Category: INTERVIEWS

The Times They Are A Changing & Blue Jays Beat Writer Rob Longley #inthepressrow Tim & Sid, Jay & Dan both broken up as media landscape across Canada implodes
By TSM Deep and wide. The cuts by Bell Media this week were definitely that. Not just in sports media, but media, in general, contributed bigly to [...]

Blue Jays Signing Sparks The Toronto Debate, Again, The Dome An Environmental Disaster & SiriusXM Host Zig Fracassi #inthepressrow Just when we thought we all agreed that Toronto will continue to have to pay a premium to lure top name free agents the issue was raised, again.
By TSM Not sure if you read Doug Smith's stellar book or heard my interview with him but the issue of Toronto teams, especially the Blue Jays and Rap [...]

Doug Smith In The Pressrow On The Toronto Raptors, The Toronto Problem & Why Access Matters Long time Toronto Raptors Beat Reporter Doug Smith tells stories about his career covering the team, writing a book, and why it's so necessary for reporters to get back to games and in locker rooms.
By TSM Doug Smith has covered the Toronto Raptors from day one. He raised his hand when the Toronto Star was looking for someone to take on the role [...]

Radio Executive Don Kollins #inthepressrow The Ever Changing Role Of Media, Layoffs, Cuts & Dream Lineup Is streaming the death of terrestrial radio as we know it? Are team and player-controlled media hurting the game and where does sports media go from here?
By TSM Long-time media executive Don Kollins joins Jonah Sigel to discuss why all the job losses in media- especially sport media are counter-product [...]

NHL Superagent & Former NHLPA Exec Ian Pulver On The Corona Effect on Hockey & Current Negotiations Agent and former NHLPA attorney Ian Pulver on the effect of the Corona on hockey playing kids and what the current issues are that are being discussed between the NHL and the NHLPA
By TSM With the Corona shutting down almost everything around us in some way or another, it's worth noting that time itself doesn't stand still, and [...]

The Inside Scoop On A Potential New Toronto Blue Jays Stadium! Paul Godfrey #inthepressrow Why A New Rogers Center Won't Be Based At It's Current Location, Blue Jays moving to MLSE & the Beauty of The Athletic
By TSM Without question, Paul Godfrey has seen it all in his private and public life in Toronto. He is largely viewed as being the driving force behi [...]

End Of An Era, Mike Wilner Gone From Blue Jays Broadcast Team, New Stadium Talk & More Mike Wilner No Longer Part Of Jays Radio, Word Of A New Stadium & More
By TSM I couldn't believe that Scott Ferguson was not going to be the voice associated with pre-and post-Toronto Blue Jays games when he announced hi [...]

Seattle Kraken & Former Toronto Blue Jays Beat Writer Geoff Baker #inthepressrow Award-winning columnist Geoff Baker talks to Jonah Sigel about the meanness of the Toronto Sports Media and what it will be like covering the NHL Seattle Kraken in a market with only 1 experienced NHL media member (not him).
By TSM Lots to talk about - in addition to Mike's stellar article about covering the Raptors from afar. My take away from the article, given the dec [...]

The Current & Future State of Sports Media, Broadcasting & Live Sports TV With John Shannon #inthepressrow Sports Media Executive, John Shannon joins Jonah Sigel to talk about the gloomy live sports tv rating trends and what the future may hold and why.
By TSM Even prior to the pandemic, the drumbeats from critics were growing louder about the overall decline in tv audience ratings in professional sp [...]

Former NHL Exec & Current Rogers Sportsnet Analyst Brian Burke In The Pressrow With Jonah Sigel NHL Executive turned broadcaster Brian Burke talks with Jonah Sigel about his life and career in hockey, the lessons he's learned and his recently released book with Stephen Brunt, Burke's Law
By TSM Long-time NHL executive, Brian Burke has seen and done it all in a lengthy NHL career. Together with Stephen Brunt, Burke shares his life long [...]

ESPN’s Queen Host Linda Cohn #inthepressrow with Jonah Sigel Hall of Fame broadcaster and award-winning host Linda Cohn talks NHL Hockey, ESPN, Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes.
By TSM In a male-dominated industry, even with women making huge strides there are still women like Michelle Sturino telling their tales, and the fac [...]

Stanley Cup Winner, Broadcaster, Podcaster & Author Nick Kypreos#inthepressrow Stanley Cup-winning hockey player turned broadcaster turned author and podcaster joins Jonah Sigel In The Pressrow to talk about his life, his book, and more.
By TSM Several years back I was waiting for my son to finish a skating lesson in Toronto when I got a tap on my shoulder. "Are you the Toronto Sports [...]

Toronto Maple Leaf TV Voice Chris Cuthbert #inthepressrow The best active play by play hockey broadcaster, Chris Cuthbert joins Jonah Sigel in the pressrow.
By TSM Legendary Canadian Broadcaster Chris Cuthbert joins Jonah Sigel #inthepressrow to talk about this career, covering the NHL, MLB, Olympics, a [...]

TSN Reporter, Rick Westhead Joins Jonah Sigel #inthepresstrow by @bleavpodcasts & Sleepenvie News/Sports journalist talks about his career, his upcoming book and covering difficult stories in sports today
By TSM Rick Westhead has had an atypical career as a journalist. Many say they have done it all, when in fact he has. Rick worked in sports, covering [...]

A Review of the Shapiro/Atkins Body of Work & More With Andrew Stoeten Andrew Stoeten covers The Toronto Blue Jays for The Athletic, this is his take on all things Blue Jays.
By TSM We hear all the time of good stories where athletes come from nowhere to star in their sport at all levels, so why not add one from the othe [...]

Cabbie Richards Unplugged In The Pressrow on Kobe, Iron Mike, Jordan, The Raptors and More BR Betting Host and creator of Cabbie Presents and Cabbie on the Street shares his career story, tales of interviews with Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson, and why the Raptors have a chance to repeat! Type
By TSM Today you can see and hear him on B/R Betting the Bleacher Report show, but before that he was amongst one of the most popular and most recogn [...]

Dirk Hayhurst Unplugged: Minor League Extortion, Porn In Broadcast Booth & More Former major league baseball pitcher and broadcaster talks about life in the minor leagues and how broken the system is and how sexism transferred over to the broadcast booth too and much more.
By TSM New York Times best-selling author and former major league baseball player and broadcaster Dirk Hayhurst openly talks about the "un-glorifying [...]

The Dean Of Sports Radio, Tony Bruno In The Pressrow with Jonah Sigel by Bleav Legendary sports radio host Tony Bruno shares his best stories and reasons for success spanning over 50 years in the business.
By TSM In the world of Sports radio, there are hundreds of personalities who have earned the icon moniker. Being the first voice on the radio for ESP [...]

The Voice of The Toronto Blue Jays Jerry Howarth In The Pressrow With Jonah Sigel Jerry Howarth was in the booth for the Toronto Blue Jays for 36 years, hear his story on how he got there, his partnership with Tom Cheek, Joe Siddall, a voice that came to him in the booth and more
By TSM Jerry Howarth came to Toronto via Salt Lake City and Tacoma WA, a long way from California. Yet, Toronto for Jerry is home and we caught up wi [...]

Sportsnet’s Hockey Night In Canada & Hometown Hockey Host Ron MacLean In the Pressrow with Jonah Sigel Sportsnet's Hockey Night In Canada & Hometown Hockey Host Ron MacLean In the Pressrow with Jonah Sigel
By TSM I will have a regular post/podcast later this week. This interview stands alone and I wanted to bring it you while it was fresh.. From coast [...]