Tag: Amazon Prime

Heroic NWSL announcer inserts dozens of Taylor Swift references into broadcast

Mike Watts may just be a tortured poet himself

Taylor Swift’s new album came out on Friday, which also happened to be the night the Orlando Pride hosted the San Diego Wave in NWSL play.

Mike Watts was not about to let that welcome coincidence go to waste.

The Prime Video announcer and unabashed Swiftie provided a hint of what was to come just hours after the surprise 2 a.m. release of “The Tortured Poets Department.”

“A new Taylor Swift album dropped and I’m calling an NWSL game on Prime Video tonight?” Watts posted Friday morning on X.

But that teaser did not do justice to what was to come later that evening at Inter&Co Stadium.

As the game unfolded, Watts heroically managed to insert no less than 15 song titles from Swift’s new album into his commentary.

Below are the TTPD tracks Watts put into the match, which featured fellow Swiftie (and actual friend of Swift) Alex Morgan.

1. “Fortnight”

3. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys”

4. “Down Bad”

5. “So Long, London”

9. “Guilty as Sin?”

10. “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”

15. “The Alchemy”

18. “Imgonnagetyouback”

19. “The Albatross”

21. “How Did It End?”

22. “So High School”

23. “I Hate It Here”

26. “The Prophecy”

29. “The Bolter”

31. “The Manuscript”

As impressive as Watts’ accomplishment was, it was light work compared to what he did only weeks earlier. Alongside analyst Devon Kerr, Watts managed to insert a truly mind-blowing 235 Swift song titles into a U.S. Open Cup broadcast.

Unfortunately for Morgan and the Wave, Friday’s game ended with a 1-0 defeat. They’ll have the chance to, ahem, shake it off next Saturday against Bay FC.

Watch Watts drop a Swift masterclass

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Richard Sherman doesn’t think Commanders will draft Drake Maye

Richard Sherman talks about why he believes Kingsbury was a terrific hire for the Commanders.

On Tuesday’s edition of “Undisputed” on Fox Sports 1, Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson and Skip Bayless discussed the Washington Commanders and their hiring of former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator.

Sherman loves the move. And he believes there is more to come.

“I think this is a great hire by them,” Sherman said. “I think Kliff Kingsbury, in my time in the National Football League playing against him, he’s really creative offensively in terms of the passing game and the concepts that they draw up. It’s not the common concepts that you’re used to seeing; it’s not the common quarterback reads that you’re used to seeing. It’s very intricate. I’ve had a couple of times where I’ve talked to him after the game and was like, ‘Bro, I’ve got a lot of respect for the concepts you’re drawing up. It’s some good stuff.'”

What’s the drawback with Kingsbury?

“The run game was pretty pedestrian,” Sherman said. “They didn’t do enough defensively, he didn’t have success, so I don’t know what he is as a head coach, but in terms of a play drawer, he can do it.”

Sherman then praised new head coach Dan Quinn, who was his defensive coordinator with the Seahawks in 2013 and 2014.

Sherman then went on to talk about presumed No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Bears potentially trading the pick — if they decide to stick with Justin Fields.

“So if I am (the Bears), I’m talking to the Commanders, and I’m telling them, ‘Hey, I could give him away to Denver or the Raiders or these teams if you guys don’t want to give me what I need to move up.’ I do think the Commanders are saying, ‘We are getting Kliff Kingsbury because we believe, or we want Caleb Williams in the fold. We believe we can get him. We believe we will have access to him.’ That’s why they’re getting Kliff Kingsbury. I don’t think they’re getting Kliff Kingsbury to draft Drake Maye, or anybody else, or Jayden Daniels, either. I think they’re getting him very specifically, and if they don’t get him, it will be a massive disappointment for this franchise.”

Sherman went on to say if he were the Bears, he’d make the trade with Washington, move down to No. 2, and select Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. because he still believes in Fields.

Amazon partners with Diamond Sports; OKC Thunder games could broadcast on Prime

Amazon partners with Diamond Sports; future OKC Thunder games could broadcast on Prime.

Diamond Sports announced on Wednesday that it will partner with Amazon in a restructuring agreement. This means future Oklahoma City Thunder games could be carried on Amazon Prime.

Diamond Sports — the owners of Bally Sports — is navigating through bankruptcy, which it filed for in March 2023. This agreement with Amazon will allow Diamond Sports to emerge from bankruptcy. The agreement is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court.

Under terms of the deal, Amazon will make a minor initial investment, reportedly $115 million. In return, it will get the chance to stream NBA games on its online platform. Amazon’s interest in Diamond Sports was previously reported last month.

“We are thrilled to have reached a comprehensive restructuring agreement that provides a detailed framework for a reorganization plan and substantial new financing that will enable Diamond to operate and thrive beyond 2024,” Diamond Sports CEO David Preschlack said in a statement. “We are grateful for the support from Amazon and a group of our largest creditors who clearly believe in the value-creating potential of this business. Diamond’s near-term focus will be on implementing the RSA and emerging from bankruptcy as a going concern for the benefit of our investors, our employees, our team, league and distribution partners, and the millions of fans who will continue to enjoy our broadcasts.”

