Mike Tirico

And those two guys were the models for me to, hey, go figure it out. Went to college at Syracuse, interned at a TV station. They went through three weekend sportscasters in seven weeks. The GM said, I'm going to hire somebody young and cheap. I was interning there. I was young and I was cheap. Yeah. And I got a tryout.

And those two guys were the models for me to, hey, go figure it out. Went to college at Syracuse, interned at a TV station. They went through three weekend sportscasters in seven weeks. The GM said, I'm going to hire somebody young and cheap. I was interning there. I was young and I was cheap. Yeah. And I got a tryout.

I got a tryout on the air for six weeks, got hired after four weeks, spent four years there, and then got to ESPN in 91. I was there for 25 years, and now eight years at NBC starting my ninth year.

I got a tryout on the air for six weeks, got hired after four weeks, spent four years there, and then got to ESPN in 91. I was there for 25 years, and now eight years at NBC starting my ninth year.

There was somebody who actually is still a friend, and we work in a different capacity now, who saw me doing local TV and was an executive at ESPN. And they told me, send a tape in a year. I sent a tape in 10 months. got hired a few months later and, you know, did SportsCenter. And I was there like in the salad days. Yeah, SportsCenter. I was with Chris Myers, who works at Fox now.

There was somebody who actually is still a friend, and we work in a different capacity now, who saw me doing local TV and was an executive at ESPN. And they told me, send a tape in a year. I sent a tape in 10 months. got hired a few months later and, you know, did SportsCenter. And I was there like in the salad days. Yeah, SportsCenter. I was with Chris Myers, who works at Fox now.

The weekends were Carl Ravitch and Linda Cohn, who are still there at ESPN all these years later. And the main group was Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann and Bob Lee and Charlie Steiner, Robin Roberts, Gary Miller. We just had like this – that is still, for the most part, all on TV doing national sports almost 25, 30 years later. I love that.

The weekends were Carl Ravitch and Linda Cohn, who are still there at ESPN all these years later. And the main group was Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann and Bob Lee and Charlie Steiner, Robin Roberts, Gary Miller. We just had like this – that is still, for the most part, all on TV doing national sports almost 25, 30 years later. I love that.

It did stand for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Because you know the story at the start. In September of 1979, a little bit before that, they went up on a satellite and had a satellite. And the original idea was they're going to broadcast Connecticut sports around the state. And they're like, wait a minute, this can be seen everywhere. So let's expand out the idea.

It did stand for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Because you know the story at the start. In September of 1979, a little bit before that, they went up on a satellite and had a satellite. And the original idea was they're going to broadcast Connecticut sports around the state. And they're like, wait a minute, this can be seen everywhere. So let's expand out the idea.

And when I was mentioning all the names, I did mention the godfather of it all. Chris. Chris Berman, who, you know, Chris with the nicknames and the schtick and the whole deal, the back, back, back. Chris made it cool. And a lot of people tried to emulate Chris or be like Chris.

And when I was mentioning all the names, I did mention the godfather of it all. Chris. Chris Berman, who, you know, Chris with the nicknames and the schtick and the whole deal, the back, back, back. Chris made it cool. And a lot of people tried to emulate Chris or be like Chris.

But I think the ones who succeeded, like Rich Eisen, Craig Kilbourn, Stuart Scott, guys who came on after the main group I talked about, they found their own schtick, right? Yeah, yeah.

But I think the ones who succeeded, like Rich Eisen, Craig Kilbourn, Stuart Scott, guys who came on after the main group I talked about, they found their own schtick, right? Yeah, yeah.

And there was room for somebody like me, who's a serious, call the sports, you know, have a little fun with it, but it's not about me cracking one-liners, all the way to the guys who, you know, truly came out of comedy, like Rich Eisen and Kilbourn, the Rich was a stand-up comedian before he came to SportsCenter.

And there was room for somebody like me, who's a serious, call the sports, you know, have a little fun with it, but it's not about me cracking one-liners, all the way to the guys who, you know, truly came out of comedy, like Rich Eisen and Kilbourn, the Rich was a stand-up comedian before he came to SportsCenter.

that's exactly so here's here's a stupid story so we so Syracuse is uh big for sportscasters and a lot of kids who want to be sportscasters go there and 30 some years later it's almost 40 years later now god um it's still the case so we had just a bunch of nerds and that was our fraternity we were all want to be sportscasters and a bunch of us turned out to be so we would keep a legal pad by our tv and write down every Chris Berman nickname when it

that's exactly so here's here's a stupid story so we so Syracuse is uh big for sportscasters and a lot of kids who want to be sportscasters go there and 30 some years later it's almost 40 years later now god um it's still the case so we had just a bunch of nerds and that was our fraternity we were all want to be sportscasters and a bunch of us turned out to be so we would keep a legal pad by our tv and write down every Chris Berman nickname when it

There was like a community list and we sent it to ESPN. We were pissed because ESPN never sent a thank you note back, whatever. You know, months later, ESPN put out a list of all the Chris Berman nicknames. So we take credit for that, at least in our own hearts.

There was like a community list and we sent it to ESPN. We were pissed because ESPN never sent a thank you note back, whatever. You know, months later, ESPN put out a list of all the Chris Berman nicknames. So we take credit for that, at least in our own hearts.

You know what? One... Well, it's a couple of things. Fortunately, you're at games almost all the time. Yeah. And it's 50, 60,000 people. So you guys have performed in front of audiences. There are nights everybody doesn't have it. Something's going on. Family, you're sick. You've traveled for 15 weeks. Nobody cares, right?

You know what? One... Well, it's a couple of things. Fortunately, you're at games almost all the time. Yeah. And it's 50, 60,000 people. So you guys have performed in front of audiences. There are nights everybody doesn't have it. Something's going on. Family, you're sick. You've traveled for 15 weeks. Nobody cares, right?

You're always trying to make sure that you reach a standard that you've established over the year.

You're always trying to make sure that you reach a standard that you've established over the year.

A little bit of that, but also the crowd.

A little bit of that, but also the crowd.

Exactly. But even like, where do you look for just the raw energy for you if your energy is a little bit low? Look at these people. They tailgated. They parked. They've been there for eight hours. And now they're screaming at the top of their lungs. They painted their faces. They're wearing their jersey. That gets you going. How does it not? So when it's a bad day or it's not the best day,

Exactly. But even like, where do you look for just the raw energy for you if your energy is a little bit low? Look at these people. They tailgated. They parked. They've been there for eight hours. And now they're screaming at the top of their lungs. They painted their faces. They're wearing their jersey. That gets you going. How does it not? So when it's a bad day or it's not the best day,

That usually picks me up.

That usually picks me up.

I do. And I'm going to say that, you know, this amateur psychological analysis of this, I think it's the generation that's grown up in front of cameras.

I do. And I'm going to say that, you know, this amateur psychological analysis of this, I think it's the generation that's grown up in front of cameras.

They know where the camera is, how to play to it. They know I score a touchdown. This is my marketing moment. You know, you got guys who have their... TD celebrations all rehearsed. They know it's on me right now and point to the name on the back of their jersey.

They know where the camera is, how to play to it. They know I score a touchdown. This is my marketing moment. You know, you got guys who have their... TD celebrations all rehearsed. They know it's on me right now and point to the name on the back of their jersey.

So there was like a fan cam, so you could watch the game on a Zoom, and you sit there, and you're watching the game, and hey, in the third quarter, your face will be in the end zone, and then they're going, yay, into their computers. And the guys were seeing them because they were just trying to find a way to create some atmosphere.

So there was like a fan cam, so you could watch the game on a Zoom, and you sit there, and you're watching the game, and hey, in the third quarter, your face will be in the end zone, and then they're going, yay, into their computers. And the guys were seeing them because they were just trying to find a way to create some atmosphere.

than a sniper had taken. My two favorites are the triple barrel roll. When the guy goes down, he rolls, and he rolls, and he rolls again.

than a sniper had taken. My two favorites are the triple barrel roll. When the guy goes down, he rolls, and he rolls, and he rolls again.

And then when they bring out these million, million pound players in terms of their financial remuneration, and they're kind of carrying them on this rickety little thing with two wood sticks and a piece of canvas, they carry them over to the sideline, and all of a sudden they realize their team has the ball. They're right back in the game.

