Eric Shanks

Was Ohio State really complaining a lot? I do believe what Dave Portnoy said is correct.

And I do think that if you're Eric Shanks and Brad Zekering, you have very important jobs with a lot going on.

You're producing the World Series this month.

You have the NFL on the most watched window on every other Sunday afternoon, pregame shows, etc., etc., you do you really want to just constantly be dealing with calls from ohio state

That's why I espe- like, I think if Olsen, whose contract is up after this year, if he left Fox, Romo would be their number two analyst in a heartbeat next year.

I, I think that would be, to me, if you're Eric Shanks and Brad Zager, that's the no-brainer of no-brainers.

All right, let's move on from all of that, 'cause there's other stuff going on.

Um, well, let me, let's do this quickly, 'cause I think this'll be quick, at least for me.

But I had so many people, I guess because so mu- you know, as popular as Dave Portnoy is, he does have people who don't like him, and so many people are, like, calling me an asshole for believing Dave Portnoy's version of the story.

Here's why I'm 100%...

Now, do I know if it was Ryan Day specifically who picked up a phone and called Eric Shanks? No.

I, I'm taking it as the institution of Ohio State clearly complained to Fox.

Both Dave as not just talent, but as an executive and a leader of his organization.

You know, dealing with Eric Shanks and Brad Zager and Jordan Bajon who are, you know, amongst a my-myriad of executives and talented people that you interface with daily at Fox Sports.

I think it's been a, a shared respect for what both sides bring to the table.

I think the great examples on a, any given Saturday or, you know, like even at the Michigan game a couple weeks ago where you get both setups, you know, at a footprint.

Is he to blame for that? Is that a financial thing? Is that a ownership switching type of thing? Who's to blame?

Not sure, Eric.

And certainly as president of baseball operations, he can manage up and talk to ownership about what he needs.

Now, maybe prior to this, he didn't think he needed a bigger front office staff, and maybe now he's come to that realization, and it will be up to ownership to decide whether indeed he wants to make it bigger.

Stanton, that in the last few days has seemingly become more of a possibility.

It's very interesting to see how these rosters were formed.

No doubt about that, Eric.

Are some of these series good for baseball? And I know you work for Fox and AJ talks about Fox wants the big matchups too, but the fact that the Yankees and Red Sox have to battle it out in the American League East, and then they face each other in the first round, only one will advance.

[laughs]

Well, remember the Fox, the Fox CEO, I think Eric Shanks said this, uh, Fox Sports president, um, he said this, that the other reason they, they would want this, right, is they think it's gonna lead to better non-conference-

That's what, yeah

... matchups and big matchups-

And my boss...

Eric Shanks, who's still there and was a good friend of mine, pulled me aside and was really the only time he ever really talked to me about what I said publicly about anything.

And he said, stop saying that.

Stop saying that it comes with a lot of pressure.

But he's not really a production person.

Like, Eric Shanks is a real production person over at Fox, the CEO there.

I mean, I think Katara has a lot of opinions about it and gets involved, for sure.

But I think he just had gotten there, just to answer your question.

It was quite good.

I went with B. Stafford, Brad Zager's assistant, Maddie, and Eric Shanks' assistant, Nicole, which is how I always roll with three hot girls by my side.

Of course.

Yeah.

But the boss said, go ahead, go for it, have fun.

Eric Shanks was a good sport.

It was so good.

Yeah, remember we had a trivia question about what was, you know, Cletus.

But the boss said, go ahead, go for it, have fun.

Eric Shanks was a good sport.

It was so good.

Yeah, remember we had a trivia question about what was, you know, Cletus.