In November, the NBA and Diamond Sports agreed to an extension that will allow the Thunder and 14 other teams to have the remainder of their 2023-24 season games carried on Bally Sports.

After that though, OKC will enter broadcast free agency this offseason. Amazon Prime — the $14.99 a month online platform — becomes another viable option. If future Thunder games are streamed there, it will be at a cost.

The Thunder also recently announced their eight remaining Friday regular-season games will air on local Griffin Media television affiliates. Bally Sports and the NBA allowed their teams to explore this option during this season.

The games will be carried on Griffin stations KSBI Channel 52 in Oklahoma City and News On 6 Now Channel 6.3 in Tulsa. The games will also be carried on COX (Channel 7 in OKC, Channel 53 in Tulsa), other cable outlets, and DirecTV and DISH in OKC (Channel 52).

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Ratings for Seahawks vs. Cowboys matchup set new streaming record

A lot of people got to see the Seahawks suit up in their throwbacks against the Cowboys last Thursday night.

A lot of people got to see the Seahawks suit up in their throwbacks against the Cowboys last Thursday night. So many that it set a new record.

According to Amazon Prime’s numbers, last weke’s TNF game between Seattle and Dallas averaged 15.26 million viewers and topped out at 17.76 million. That makes it the most-streamed game in NFL history.

The Seahawks lost 41-35 despite getting the best game of Geno Smith’s career. He threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another. The exceptional outing gave his QBR for the season a big boost. It’s now 56.3, which ranks No. 16 in the league.

While going 0-3 on fourth down in crunchtime was a devastating blow, they lost because the defense did not come close to holding up their end of the bargain. Dallas went off for 411 total yards on offense. For the year the Seahawks are now allowing over 350 yards per game and 24.2 points per game – ranking No. 25.

More Seahawks Wire stories

NFL Power Rankings: 49ers on top, Steelers and Chiefs down

Seahawks go defense with every pick in this 2024 NFL mock draft

Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is trending for all the wrong reasons

 

Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy will be a game time decision for matchup vs. Bengals

Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Kyle Van Noy will be a game time decision with a groin injury for the matchup against the Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens could be without pass rusher Kyle Van Noy, as the linebacker will be a game-time decision with a groin injury.

Van Noy (groin) was estimated as a limited participant in Monday’s practice, but he was downgraded to a non-participant on Tuesday.

In seven games, with one start, Van Noy has 13 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble.

Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey is listed as doubtful for Baltimore, while Ronnie Stanley and Trenton Simpson were ruled out.

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The 45 best movies streaming free on Amazon for Prime Video members (November 2023)

Check out these great movies available on Amazon Prime Video this month.

It’s finally November; time to save some room for turkey, break out the coats and enjoy the fall foliage before it all falls off the trees.

It’s also time to check out what the best movies are on Amazon Prime Video this month.

While there are plenty of great films on Prime, we’ve tried to find a nice cross section of genres and tastes so that there’s a little bit for everyone with this list.

Not a Prime member? You can sign up here, which will qualify you for watching all of these movies without having to pay individually for them.

But if you’re not a Prime member and are still looking for something good to watch, we can help with that too. Check out some of our other viewing recommendations:

Amazon may have accidentally leaked a full Steelers’ offensive play call on a hot mic

The Steelers won’t be happy about this leak on live TV.

Most NFL broadcasts nowadays have so many extra features and microphones on coaches and players that it’s hard to keep track. But sometimes, such equipment might reveal too much at a team’s expense. That’s precisely what might have happened as the Pittsburgh Steelers squared off with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

Late in the first half, while it’s faint, you can hear what appears to be Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada — curiously positioned on the sideline — reciting a full Steelers play. Suffice it to say, the microphone probably shouldn’t have picked that up and revealed part of the Steelers’ strategy. (If that’s what happened.)

Whoops?

For what it’s worth, Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett threw an incomplete pass to Allen Robinson on the subsequent play. So, at least this didn’t have much of an effect on live play (not that it necessarily would have). Though, I’m sure if the Steelers hear about this apparent snafu, they won’t be happy.

Steelers vs Titans: How to watch, listen and stream

Here’s everything you need so you don’t miss this week’s game.

Here is everything you need to know so you can watch, listen to, or stream this week’s Pittsburgh Steelers game. This week the Steelers take on the Tennessee Titans at home on Thursday Night Football and see if they can hold onto their slim playoff hopes.

Game info: Tennessee Titans (3-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3)

  • Game Day: Thursday, November 2, 2023
  • Game Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • Location: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Stadium: Acrisure Stadium
  • TV Channel: Amazon Prime
  • Weather: Temps in the 30s

Announcers:  Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit

Online: You can also tune in online with NFL+ and FuboTV (try it for free).

Radio: Westwood One and Steeler Nation Radio will have the game, as well as WDVE 102.5 FM & WBGG 970, AM local.

You can also follow the game with us @TheSteelersWire and of course here on Steelers Wire with our live updates during the game, along with highlights of all the key moments from this week’s game. Join us straight after the final whistle for more in-depth coverage, injury updates, and analysis of all the action.