And then when they bring out these million, million pound players in terms of their financial remuneration, and they're kind of carrying them on this rickety little thing with two wood sticks and a piece of canvas, they carry them over to the sideline, and all of a sudden they realize their team has the ball. They're right back in the game.

The thing with soccer, football, soccer, whatever. Sure. We're in America, soccer. The thing with that is, It starts, it's rooted in tribalism. It's those small towns, like a Sunderland, which you mentioned in England, the city, like you end up going to the grounds and a lot of kids walk there and it becomes part of you.

The thing with soccer, football, soccer, whatever. Sure. We're in America, soccer. The thing with that is, It starts, it's rooted in tribalism. It's those small towns, like a Sunderland, which you mentioned in England, the city, like you end up going to the grounds and a lot of kids walk there and it becomes part of you.

Now it's kind of grown from a very tribal and local thing to regional, national and global. which has just allowed the expansion of all this to happen. But at its roots, especially if you go over to soccer in England, it's our neighborhood. It's our team. They're our guys. And we can be mad at them, but you can't. And I love that about the sport.

Now it's kind of grown from a very tribal and local thing to regional, national and global. which has just allowed the expansion of all this to happen. But at its roots, especially if you go over to soccer in England, it's our neighborhood. It's our team. They're our guys. And we can be mad at them, but you can't. And I love that about the sport.

There's something, Will, there's something about sports. Like... Most of us never meet the athletes who we wear their jerseys. You know, the old hockey line, you know, you go to a hockey game, especially where I live in Michigan, and you got a bunch of people walking around with other guys' last names on their back, right? Right, right.

There's something, Will, there's something about sports. Like... Most of us never meet the athletes who we wear their jerseys. You know, the old hockey line, you know, you go to a hockey game, especially where I live in Michigan, and you got a bunch of people walking around with other guys' last names on their back, right? Right, right.

But it's the one place, not only is it acceptable, it's encouraged. And it shows that you're a real fan, right?

But it's the one place, not only is it acceptable, it's encouraged. And it shows that you're a real fan, right?

I think so, too. My stump speech about sports and the value of sports is let's go to New Orleans for a Saints game. And let me take one section of the Superdome and I'm going to get black and white. I'm going to get male and female. I'm going to get straight and gay. I'm going to get different religions. I'm going to get everybody in that section.

I think so, too. My stump speech about sports and the value of sports is let's go to New Orleans for a Saints game. And let me take one section of the Superdome and I'm going to get black and white. I'm going to get male and female. I'm going to get straight and gay. I'm going to get different religions. I'm going to get everybody in that section.

And they're all wearing some black and gold for the Saints. And that doesn't happen at the opera. It doesn't happen at the movies. That's why I still think sports has this place, whereas everything's become so fractured. People still love their sports like nothing else.

And they're all wearing some black and gold for the Saints. And that doesn't happen at the opera. It doesn't happen at the movies. That's why I still think sports has this place, whereas everything's become so fractured. People still love their sports like nothing else.

I'm an HGTV guy, Sean, if you want to know the truth.

I'm an HGTV guy, Sean, if you want to know the truth.

Wait, Mike, where are you from? I'm from Queens, from New York. Grew up as a New Yorker. You know, lived in the Northeast most of my life.

Wait, Mike, where are you from? I'm from Queens, from New York. Grew up as a New Yorker. You know, lived in the Northeast most of my life.

I wasn't. I'm Mets and a Jets fan. Yeah. Yeah, of course.

I wasn't. I'm Mets and a Jets fan. Yeah. Yeah, of course.

Well, the Mets thing was I just wanted to see them win the World Series once in my life. And they did. And I kind of outgrew it. It's like an allergy. You know, they say, hopefully, I outgrew it. So I've saved myself generations of pain after that. And then the rest of it, really, you do become agnostic. People say, well, how can you watch a game and not root?

Well, the Mets thing was I just wanted to see them win the World Series once in my life. And they did. And I kind of outgrew it. It's like an allergy. You know, they say, hopefully, I outgrew it. So I've saved myself generations of pain after that. And then the rest of it, really, you do become agnostic. People say, well, how can you watch a game and not root?

There's one team in sports that I root for, and that's Syracuse. That's my alma mater.

There's one team in sports that I root for, and that's Syracuse. That's my alma mater.

With the orange. We used to be the orange men and women. Now we're just the orange.

With the orange. We used to be the orange men and women. Now we're just the orange.

It could be a color, a fruit, or a spirit. You take your pick.

It could be a color, a fruit, or a spirit. You take your pick.

A thousand, thousand percent. I'll give you just a quick, quick anecdote. Like I, you know, you do this, so you kind of know people, but you're not around them. Then I started working at NBC and I get to be around Chris a little bit more and I get to know him. And Chris and Al Michaels were a terrific team doing Sunday night football for a long time.

A thousand, thousand percent. I'll give you just a quick, quick anecdote. Like I, you know, you do this, so you kind of know people, but you're not around them. Then I started working at NBC and I get to be around Chris a little bit more and I get to know him. And Chris and Al Michaels were a terrific team doing Sunday night football for a long time.

On the Mount Rushmore. One of the best, if not the best, in every sport to ever do it, right? So I get to start working with Chris. And, you know, Chris made it so easy for me. It's like, hey, do the game you do. We can do things a little bit different. It's fine. Yeah. He's that way professionally, but he's also that way personally. Chris, his wife Holly, they're kids.

On the Mount Rushmore. One of the best, if not the best, in every sport to ever do it, right? So I get to start working with Chris. And, you know, Chris made it so easy for me. It's like, hey, do the game you do. We can do things a little bit different. It's fine. Yeah. He's that way professionally, but he's also that way personally. Chris, his wife Holly, they're kids.

They've become friends of me, my wife, our kids. And that helps because when you're on the air on Sunday night, you're just sitting with a friend watching a game. Yeah, that's what it feels like. And I think that makes it easy on Sunday night at 9 o'clock. You're not listening to two people trying to compete. We're trying to be our parts in the symphony.

They've become friends of me, my wife, our kids. And that helps because when you're on the air on Sunday night, you're just sitting with a friend watching a game. Yeah, that's what it feels like. And I think that makes it easy on Sunday night at 9 o'clock. You're not listening to two people trying to compete. We're trying to be our parts in the symphony.

But, you know, the reason it happens like that is... Is because Jason's on a gummy?

But, you know, the reason it happens like that is... Is because Jason's on a gummy?

Where do you work from mostly? I work most of the week in my house. I live in Michigan. And then we travel to the games. Usually for Sunday night football, we'll travel on Friday. For the Olympics, we'll get there a week before the opening ceremony.

Where do you work from mostly? I work most of the week in my house. I live in Michigan. And then we travel to the games. Usually for Sunday night football, we'll travel on Friday. For the Olympics, we'll get there a week before the opening ceremony.

You like where you live? It's a lot. It's a lot. But I've come to love America. I love the fact that I can be dropped in like 40 cities in America and I don't need a map. I know where the restaurants are. I know where you can go for a walk.

You like where you live? It's a lot. It's a lot. But I've come to love America. I love the fact that I can be dropped in like 40 cities in America and I don't need a map. I know where the restaurants are. I know where you can go for a walk.

It is really cool. I really do feel like I've seen and know our country because, you know, you spend three days in Minneapolis. You spend three days in Chicago, three days in New England.

It is really cool. I really do feel like I've seen and know our country because, you know, you spend three days in Minneapolis. You spend three days in Chicago, three days in New England.

I love it. I really do.

I love it. I really do.

I always wanted to call games, what I'm doing now, right? And my bosses told me, you know, you're a studio guy. We need you in the studio. So I volunteered to do games on my day off on Saturday. Wow. And work a six-day during the basketball season to get a chance in 94 to start doing games. And that's what I always wanted to do. And I'm like, I'm going to prove to you guys. that I'm good enough.

I always wanted to call games, what I'm doing now, right? And my bosses told me, you know, you're a studio guy. We need you in the studio. So I volunteered to do games on my day off on Saturday. Wow. And work a six-day during the basketball season to get a chance in 94 to start doing games. And that's what I always wanted to do. And I'm like, I'm going to prove to you guys. that I'm good enough.

