BSM Writers
Ian Eagle Had Many Shining Moments During NCAA Tournament Opening Weekend
Sports is fun, right? Ian Eagle makes them even more fun because he’s so damn good at his job.

Published
2 months agoon

The first weekend of the 2022 NCAA Tournament lived up to every bit of hype and anticipation fans and media generated. With major upsets, including Kentucky and defending national champion Baylor being eliminated, and Saint Peter’s donning this year’s Cinderella slippers, the four days of the first and second round were absolutely March Madness.
With no disrespect meant to standouts like New Mexico State’s Teddy Allen, Saint Peter’s Doug Edert, Miami’s Isaiah Wong, Purdue’s Jaden Ivey, or Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, the Indiana cheerleader who retrieved a basketball from high behind the backboard, or fellow broadcasters Kevin Harlan and Andrew Catalon, the person who had the best NCAA Tournament weekend was play-by-play virtuoso Ian Eagle.
The shining moment of the 2022 Tournament thus far is Saint Peter’s, the No. 15 seed in the East Region, upsetting No. 2 seed Kentucky, a team many thought could advance to the Final Four if not win the national championship. Who was on the call for a game college basketball fans and bracket participants will likely be talking about for years to come? Ian Eagle.
THE PEACOCKS HAVE DONE IT 🤯
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 18, 2022
15-SEED SAINT PETER'S TAKES DOWN 2-SEED KENTUCKY pic.twitter.com/tqS07tJD4O
“You can feel the madness!” Eagle yelled as the clock ran out. “Saint Peter’s pulls off the upset! The Peacocks are giant killers. They defeat Kentucky, 85-79. Cinderella lives in Indianapolis!”
As some pointed out on social media afterward, Eagle did a strong job of fitting in several NCAA Tournament signature phrases in that call. “Madness,” “giant killers,” “Cinderella” were all in there succinctly.
Saint Peter’s continued its magical Tournament run with another upset, albeit one not quite as monumental as beat Kentucky, defeating No. 7 seed Murray State, 70-60. Eagle’s voice may always be associated with the Peacock’s Sweet 16 run for college basketball fans.
ST. PETER'S HAS DONE THE UNTHINKABLE! pic.twitter.com/O9Vtlkg6nV
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 20, 2022
“Saint Peter’s has done the unthinkable!” said Eagle. “The Peacocks in uncharted territory! They’re going to the Sweet 16… Saint Peter’s emerges as a tournament darling. They are Jersey City strong.”
By the way, Saint Peter’s head coach is Shaheen Holloway, who played college basketball at Seton Hall. In the 2000 NCAA Tournament, Holloway hit the game-winning shot to lead the Pirates to a 72-71 win over Oregon. Who was on the call for the game 22 years ago? Ian Eagle, with broadcast partner Jim Spanarkel.
Great moment for Saint Peter’s HC Shaheen Holloway, a Queens native & one of nation’s best high school guards in the class of ‘96. I’m sure this was noted on the broadcast, but this isn’t the first March highlight for Holloway, Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel: pic.twitter.com/ufQwpmyGzD
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 18, 2022
Eagle is wonderful at rising to the moment and defining a standout performance with a quick turn of phrase. For instance, Dischon Thomas’s shooting performance for Colorado State in the Rams’ eventual loss to Michigan. Who better to compare to someone shooting the lights out than NBA superstar Steph Curry?
"Dischon Thomas has been like Steph Curry!!!" – Ian Eagle
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 17, 2022
He's hit 5 of 6 from long range for @CSUMBasketball. pic.twitter.com/KbEhLocUYp
Or Jamaree Bouyea’s 36-point performance for San Francisco in a first-round loss to Murray State. As Jeff Eisenband said, Eagle has the sort of big-game voice that makes a match-up between a No. 7 and No. 10 seed sound like the NBA Finals.
