The A’s Leave Oakland, ESPN’s Latest Shocker, and Million-Dollar Picks With Logan Murdock, Bryan Curtis, and Joe House
3Digest
This podcast covers a range of topics, including the Oakland A's last game in Oakland, ESPN's recent layoffs and the future of sports media, and the hosts' million dollar picks for the upcoming week of NFL games. The podcast begins with a discussion about the Oakland A's last home game in Oakland, expressing sadness and anger at the team's departure. The hosts criticize John Fisher, the A's owner, for his lack of investment in the team and the city. The conversation then shifts to ESPN's recent layoffs, specifically the departure of Zach Lowe. The hosts analyze the implications of this layoff for the network's future, arguing that ESPN is prioritizing TV hits and social media content over traditional journalism and podcasting. The remainder of the podcast focuses on the hosts' million dollar picks for the upcoming week of NFL games. They discuss their betting strategies for each matchup, analyzing player performances, betting lines, and potential injuries. They also discuss their experiences with television programming and their thoughts on the future of sports media.
Outlines
Oakland A's Departure and ESPN's Evolution
The podcast discusses the Oakland A's last game in Oakland, expressing sadness and anger at the team's departure. The hosts criticize John Fisher, the A's owner, for his lack of investment in the team and the city. They also analyze ESPN's recent layoffs and the network's evolving strategy, arguing that ESPN is prioritizing TV hits and social media content over traditional journalism and podcasting.
Million Dollar Picks: Week 4 Preview
The hosts discuss their million dollar picks for the upcoming week of NFL games. They analyze matchups, player performances, betting lines, and potential injuries. They also discuss their experiences with television programming and their thoughts on the future of sports media.
The Vision of the Future and Remembering Skip Bayless
The conversation begins with a discussion about the future of football and how some people see a different vision than others. The speakers discuss the possibility of the current era being like the dinosaur era, with a sense of change and uncertainty. The conversation shifts to a discussion about Skip Bayless, a sports commentator, and his career. The speakers reminisce about his time covering the Dallas Cowboys and how his books about the team were well-received.
Cowboys Concerns and Campaign Movie Debate
The conversation turns to the Dallas Cowboys and their current performance. One speaker expresses concern about the team's performance, while the other is more resigned to the possibility of a loss. The speakers engage in a debate about the movie "Dave" and whether it qualifies as a campaign movie. One speaker argues that it's a movie about being in office, while the other insists that it's a campaign movie.
Offensive Explosions and Jayden Daniels
The conversation shifts to the excitement surrounding Jayden Daniels, a quarterback for the Washington Commanders. The speakers discuss his performance and the positive reactions from his teammates.
Analyzing the Commanders' Performance and Million Dollar Picks
The speakers analyze the Washington Commanders' recent performance, highlighting their offensive strengths and defensive weaknesses. They discuss the upcoming game against the Arizona Cardinals and the potential for a high-scoring affair. The conversation focuses on the upcoming game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Commanders. The speakers discuss their betting strategies, with one favoring the Cardinals moneyline and the over, while the other prefers the Commanders over 23.5 points.
Million Dollar Picks: Vikings vs. Packers
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. They analyze the Vikings' recent strong performance and the Packers' quarterback situation, which is uncertain due to injuries.
Million Dollar Picks: Falcons vs. Saints
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. They express caution about betting on this matchup due to injuries on both sides and the unpredictable nature of the NFC South division.
Million Dollar Picks: Bears vs. Rams
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams. They analyze the Bears' defensive strengths and the Rams' offensive struggles, but ultimately decide to stay away from this matchup due to the uncertainty surrounding both teams.
Million Dollar Picks: Raiders vs. Browns
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns. They express concern about both teams' performances and ultimately decide to stay away from this matchup.
Million Dollar Picks: Lions vs. Seahawks
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks. They analyze the Lions' offensive potential and the Seahawks' defensive struggles, but ultimately disagree on the best betting strategy.
Million Dollar Picks: Jets vs. Broncos
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. They analyze the Jets' offensive struggles and the Broncos' defensive strengths, but ultimately express concern about the Broncos' rookie quarterback and the large point spread.
Million Dollar Picks: Eagles vs. Buccaneers
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They acknowledge the impact of the hurricane on the game and ultimately decide to stay away from this matchup due to the uncertainty surrounding the weather and potential injuries.
Million Dollar Picks: Steelers vs. Colts
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts. They analyze the Steelers' strong defense and the Colts' offensive struggles, ultimately favoring the Steelers minus 1.5 points.
Million Dollar Picks: Ravens vs. Bills
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills. They analyze the Bills' offensive strengths and the Ravens' defensive weaknesses, ultimately favoring the Bills as a teaser leg.
Million Dollar Picks: Chiefs vs. Chargers
The speakers discuss the upcoming game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. They analyze the Chargers' injuries and the Chiefs' offensive potential, ultimately favoring the Chiefs minus 7 as a teaser leg.