And it took a couple of years. And then in the end of 96, one of our bosses went to ABC and then he said, hey, you told me that you wanted to start doing some other stuff. Would you like to do some golf? Did two events in 96. And then 97, I got to do golf at ABC. And the best thing about starting golf in 1997, that was Tiger's first full year of playing golf.

And it took a couple of years. And then in the end of 96, one of our bosses went to ABC and then he said, hey, you told me that you wanted to start doing some other stuff. Would you like to do some golf? Did two events in 96. And then 97, I got to do golf at ABC. And the best thing about starting golf in 1997, that was Tiger's first full year of playing golf.

So I got right in when the Tiger era started and golf just freaking took off.

So I got right in when the Tiger era started and golf just freaking took off.

I had a bunch of them. I think I've done like 65 or 66 majors, and Tiger's played in most of them. Wow. Wow. And it's just so – it covered a call, I should say. And, Mike, the energy around Tiger is different from any other athlete, even Jordan. Now, Jordan was – Michael was in a team sport, right? Yeah. And there was still this incredible energy and juice around Michael when he was there.

I had a bunch of them. I think I've done like 65 or 66 majors, and Tiger's played in most of them. Wow. Wow. And it's just so – it covered a call, I should say. And, Mike, the energy around Tiger is different from any other athlete, even Jordan. Now, Jordan was – Michael was in a team sport, right? Yeah. And there was still this incredible energy and juice around Michael when he was there.

But when Tiger was 100 yards away, you could just feel it. You could just see the pack of people following him. Watching people try to go hole by hole, shot by shot, to see Tiger was hysterical. People tripping over each other and trying to run ahead. It was a phenomenon that lasted for a full couple of decades. It was one of the most fascinating things we've ever seen.

But when Tiger was 100 yards away, you could just feel it. You could just see the pack of people following him. Watching people try to go hole by hole, shot by shot, to see Tiger was hysterical. People tripping over each other and trying to run ahead. It was a phenomenon that lasted for a full couple of decades. It was one of the most fascinating things we've ever seen.

Those were a couple of black golfers that were on the stage.

Those were a couple of black golfers that were on the stage.

Exactly. It was like Michael Jordan. And the thing about his dominance that was so cool to me was when he got the lead, he always closed. He always, all but twice, he always closed the deal going into the final round. And guys spit up the lead every other week, usually, on tour. If not more than that, every week. So he had the impact that Jack Nicklaus had.

Exactly. It was like Michael Jordan. And the thing about his dominance that was so cool to me was when he got the lead, he always closed. He always, all but twice, he always closed the deal going into the final round. And guys spit up the lead every other week, usually, on tour. If not more than that, every week. So he had the impact that Jack Nicklaus had.

Because if his name was on the leaderboard, people would watch. I was just at an event with Tom Watson a couple of weeks ago. And he said, you know, when you saw Nicklaus' name on the board, you're like, uh-oh. And when you're thinking about somebody else, you're defeated. You're half defeated.

Because if his name was on the leaderboard, people would watch. I was just at an event with Tom Watson a couple of weeks ago. And he said, you know, when you saw Nicklaus' name on the board, you're like, uh-oh. And when you're thinking about somebody else, you're defeated. You're half defeated.

So a lot of people talk about Kaitlyn Clark and what she's done with women's basketball and the ratings are the likes of which we've never seen before. She's had an impact on that sport like Michael did in the NBA and Tiger did just in terms of this. They blew the roof and the ceiling off of where the ratings were. And that'll be the mark that's going to be so hard to get for years to come.

So a lot of people talk about Kaitlyn Clark and what she's done with women's basketball and the ratings are the likes of which we've never seen before. She's had an impact on that sport like Michael did in the NBA and Tiger did just in terms of this. They blew the roof and the ceiling off of where the ratings were. And that'll be the mark that's going to be so hard to get for years to come.

Because it was just the first time people have seen it. They wanted to be there and watch it. And there was something captivating about them. And they took it to a height that I don't think you'll see in other sports again.

Because it was just the first time people have seen it. They wanted to be there and watch it. And there was something captivating about them. And they took it to a height that I don't think you'll see in other sports again.

Legacy doesn't happen when you try to make it happen. Legacy happens when what you do naturally just brings people from all corners because there's something unique and captivating about you. And that's what happened with Jordan. That's what happened with Tiger. You mentioned just Tiger being black and

Legacy doesn't happen when you try to make it happen. Legacy happens when what you do naturally just brings people from all corners because there's something unique and captivating about you. And that's what happened with Jordan. That's what happened with Tiger. You mentioned just Tiger being black and

in a sport that had been so dominated by white players and country clubs and membership and all that stuff, which I think Tiger's presence helped change over time.

in a sport that had been so dominated by white players and country clubs and membership and all that stuff, which I think Tiger's presence helped change over time.

I thought Tiger was going to change the sport that way. And you'd see a lot more minorities playing and becoming the best players. What he did instead, his athletic legacy in the sport beyond his records, he made golf cool. And now guys who are 6'1", 6'2", 6'3", started playing golf. And you look at the major, guys like Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, etc.

I thought Tiger was going to change the sport that way. And you'd see a lot more minorities playing and becoming the best players. What he did instead, his athletic legacy in the sport beyond his records, he made golf cool. And now guys who are 6'1", 6'2", 6'3", started playing golf. And you look at the major, guys like Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, etc.

You get like some big guys who are now playing golf.

You get like some big guys who are now playing golf.

who would not have played the sport back before Tiger. It wasn't cool to be one of these big athletes who could be a tight end or a shooting forward in basketball. And that, I think, is Tiger's long-term impact on the sport itself.

who would not have played the sport back before Tiger. It wasn't cool to be one of these big athletes who could be a tight end or a shooting forward in basketball. And that, I think, is Tiger's long-term impact on the sport itself.

I'm going to knock on it, man. I have gotten through 36 years of doing this without really having a major all-time YouTube screw-up.

I'm going to knock on it, man. I have gotten through 36 years of doing this without really having a major all-time YouTube screw-up.

And I'm going to blame Sean. There was one time I was doing a TV show, a sportscast in Syria, because I have a nut allergy, and I was about to get sick, and I got away from the camera before that happened. So nothing's happened in front of a camera. You just blew it out? You blew it out. If you want the details, Sean, thank you. Uh-huh.

And I'm going to blame Sean. There was one time I was doing a TV show, a sportscast in Syria, because I have a nut allergy, and I was about to get sick, and I got away from the camera before that happened. So nothing's happened in front of a camera. You just blew it out? You blew it out. If you want the details, Sean, thank you. Uh-huh.

No, but I might go to Paris. We begged. Oh, man, you should. We begged our bosses. Can we just host the whole Olympics from Tahiti? There's something going on there, right? Who cares what the background is?

No, but I might go to Paris. We begged. Oh, man, you should. We begged our bosses. Can we just host the whole Olympics from Tahiti? There's something going on there, right? Who cares what the background is?

It's going to be, look, Paris is one of two things. Either you've been there and you can't wait to go back, or you've never been there and you want to go. And the Olympics needs this in the biggest way. If you think back, the last three Olympics have been in Asia. We had the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Then COVID-19. Denied Tokyo 2020. So that was held in 2021. COVID, no fans.

It's going to be, look, Paris is one of two things. Either you've been there and you can't wait to go back, or you've never been there and you want to go. And the Olympics needs this in the biggest way. If you think back, the last three Olympics have been in Asia. We had the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Then COVID-19. Denied Tokyo 2020. So that was held in 2021. COVID, no fans.

And then Beijing held the Winter Games in the winter of 2022, February. Again, no fans. So we've had two Olympic Games with no fans. What do you mean no fans? COVID. Oh, because people didn't... I see.

And then Beijing held the Winter Games in the winter of 2022, February. Again, no fans. So we've had two Olympic Games with no fans. What do you mean no fans? COVID. Oh, because people didn't... I see.

Because of COVID, there were no fans. And you guys were mentioning this. Somebody mentioned it before. You work your whole life to make the Olympics. It's four years of training for a minute, two minutes, whatever it ends up being for some of the athletes. You want your family there. And none of the families could go to Tokyo or to Beijing to the last summer and winter games.