"BOUYEA'S NOT HUMAN!!!"- Ian Eagle #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Ga84YySzmU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 18, 2022
Though Eagle might be most remembered for calling Saint Peter’s improbable victory over Kentucky, he also called one of the best games of the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend, No. 11 Michigan’s win versus No. 3 Tennessee. Once again, he makes a significant moment sound big, such as Eli Brooks’s hook shot to give the Wolverines a 70-66 lead. (To borrow Bill Raftery’s signature phrase, that shot might have been the dagger.
Ian Eagle just has a different sound than anyone else doing these games. pic.twitter.com/ltHZHAVvOy
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 20, 2022
“Head-and shoulder fake, Brooks tosses it up… OH! OLD SCHOOL!” said Eagle.
But the Eagle call that fans loved — and may have even won over some new admirers, if any weren’t already familiar with his broadcasting brilliance — was using Hunter Dickinson’s name to make not one, not two, but three references to one of the greatest Saturday Night Live skits ever during Michigan’s two victories.
"MORE COWBELL FOR DICKINSON!!!" – Ian Eagle with the amazing SNL reference pic.twitter.com/WkBs1poBFi
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) March 17, 2022
I feel like someone should acknowledge that Ian Eagle just called a Michigan basket with “Dickinson! He’s got a fever!” pic.twitter.com/YAPytuIa83
— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) March 19, 2022
Ian Eagle: “Dickinson is really exploring the space.” Gold!
— Marty Maciaszek (@martymaciaszek) March 19, 2022
Ian Eagle with the “Dickinson exploring the space” line. Well played pic.twitter.com/AfJkhr09kK
— Don Steele (@donsteele) March 19, 2022
OK, we have to be at the point where Ian Eagle made a bet with somebody about how many Dickinson/cowbell references he can make or something.
— Mike Foss (@MikeFossWXYZ) March 19, 2022
"He's really exploring the space!"
And if those references are lost on you and you don’t know their origin, my goodness, treat yourself to sketch comedy magnificence — if for no other reason than to appreciate Eagle’s broadcast wizardry.
Eagle didn’t force those Bruce Dickinson references into the action, making for an awkward or clunky call. He didn’t have to. He worked them in seamlessly to an extremely appreciative audience.
Some might think Eagle was being too clever, too pop culture referential. Don’t be that buzzkill. Eagle is a professional who calls the action clearly for anyone who just wants the basics with a bit of flair. He gives magnificent performances and shining moments in their proper pedestal. He makes memorable games even more memorable.
Networks snd NCAA should all agree that any tournament game that’s close with less than 5 min to go the network brings Ian Eagle on to broadcast it. He’s superior to everyone else. If Buck gets $18m per year then Ian is worth an obscene amount of money
— Craig Carton (@craigcartonlive) March 18, 2022
But Eagle is also going to have fun along the way, and there’s nothing more fun for sports fans than a broadcaster working in some funny references without trying too hard. Sports is fun, right? Ian Eagle makes them even more fun because he’s so damn good at his job.
Ian Casselberry
Ian Casselberry is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously written and edited for Awful Announcing, The Comeback, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. You can find him on Twitter @iancass or reach him by email at iancass@gmail.com.
BSM Writers
Grant Cohn’s Trolling of Players is Unacceptable
After an altercation between Javon Kinlaw of the San Francisco 49ers and Grant Cohn, it became clear that Kinlaw was being trolled by a member of the media.

Published
9 hours agoon
May 27, 2022By
Danny O'Neil
Grant Cohn is a media member who writes for the FanNation 49ers blog on SI.com. He also talks about the team on his YouTube channel, which has over 48,000 subscribers as of noon Thursday. His father, Lowell, was a longtime columnist in the Bay Area.
Javon Kinlaw is a defensive lineman, whom the San Francisco 49ers drafted in the first round despite concerns about the durability of his knee. He played four games last season, his second in the league.
The two were involved in two confrontations this week. The first one occurred off to the side of the 49ers’ practice field. Kinlaw apparently cursed at Cohn and knocked his hat from atop his head. Later in the day, Kinlaw again swore at Cohn, this time after joining a live stream on Cohn’s YouTube channel. (Side note: I have never felt so freaking old as I did while typing that previous sentence.)
