Season 5 Episode 1- Tom Verducci, Dan Wolken

On the season premier of the fifth season of The Sports-Casters hosts Steve Bennett and Don Russ welcome Tom Verducci (Sports Illustrated) and Dan Wolken (USA Today). Starting the show with 3Things, Steve and Don talk about the NFL playoffs, the college football playoffs, and Canada finally winning gold at the World Junior Championship. The book club update starts to focus on "The Death of WCW," "Hockey Stories," and the new Al Michaels' book. Finally, the show ends with Pick4. -Tom Verducci is making his third appearance (0:44:25) on the podcast. Verducci joins us to talk about calling his first World Series for Fox, working in a three man booth, and replacing Tim McCarver. Verducci also explains why he chose Madison Bumgarner to be the SI Sportsman of the Year, puts Bumgarner's World Series accomplishments into historical context, and examines the future of Sports Illustrated. -Dan Wolken is making his seventh appearance (1:09:33) on the podcast. Wolken joins look back at the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, look ahead to the National Championship Game, and even spends a few minutes breaking down the other bowl games. Wolken also talks about Florida St.'s future, Ohio St.'s depth at quarterback, and makes his prediction for the championship game.