Men in Blazers
Presentation
Hosted byRoger Bennett and Michael Davies
GenreSports
Publication
Original release2014

Men in Blazers is a New York City-based television show, podcast, and digital brand, founded, operated and hosted by Roger Bennett and Michael Davies covering global soccer and its reception in the United States. The two met at a wedding reception in New York, which prevented them from being able to watch the 2006 World Cup Final. Bennett noticed Davies sulking at the bar and struck up a conversation.[1]

The show began as a podcast on the popular ESPN website Grantland.[2] In 2010, the hosts were signed to produce a weekly television show for NBCSN, focusing on the English Premier League. The show entered its sixth season in August 2019. Since the television show's inception, the brand has expanded to cover sports outside of soccer, including the NFL; NHL; golf's Open Championship, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup; and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

The podcast, which has expanded from weekly soccer recaps to also include regular interviews with athletes and cultural icons, remains a fixture on the iTunes charts.

In May 2018, Bennett and Davies released Encyclopedia Blazertannica: A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America's 'Sport of the Future' Since 1972, a book that hit the New York Times Bestseller list. It claims to be the first book in the history of publishing to have a tweed cover.[3]

Guests

The Men in Blazers television show and podcast have featured a wide range of celebrities, including:

Athletes
Megan Rapinoe, DeAndre Hopkins, Alexander Ovechkin, Wayne Rooney, Alex Morgan, Andrew Luck, Carmelo Anthony, Lewis Hamilton, Rory McIlroy, Steve Kerr, Daryl Dike

Musicians
Killer Mike, Diplo, Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, Noel Gallagher, Haim[4]

Actors
Laura Linney,[5] Will Ferrell,[6] Dominic West,[7] Diego Luna,[8] Mike Myers,[9] John Lithgow,[10] Anupam Kher,[11] Rob McElhenney[12]

Cultural
Barry Hearn[13] John Oliver,[14] James Corden,[15] David Simon,[16] Guy Ritchie,[17] Seth Meyers,[18] Hasan Minhaj,[19] Peter Moore[20]

Live tours

The duo have travelled the nation from coast to coast, playing sold-out summer live tours which have given them the ability to bring together thousands of American soccer fans to celebrate the World Cup, Women's World Cup, and Euros, along with guests who include Billy Beane, Waka Flocka, and Taylor Lewan.

The Annual Golden Blazer Award Show

In the Encyclopedia Blazertannica, the Men in Blazers also explain that they give out a golden blazer once a year to someone they credit with helping grow soccer, especially in America. So far, the recipients are:

In 2019, Men in Blazers launched an American Premier League Player of the Year Award, given to America's favorite Premier League player. The award's inaugural recipient was Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk.

References

  1. Mahler, Jonathan (2014-06-25). "At World Cup, Two Unknowns Are Surprise Stars". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  2. "From Podcast To Broadcast: Men In Blazers Gets The ESPN Bump". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  3. "Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica: A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America's "Sport of the Future" Since 1972 (Hardcover) | Politics and Prose Bookstore". www.politics-prose.com. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  4. "Men In Blazers 04/15/14: Passover Special With HAIM" via soundcloud.com.
  5. "Laura Linney". Men in Blazers.
  6. "Will Ferrell". Men in Blazers.
  7. "Dominic west is a man who loves his pies tonight…". Men in Blazers.
  8. "The Men in Blazers Show with Diego Luna". Men in Blazers.
  9. "The Men in Blazers Show: Mike Myers". Men in Blazers.
  10. "The Men in Blazers Show with John Lithgow". Men in Blazers.
  11. "The Men in Blazers Show with Anupam Kher". Men in Blazers.
  12. "Men in Blazers "Wrexham in the USA" with Rob McElhenney, Powered by SToK". Wondery.
  13. "Barry Hearn". Men in Blazers.
  14. "The Men in Blazers Show and Podcast with John Oliver". Men in Blazers.
  15. "The Men in Blazers Show Season Premiere With James Corden". Men in Blazers.
  16. "Men in Blazers 09/07/17: David Simon Pod Special". Men in Blazers.
  17. "The Men in Blazers Show with Guy Ritchie". Men in Blazers.
  18. "Seth Meyers". Men in Blazers.
  19. "The Men in Blazers Show with Hasan Minhaj". Men in Blazers.
  20. "The Men in Blazers Show with Liverpool CEO Peter Moore". Men in Blazers.
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