Because of COVID, there were no fans. And you guys were mentioning this. Somebody mentioned it before. You work your whole life to make the Olympics. It's four years of training for a minute, two minutes, whatever it ends up being for some of the athletes. You want your family there. And none of the families could go to Tokyo or to Beijing to the last summer and winter games.

So that is one of the things that I am more excited about.

So that is one of the things that I am more excited about.

This will be the first time that fans are in the stands at the Olympics since February of 2018. So six years and about five months or six months.

This will be the first time that fans are in the stands at the Olympics since February of 2018. So six years and about five months or six months.

Well, the next Winter Olympics are in Milan and Cortina, Italy in 2026. And then L.A.

Well, the next Winter Olympics are in Milan and Cortina, Italy in 2026. And then L.A.

And that's why, to what Will was just saying, that's why I think this is a big Games for the Olympic movement. And it's in a great place in Paris because, as you mentioned, the backgrounds – Paris is just such an aspirational city – But L.A. 2028, we haven't had a Summer Olympics here since Atlanta back in the late 90s. And we haven't had the Olympics in the U.S. since Salt Lake in 2002.

And that's why, to what Will was just saying, that's why I think this is a big Games for the Olympic movement. And it's in a great place in Paris because, as you mentioned, the backgrounds – Paris is just such an aspirational city – But L.A. 2028, we haven't had a Summer Olympics here since Atlanta back in the late 90s. And we haven't had the Olympics in the U.S. since Salt Lake in 2002.

So if you're 30, right, so 26 years between Olympics in the U.S., if you're 30, you don't ever remember the Olympics being contested in America.

So if you're 30, right, so 26 years between Olympics in the U.S., if you're 30, you don't ever remember the Olympics being contested in America.

So now you're 30 or under, Alfie.

So now you're 30 or under, Alfie.

You want to host? Go ahead.

You want to host? Go ahead.

No way. No way.

No way. No way.

Oh, no, no. Snoop is, it's not just like Snoop's going to show up for once. Snoop is part of our coverage. And he is, he is all in on this, man.

Oh, no, no. Snoop is, it's not just like Snoop's going to show up for once. Snoop is part of our coverage. And he is, he is all in on this, man.

No, no, I wish it was. So we'll go back a few years ago to the last summer games. And we're trying to, you know, we have Peacock as part of the NBC family. It's our streaming service. So we're trying to figure out what shows can we do Olympic related on Peacock. So Kevin Hart and Snoop did Olympic highlights, their version of Olympic highlights. They did like a couple of nights during the games.

No, no, I wish it was. So we'll go back a few years ago to the last summer games. And we're trying to, you know, we have Peacock as part of the NBC family. It's our streaming service. So we're trying to figure out what shows can we do Olympic related on Peacock. So Kevin Hart and Snoop did Olympic highlights, their version of Olympic highlights. They did like a couple of nights during the games.

And Snoop, it's a great YouTube clip of Snoop and the equestrian. It's like a crip walk, right? So, you know, that's where the relationship started. Then the conversations continued. And he's going to be part of it. So here's the deal. Like the Olympics are going to happen live. We used to hold events live. and just say, hey, we'll show tea at night, right? That doesn't happen anymore.

And Snoop, it's a great YouTube clip of Snoop and the equestrian. It's like a crip walk, right? So, you know, that's where the relationship started. Then the conversations continued. And he's going to be part of it. So here's the deal. Like the Olympics are going to happen live. We used to hold events live. and just say, hey, we'll show tea at night, right? That doesn't happen anymore.

Everybody's got a phone. They can find out what happens. So everything's going to be live during the day. It's a six-hour time difference. Yes, thank God. It's going to be great. So at night, you're going to be shown everything that happens. So we're going to try to do a little bit of the storytelling, a little bit of the behind the scenes, give you a little bit of flavor of Paris.

Everybody's got a phone. They can find out what happens. So everything's going to be live during the day. It's a six-hour time difference. Yes, thank God. It's going to be great. So at night, you're going to be shown everything that happens. So we're going to try to do a little bit of the storytelling, a little bit of the behind the scenes, give you a little bit of flavor of Paris.

And who better to snoop around Paris than Snoop?

And who better to snoop around Paris than Snoop?

That's really cool. Is the family going to go with you? My family's going to come. They've been denied the last two Olympics, which is kind of a bummer. It's the fourth time that I'm the primetime host, and they haven't been able to come to any of them. So they're going to come over for a week or so and get to it. I won't see them, but they'll have a great time.

That's really cool. Is the family going to go with you? My family's going to come. They've been denied the last two Olympics, which is kind of a bummer. It's the fourth time that I'm the primetime host, and they haven't been able to come to any of them. So they're going to come over for a week or so and get to it. I won't see them, but they'll have a great time.

And they'll have a great time because they won't see me, actually.

And they'll have a great time because they won't see me, actually.

It's a great question. Be together at our lake house in Michigan now because we're away so much with my travel. We have kids who've graduated college, just finished wrapping up their college careers.

It's a great question. Be together at our lake house in Michigan now because we're away so much with my travel. We have kids who've graduated college, just finished wrapping up their college careers.

Yeah, we're old people now. So just, you know, and a lot of people who are listening who have older kids, like when your kids become your friends too. Yeah.

Yeah, we're old people now. So just, you know, and a lot of people who are listening who have older kids, like when your kids become your friends too. Yeah.

yeah it's so cool so so that that is like i can't wait to do that and i'm excited they're going to get a chance to do some of this they come to some of the football games from time to time and uh you know you get a chance to be around it and they they love sports they both played sports in in high school and we're big sports fans we're in a sports house it's always the topic of conversation a game's always on so they're all in on it and they love it how did you get to to michigan

yeah it's so cool so so that that is like i can't wait to do that and i'm excited they're going to get a chance to do some of this they come to some of the football games from time to time and uh you know you get a chance to be around it and they they love sports they both played sports in in high school and we're big sports fans we're in a sports house it's always the topic of conversation a game's always on so they're all in on it and they love it how did you get to to michigan

Yeah, she was an all-state softball and basketball player in Michigan. And we moved back near her family back in the late 90s and been here for a long time. It's funny because she asked me a few years ago, do you consider yourself a Northeasterner being born in the Northeastern school? I'm like, nah, I'm a Midwest guy. I love living, especially doing what I do. I love not living on either coast.

Yeah, she was an all-state softball and basketball player in Michigan. And we moved back near her family back in the late 90s and been here for a long time. It's funny because she asked me a few years ago, do you consider yourself a Northeasterner being born in the Northeastern school? I'm like, nah, I'm a Midwest guy. I love living, especially doing what I do. I love not living on either coast.

It's good to be part of the flyover world.

It's good to be part of the flyover world.

So in the Olympics, I don't call events. I'm hosting, so I just do the daytime and then the primetime hosting. And I love... I love when athletes win medals and they come to sit on the couch with their medals on.

So in the Olympics, I don't call events. I'm hosting, so I just do the daytime and then the primetime hosting. And I love... I love when athletes win medals and they come to sit on the couch with their medals on.

Because that's the moment they dream of, right? And not necessarily sitting with me, but just being there and being interviewed.

Because that's the moment they dream of, right? And not necessarily sitting with me, but just being there and being interviewed.

Yeah, the winter fireplace. The summer this year would be the Eiffel Tower in the background. And they just got this heavy medal around their neck and they're just sitting there. And I've loved that. Every time I see an Olympic athlete and get a chance to talk to them or interview them, I always end it with like, Hey, I hope I get to interview you with a medal around your neck, right?

Yeah, the winter fireplace. The summer this year would be the Eiffel Tower in the background. And they just got this heavy medal around their neck and they're just sitting there. And I've loved that. Every time I see an Olympic athlete and get a chance to talk to them or interview them, I always end it with like, Hey, I hope I get to interview you with a medal around your neck, right?

No matter what color medal it is. And it's just so... That's like one of the terms that translates everywhere. You can be in a village in Africa. You can be in Australia. You can be anywhere. Olympian translates. And the coolest part of that opening ceremony, which you mentioned before, is going to go down the River Seine with a boat parade of the athletes. It's going to be very different.

