Episode 4: Linda Cohn Opens Up About ESPN, SportsCenter & Why She Believes She Deserved More Opportunities | A Must-Win Game from A Must Win Game with Maggie Gray

A Must Win Game with Maggie Gray

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Episode 4: Linda Cohn Opens Up About ESPN, SportsCenter & Why She Believes She Deserved More Opportunities | A Must-Win Game

54 minutes Posted Jul 1, 2026 at 7:15 am.

Welcome, Perloff likes the intro music

LeBron James will not resign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Why he's not an all time Laker.

Perloff thinks LeBron James is damaging his legacy if he joins Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.

Maggie thinks FIFA is getting credit for how amazing the World Cup has been, but they are one of the most corrupt organizations in sports.

Perloff is intrigued by Ja Morant joining the Portland Trailblazers. Can Ja Morant redeem his career? Will it work with Damien Lillard and Scoot Henderson? Will this be the JailBlazers all over again?

Phil Mickelson is ruining his legacy. In a recent article by Alan Shipnuck, Phil Mickelson's boorish behavior is revealed and the details are alarming. While their scandals are different, Phil Mickelson is started to resemble Tiger Woods and how Tiger Woods has had multiple negative scandals over the years.

We're saddened by the news that Chris Johnson revealed he has been diagnosed with ALS. Maggie tells a story about the time Chris Johnson came to visit Sports Illustrated and brought fellow running back LenDale White with him unexpectedly.

Perloff thinks the National Basketball Association is the most ripe for gambling scandals after Malik Beasley was arrested.

Perloff is dressing up like a Revolutionary War general for the 250th anniversary of the United States winning independence. This is how he celebrated the fourth of July in Philadelphia.

Linda Cohn just retired from ESPN and Sportscenter and she joins the show!

Fighting for every opportunity that came her way.

Linda's evolution from not wanting to mess up, to finding her voice and confidence as a sports broadcaster on SportsCenter.

Linda is starting her own YouTube Channel and the hot takes are going to be on full display

The pressure at SportsCenter to come up with a catchphrase. One of Linda's was "for the love of elevation"

Specific SportsCenter episodes that she will always remember, including the day that Muhammad Ali died.

Buying her own tickets to sporting events, and making her life about moments and memories more than material things.

The celebrities who reached out to her after her announcement that she was retiring from ESPN included Lil Wayne and Charles Barkley.

Linda questions the strategy from her favorite team, The New York Rangers. Especially the recent signing of Pavel Dorofeyev. Also the pressure is on the New York Rangers now that the New York Knicks have broken their long championship drought.

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Show notes

One of the most accomplished broadcasters in sports television joins A Must-Win Game this week.

Award-winning broadcaster Linda Cohn sits down to discuss her remarkable 34-year career at ESPN, where she became the longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor in network history, hosting more than 5,600 episodes of the iconic show. Linda opens up about the highs, the challenges, and the lessons learned during one of the most influential careers in sports media.

Among the topics discussed:

Why Linda believes she "should have gotten more opportunities" during her ESPN career.

The pressure ESPN personalities faced to create a memorable signature catchphrase—and how "For the love of elevation!" became one of hers.

The emotional decision to retire from ESPN after 34 years.

The surprising celebrities who reached out after her retirement announcement, including Lil Wayne and Charles Barkley.

Behind-the-scenes stories from SportsCenter.

The evolution of sports media over the past three decades.

Advice for the next generation of sports broadcasters.

Her exciting new YouTube channel and podcast launching in late July.

Then, former Maggie and Perloff co-host Andrew Perloff joins the show for another edition of Stock Up / Stock Down, where we break down the biggest stories in sports, including:

📈 LeBron James' legacy after announcing his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers.

📈 FIFA, the World Cup, and the fascinating contradiction between football's most beloved tournament and one of sports' most controversial governing bodies.

📉 Phil Mickelson and the latest controversy surrounding one of golf's greatest champions—and what it could mean for his legacy.

📈 The biggest winners and losers across the sports world this week.

Whether you're passionate about the NBA, NFL, golf, soccer, sports media, or the biggest conversations shaping today's sports landscape, Episode 4 delivers insightful interviews, thoughtful analysis, and engaging debate.

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← See all 16 episodes of A Must Win Game with Maggie Gray