Exclusive Interview Mike Carlson & Nat Coombs by Brian Davis April 19th 2011
Mike Carlson and Nat Coombs were a match made in broadcasting heaven as co-hosts of Five’s late night football shows from 2007-2010.
Now, sports television’s drollest duo have teamed up with comedian Dan Louw for new weekly podcast Americarnage.
Our own Brian Davis sat down with them to find out what it’s all about.
Brian Davis: It’s great to speak to you again and it’s also great to hear you back online and chatting on your new Americarnage podcast. For those who haven’t yet started downloading it from iTunes or all good available download sites, tell us a little about it…
Nat Coombs: It’s a weekly show – around 45 minutes – which we tape in studios in Camden. Me, Dan and Mike kick around all the top US sports stories from the past week for around 25 mins, including a “60 Second Round Up” for each one where we give you all the headlines you need to know. It’s very much in the style of the show on Five Mike and I used to do. It’s relaxed, loose, fun – but with some serious points made along the way. We go further into American culture too. We talk cities we’ve been to and give tips on what to do and see, we talk movies, music, wrestling, beer… and just generally mess about. Mike usually falls asleep at around 35 mins in. All of it is held together by Harry the producer who is the brains of the operation.
Brian Davis: And tell us a little about the third member of Americarnage, Dan…
Nat Coombs: Dan is a producer and comedian – and knows his US Sports backwards. Well, except baseball but we’re learning him good. If Carlson is a cross between Clint Eastwood and Conrad Dobler, Louw is Ben Stiller crossed with Reggie Wayne.
Brian Davis: Talking about US sports in general, can we get an NHL and NBA Champion from you with the playoffs now upon us?
Nat Coombs: The (mighty) Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Bulls. Not that I’m biased or anything!
Brian Davis: Nat, you’ve recently tinkered with the idea of inheriting the Anaheim Ducks as your NHL side on the podcast, tell us what you’ve learnt so far?
Nat Coombs: I think everyone who knows me is aware of my extensive knowledge of the NHL. Things I’ve learned recently? They play on ice. They fight. Detroit are pretty good. I have no idea why Mike Carlson didn’t become an NHL player either. It’s a perfect game for him.
Brian Davis: Nat, how have you found covering the MLB on the BBC so far and when can we hear you in the upcoming days/weeks?
Nat Coombs: Yeah that’s great fun. We’re live every Sunday from 6pm. It’s me and Josh Chetwynd, who many of your readers will remember from FIVE, throughout the whole season, up to and including the playoffs. I’ll be writing a blog for ESPN too. However if I plug my ESPN chat show Talk of the Terrace (Monday, 6.30PM ESPN) that will just be plug overkill, so I won’t.
Mike Carlson: Hes everywhere…he’s like a virus!
Brian Davis: What are your opinions on the lockout so far and when will we see a resolution?
Nat Coombs: In some ways it’s fascinating, in some ways dull. The idea of these powers locking horns – think about the kind of characters (most) of the owners are, the players too. Powerful egos everywhere. It’ll get sorted I’m sure but I bet you it goes to the wire.
Mike Carlson: It is crazy that a successful business in a deep recession would try to commit harakiri, but there has been a lingering sense among the owners that Tagliabue and Upshaw’s last deal sold them down the river. Unfortunately, many of the players thought so too, which shows you something, but it’s led to DeMaurice Smith needing a big win.
Brian Davis: Mike, how do you see the difference between this lockout and that of the 1980s, and how do you feel at this stage compared to the same stage then?
Mike Carlson: The big difference is that the owners, having lost two key lawsuits – the first on anti-trust regarding trademarks, and the second over their direct TV deal – they are not in a position of legal strength. Their only leverage is stopping the season and hoping the players need to be paid. How they thought they could get away with making a sweetheart TV deal designed to leave them in a good position to lock out their contractual partners (the players) is beyond me, but sadly, recognizing that weakness has led the players to reject what wasnt that bad a compromise at the end of the last bargaining session.