OK. That’s my attempt at an absolutely straightforward and objective summary of a situation that scares the hell out of me. Not because a player was mad at a member of the media. I’ve had it happen to me and I’ve seen it happen to others. It’s my opinion that this has been happening for as long as human beings have scrutinized the athletic efforts of other human beings.
What scared me was that I was seeing some version of the future of sports media. A future in which media members behaved like YouTube trolls, acting purposely ridiculous or antagonistic to initiate conflicts that could be turned into more conflicts that would could be gleefully recounted as content for the audience. I thought that because that’s pretty much what Cohn did:https://youtu.be/4Hf9sjBttFY
Cohn essentially bragged about the number of different things he said that may have prompted Kinlaw’s reaction, and you know what? It worked. Kinlaw got mad. He confronted Cohn. Twice. TMZ published a story about it. So did SFGate.com.
This is troll behavior. You know, the online pests who say or do something intended to provoke a reaction, and once they get that reaction, they recount and scrutinize that reaction with an eye toward triggering another reaction. Lather, rinse repeat. Increasingly, entire online media ecosystems consist of nothing more than people who don’t like each other talking about how much they don’t like one another.
I’m not going to pretend this is entirely new in sports media. Sports columnists have been known to make reputations with their willingness to be critical of the home team. A huge part of Skip Bayless’ brand is his unwavering insistence on highlighting Lebron James’ perceived flaws. Stephen A. Smith has engaged in public feuds with players, namely Kevin Durant.
I do see a difference between this and what Cohn did, though. The reaction Bayless and Smith are primarily concerned with is from their audience, not their subjects. The subjects may get mad, but that’s not the primary goal. At least I hope it’s not.
What happens if that is the primary goal? What if someone is offering opinions not because it’s what they really think, but because they want to provoke a response from the subject? Media careers have been built on less.
I don’t know if that’s the case with Cohn. I’ve never talked to him in my life, and even if I had, it’s impossible to know someone’s true intent. But in listening to everything he said AFTER the initial confrontation with Kinlaw, I’m not willing to assume that Cohn was operating in good faith. Here’s how Cohn described the initial confrontation with Kinlaw, which occurred as practice was beginning.
“In the training room, I saw Javon Kinlaw, who is the king of the training room,” Cohn said. “He’s usually in the training room.”
Cohn said the two locked eyes, but were separated by about 70 yards at the time. Kinlaw then walked across the field to where the reporters were gathered. He stood directly behind Cohn.
“So I turn, and I say, ‘Wassup, Mook Dawg?’ “ Cohn said, referencing the nickname on Kinlaw’s Instagram account. “And he doesn’t say anything. And I say, ‘Why are you looking at me like that, Javon?’ “
“And then he said, ‘What are you going to do about it you bitch-ass,’ and then he said one more word that I can’t say,” Cohn said. “And then I turned to face him, and I said, ‘Oh, it’s like that?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, it’s like that.’ And then he knocked the hat off my head.”
OK. Pause. In my experience, when your job is to publicly describe and critique the performance and attitudes of professional athletes, there will be times in which the athletes do not care for your description or your critique. Some of those who are displeased will make their objections known to you.
However, there are two things that are unusual here: First, the fact Kinlaw knocked the hat off Cohn’s head, which is unacceptable. Second, Cohn then posted a video on YouTube to not only talk about what had happened, but state he had been so critical of Kinlaw for so long he wasn’t sure what specifically sparked Kinlaw’s anger.
“Javon, what are you upset about?” Cohn asked toward the end of his video. “Is it the fact that I said you have an 80-year-old knee? Is it the fact that I said that you’re a terrible pass rusher and you’re just a two-down player? Is it the fact that I said the Niners shouldn’t have drafted you and should have taken Tristan Wirfs instead. Is it the fact that I said that you’re unprofessional and immature.
