It’s been a big week of work and no training for me, but I have been monitoring all the good websites, podcasts, and social media to bring you some of the good stuff, a little bit late.
Strap yourself in, sports media consumers; there’s some good stuff here.
The Cheating Game
Journalists love breaking stories, and when a journalist is the story, it’s a big deal. That’s what happened this week when Channel 7 AFL reporter Mitch Cleary became the story.
The Herald Sun first ran the story on Monday about Cleary cheating on his partner with a Collingwood Magpies staff member in November 2025. To make matters worse, Cleary’s partner, Racing.com journalist Kate Watts, was pregnant at the time with the couple’s first child. Watts reportedly posted about the incident on Instagram, but the post was taken down soon after.
Cleary has since come out and admitted a kiss happened, called it a ‘terrible error in judgement,’ and said he is dealing with the consequences in private with family and those closest to him. Cleary added that he didn’t want to diminish what had happened, but most of what has been suggested about the circumstances is not accurate.
While this must be a difficult time for Cleary, Watts, and their family and friends, it also reminds us that journalists can find themselves in the spotlight when their private lives become the news.
Welcome to DAZN
Foxtel Media has rebranded, and it isn’t surprising since DAZN acquired it last year.
Now known as DAZN Media+, the rebrand was announced this week, with Variety Australia reporting that it marks the next phase of the business and represents the advertising interests of Foxtel, Foxtel Go, Kayo and Binge.
Another interesting takeaway from the DAZN Media+ announcement is that the company will invest even more in sports media content creators via Club Kayo. Mediaweek reported that content will be posted across Kayo and Fox Sports social channels on Fox League, Fox Cricket, and Fox Footy.
This is nothing new for Kayo; content creators such as John-Bernard Kairouz, Tiffany Krylov, and Denan Kemp have been used at times to interview athletes and fighters, or create some content. This seems to be the next evolution of that, and could bring through a crop of talented young sports creators. Makes me wonder why I wasted my time doing a degree (Actually, it wasn’t a waste of time, but that’s a story for another time).
Wrong Bet!
American sports media personality Bill Simmons has been in the news this past week after admitting he had his daughter’s boyfriend place proxy bets for him in Massachusetts.
For those who don’t know, proxy betting is when someone places a bet for you. It is illegal in Massachusetts. The New York Times reported that Simmons lives in California, where sports betting is illegal.
The Ringer founder admitted on Monday (Sunday for Americans) on his podcast, The Bill Simmons Show, that it was a real bonding experience for him and his daughter’s boyfriend, and that Simmons let him log in to his FanDuel account. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has said it is looking into the matter.
Simmons has since said he has learnt his lesson and will not do it again. This whole incident was strange. Considering Simmons is a long-time gambling aficionado, I find it hard to believe that he wouldn’t know that proxy betting is not allowed. But then again, sometimes we don’t know all of the rules, I guess.
I’m a Loser Baby
One man who took exception to Bill Simmons and the proxy betting story is author and journalist Jeff Pearlman.
Pearlman is a former ESPN and Sports Illustrated contributor and is a New York Times bestselling author, having written books about the 1986 New York Mets, Barry Bonds, the 1990 Dallas Cowboys and Tupac Shakur. He is an accomplished journalist and writer.
Megan Armstrong from Awful Announcing, one of The Coverage’s favourite websites, reported that Pearlman this week took to TikTok to call Simmons a tool and a fucking loser. Pearlman believes Simmons is a winner in the sense that he is successful and wealthy, but argues that The Ringer founder has done more to combine sports media and gambling than any other sports-media figure.
In the Wednesday Briefing, I wrote that Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy said his beef with Simmons is over; well, it looks like Pearlman has stepped up to fill the Portnoy void.
That brings the Better Late Than Never to a Close; have a great rest of your weekend.
Until next time, take care.
Merce
