Sports
Super Bowl LIX media preview: Tom Brady, record audience, Terry Bradshaw’s future and more
Richard Deitsch and Andrew Marchand are sports media writers for The Athletic. They converse every couple of weeks on sports media topics. This week, they discuss the Super Bowl from a media perspective, including:
- Tom Brady’s Super Bowl broadcaster debut
- Viewership potential for the game
- The future of Super Bowl pregame shows
- Netflix becoming an NFL player
Richard Deitsch: I’m seeing Tom Brady in my sleep given how much this site has written about him over the past five months. But here’s the reality: We both agreed prior to the start of the NFL season that Brady’s debut as a Fox NFL analyst was the biggest sports media story of the NFL season.
My thesis has always been that Brady’s broadcasting year would ultimately be judged by the viewing public on how he performs in the Super Bowl. That’s the final test, but it’s more than a test: It is the football public’s ultimate engagement with Brady in his first year on TV.
We both know that his Fox Sports bosses and sports television executives look at it differently. They will judge him on progress from Week 1 to Week 21. Fox believes he has improved significantly throughout the season.
However, there will be 115 million-plus people watching Brady on Sunday. That is an enormous jury. How do you see this?
Andrew Marchand: I agree, but there are several different audiences for the Super Bowl:
There are the hardcore fans there every week that produce the 15 (million) to 35 million or so viewers for games each week. The more casual fans that begin watching in the playoffs push the numbers into the 40 (million) and 50 million range. Then comes Super Bowl viewers.
The deciders are that first group, as they care much more about the broadcast. The other two groups may have some opinions, but ultimately will likely just be impressed that Brady is on the call.
If he does amazing or has an awful performance, then all three sets will chime in. He is way better than Week 1, but he’s not John Madden just yet.
If he has a “16-for-24, two touchdowns and one interception” performance, I think Fox would take it. They would love “400 yards and five touchdowns,” but I don’t think they will be greedy.
AM: How many eyes do you think will be watching this game?
RD: The current viewership record came last year when an audience of 123.4 million viewers watched the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime. That topped the previous record of 115.1 million viewers for the Kansas City-Philadelphia Eagles matchup two years ago.
Look, there is no Chiefs fatigue; the data does not lie. The AFC Championship Game averaged 57.7 million viewers, the most-watched AFC title game in history. If this game is tight late — and I think it will be — I think we see a new record. Put me down for 124 million. You?
AM: This is a bad omen for Fox — we agree! I’m going 124.5 million viewers and a record.
You are on point on the fact that Chiefs fatigue is overrated. Viewers like the big-name teams, and Kansas City is going for history (three Super Bowl championships in a row) with maybe the greatest quarterback ever.
There may be some hate watching, but the people who have such strong feelings are watching no matter what. The records come at the edges, and I think Fox and the NFL pick that up.
AM: How about the pregame show? You into it? Or a big waste of time?
It could be the last Super Bowl pregame show for Jimmy Johnson and Terry Bradshaw. After two of the last three Super Bowls because of the new TV contracts with the NFL, Fox won’t have the big game for four years as it is NBC (2026), ABC/ESPN (2027), CBS (2028) and then Fox in 2029.
RD: So here is the interesting thing with NFL pregame shows: They continue to draw more viewers than you might think.
For instance, “Fox NFL Sunday” averaged 4.42 million viewers this season. You can make a lot of advertising money off those numbers. I mean, if “First Take” averaged 600,000 viewers over a year they would hold a Rose Bowl parade in Bristol, Conn.
I find the pregame shows increasingly less relevant these days with younger viewers. We also don’t often see them pop on social media, the coin of the realm for young people.
Fox Sports clearly will be bringing in younger staffers soon, but the NFL pregame show often feels like a relic of a different time. I’ll watch because we get paid to watch, but I find it less interesting every year.
RD: One of the things I get asked about from a lot of readers is whether a Super Bowl will ever go behind a paywall where a Netflix buys it.
I don’t think this happens in our lifetime. Now, if you asked me whether I can see a Netflix or Amazon have the divisional playoffs in the next 20 years, I absolutely see it. What about you?
AM: I’m more bullish on this lifetime, but I’d like to know how long that means. Amazon and Netflix are thinking big, global.
The NFL can have Roger Goodell do songs and dances about the fans this and the fans that, but if the digital players offer way more money, I could see Amazon or Netflix having a Super Bowl maybe when the NFL opts out of its current TV deals. I don’t think that is a wild thought in four or five years when those opt-outs happen.
If broadcast TV gets significantly weakened over time, I think the idea of a subscription-based Super Bowl becomes more likely. It really depends on where The Great Rebundling takes place and how strong the networks can continue to be. But in a TV-by-subscription world, it’s hard not to bet on Netflix’s and Amazon’s long-term models for big events if they want more.
(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Sam Hodde/Getty Images, Mikayla Schlosser/Kansas City Chiefs via AP, Kara Durrette via AP)
Sports
‘Demon’ Finn Balor settles score with Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio were once brothers in arms in the Judgment Day. The two helped the faction run “Monday Night Raw” for several years.
As championships and opportunities came and went, the rift between Balor and Mysterio grew. It came to a head when Balor caused Mysterio to lose the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Balor leaving the Judgment Day left Mysterio and Liv Morgan as the leaders with JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez sticking around.
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The latter four chose to ride with Mysterio and attacked Balor on one episode of Raw.
The bitter war led to a match Sunday night at WrestleMania 42. To make matters more interesting, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce made the match a street fight hours before the show was set to begin.