No matter what color medal it is. And it's just so... That's like one of the terms that translates everywhere. You can be in a village in Africa. You can be in Australia. You can be anywhere. Olympian translates. And the coolest part of that opening ceremony, which you mentioned before, is going to go down the River Seine with a boat parade of the athletes. It's going to be very different.

Hopefully it'll be spectacular. So cool.

Hopefully it'll be spectacular. So cool.

For most of the athletes, that's their Olympic moment, right? Because they don't get on the podium and sing their anthem. Only about 350 or a little bit less than that win gold medals. So their moment is being in the opening ceremony with all the best athletes in the world who made it there. I get a little melancholy and a little sappy about it, but it's so dang cool.

For most of the athletes, that's their Olympic moment, right? Because they don't get on the podium and sing their anthem. Only about 350 or a little bit less than that win gold medals. So their moment is being in the opening ceremony with all the best athletes in the world who made it there. I get a little melancholy and a little sappy about it, but it's so dang cool.

That I haven't interviewed?

That I haven't interviewed?

No, that's a really good question. I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth.

No, that's a really good question. I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth.

I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth because like, you know, here a hundred years ago, you had no idea people would still be talking about you. There'd be a candy bar named after you.

I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth because like, you know, here a hundred years ago, you had no idea people would still be talking about you. There'd be a candy bar named after you.

What do you think of Ohtani, babe? With AI, we could probably do that.

What do you think of Ohtani, babe? With AI, we could probably do that.

Did Ty Cobb actually spike you, babe, when he slid into it? Yes, he did.

Did Ty Cobb actually spike you, babe, when he slid into it? Yes, he did.

But think about it. It's 100 years later. You say Babe Ruth, everybody knows, right? Yeah, yeah. And that's the era before any of sports in its popularity level existed.

But think about it. It's 100 years later. You say Babe Ruth, everybody knows, right? Yeah, yeah. And that's the era before any of sports in its popularity level existed.

I am. Massive. I would say, and we've gone a couple of times, I would say if you had to ask me what's the place you've been as an American that has impacted you, it's going to Normandy. And here we are, 80 years of D-Day, that anniversary in June.

I am. Massive. I would say, and we've gone a couple of times, I would say if you had to ask me what's the place you've been as an American that has impacted you, it's going to Normandy. And here we are, 80 years of D-Day, that anniversary in June.

And man, when you sit there and see and read and hear the stories, and when you sit there and look at that cemetery with the white churches and the hill, it's one of the most powerful things that I've ever done. And every time I think of France, and we went to do a little pre-Olympic story a few months ago, we went down to Normandy just to go back. It was the third time I had a chance to be there.

And man, when you sit there and see and read and hear the stories, and when you sit there and look at that cemetery with the white churches and the hill, it's one of the most powerful things that I've ever done. And every time I think of France, and we went to do a little pre-Olympic story a few months ago, we went down to Normandy just to go back. It was the third time I had a chance to be there.

And it is the most powerful thing. Anybody who's listening, if you ever are blessed enough to be in France, you have a chance to go. As an American, you need to go.

And it is the most powerful thing. Anybody who's listening, if you ever are blessed enough to be in France, you have a chance to go. As an American, you need to go.

This was an honor, guys. Thank you. Keep making us laugh, will you please? Thanks, guys.

This was an honor, guys. Thank you. Keep making us laugh, will you please? Thanks, guys.

A big reveal. There I am.

A big reveal. There I am.

God, I was trying to write that down. I want to repeat that. That's awesome, man.

God, I was trying to write that down. I want to repeat that. That's awesome, man.

It is very good to have you here. I am a listener, and it's an honor to be on, although I'm nervous as hell.

It is very good to have you here. I am a listener, and it's an honor to be on, although I'm nervous as hell.

Yeah, on planes, on a walk. I'm like a 1.75 podcast listener. I need to get them over quick. So I try to squeeze them in. So you might go like a horse racing or auto racing around the events. And then I need a little bit of a change. So actually one day, one of our PR guys said, look at the top 10 podcasts in America. And I saw this one.

Yeah, on planes, on a walk. I'm like a 1.75 podcast listener. I need to get them over quick. So I try to squeeze them in. So you might go like a horse racing or auto racing around the events. And then I need a little bit of a change. So actually one day, one of our PR guys said, look at the top 10 podcasts in America. And I saw this one.

I said, well, this is the only one that really appeals to me. So I'm not an every week guy, but I'm here every once in a while.

I said, well, this is the only one that really appeals to me. So I'm not an every week guy, but I'm here every once in a while.

Yeah, that's where we met. So we have a dogs. There are five of us in the house. I'm the fifth athlete in the house. You know, I play golf. It's not pretty. I love it. I feel like I'm this close. I'm the king of the range. I've won more titles on the range than maybe any golfer alive. And I feel really good in the short game area. And then for some stupid reason, it doesn't translate.

Yeah, that's where we met. So we have a dogs. There are five of us in the house. I'm the fifth athlete in the house. You know, I play golf. It's not pretty. I love it. I feel like I'm this close. I'm the king of the range. I've won more titles on the range than maybe any golfer alive. And I feel really good in the short game area. And then for some stupid reason, it doesn't translate.

So I got to figure that out.

So I got to figure that out.

Yeah, I was. COVID, I was 10.2. And I was feeling pretty good about life. And I said, here we go. We're going. We're going to get to single digits. Life's going to be good. And that hasn't happened.

Yeah, I was. COVID, I was 10.2. And I was feeling pretty good about life. And I said, here we go. We're going. We're going to get to single digits. Life's going to be good. And that hasn't happened.

I did during COVID. I was playing every day, and I kind of knew what I was doing.

I did during COVID. I was playing every day, and I kind of knew what I was doing.

Wouldn't you find it as a release? Just get away for a little bit. Stop your mind. That's what I find.

Wouldn't you find it as a release? Just get away for a little bit. Stop your mind. That's what I find.

You're right. You nailed it. I'm paranoid that one day I'm going to wake up and we'll have Katie Ledecky riding one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby. Circuits have crossed. No, no, no. Stop. Right. We have unbelievable research teams. The story like of the Olympics on TV in America, it has the research department for the Olympics.

You're right. You nailed it. I'm paranoid that one day I'm going to wake up and we'll have Katie Ledecky riding one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby. Circuits have crossed. No, no, no. Stop. Right. We have unbelievable research teams. The story like of the Olympics on TV in America, it has the research department for the Olympics.

has been kind of the training ground for a lot of executives in TV. Wow. Over like 30, 40 years. So a bunch of the people who were Olympic researchers in the 70s and 80s and 90s now run sports divisions at CBS and at NBC.

has been kind of the training ground for a lot of executives in TV. Wow. Over like 30, 40 years. So a bunch of the people who were Olympic researchers in the 70s and 80s and 90s now run sports divisions at CBS and at NBC.

They're super smart people and they give you more than you can read. And you just got to figure out how to shorten the stack. And how to keep it organized, right? Because I'm not going to learn the rules for 30 sports and all the names of the 10,000 athletes for the Summer Olympics. That's my job. Thank you. Somebody's helping me out.

They're super smart people and they give you more than you can read. And you just got to figure out how to shorten the stack. And how to keep it organized, right? Because I'm not going to learn the rules for 30 sports and all the names of the 10,000 athletes for the Summer Olympics. That's my job. Thank you. Somebody's helping me out.

Yeah, going back to when ABC had the Olympics. And remember Wide World of Sports when it started?

Yeah, going back to when ABC had the Olympics. And remember Wide World of Sports when it started?

Yes, it was the ski jumper falling off the side of the hill.

Yes, it was the ski jumper falling off the side of the hill.

The guy's name is Venko Bogatai. That was his name.

The guy's name is Venko Bogatai. That was his name.

Explains why he took the exit ramp to the left.

Explains why he took the exit ramp to the left.

Yeah, but it was the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. But it was up close and personal. That was their tagline for the profiles. And one of the great executives in the history of television, not just sports television, Dick Ebersole, because he was involved with Lorne Michaels with Saturday Night Live and all that stuff. Yeah.