“It escapes me, which of the hundred negative things I’ve said about Javon Kinlaw the last couple of years, moved him to approach me in such a way, but you know what, I applaud Javon Kinlaw for coming to speak to me directly, and I ask you, what do you think Javon Kinlaw is mad about.”
Cohn was trolling Kinlaw. No other word for it.
That night, Cohn was conducting a live stream on YouTube, which Kinlaw joined, while apparently eating dinner, to make declarative statements about the size of Cohn’s genitalia — among other things.
Here's a clip of Javon Kinlaw on Youtube live with Grant Cohn tonight.
— Vizor Sports (@VizorSportsSC) May 25, 2022
Full vid here https://t.co/leXjz7PFfX
I mean, we do know Kinlaw and he's obviously irritated as hell by whatever this guy has said about him. These comments are not it, though. pic.twitter.com/Y5JmM3uA4g
Neither one looked particularly impressive. Not Kinlaw, who was profane and combative with a member of the media, at one point making a not-so-subtle threat. Not Cohn, who asked Kinlaw, “Do you think I’m scared of you, Javon?” He also said, “I don’t even know why you’re mad, Javon.”
I think Kinlaw would have been better off ignoring Cohn. If I was Kinlaw’s employer, I would probably prefer he not log into video livestreams to make testicular comparisons. But honestly, I don’t care about what Kinlaw did. At all. He’s not on a team I root for. He didn’t physically harm anyone. He used some bad words in public.
I am bothered not just by Cohn’s actions, but by some of the reactions to them because of what I think this type of behavior will do to an industry I have worked in for 25 years. Credentialed media members who behave like Cohn did this week make it harder for other media members who are acting in good faith. Preserving access for people like him diminishes what that access will provide for those who aren’t trying to use criticism to create conflict that will become content.
I think Cohn knew what he was doing. In his livestream, before Kinlaw joined, Cohn stated he was not scared because he knew — by virtue of his father’s history in the business — that if Kinlaw had touched him he would potentially be entitled monetary compensation.
This is the type of low life we let into our building. He would rather antagonize and provoke players into hitting him so he can retire instead of doing his “job“ of journalism. pic.twitter.com/jL5ZGTq8yZ
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) May 25, 2022
By now, it should be pretty apparent how problematic this whole thing is and yet on Thursday, a number of 49ers fans online were sticking up for Cohn as just doing his job. Dieter Kurtenbach, a Bay Area columnist, Tweeted: “Javon Kinlaw does not know that @GrantCohn was built for this.” Built for what? Winning Internet fights? Kurtenbach also deleted a Tweet in which he called Kinlaw “soft.”
Cohn’s father, Lowell, is a former columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle and Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. He promoted the first video his son made on Tuesday:
I rarely retweet the videos of @grantcohn but this one about him and Javon Kinlaw slays me. https://t.co/cqsPBP9vGJ
— Lowell Cohn (@LowellCohn) May 24, 2022
Sorry, I don’t find it funny because it’s another step down a path in which media members seek reactions at the expense of information. Where they look to make fun of players instead of learning about them. They’ll stop acting like journalists and start acting like the trolls who make their money by instigating a conflict, which they then film: “Jake Paul, reporting live from 49ers practice …”
If that’s the case, thank God I’m about to age out of this business, entirely. I’m 47 years old and I can’t believe there’s anyone in our industry who thinks what Cohn did this week is acceptable.
Danny O'Neil
Danny O’Neil is a sports media columnist for BSM. He has previously hosted morning and afternoon drive for 710 ESPN Seattle, and served as a reporter for the Seattle Times. He can be reached on Twitter @DannyOneil or by email at Danny@DannyOneil.com.

A new episode of Media Noise is all about reaction. Demetri reacts to the ManningCast’s big win at the Sports Emmys. Danny O’Neil reacts to people reacting to Colin Kaepernick’s workout in Las Vegas and Andy Masur reacts to John Skipper’s comments about Charles Barkley.
