Welcome to the 20th installment of a weekly mailbag that I will be writing about the world of sports media (and anything else you want to chime in on). Please email me any questions you have to Jimmy.Traina@si.com or send them via Twitter.
How many prime time games will the jets lose
— Isles Mets Jets fan (@bigjimfan) September 12, 2023
Maybe one. Possibly none. The Jets are still going to be in most games thanks to their stellar defense. My guess is they will be fighting for a playoff spot most of the season, which makes them intriguing. They also play in the top television market. The only way they will get flexed is if they are playing in meaningless games. They play in only two standalone games after Week 10. In Week 12, the Jets are playing the Dolphins on Black Friday. That game isn’t getting flexed. That leaves the Jets-Browns game on Thursday Night Football in Week 17. In my opinion, that is the only game in jeopardy of getting flexed.
Jimmy tell me how much you hate that you can’t choose the 4 games in the box. I’m with @sal_licata I had the Ticket for years and I just went RedZone this year because they won’t let you change the games in the quad on demand.
— Shaunypat in the Hat (@shaunypat) September 12, 2023
Pros and Cons of the Sunday Ticket presentation this weekend?
— Matt Ramas (@matt_ramas) September 12, 2023
I hate that I can’t choose the four games for multiview and I vented it about on the SI Media podcast earlier this week and in Monday’s Traina Thoughts. I covered all the pros and cons of NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube in both of those places as well.
Can you set up a live cam of you btwn 12:30-1pm every Sunday so we can see your anxiety in setting up your game watching routine?
— Patrick Webb (@webb_02) September 12, 2023
This would’ve been somewhat amusing last Sunday when I was trying to figure out how Sunday Ticket on YouTube works, but I've got it down pat now, so there will be no anxiety.
With @dpshow imminent retirement, where do you rank him in your all time sports talk radio shows
— Tanvir S Uppal (@tanvirsingh82) September 12, 2023
I think when ranking sports-talk radio shows, you have to break them into two categories: national and local. When it comes to national, The Dan Patrick Show is easily in the top three all time and could very well be No. 1. Dan is an extremely likable host and an outstanding interviewer. He also has a booker that does as good a job as any in all of sports radio.
Jimmy, I was a big fan of Kyle Brandt’s basement. He announced the show wasn’t coming back for “corporate”’reasons. What do your suspect happened given the popularity of the show? Especially loved when he had Josh Allen coming on? Feel bad for all involved but curious as to why?
— Keith Horton (@KeithKhorton) September 12, 2023
I believe there might have been some issues with Kyle Brandt's Basement being an Omaha Productions and ESPN show and Kyle working for NFL Media. I agree with you about the Josh Allen weekly appearances. The bit where Kyle had Allen watch and review a movie from the ’80s and ’90s that he had never seen before was great. But you can still get plenty of Kyle. In addition to being on Good Morning Football every day, Brandt is now hosting a weekly podcast, 10 Takes With Kyle Brandt. He also appears on CBS’s The NFL Today and NFL Network's NFL GameDay Morning.
2011 Hot Click Redux: one of the staples of the Jimmy Hot Clicks era was the Taiwanese recreation videos of big events. In honor of those forlorn days, what are some events in past year or two that you want a Taiwanese video for. Thanks, I’ll hang up and listen.
— Bring23 (@BmRing23) September 12, 2023
This question brought a tear to my eye. I love my Hot Clicks readers so much and having someone who has stuck with me since 2011 is pretty damn cool.
I’ve always said that the Taiwanese recreation of the Thanksgiving night when Elin Nordegren chased Tiger Woods with a golf club, causing him to drive into a fire hydrant, after finding out he was cheating on her, is one of the greatest things in the history of the internet.
Recent events I’d like see to get the Taiwanese animation treatment would be Draymond Green’s punching Jordan Poole, J.R. Smith’s throwing soup at a coach and Tommy Pham’s slapping Joc Pederson over some fantasy football nonsense.
Some email and Instagram questions ...
Hey, Jimmy. What’s up with NFL Game Pass destroying its user experience? Been living overseas for 15 years and Game Pass has long been my lifeline to the NFL. Now that it’s shifted to DAZN, despite paying for the full Pro service, I can only stream full games live, which mostly take place in the middle of the night my time. Otherwise it’s only the “Game in 40” or Highlights option, neither of which are worth the price of admission. Why did the NFL destroy such a great service? So glad MLB.com hasn’t ruined its experience.
Appreciate any insight you have on this. And thanks for Traina Thoughts, part of my weekly connection to my U.S. sports roots. —Jake in Dubai
I feel bad that Jake is writing all the way from Dubai and I don’t have a great answer. My suspicion is that the NFL took full game replays off Game Pass because the league is now offering them on its app, NFL+, for $7 a month.
Hi, Jimmy, I really enjoy your articles each week. Sorry if you covered this topic, but in your opinion would there be any reason ESPN should have suspended or fired Herm Edwards for his recruiting violations from ASU? As an FYI, I am a fan of Herm and cannot find a similar situation where or how a “network” or “media” outlet handled a situation like this. Thanks. —Mike
I see no reason why Herm Edwards should be fired from a TV job for recruiting violations while a college head coach. Every former college coach you see on TV has probably been part of recruiting violations. It's just a matter of getting caught.
What was the best part of the Hot Clicks days? —@stevenm13
Every single day was fun. Every single day felt like a party. My readers were so loyal, and there was so much interaction between me and them. They were part of the column.
Your most underrated podcast guest? —@drew_nature_dog
I’m not trying to evade the question, but I’d say 98% of the guests who come on SI Media With Jimmy Traina are great. So it’s hard to come up with someone who is underrated. I’ll give you a podcast I did that I loved doing that didn’t get the attention I thought it should. In August 2020, Keith Hernandez came on, and he was outstanding. Sometimes with guests who come on for the first time, it takes a little while for them to loosen up and get comfortable. But I remember Keith being entertaining from minute one.
Which NFL play-by-play guy would make the best WWE announcer? —@alex10487
Easiest question of the week. There is one answer and one answer only: Kevin Harlan.
How do you respond when you send a friend an article or meme/GIF and their response is only something like, “Yeah, I saw that already” or “a friend just sent me that?” So f’n rude. I write back a simple “congrats” but feel like that’s not cutting enough. —@ronslep
I’m not gonna lie. I’m the jerk that sends the “Yeah, saw that already” text several times a week. In my defense. I work in sports media. I cover sports for a living. A friend or relative shouldn’t send a story about Aaron Rodgers suffering a leg injury two hours after it happened. Have some awareness.
But to answer your question, I’d go with a GIF instead of a simple “congrats.” May I suggest ...