Yeah, but it was the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. But it was up close and personal. That was their tagline for the profiles. And one of the great executives in the history of television, not just sports television, Dick Ebersole, because he was involved with Lorne Michaels with Saturday Night Live and all that stuff. Yeah.

Dick really brought – he was working with Rune at ABC as a researcher in the 70s, and he brought that sensibility and that storytelling to NBC way before I got there when NBC got the Olympics. And that has kind of defined our division since Dick was there and all the people who learned from him who are now in charge. Tell a story. Make me care about the people. Yeah.

Dick really brought – he was working with Rune at ABC as a researcher in the 70s, and he brought that sensibility and that storytelling to NBC way before I got there when NBC got the Olympics. And that has kind of defined our division since Dick was there and all the people who learned from him who are now in charge. Tell a story. Make me care about the people. Yeah.

Because now you're invested. Yeah. And you guys are storytellers in your own way, so you get it. Here's the difference now. You don't have five minutes. People aren't going to sit around for your story in five minutes. So our adjustment has become make it bite-sized, make you care about somebody, and then show me their event.

Because now you're invested. Yeah. And you guys are storytellers in your own way, so you get it. Here's the difference now. You don't have five minutes. People aren't going to sit around for your story in five minutes. So our adjustment has become make it bite-sized, make you care about somebody, and then show me their event.

Or even the night before, hey, here is this athlete's story, and tomorrow night they go for gold. Right.

Or even the night before, hey, here is this athlete's story, and tomorrow night they go for gold. Right.

Throwing headshots out the window. Let me in. No, seriously, when I was a little kid, you asked my mom, this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a sportscaster from being a little kid. I'm really, I am 55 years later living my dream still every day.

Throwing headshots out the window. Let me in. No, seriously, when I was a little kid, you asked my mom, this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a sportscaster from being a little kid. I'm really, I am 55 years later living my dream still every day.

I do love work. Where was that? Queens. Queens, New York. So when I grew up, I was listening to Marv Albert broadcast the Knicks and the Rangers and work at NBC.

I do love work. Where was that? Queens. Queens, New York. So when I grew up, I was listening to Marv Albert broadcast the Knicks and the Rangers and work at NBC.

Extensive garbage time. Marv did everything, right? He did boxing, football, the local news, the Rangers, the Knicks. And so I always thought, you know what? Do everything. Just figure out a way to become proficient at every sport that you can be invited to do. And Jim McKay, who somebody mentioned before, Jim McKay was the same thing.

Extensive garbage time. Marv did everything, right? He did boxing, football, the local news, the Rangers, the Knicks. And so I always thought, you know what? Do everything. Just figure out a way to become proficient at every sport that you can be invited to do. And Jim McKay, who somebody mentioned before, Jim McKay was the same thing.

And those two guys were the models for me to, hey, go figure it out. Went to college at Syracuse, interned at a TV station. They went through three weekend sportscasters in seven weeks. The GM said, I'm going to hire somebody young and cheap. I was interning there. I was young and I was cheap. Yeah. And I got a tryout.

I got a tryout on the air for six weeks, got hired after four weeks, spent four years there, and then got to ESPN in 91. I was there for 25 years, and now eight years at NBC starting my ninth year.

There was somebody who actually is still a friend, and we work in a different capacity now, who saw me doing local TV and was an executive at ESPN. And they told me, send a tape in a year. I sent a tape in 10 months. got hired a few months later and, you know, did SportsCenter. And I was there like in the salad days. Yeah, SportsCenter. I was with Chris Myers, who works at Fox now.

The weekends were Carl Ravitch and Linda Cohn, who are still there at ESPN all these years later. And the main group was Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann and Bob Lee and Charlie Steiner, Robin Roberts, Gary Miller. We just had like this – that is still, for the most part, all on TV doing national sports almost 25, 30 years later. I love that.

It did stand for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. Because you know the story at the start. In September of 1979, a little bit before that, they went up on a satellite and had a satellite. And the original idea was they're going to broadcast Connecticut sports around the state. And they're like, wait a minute, this can be seen everywhere. So let's expand out the idea.

And when I was mentioning all the names, I did mention the godfather of it all. Chris. Chris Berman, who, you know, Chris with the nicknames and the schtick and the whole deal, the back, back, back. Chris made it cool. And a lot of people tried to emulate Chris or be like Chris.

But I think the ones who succeeded, like Rich Eisen, Craig Kilbourn, Stuart Scott, guys who came on after the main group I talked about, they found their own schtick, right? Yeah, yeah.

And there was room for somebody like me, who's a serious, call the sports, you know, have a little fun with it, but it's not about me cracking one-liners, all the way to the guys who, you know, truly came out of comedy, like Rich Eisen and Kilbourn, the Rich was a stand-up comedian before he came to SportsCenter.

that's exactly so here's here's a stupid story so we so Syracuse is uh big for sportscasters and a lot of kids who want to be sportscasters go there and 30 some years later it's almost 40 years later now god um it's still the case so we had just a bunch of nerds and that was our fraternity we were all want to be sportscasters and a bunch of us turned out to be so we would keep a legal pad by our tv and write down every Chris Berman nickname when it

There was like a community list and we sent it to ESPN. We were pissed because ESPN never sent a thank you note back, whatever. You know, months later, ESPN put out a list of all the Chris Berman nicknames. So we take credit for that, at least in our own hearts.

You know what? One... Well, it's a couple of things. Fortunately, you're at games almost all the time. Yeah. And it's 50, 60,000 people. So you guys have performed in front of audiences. There are nights everybody doesn't have it. Something's going on. Family, you're sick. You've traveled for 15 weeks. Nobody cares, right?

You're always trying to make sure that you reach a standard that you've established over the year.

A little bit of that, but also the crowd.

Exactly. But even like, where do you look for just the raw energy for you if your energy is a little bit low? Look at these people. They tailgated. They parked. They've been there for eight hours. And now they're screaming at the top of their lungs. They painted their faces. They're wearing their jersey. That gets you going. How does it not? So when it's a bad day or it's not the best day,

That usually picks me up.

I do. And I'm going to say that, you know, this amateur psychological analysis of this, I think it's the generation that's grown up in front of cameras.

They know where the camera is, how to play to it. They know I score a touchdown. This is my marketing moment. You know, you got guys who have their... TD celebrations all rehearsed. They know it's on me right now and point to the name on the back of their jersey.

So there was like a fan cam, so you could watch the game on a Zoom, and you sit there, and you're watching the game, and hey, in the third quarter, your face will be in the end zone, and then they're going, yay, into their computers. And the guys were seeing them because they were just trying to find a way to create some atmosphere.

than a sniper had taken. My two favorites are the triple barrel roll. When the guy goes down, he rolls, and he rolls, and he rolls again.

And then when they bring out these million, million pound players in terms of their financial remuneration, and they're kind of carrying them on this rickety little thing with two wood sticks and a piece of canvas, they carry them over to the sideline, and all of a sudden they realize their team has the ball. They're right back in the game.

The thing with soccer, football, soccer, whatever. Sure. We're in America, soccer. The thing with that is, It starts, it's rooted in tribalism. It's those small towns, like a Sunderland, which you mentioned in England, the city, like you end up going to the grounds and a lot of kids walk there and it becomes part of you.

Now it's kind of grown from a very tribal and local thing to regional, national and global. which has just allowed the expansion of all this to happen. But at its roots, especially if you go over to soccer in England, it's our neighborhood. It's our team. They're our guys. And we can be mad at them, but you can't. And I love that about the sport.

There's something, Will, there's something about sports. Like... Most of us never meet the athletes who we wear their jerseys. You know, the old hockey line, you know, you go to a hockey game, especially where I live in Michigan, and you got a bunch of people walking around with other guys' last names on their back, right? Right, right.

But it's the one place, not only is it acceptable, it's encouraged. And it shows that you're a real fan, right?

I think so, too. My stump speech about sports and the value of sports is let's go to New Orleans for a Saints game. And let me take one section of the Superdome and I'm going to get black and white. I'm going to get male and female. I'm going to get straight and gay. I'm going to get different religions. I'm going to get everybody in that section.