Brian Davis: How about your thoughts on the upcoming NFL Draft being before free agency?
Nat Coombs: I guess it will ensure safety first – no pun intended! – from most GMs but while loads of teams need a slinger, it will further impact the fact that there isn’t a clear franchise QB available in the same way Peyton Manning or more recently Matt Ryan were, so I’m not sure where Newton, Gabbert etc will go.
Mike Carlson: I keep going back and forth – draft for need and fill the gaps or expect you will fill your needs in free agency whenever and lean more toward best available. I envy teams who dont depend on free agency – or at least big ticket FAs – but it will be fun to see where the few available QBs go after the draft, and if Kolb remains a hot commodity.
Brian Davis: If you were the Panthers who would you take #1 overall?
Nat Coombs: I have a hunch they’ll go Gabbert or Newton despite the risks.
Mike Carlson: I think I take Dareus. But if they are sold on either Gabbert or Newton as a franchise QB – and you have to assume they arent sold on Clausen as one – they may well go QB.
Brian Davis: Obviously, the teams with new coaches are going to struggle, but which one of the early drafters is best set-up to turn it around despite the lock out?
Nat Coombs: I think the 49ers are very talented but obviously need to sort out the QB situation – though Troy Smith has potential in my honest opinion. But imagine Kolb in San Francisco, or even Carson Palmer…
Mike Carlson: Carolina has a pretty talented roster, a D lineman, receiver, and QB are what they need… Denver may find it tougher, especially if they are switching their defense, although oddly they may have been better suited for 4-3 anyway.
Brian Davis: Best prediction for when we get football back?
Nat Coombs: Jay Cutler will get booed.
Mike Carlson: I still think it would be crazy not to start the season on schedule.
Brian Davis: If / when the lockout ends, can we look forward to Channel 4 covering the NFL again?
Mike Carlson: That was the plan, as I understood it, before the lockout – they were happy with the result and looking at ways to make the show better. Whether the lockout impacts their planning, I cant say, but they cant hold the slot open forever.
Brian Davis: We regularly hear Charlie Sheen coming up on the podcasts, any plans to get him on the blower?
Nat Coombs: I am legally prohibited from answering questions involving Charlie Sheen and the word blower.
Mike Carlson: I think he’s got enough blowing going on without us.
Brian Davis: Mike, you’ve been covering the Arena League on Eurosport, for those who maybe don’t know too much about it, can you tell us what to expect if we tune in and can it give football fans the fix they need over the spring and summer months?
Mike Carlson: The AFL is fun, in a touch football kind of way, and all sorts of familiar faces pop up. It’s not quite as strong as it was a few years ago, but financially it may be more viable, and there are a few things, like mic-ing up the ref and seeing what he sees in the replay monitor, that make the TV shows very entertaining. The most fun is making up what the sidelines interviewers are saying, since we dont usually get their audio.
Brian Davis: I’m going to Las Vegas this weekend, any tips for dos and donts, places to eat, sights to see, hidden gems etc?
Nat Coombs: Stay up all night, catch a rubbish Rat Pack tribute show in a cheap casino, spend time in a SportsBook at a smart casino and check out Norma Jean’s bar if it’s still there. I did a stand up gig there back in ’05. Actually, it’s probably not there anymore as a result.
Mike Carlson: Watch lots of CSI and go to San Francisco instead.
Grab this week’s generous portion of Americarnage right here
Nat Coombs: It’s a weekly show – around 45 minutes – which we tape in studios in Camden. Me, Dan and Mike kick around all the top US sports stories from the past week for around 25 mins, including a “60 Second Round Up” for each one where we give you all the headlines you need to know. It’s very much in the style of the show on Five Mike and I used to do. It’s relaxed, loose, fun – but with some serious points made along the way. We go further into American culture too. We talk cities we’ve been to and give tips on what to do and see, we talk movies, music, wrestling, beer… and just generally mess about. Mike usually falls asleep at around 35 mins in. All of it is held together by Harry the producer who is the brains of the operation.