Balor had vowed to bring the “Demon” out and he certainly did.
JACOB FATU PUTS DREW MCINTYRE IN THE ‘REAR VIEW’ IN UNSANCTIONED MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA 42
Finn Balor is introduced before his match against Dominik Mysterio during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Balor made his way to the ring in his “Demon” gear, dripping with red and black paint. Mysterio was in a mask with other Mysterio supporters.
The two then proceeded to beat the crud out of each other.
Mysterio wrapped Balor’s head in between a chair and hit a 619 on him. He tried to pin Balor, but to no avail. At another point, Mysterio tossed Balor through a table set up in the corner.
As many have learned, it’s hard to keep your demons down. Mysterio learned the hard way.
Balor would not give up. Balor clotheslined Mysterio, hit him with a chair multiple times before wrapping his head in between the chair and drop-kicking him into the corner. Balor put Mysterio onto a table and hit the Coup de Grâce for the win.
Dominik Mysterio is introduced before his match against Finn Balor during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 19, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Balor excised his own demons, while Mysterio is still haunted.
Sports
Ryan Ward has a solid debut, but bullpen blows it again as Dodgers lose to Rockies
DENVER — What do you know? The once-stampeding Dodgers have been caged by the Colorado Rockies.
With a 9-6 loss Sunday at Coors Field, the two-time defending World Series champions lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Dodgers again couldn’t hold a lead, letting the Rockies tee off for 15 hits.
Nor could the Dodgers keep up offensively at the hitter-friendly park — though they put some pressure on in the ninth inning, when Shohei Ohtani led off with a ground-rule double and the Dodgers scored twice to cut the lead to three runs. Then the new guy, Ryan Ward, made the final out in his big league debut, robbed of a hit and a chance to keep chipping away by a diving Troy Johnston in right field.
Before that, the Rockies — who beat the Dodgers twice in 13 meetings all of last season — chased starter Roki Sasaki from the game in the fifth inning and then ruffled the Dodgers’ relievers. That included closer Edwin Díaz, who came on in the eighth and promptly gave up three singles, a walk and two runs before being pulled with the Dodgers trailing 8-4.
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki gave up three runs on seven hits in 4-2/3 innings Sunday against the Rockies in Denver.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
He and Blake Treinen combined to face eight batters without getting an out.
“They both weren’t sharp,” said manager Dave Roberts, who had theories but not many answers — though he did have real concern, especially about Díaz, who recently had his right knee checked out by the medical staff.
Roberts said the closer wanted to pitch after nine days off, even though it wasn’t a save situation. But his velocity was slightly down (95.4 mph vs. 95.8) and so, “today was a tough evaluation,” the manager said.
“It really was,” Roberts said. “Because, you know, I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really.”
And losing for the second time to the Rockies, who are now 9-13? Being in danger of losing their four-game series, after arriving in Denver without having lost to a National League opponent, against a club that hasn’t made the postseason since 2018?
It’s well below the bar the Dodgers have set, and it added a bitter note to Ward’s otherwise sweet debut.
Ward punched a big league clock for the first time wearing No. 67 and cranked his first hit off Rockies starter Michael Lorenzen in the fourth inning, lining a changeup to right field for a single that scored Andy Pages, made it 3-0 and got the 20-some members of Ward’s party up, jumping in place, hugging and high-fiving.
“When I was on first base, I got to see them all jumping around up there,” Ward said. “That was a pretty special moment.”
He also singled in the sixth and swung on the first pitch in his first at-bat, a fly out in the third inning.
The Dodgers gave Sasaki a 2-0 lead in the third. Alex Freeland drove in Hyeseong Kim, and Shohei Ohtani doubled in Freeland — and extended his career-best on-base streak to 51 games, moving past Willie Keeler into third place in Dodgers history.
Sasaki went 4-2/3 innings, threw 78 pitches and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two. His ERA after his fourth start: 6.11, worst in the six-man rotation.
The Dodgers fell behind 6-5 in the seventh when Treinen — who was cleared Friday after he was struck in the head by a batted ball during batting practice — gave up four consecutive hits, including a two-run home run by Mickey Moniak.
The result likely will be a minor detail when Ward tells the story years from now about getting the call after first baseman Freddie Freeman was placed on the paternity list.
The Dodgers’ No. 19 prospect and reigning Pacific Coast League MVP spent the last seven years in the minors. Last season, he hit 36 home runs and drove in 122 runs with a .937 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for triple-A Oklahoma City, and he has a 1.020 OPS and four homers this year.
Ward made it a point to improve his chase rate, draw more walks and get on base more frequently, everything the Dodgers asked of him. He also passed the broadest patience test.
“The plate discipline, being a better hitter … he’s done all that,” Roberts said. “He’s improved his defense. But honestly, for me, just not to let his lack of opportunity in the big leagues deter him. That’s easy when you get frustrated and let it affect performance, and he hasn’t done that.”
If anything, Ward said, the waiting made him better.
“I used it to keep going. ‘OK, if I’m not there yet, what do I have to do to get there?’” he said. “‘What part of my game do I need to work on to keep getting better?’
“I used it as fire to keep working.”
That will be the Dodgers’ assignment too.
In the finale of the four-game series Monday, the Dodgers are expected to start left-hander Justin Wrobleski (2-0, 2.12) against Colorado left-hander Jose Quintana (0-1, 5.63).
Sports
ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd
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LAS VEGAS – Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.
While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.
The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”
Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.
WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME
Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)
Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”
Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.
“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”
Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.
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