Lobo thought saying, “that’s what makes America great” sounds too much like “make America great again” and that’s why she apologized, then we have reached a low point.
Seriously, what the hell are we doing?
I feel like I’m missing something with this story. Let me see if I have it straight.
Ref makes a call. Lobo says she disagrees with the call. Utters a throwaway line that being able to disagree with each other is what makes America great. Lobo said she should rephrase that. Ward somehow agrees. Lobo apologies.
I ask again, what the hell are we doing?
2. The formula for drawing a big rating is simple: Have a Game 7 on a Sunday night.
The Thunder’s title-clinching win against the Pacers on Sunday drew 16.3 million viewers. These were the viewership numbers for the first six games of the NBA Finals:
Game 1: 8.91 million
Game 2: 8.76 million
Game 3: 9.19 million
Game 4: 9:41 million
Game 5: 9.54 million
Game 6: 9.28 million
Game 7: 16.35 million
The Finals averaged 10.26 million viewers. Taking out the COVID-19 bubble Finals, Pacers-Thunder was the least-watched NBA Finals since 2007.
3. NBC announced Monday that it has hired analyst Grant Hill for its game coverage when it begins airing the NBA next season.
Hill will continue his role at TNT and CBS as a college basketball analyst for the NCAA tournament, where he works alongside Ian Eagle and Bill Raftery.
4. I’m with 24-year-old Thunder forward Jalen Williams here. Shirley Temples > Shots.
"I told them at the beginning of the year, 'If we win a championship, I'll drink.' ... I had a couple of shots, champagne, had beer. It was all disgusting. I'm gonna stick to Shirley Temples... I can't speak on the parade though."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 24, 2025
- Jalen Williams 😆pic.twitter.com/iNCxGdGBXv
5. Kevin Durant responding to Emmanuel Acho is a clear win for Acho when it comes to the engagement game, but you can’t deny that Durant makes the only point that matters here.
According to The Great Kevin Durant’s legacy formula that was created in the best labs at MIT, Emmanuel is the worst linebacker of all time. You sure you wanna listen to this guy about greatness?
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 23, 2025
6. The latest SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast features a conversation with independent sports journalist Joon Lee.
Earlier this week, Lee wrote a story titled, “$4,785. That’s How Much It Costs to Be a Sports Fan Now,” for the New York Times. The piece detailed what it costs someone to be a sports fan in 2025, from the abundance of streaming services fans need to subscribe to the massive increase in the cost of attending live events. Lee explains how costs have skyrocketed in such a short time, how the fractured broadcast schedule has hurt sports fans, what’s happened to sports bars in recent years and more.
Lee also shares insights into the current state of sports media, discusses getting laid off from ESPN in 2023 and why YouTube is dominating the digital landscape.
Following Lee, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss Father’s Day, feedback that came in after I bashed the Savannah Bananas, Stephen A. Smith playing solitaire during the NBA Finals, the new The Naked Gun trailer and more.
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: We’re having a massive heatwave here in New York this week and whenever the temperatures get this high, I always think of Elaine staying with Jerry’s parents.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Here Is the Most Nonsensical Apology in Broadcasting History.
