1. It seems sports fans are finally getting fed up with networks doing everything they can to cater to the fringe fan instead of the real fan.<\/p>\n
We saw it last week when there was massive backlash<\/a> to Netflix\u2019s awful presentation of the Yankees-Giants game that featured comedian Bert Kreischer, football player Jameis Winston and WWE wrestlers.<\/p>\n Now comes the news that Jason Kelce will be part of ESPN\u2019s coverage of the Masters next week.<\/p>\n News: Jason Kelce’s golf broadcasting debut at TGL earlier this month went so well that ESPN is sending him to Augusta National next week.<\/p>\n Kelce will serve as an on-course reporter during The Masters Par 3 Contest, conducting interviews with players and their families. pic.twitter.com\/2n7f1uQTZR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 David Rumsey (@_DavidRumsey) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n There is an important caveat here. Kelce is expected to work the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. It does not appear he will be part of the coverage once the actual tournament gets started on Thursday.<\/p>\n Even so, a large portion of golf fans don\u2019t want to see a former NFL center anywhere near the biggest major of the year.<\/p>\n Throw in the fact that Kelce is overexposed at the moment and you have the perfect storm for push back.<\/p>\n I feel like ESPN has no idea what to do with Kelce. Overpaid and just throwing shit against the wall. Get this dude on the board breaking down offensive line prospects, I\u2019d be far more interested in that than him at the Masters https:\/\/t.co\/GMQ4ZrPNPo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Why is this a thing?<\/p>\n Can we stop putting people on broadcasts of sports they have zero pulse on? https:\/\/t.co\/zfQTkGocPJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jaden Daly (@DalyDoseOfHoops) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Jason Kelce talking golf is like asking Bryson DeChambeau to talk NFL \u2026 makes absolutely 0 sense. https:\/\/t.co\/RmzDRjWNBm<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chris Phillips (@CPhilly19) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n We are a fallen people and we must be punished for our sins. https:\/\/t.co\/Zjuc9kKTEI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 John O’Connell (@jacko2323) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Nothing says \u201cThe Masters\u201d quite like this! https:\/\/t.co\/HXxWAclImI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sam Dekker (@dekker) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/t.co\/FaALZrEzBa<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RvmsegYQou<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Stuckey (@Stuckey2) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Nobody wants this. https:\/\/t.co\/yUxxtbVBWc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 DNP Sports (@notthefakeDNP) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Oh they\u2019re trying to ruin the masters too https:\/\/t.co\/Vag15RZw8j<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Krutches (@McDonaldsXBT) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Just what we all asked for. More Jason Kelce. Feels like I\u2019ve barely seen this guy since he retired. https:\/\/t.co\/aQ4ktjhgs3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sam McKee (@SamAMcKee) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Who thinks this is good??? pic.twitter.com\/cw4cYFsNV4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ron Mintz (@MintzGolf) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Why does espn feel the need to force Jason Kelce on to golf broadcasts? Isn’t there a former player that would be better at this?<\/p>\n \u2014 Dave (@sportsinfive) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Not Bert Kreischer but we\u2019re getting there folks. https:\/\/t.co\/9ybK52JrUS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Scotty Holdridge (@holdridge_scott) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Boycott the par 3 contest https:\/\/t.co\/lBxbPxgZiK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Fresh Prince of Flint (@PrinceOfFlint) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A few things on this: Again, Kelce will appear on ESPN for the Par 3 Contest, not the actual Masters, so this isn\u2019t the end of the world. But it does seem like sports fans are getting sick and tired of networks openly showing that they are not a priority anymore. The priority is to appeal to the social media crowd and generate stupid videos for TikTok and Instagram Reels.<\/p>\n Kelce will wear some wacky outfit, or maybe take his shirt off, and ESPN will post it all over the place. Mission accomplished. That\u2019s what this is about in addition to the fact that his future sister-in-law is Taylor Swift. There is a 0% chance that Jason Kelce would be anywhere near ESPN\u2019s Masters coverage if that wasn\u2019t the case. Remember when ESPN gave him a late-night show? Again, do you think that happens if he\u2019s not connected to one of the most popular people in the world with a rabid fan base?<\/p>\n While I fully understand everyone\u2019s frustration with networks being hell-bent on ruining events for real fans (just read this<\/a>), this trend is only going to get worse, not better. <\/p>\n The posts above say it all. Nobody wants this. But that doesn\u2019t matter. Getting a Swiftie to tune in or having a video of Kelce acting \u201ccrazy\u201d get views on social media is what matters.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0The UConn-Duke game being a blowout for about 75% of the time ended up hurting the viewership number for CBS on Sunday.<\/p>\n The game averaged just 13.4 million viewers. However, viewership did peak with 18.9 million for the conclusion.<\/p>\n The early window on Friday actually averaged more viewers than the UConn-Duke game.<\/p>\n Record-Setting NCAA Tournament Viewership Continues<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc0 Most-watched NCAA Tournament since 1993 with 10.3 million viewers<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc0 @UConnMBB<\/a> win vs. Duke peaked with nearly 19 million viewers pic.twitter.com\/w5FyqjeYH1<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 March Madness Men\u2019s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 3. If you\u2019re a baseball fan, you\u2019ve likely seen this blown call by umpire C.B. Bucknor on Tuesday.<\/p>\n What\u2019s stunning here isn\u2019t that Bucknor blew the call. It\u2019s that he wasn\u2019t even looking at first base to make the call.\u00a0 The Brewers\u2019 broadcast crew was great here on expressing their disbelief with what just happened.<\/p>\n CB Bucknor ruled that Jake Bauers did not touch 1st base on this play\u2026<\/p>\n The call was very quickly overturned. pic.twitter.com\/m2bLQsclCe<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Mets sideline reporter Steve Gelbs debuted a new segment Tuesday night in which he will review hot dogs from every road ballpark. Things did not get off to a great start in St. Louis, with Gelbs unable to hide his disgust with the gross glizzy.<\/p>\n It’s the debut of Let’s Be Frank with @SteveGelbs<\/a>!<\/p>\n Steve rates the Busch Stadium hot dog \ud83c\udf2d pic.twitter.com\/5Il0IH5lYi<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SNY (@SNYtv) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 5. I say this with all seriousness. I need someone, anyone, to explain to me how this is supposed to be a funny April Fool\u2019s joke. Please. I need to know.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get to work #FoxboroForever<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qYcX9gNlNy<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) April 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 6. We dropped two\u00a0SI Media With Jimmy Traina\u00a0podcasts for you last week.<\/p>\n NBC\u2019s Jason Benetti joined me to talk about becoming the voice of\u00a0Sunday Night Baseball, getting called into emergency duty on the NCAA tournament, an unusual entry on his Wikipedia page and much more.<\/p>\n In addition, SNY broadcasters Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling appeared on the podcast to talk about their popularity among Mets fans, the unfortunate circumstances of getting shut out of the playoffs, analytics on a broadcast and more. Plus, Hernandez talked about\u00a0Seinfeld.<\/p>\n 7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Bruce Springsteen opened his latest tour in Minneapolis on Tuesday night, so given the location, The Boss did a cover of Prince\u2019s \u201cPurple Rain.\u201d It was very good.<\/p>\n Be sure to\u00a0catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts<\/a>\u00a0and check out the\u00a0Sports Illustrated Media Podcast\u00a0hosted by Jimmy Traina on\u00a0Apple<\/a>,\u00a0Spotify<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Google<\/a>. You can also follow Jimmy on\u00a0X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n