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Sean McDermott on Bills offense: ‘That’s what I’m used to seeing’

Sean McDermott on #Bills offense: ‘That’s what I’m used to seeing’

The Buffalo Bills have been off to an inconsistent start to their 2023 campaign, one that’s seen highs and lows, to say the least.

They’ve netted five signature wins that have, with the exception of a low-scoring last-minute victory against the Giants, looked the part in terms of their offensive potential.

It’s also seen some ugly losses to the Jets, Jaguars, and Patriots.

The team was looking to bounce back from their recent loss in New England and the offense was looking to find consistency and rhythm.

And they did just that against the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football this week, as an up-tempo Bills offense won the day 24-18.

When he was asked about what point in the game he began to recognize what Tampa Bay’s defense was trying to do in terms of scheme and coverage, Buffalo QB Josh Allen was to the point. 

“I think pretty early,” Allen said during his postgame press conference. “I think our offensive line played extremely well tonight I think that they made their calls and we picked up a lot of the pressures that they were doing. So credit to our coaching staff for putting together a good game plan but ultimately the guys out there executed and I think we did a good job with that tonight so kudos to them and we need to give them their flowers too, I think I think they played really really well tonight.”

The Buffalo offense has at times looked on brand as the high-scoring Allen-led group they are expected to be following breakout success achieved in recent seasons.

Other times the group has struggled, leaving the media and fans alike scratching their heads as to why they have had difficulty with execution, and finding rhythm. Or why, at times since head coach Sean McDermott took charge of the team, that offensive unit has seemingly played down to the level of their opponents.

The head coach knows what his offensive group is capable of when they execute efficiently, and acknowledged that is what he saw in their game against Tampa Bay.

“That was what I’m used to seeing,” McDermott said to the press about the Bills offensive performance against on both Thursday night, noting that Allen “looked very comfortable. The offense looked very comfortable.”

“Probably the first time other than maybe in episodes of the Raiders game and then again [against] Miami, where it just looked like it was every play wasn’t an adventure.”

With the playoff picture poised to begin to take shape, the Bills still have the opportunities to win their division and to make the playoffs.

An opportunity that is not lost on their quarterback, who realizes the importance of each next matchup on the schedule in gaining ground and momentum toward the chance at a postseason stand.

“Everything that we want is still in front of us,” Allen added. “You don’t know you wish you were 8-0 at this point, you wish you were 7-1 you wish you were 6-2 and that’s the reality of is we’re 5-3, but we’re going to continue to take it one game at a time.”

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Stefon Diggs gave pre-game speech before Bills win: ‘That’s what leaders do’

Stefon Diggs gave pre-game speech before Bills win: ‘That’s what leaders do’

The Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home in Orchard Park on Thursday Night Football, 24-18.

The team has struggled to find consistency primarily on offense in recent weeks, though their defense also struggled to get stops as well in their game last Sunday against New England.

This time around, however, Buffalo looked better on offense during a nationally televised TNF matchup.

While WR1 Stefon Diggs is known for bringing his energy to every game, he imparted that energy to the fans and his teammates as well before the game.

His head coach noticed a different energy level with his team right out of the gate, in part thanks to Diggs who gave a passionate pregame speech in the locker room after pumping up the home crowd in the end zone after pregame warmups.

“Well, I mean, I could feel the team. They came out with an attitude and it started in the locker room, really.” McDermott said to the press of Buffalo’s early intensity level. “Stefon Diggs, there’s a little motivational couple of words he said to the team before we went out there. That’s what a leader does. He did a phenomenal job of basically setting the tone.”

Diggs would go on to add nine catches on the day for 70 yards.

In the victory over the Bucs, the Bills improved to 5-3 and gained some needed momentum, as their offense finally had some consistency that’s eluded them.

Buffalo scored on three of their four possessions and put up 17 points in the first half alone, a departure from recent games in which they struggled to score in the first several quarters.

After the game, QB Josh Allen joined former Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the TNF broadcast team where Fitz asked him about the change in pace of the offense.

“I love it, I love it. I don’t know if we’ll stay in it all season, but on a short week it worked for us,” Allen replied.

Allen went 31 for 40 (78%) with 324 yards, three total touchdowns and an interception in another historical outing in which he became the first player in the Super Bowl era with 17+ passing TDs & 5+ rushing TDs in his team’s first eight games, per Buffalo Bills PR, 

He averaged a career-best 2.27 seconds throwing, per Next Gen Stats, which was notably lower than his 3.15-second average in his last several outings.

“It helps us all, so it’s a really good deal,” center Mitch Morse said on Allen getting the ball out quickly. “But it also gets completions going, and when you get in the rhythm at quarterback, it really helps.”

While OC Ken Dorsey’s playcalling wasn’t completely without question, the offense was well spread out, with Khalil Shakir leading all receivers with a career-high 92 yards on six catches.

“We just came to this game with a different mindset,” the second-year pro said during his postgame media availability. “Obviously, ups and downs, but McDermott tells us don’t ride the roller coaster. Stay consistent as a team and stay on the gas pedal.”

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