Ocean State Sidelines Podcast: Welcome NBC Sports President/Providence College alum Rick Cordella

We’re back with a fresh episode of the Ocean State Sidelines podcast. We welcome Rick Cordella, president of NBC Sports and three-year member of Providence College’s men’s basketball program. Cordella talks about his rise in the sports broadcasting industry and what were some of the factors that led to NBC getting involved in the Big East’s television rights package. The Foxboro native also reflects on his time with the Friars, specifically with the memorable ’97 team that reached that year’s Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

 

As always, we’re sponsored by GLG Athletic Performance.

 

PODCAST BREAKDOWN (19 minutes, 8 seconds)

 

1:39 – Some of the factors that led to NBC wanting to hitch its wagon to Big East basketball

 

3:39 – For networks like NBC, why sports programming holds great appeal.

 

5:08 – Why making games available on streaming services is the wave of the future.

 

7:00 – Looking at Rick’s journey in sports broadcasting.

 

11:21 – Looking at NBC’s acquisition of Rotoworld in 2006.

 

12:23 – Reflecting on the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and why that represented a breakthrough in relation to working for NBC.

 

13:38 – Going back to the Big East and getting John Fanta as one of your PxP options for broadcasts.

 

14:27 – Lessons that Rick learned as a walk-on with the Friars and how they carried over with NBC.

 

16:07 – Favorite story regarding former Providence head coach Pete Gillen.

 

17:00 – Rise of Friar assistant Michael Malone to head coach of an NBA champion.

 

17:40 – Friar practices featuring four future NBA players (Austin Croshere, God Shammgod, Jamel Thomas and Ruben Garces) and coming together at the right time in 1997.