Time's list of the 100-best podcasts of all-time included some glaring omissions, especially in the world of sports. Edit via Liam McGuire
By Ben Axelrod on

Most lists that live on the internet are inherently subjective. Especially ones that are published in July.

Still, it was difficult to read Time Magazine‘s recent rundown of its top 100 podcasts of all-time and not notice some glaring omissions, particularly in the world of sports.

Sure, the list certainly seemed to skew left, which could very well explain the absence of Joe Rogan. But even if you take politics out of it — and especially if you take into account the vague criteria that allegedly favors “influence” — it’s not hard to see why the list left so many readers (and listeners) up in arms.

Sure, there was some sports representation byway of Bill Simmons, Pablo Torre, Men In Blazers, New Heights, 30 For 30 and The Tennis Podcast, some of which were certainly deserving. But considering how pervasive podcasting has become in the sports industry, it’s hard to imagine that it should have been limited to just six percent of the list.

For the sake of argument, we won’t include Rogan via his UFC affiliation as the Joe Rogan Experience shouldn’t qualify as sports. But even then, it was fairly easy to come up with a list of podcasts that should have been on the list, including the following:

Pardon My Take

Probably the most glaring omission on Time‘s list, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Pardon My Take is the most popular and/or successful sports podcast of the last decade. After first launching in 2016, the show effectively emerged as Barstool Sports’ flagship show and has consistently resided toward (or at) the top of the charts ever since, building a loyal audience thanks to its unique personalities, inside jokes and high profile guests.

As far as influence, ask yourself this: would Barstool Sports be in a position to help Fox Sports overhaul its daily programming lineup if not for the success of PMT? All things considered, it’s tough to take this list seriously without the presence of Pardon My Take, and co-host Dan “Big Cat” Katz appears to agree.

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

While it may have started as a radio show, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz truly found its footing in podcast form in the mid-2010s. So much so that it was quickly able to secure a $50 million deal from DraftKings upon its exit from the Worldwide Leader in 2021, providing further proof that there is, in fact, life in sports media outside of Bristol.

In many ways, Le Batard and Stugotz were spiritual precursors to PMT, with many having drawn comparisons between the Stugotz and PFTCommenter characters. But while the duo may no longer be on air together as frequently as they once were, there’s no questioning their legacy in the podcasting space.

Club Shay Shay

Considering his recent legal issues (which were recently resolved), it’s not a surprise that Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay wasn’t on this list. But if influence was truly one of the primary criteria, then a place for the Hall of Fame tight end’s show would have been justified.

After all, was there a more talked-about podcast episode in the last five years than Sharpe’s longform sit-down with comedian Katt Williams? There’s a reason why his Club Shay Shay was reportedly expected to land a $100 million deal prior to the sexual assault lawsuit. And as ugly as the allegations might have been, it would hardly be a surprise to see him still wind up with a sizable payday now that the matter has been resolved from a legal standpoint.

The Zach Lowe Show/The Lowe Post

Admittedly, some could argue that Zach Lowe’s podcast is too inside baseball (inside basketball?) for a list like this. But the fact that Lowe has spent the last decade-plus taking content that some might consider dorky and making it digestible for the average sports fan only speaks to his influence in the space.

After ESPN shockingly laid Lowe off last fall, there was a clear void in the NBA space. Fortunately, The Ringer served as the perfect landing spot for a show that regularly resides toward the top of the podcast charts, even during quieter periods of the NBA calendar.

Spittin’ Chiclets

It isn’t often that a single podcast becomes synonymous with the sport it covers. But that’s exactly what has happened with Spittin’ Chiclets, which is undoubtedly the preeminent podcast in the hockey space.

If you’re a fan of the NHL (or hockey at any level) odds are that you listen to the show. It’s effectively what Men In Blazers is to soccer, even if that’s where the similarities stop.

Also worthy of consideration:

  • The Right Time with Bomani Jones
  • Shutdown Fullcast
  • Bussin’ with the Boys
  • Sports Are Fun!
  • All the Smoke
  • The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny

About Ben Axelrod

Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.

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