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Demetri Ravanos
Demetri Ravanos is the Assistant Content Director for Barrett Sports Media. He hosts the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas. Previous stops include WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC. You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos and reach him by email at DemetriTheGreek@gmail.com.
BSM Writers
Bron Heussenstamm Blends Bleav Podcasts Advertising with SiriusXM
Bron Heussenstamm, the CEO of the Bleav Podcast Network says blending podcasting advertising with satellite radio’s reach is a victory for both sides.

Published
9 hours agoon
May 27, 2022By
Jeff Caves
Last week, the Bleav (pronounced believe) Podcast Network announced a deal with SiriusXM to make all 32 NFL team-specific Bleav pods available on the SXM app. SXM can also air Bleav content on any of its sports channels. Each NFL Bleav show pairs a former player with a host to discuss team issues. Eric Davis, Lorenzo Neal, and Pac-Man Jones are amongst the former players Bleav has signed as talent.
I have hosted a Bleav podcast about Boise State football -the Kingdom of POD. I am usually provided 1-3 advertisers per episode by the network and get paid by the download. My subject matter is regional, so my take-home pay is usually under four figures. I have enjoyed the technical assistance and cross-promotion I receive and I enjoyed meeting Bleav CEO Bron Heussenstamm. Bron is Los Angeles-based, a USC graduate, and founded Bleav in 2018. We discussed the SXM deal, podcast advertising, and the future.
Will the podcast advertisers be carried on the SXM distribution platform?
Yes, Bleav baked-in advertisements and hosts read ads are distributed across all platforms. This enables the host to do their show once through, making it as easy as possible for the hosts and consistent for the advertisers.

How is advertising on Bleav different?
We want to be more than a ‘host read ad’ or a ‘digital insert’ with our advertising partners. When companies work with Bleav shows and talent, those companies can receive our omnichannel of distribution points—podcast platforms, YouTube, socials, streamers, TV, radio, and more. This allows for consistent branding across all platforms: great talent presenting great companies to fans and consumers no matter where they consume content.
What is the growth pattern for podcasts that you see?
The industry trades have presented 400%-800% percent growth over the next ten years. Once the COVID fog lifted, we really saw these gains. Sports are always going to be at the forefront of culture. The increases in all sports sectors have certainly carried into the digital space.
SXM has started with NFL shows but can also air more Bleav content – what does that look like?
We’ve started with our NFL network of 32 team shows hosted by a former player. We’ve kept the door open for our NCAAB, NCAAF, MLB, NHL, Basketball, and Soccer networks. We’re happy for our hosts to be part of such a tremendous company and platform. SiriusXM can continue to amplify its voice and give fans the access and insight only a player can provide.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau-IAB- says podcast revenue grew 72% last year to $1.4B and is expected to grow to $2B this year and double to $4B by 2024. Have you seen similar growth? What is driving the industry now, and what will be the primary cause of growth by 2024?
There is a myriad of reasons for the growth. I‘ll lean into a couple.
At Bleav, we launch and maximize the digital arm of industry leaders. The technology upgrades to allow hosts to have a world-class show — simulcast in both audio and video – from their home has led to an explosion of content. With this, the level of content creators has risen. Having a YouTube, RSS feed, podcast, and more is now part of the brand, right alongside Twitter and Instagram.
If a company wants to advertise on Bleav in Chargers, we know exactly how many people heard Lorenzo Neal endorse their product. We can also safely assume they like the Chargers. The tracking of demo specifics for companies is huge. It’s a fantastic medium to present products to the right fans and consumers.
Jeff Caves
Jeff Caves is a sales columnist for BSM working in radio, digital, hyper-local magazine, and sports sponsorship sales in DFW. He is credited with helping launch, build, and develop SPORTS RADIO The Ticket in Boise, Idaho, into the market’s top sports radio station. During his 26 year stay at KTIK, Caves hosted drive time, programmed the station, and excelled as a top seller. You can reach him by email at jeffcaves54@gmail.com or find him on Twitter @jeffcaves.