And they're all wearing some black and gold for the Saints. And that doesn't happen at the opera. It doesn't happen at the movies. That's why I still think sports has this place, whereas everything's become so fractured. People still love their sports like nothing else.

I'm an HGTV guy, Sean, if you want to know the truth.

Wait, Mike, where are you from? I'm from Queens, from New York. Grew up as a New Yorker. You know, lived in the Northeast most of my life.

I wasn't. I'm Mets and a Jets fan. Yeah. Yeah, of course.

Well, the Mets thing was I just wanted to see them win the World Series once in my life. And they did. And I kind of outgrew it. It's like an allergy. You know, they say, hopefully, I outgrew it. So I've saved myself generations of pain after that. And then the rest of it, really, you do become agnostic. People say, well, how can you watch a game and not root?

There's one team in sports that I root for, and that's Syracuse. That's my alma mater.

With the orange. We used to be the orange men and women. Now we're just the orange.

It could be a color, a fruit, or a spirit. You take your pick.

A thousand, thousand percent. I'll give you just a quick, quick anecdote. Like I, you know, you do this, so you kind of know people, but you're not around them. Then I started working at NBC and I get to be around Chris a little bit more and I get to know him. And Chris and Al Michaels were a terrific team doing Sunday night football for a long time.

On the Mount Rushmore. One of the best, if not the best, in every sport to ever do it, right? So I get to start working with Chris. And, you know, Chris made it so easy for me. It's like, hey, do the game you do. We can do things a little bit different. It's fine. Yeah. He's that way professionally, but he's also that way personally. Chris, his wife Holly, they're kids.

They've become friends of me, my wife, our kids. And that helps because when you're on the air on Sunday night, you're just sitting with a friend watching a game. Yeah, that's what it feels like. And I think that makes it easy on Sunday night at 9 o'clock. You're not listening to two people trying to compete. We're trying to be our parts in the symphony.

But, you know, the reason it happens like that is... Is because Jason's on a gummy?

Where do you work from mostly? I work most of the week in my house. I live in Michigan. And then we travel to the games. Usually for Sunday night football, we'll travel on Friday. For the Olympics, we'll get there a week before the opening ceremony.

You like where you live? It's a lot. It's a lot. But I've come to love America. I love the fact that I can be dropped in like 40 cities in America and I don't need a map. I know where the restaurants are. I know where you can go for a walk.

It is really cool. I really do feel like I've seen and know our country because, you know, you spend three days in Minneapolis. You spend three days in Chicago, three days in New England.

I love it. I really do.

I always wanted to call games, what I'm doing now, right? And my bosses told me, you know, you're a studio guy. We need you in the studio. So I volunteered to do games on my day off on Saturday. Wow. And work a six-day during the basketball season to get a chance in 94 to start doing games. And that's what I always wanted to do. And I'm like, I'm going to prove to you guys. that I'm good enough.

And it took a couple of years. And then in the end of 96, one of our bosses went to ABC and then he said, hey, you told me that you wanted to start doing some other stuff. Would you like to do some golf? Did two events in 96. And then 97, I got to do golf at ABC. And the best thing about starting golf in 1997, that was Tiger's first full year of playing golf.

So I got right in when the Tiger era started and golf just freaking took off.

I had a bunch of them. I think I've done like 65 or 66 majors, and Tiger's played in most of them. Wow. Wow. And it's just so – it covered a call, I should say. And, Mike, the energy around Tiger is different from any other athlete, even Jordan. Now, Jordan was – Michael was in a team sport, right? Yeah. And there was still this incredible energy and juice around Michael when he was there.

But when Tiger was 100 yards away, you could just feel it. You could just see the pack of people following him. Watching people try to go hole by hole, shot by shot, to see Tiger was hysterical. People tripping over each other and trying to run ahead. It was a phenomenon that lasted for a full couple of decades. It was one of the most fascinating things we've ever seen.

Those were a couple of black golfers that were on the stage.

Exactly. It was like Michael Jordan. And the thing about his dominance that was so cool to me was when he got the lead, he always closed. He always, all but twice, he always closed the deal going into the final round. And guys spit up the lead every other week, usually, on tour. If not more than that, every week. So he had the impact that Jack Nicklaus had.

Because if his name was on the leaderboard, people would watch. I was just at an event with Tom Watson a couple of weeks ago. And he said, you know, when you saw Nicklaus' name on the board, you're like, uh-oh. And when you're thinking about somebody else, you're defeated. You're half defeated.

So a lot of people talk about Kaitlyn Clark and what she's done with women's basketball and the ratings are the likes of which we've never seen before. She's had an impact on that sport like Michael did in the NBA and Tiger did just in terms of this. They blew the roof and the ceiling off of where the ratings were. And that'll be the mark that's going to be so hard to get for years to come.

Because it was just the first time people have seen it. They wanted to be there and watch it. And there was something captivating about them. And they took it to a height that I don't think you'll see in other sports again.

Legacy doesn't happen when you try to make it happen. Legacy happens when what you do naturally just brings people from all corners because there's something unique and captivating about you. And that's what happened with Jordan. That's what happened with Tiger. You mentioned just Tiger being black and

in a sport that had been so dominated by white players and country clubs and membership and all that stuff, which I think Tiger's presence helped change over time.

I thought Tiger was going to change the sport that way. And you'd see a lot more minorities playing and becoming the best players. What he did instead, his athletic legacy in the sport beyond his records, he made golf cool. And now guys who are 6'1", 6'2", 6'3", started playing golf. And you look at the major, guys like Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, etc.

You get like some big guys who are now playing golf.

who would not have played the sport back before Tiger. It wasn't cool to be one of these big athletes who could be a tight end or a shooting forward in basketball. And that, I think, is Tiger's long-term impact on the sport itself.

I'm going to knock on it, man. I have gotten through 36 years of doing this without really having a major all-time YouTube screw-up.

And I'm going to blame Sean. There was one time I was doing a TV show, a sportscast in Syria, because I have a nut allergy, and I was about to get sick, and I got away from the camera before that happened. So nothing's happened in front of a camera. You just blew it out? You blew it out. If you want the details, Sean, thank you. Uh-huh.

No, but I might go to Paris. We begged. Oh, man, you should. We begged our bosses. Can we just host the whole Olympics from Tahiti? There's something going on there, right? Who cares what the background is?

It's going to be, look, Paris is one of two things. Either you've been there and you can't wait to go back, or you've never been there and you want to go. And the Olympics needs this in the biggest way. If you think back, the last three Olympics have been in Asia. We had the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Then COVID-19. Denied Tokyo 2020. So that was held in 2021. COVID, no fans.

And then Beijing held the Winter Games in the winter of 2022, February. Again, no fans. So we've had two Olympic Games with no fans. What do you mean no fans? COVID. Oh, because people didn't... I see.

Because of COVID, there were no fans. And you guys were mentioning this. Somebody mentioned it before. You work your whole life to make the Olympics. It's four years of training for a minute, two minutes, whatever it ends up being for some of the athletes. You want your family there. And none of the families could go to Tokyo or to Beijing to the last summer and winter games.

So that is one of the things that I am more excited about.

This will be the first time that fans are in the stands at the Olympics since February of 2018. So six years and about five months or six months.

Well, the next Winter Olympics are in Milan and Cortina, Italy in 2026. And then L.A.

And that's why, to what Will was just saying, that's why I think this is a big Games for the Olympic movement. And it's in a great place in Paris because, as you mentioned, the backgrounds – Paris is just such an aspirational city – But L.A. 2028, we haven't had a Summer Olympics here since Atlanta back in the late 90s. And we haven't had the Olympics in the U.S. since Salt Lake in 2002.

So if you're 30, right, so 26 years between Olympics in the U.S., if you're 30, you don't ever remember the Olympics being contested in America.

So now you're 30 or under, Alfie.

You want to host? Go ahead.

No way. No way.

Oh, no, no. Snoop is, it's not just like Snoop's going to show up for once. Snoop is part of our coverage. And he is, he is all in on this, man.

No, no, I wish it was. So we'll go back a few years ago to the last summer games. And we're trying to, you know, we have Peacock as part of the NBC family. It's our streaming service. So we're trying to figure out what shows can we do Olympic related on Peacock. So Kevin Hart and Snoop did Olympic highlights, their version of Olympic highlights. They did like a couple of nights during the games.