The 18-54 TV Demo and Fanduel Profit Boost
The speakers discuss their experiences with television programming and how they are no longer part of the coveted 18-54 demographic. They reminisce about shows like "NCIS" and "Chicago Fire" and wonder if they are too old for shows like "The White Lotus." The speakers discuss a special offer from Fanduel that provides a 50% profit boost for any touchdown score bet. They decide to take advantage of this offer by betting on Marvin Harrison Jr. to score a touchdown.
Million Dollar Picks: Week 4 Recap
The speakers recap their million dollar picks for week 4, including their bets on the Steelers, Cardinals, Lions, and Bills. They discuss their strategies and their confidence in these picks.
Keywords
Sports Extortion
The practice of sports teams using their popularity and potential departure to extract financial concessions from cities and governments. This often involves threats to relocate, leveraging public funds for stadium construction or renovations.
Favorite Trading
A journalistic practice where reporters prioritize relationships with sources over objective reporting, often favoring certain teams or individuals for access and information. This can lead to biased coverage and a lack of critical analysis.
Streaming-Only ESPN
The potential future of ESPN as a streaming-only platform, transitioning away from its traditional cable television model. This shift could impact the types of content produced and the talent employed by the network.
Soul of ESPN
The unique identity and character of ESPN, often associated with its commitment to sports journalism, diverse voices, and a focus on the big picture. This soul is being questioned as the network prioritizes short-form content and social media engagement.
Information Era
The current state of sports media, characterized by a relentless pursuit of breaking news and scoops, often at the expense of in-depth analysis and storytelling. This era has been fueled by the rise of social media and the desire for instant information.
Million Dollar Picks
A segment on the podcast where the hosts discuss their betting strategies for the upcoming week of NFL games. They analyze matchups, player performances, and betting lines to make their picks.
Teaser
A type of sports bet where you combine two or more bets and adjust the point spreads in your favor. It's a strategy that can increase your potential winnings but also increases your risk.
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels is a quarterback for the Washington Commanders. He is known for his athleticism and ability to make plays both with his arm and his legs. He is considered a potential superstar in waiting.
Q&A
What are the key factors driving the changes at ESPN?
ESPN is navigating the transition from cable television to streaming, prioritizing TV hits and social media content over traditional journalism and podcasting. They are also investing heavily in sports rights, aiming to be the dominant platform for live events.
How does the layoff of Zach Lowe reflect ESPN's evolving strategy?
Lowe's expertise in writing, podcasting, and television analysis suggests that ESPN is devaluing traditional journalism and podcasting in favor of short-form content and TV hits that can be easily shared on social media.
What are the potential implications of ESPN's shift for the future of sports media?
ESPN's focus on sports rights and short-form content could lead to a decline in in-depth analysis and storytelling, potentially impacting the quality and diversity of sports journalism. It also raises questions about the future of traditional sports media outlets and the role of journalists in the digital age.
What are some of the key factors to consider when making million dollar picks?
When making million dollar picks, it's crucial to analyze matchups, player performances, betting lines, and potential injuries. It's also important to consider the overall trends of the season and the historical performance of teams and players.
What are some of the biggest risks and rewards associated with teaser bets?
Teaser bets can increase your potential winnings by adjusting point spreads in your favor, but they also increase your risk. If even one of your bets loses, you lose the entire teaser. It's a high-risk, high-reward strategy that requires careful consideration.
What are some of the key factors to consider when betting on a rookie quarterback?
When betting on a rookie quarterback, it's important to consider their experience level, the quality of their supporting cast, and the strength of their opponent's defense. It's also important to consider the overall trends of the season and the historical performance of rookie quarterbacks.
What are some of the key factors to consider when betting on a team with a lot of injuries?
When betting on a team with a lot of injuries, it's important to consider the severity of the injuries, the impact on the team's overall performance, and the strength of their opponent. It's also important to consider the historical performance of teams with similar injury situations.
What are some of the key factors to consider when betting on a team playing in a hostile environment?
When betting on a team playing in a hostile environment, it's important to consider the impact of the crowd on the team's performance, the historical performance of the team in similar situations, and the strength of their opponent. It's also important to consider the overall trends of the season and the historical performance of teams playing in hostile environments.
Show Notes
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Logan Murdock to discuss the Oakland Athletics' final home game at the Oakland Coliseum, the gradual loss of Oakland's major sports teams, the concept of "sports extortion," and more (2:36 ). Then Bill talks with Bryan Curtis about ESPN letting go of senior NBA writer Zach Lowe, as well as what this and similar layoffs signal about the direction the company is trying to head (29:54 ). Finally, Bill and Joe House run through the week's slate of NFL games before making their Million-Dollar Picks for NFL Week 4 (1:01:31 )
Host: Bill Simmons
Guests: Logan Murdock, Bryan Curtis, and Joe House
Producer: Kyle Crichton
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