1. A quick note before we get started: Please send me any and all questions you may have for this week's SI Media Mailbag, which will be posted Tuesday. You can send your question via Twitter or email me at Jimmy.Traina@si.com. Thanks.
Whether you watched Sunday's wild Celtics-Sixers playoff game, which saw Philly escape with a 116–115 overtime win, or not, you have to check out this recap.
The narration on the two-minute clip, via Gavin McHugh on TikTok, is perfection, thanks to McHugh speaking the way sports fans speak and not how polished sports anchors speak.
Here's how the recap begins: “We tune in live to the City of Brotherly Love to an overtime game that has been such f---ing mayhem that even Marcus Smart is hitting and-ones.”
Here’s the last line of the video: “Did he get it off? What the hell is going on? The ref, who has the Celtics money line, says it’s good, but check again. Marcus Smart blows it in regulation and in OT, and that’s all she’ss gonna write from Philly.”
Everything in between is just as good.
There's a lot of talk these days about traditional media vs. new media. This recap by McHugh is a huge win for new media, because this is how all game recaps should be done.
View the original article to see embedded media.
2. The Inside the NBA crew was off for a few days last week, so Kenny Smith hit Miami for a little vacation and TMZ caught him and a companion enjoying some time on the beach.
Kenny Smith Ditches Shirt For Beach Day With Bikini Beauty https://t.co/kSLsslkEoT
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) May 5, 2023
This did not go unnoticed by Smith's cohosts, who made sure to bring up the photo on Sunday night and make Smith uncomfortable.
3. We all complain about how over-the-top NFL schedule release day is, yet we all love NFL schedule release day, no matter what we say. The 2023 schedule was expected to be released Thursday, but that may not happen now.
From Peter King’s column today:
“The release of the schedule, which the NFL had hoped to have for a primetime show Thursday night, may be delayed. It’s still likely to be done in time for release Thursday at 8 p.m., but I was told over the weekend it may not be finished in time. The 2023 mega-games—opening Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights, Thanksgiving Day, the new Black Friday tilt, the Sunday night game on Christmas Eve and the Monday tripleheader on Christmas—are not set in stone yet.”
4. Bills quarterback Josh Allen may be a better softball player than quarterback. Check out the bombs he hit over the weekend at Micah Hyde’s charity softball game.
OB1 doing QB1 things🤯
— Buffalo Bisons🦬 (@BuffaloBisons) May 7, 2023
HE LAUNCHES THE BALLS TO THE HIGHWAY! pic.twitter.com/GV6Om8DNvz
5. Former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz threw out the first pitch at Saturday’s Phillies game and tweeted about doing the honors.
What happened between these two pictures really doesn’t matter!! Great time seeing everyone again @Phillies! pic.twitter.com/9J7xceLMgL
— Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) May 7, 2023
What happened in between those two photos was Ertz not reaching the plate.
Zach Ertz, wyd? 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Ymw2OABQEy
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) May 7, 2023
6. A brand-new SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast dropped Thursday morning, and this week’s guest is the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Topics discussed include:
• Why he loves covering the NFL draft
• What NFL event causes him to get the least amount of sleep
• Thoughts about the 2023 NFL schedule release
• Competing with ESPN’s Adam Schefter
• Aaron Rodgers telling Pat McAfee that Rapoport “doesn't know s--- about him”
• Enjoying the Shams vs. Woj rivalry
• His favorite experience breaking a story
• His biggest mistake breaking a story and much more.
Following Rapoport, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. Topics covered include ESPN using old footage of the Twin Towers during an NBA playoff game, Aaron Rodgers embracing New York, Twitter life without a blue check and much more.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: TikTok's @menwiththepot dropped a new video over the weekend, and it's just as mesmerizing as all their videos.