And Snoop, it's a great YouTube clip of Snoop and the equestrian. It's like a crip walk, right? So, you know, that's where the relationship started. Then the conversations continued. And he's going to be part of it. So here's the deal. Like the Olympics are going to happen live. We used to hold events live. and just say, hey, we'll show tea at night, right? That doesn't happen anymore.

Everybody's got a phone. They can find out what happens. So everything's going to be live during the day. It's a six-hour time difference. Yes, thank God. It's going to be great. So at night, you're going to be shown everything that happens. So we're going to try to do a little bit of the storytelling, a little bit of the behind the scenes, give you a little bit of flavor of Paris.

And who better to snoop around Paris than Snoop?

That's really cool. Is the family going to go with you? My family's going to come. They've been denied the last two Olympics, which is kind of a bummer. It's the fourth time that I'm the primetime host, and they haven't been able to come to any of them. So they're going to come over for a week or so and get to it. I won't see them, but they'll have a great time.

And they'll have a great time because they won't see me, actually.

It's a great question. Be together at our lake house in Michigan now because we're away so much with my travel. We have kids who've graduated college, just finished wrapping up their college careers.

Yeah, we're old people now. So just, you know, and a lot of people who are listening who have older kids, like when your kids become your friends too. Yeah.

yeah it's so cool so so that that is like i can't wait to do that and i'm excited they're going to get a chance to do some of this they come to some of the football games from time to time and uh you know you get a chance to be around it and they they love sports they both played sports in in high school and we're big sports fans we're in a sports house it's always the topic of conversation a game's always on so they're all in on it and they love it how did you get to to michigan

Yeah, she was an all-state softball and basketball player in Michigan. And we moved back near her family back in the late 90s and been here for a long time. It's funny because she asked me a few years ago, do you consider yourself a Northeasterner being born in the Northeastern school? I'm like, nah, I'm a Midwest guy. I love living, especially doing what I do. I love not living on either coast.

It's good to be part of the flyover world.

So in the Olympics, I don't call events. I'm hosting, so I just do the daytime and then the primetime hosting. And I love... I love when athletes win medals and they come to sit on the couch with their medals on.

Because that's the moment they dream of, right? And not necessarily sitting with me, but just being there and being interviewed.

Yeah, the winter fireplace. The summer this year would be the Eiffel Tower in the background. And they just got this heavy medal around their neck and they're just sitting there. And I've loved that. Every time I see an Olympic athlete and get a chance to talk to them or interview them, I always end it with like, Hey, I hope I get to interview you with a medal around your neck, right?

No matter what color medal it is. And it's just so... That's like one of the terms that translates everywhere. You can be in a village in Africa. You can be in Australia. You can be anywhere. Olympian translates. And the coolest part of that opening ceremony, which you mentioned before, is going to go down the River Seine with a boat parade of the athletes. It's going to be very different.

Hopefully it'll be spectacular. So cool.

For most of the athletes, that's their Olympic moment, right? Because they don't get on the podium and sing their anthem. Only about 350 or a little bit less than that win gold medals. So their moment is being in the opening ceremony with all the best athletes in the world who made it there. I get a little melancholy and a little sappy about it, but it's so dang cool.

That I haven't interviewed?

No, that's a really good question. I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth.

I'd like to talk to Babe Ruth because like, you know, here a hundred years ago, you had no idea people would still be talking about you. There'd be a candy bar named after you.

What do you think of Ohtani, babe? With AI, we could probably do that.

Did Ty Cobb actually spike you, babe, when he slid into it? Yes, he did.

But think about it. It's 100 years later. You say Babe Ruth, everybody knows, right? Yeah, yeah. And that's the era before any of sports in its popularity level existed.

I am. Massive. I would say, and we've gone a couple of times, I would say if you had to ask me what's the place you've been as an American that has impacted you, it's going to Normandy. And here we are, 80 years of D-Day, that anniversary in June.

And man, when you sit there and see and read and hear the stories, and when you sit there and look at that cemetery with the white churches and the hill, it's one of the most powerful things that I've ever done. And every time I think of France, and we went to do a little pre-Olympic story a few months ago, we went down to Normandy just to go back. It was the third time I had a chance to be there.

And it is the most powerful thing. Anybody who's listening, if you ever are blessed enough to be in France, you have a chance to go. As an American, you need to go.

This was an honor, guys. Thank you. Keep making us laugh, will you please? Thanks, guys.

A big reveal. There I am.

God, I was trying to write that down. I want to repeat that. That's awesome, man.

It is very good to have you here. I am a listener, and it's an honor to be on, although I'm nervous as hell.

Yeah, on planes, on a walk. I'm like a 1.75 podcast listener. I need to get them over quick. So I try to squeeze them in. So you might go like a horse racing or auto racing around the events. And then I need a little bit of a change. So actually one day, one of our PR guys said, look at the top 10 podcasts in America. And I saw this one.

I said, well, this is the only one that really appeals to me. So I'm not an every week guy, but I'm here every once in a while.

Yeah, that's where we met. So we have a dogs. There are five of us in the house. I'm the fifth athlete in the house. You know, I play golf. It's not pretty. I love it. I feel like I'm this close. I'm the king of the range. I've won more titles on the range than maybe any golfer alive. And I feel really good in the short game area. And then for some stupid reason, it doesn't translate.

So I got to figure that out.

Yeah, I was. COVID, I was 10.2. And I was feeling pretty good about life. And I said, here we go. We're going. We're going to get to single digits. Life's going to be good. And that hasn't happened.

I did during COVID. I was playing every day, and I kind of knew what I was doing.

Wouldn't you find it as a release? Just get away for a little bit. Stop your mind. That's what I find.

You're right. You nailed it. I'm paranoid that one day I'm going to wake up and we'll have Katie Ledecky riding one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby. Circuits have crossed. No, no, no. Stop. Right. We have unbelievable research teams. The story like of the Olympics on TV in America, it has the research department for the Olympics.

has been kind of the training ground for a lot of executives in TV. Wow. Over like 30, 40 years. So a bunch of the people who were Olympic researchers in the 70s and 80s and 90s now run sports divisions at CBS and at NBC.

They're super smart people and they give you more than you can read. And you just got to figure out how to shorten the stack. And how to keep it organized, right? Because I'm not going to learn the rules for 30 sports and all the names of the 10,000 athletes for the Summer Olympics. That's my job. Thank you. Somebody's helping me out.

Yeah, going back to when ABC had the Olympics. And remember Wide World of Sports when it started?

Yes, it was the ski jumper falling off the side of the hill.

The guy's name is Venko Bogatai. That was his name.

Explains why he took the exit ramp to the left.

Yeah, but it was the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. But it was up close and personal. That was their tagline for the profiles. And one of the great executives in the history of television, not just sports television, Dick Ebersole, because he was involved with Lorne Michaels with Saturday Night Live and all that stuff. Yeah.

Dick really brought – he was working with Rune at ABC as a researcher in the 70s, and he brought that sensibility and that storytelling to NBC way before I got there when NBC got the Olympics. And that has kind of defined our division since Dick was there and all the people who learned from him who are now in charge. Tell a story. Make me care about the people. Yeah.

Because now you're invested. Yeah. And you guys are storytellers in your own way, so you get it. Here's the difference now. You don't have five minutes. People aren't going to sit around for your story in five minutes. So our adjustment has become make it bite-sized, make you care about somebody, and then show me their event.

Or even the night before, hey, here is this athlete's story, and tomorrow night they go for gold. Right.

Throwing headshots out the window. Let me in. No, seriously, when I was a little kid, you asked my mom, this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a sportscaster from being a little kid. I'm really, I am 55 years later living my dream still every day.

I do love work. Where was that? Queens. Queens, New York. So when I grew up, I was listening to Marv Albert broadcast the Knicks and the Rangers and work at NBC.

Extensive garbage time. Marv did everything, right? He did boxing, football, the local news, the Rangers, the Knicks. And so I always thought, you know what? Do everything. Just figure out a way to become proficient at every sport that you can be invited to do. And Jim McKay, who somebody mentioned before, Jim McKay was the same thing.