Ranking the top ESPN personalities to promote ESPN Bet promo codes

From the boisterous Stephen A. Smith, all the way to the energetic Pat McAfee, ESPN has a bundle of potential personalities to promote ESPN Bet promo codes.

The other, "Do you believe in miracles," moment of our time is often overlooked. It does not deal with ice hockey, Lake Placid, NY, Team USA, or the mighty USSR Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team of the 1980s.

Al Michaels is still the star of the show, however.

The man who coined arguably the most iconic play-by-play call in sports history partakes in the other "miracle" occurrence when he calls NFL games. Legal online sports betting or not, only a miracle forces Michaels, while calling a game, to not subtly yet oh-so-obviously allude to the result of that game's betting line.

If only Al Michaels were an ESPN employee; part of my job here, today, would be much simpler.

ESPN Bet set to launch November 2023

For one, legal online sports bettors are set to be treated to one of the best sportsbook bonuses in quite some time. The highly anticipated ESPN Bet promo code is expected to be a doozy, and Newsweek will have it available the very minute it goes live. (Better yet, it'll be available in at least 16 states upon initial launch.)

Additionally, the idea of ESPN joining the ranks of this sports betting landscape suddenly legitimates this new world even further. Only a select few could have perfectly envisioned this world just a couple of decades ago (or even three to five years ago).

The bundle of resources and manpower at ESPN Bet's disposal is other-worldly, and the personalities with the opportunity to get in on the fun are many.

The question remains, however, "Which personalities will indeed get in on the ESPN Bet App fun, and how do they rank in terms of impact?"

Let's start with perhaps the most boisterous of ESPN personalities ...

1. Pat McAfee

The No. 1 individual on this list happens to be the most energetic. (So energetic, in fact, that he hardly uses his desk chair.)

Pat McAfee easily tops the list for a variety of reasons. Not only does his show it all the sweet spots regarding the most coveted demos, but he never shies away from online sports betting.

Having Barstool experience, as a former employee, McAfee partnered with FanDuel Sportsbook for a cool $120 million. Naturally, he's since ended that partnership, now that he's at ESPN.

But the sports betting opportunities with ESPN Bet loom large for ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show."

2. Stephen A. Smith

Speaking of boisterous, here comes Stephen A. Smith, the host of ESPN's "First Take."

Stephen A. doesn't exactly mention betting all too often, but he's also not defiantly opposed to the idea---as certain examples surfaced in recent history with him making "friendly" wagers.

If Smith bites, his face could be a major weapon for ESPN Bet.

3. Scott Van Pelt

The extremely steady Scott Van Pelt is the longstanding face of the company's flagship program, "SportsCenter."

How involved SVP becomes with the ESPN Bet app, in conjunction with his late-night and/or after-game special SportsCenter shows, remains to be seen.

4. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman

If Al Michaels couldn't exactly shout his sports betting information from the play-by-play mainstream rooftops, then Joe Buck is shouting from today's mainstream space environment.

The play-by-play man of "Monday Night Football" could certainly be expected to involve himself in the upcoming ESPN Bet sportsbook app. In what capacity, is the question?

Meanwhile, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current color commentator for ESPN, Troy Aikman, will most likely tag-team with his partner, Buck.

5. Shannon Sharpe

NFL bettors were still relying on shady back-alley bookies during the era in which Shannon Sharpe made his bones in the league. Yet, today, that's of course history.

Interestingly, one of Sharpe's early introductions to the mainstream came by way of a sports wager. He boldly bet his brother Sterling Sharpe, then-Green Bay Packers wide receiver, that he'd finish the season with more receptions.

In the end, big brother Sterling got the better of Shannon during that 1993 NFL season, as his 112 receptions bested little brother's 81 for a cool $20,000.

So yeah, there's a place for Shannon Sharpe at the ESPN Bet family table.

6. Adam Schefter

The most informational man in the National Football League---not to be confused with the "most interesting man in the world"---is an interesting ESPN Bet prospect.

Since Adam Schefter's entire being revolves around legitimacy and stature, I find it hard to believe that the top NFL source man gets too involved with the company's new sportsbook.

By no means would hopping in the pool hurt Schefter in any meaningful way, but he's the type of personality that I'd guess tries to keep somewhat of a distance.

Nevertheless, his stature would work wonders in the promotion of the sports wagering game.

7. Chris "Mad Dog" Russo

One of the better moves ESPN made in recent history is bringing Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo aboard. Sure, he's just a part-timer, but those shows with Stephen A. Smith are already the stuff of legend.

One of the two men who helped put New York City's WFAN on the map (Mike Francesa being the other half of "Mike and the Mad Dog"), Russo is a downright traditionalist. My inkling is that he's not a fan of today's legal online sports gambling world and that he wouldn't be enthusiastic about tagging along.

However, if he ever did, it would pay off in a big way for ESPN Bet.

8. Linda Cohn

Diehard New York Rangers fan and longtime ESPN employee, Linda Cohn, is yet another traditionalist. But there is absolutely a pathway for her to become involved over the long haul.

Consider her the dark horse on this list, potentially by way of oozing trust and security with the ESPN Bet app.

9. Mike Greenberg

Let's just say this with absolute certainty: If the New York Jets were to win Super Bowl 58 on the heels of a miraculous Aaron Rodgers comeback, Mike Greenberg would do just about anything.

Greenberg, the host of ESPN's top morning show, "Get Up,' makes perfect sense to get involved with ESPN Bet.

Final thoughts

To recap, nobody knows which personalities will be used to promote ESPN Bet and/or online sports betting, and to what extent that promotion will travel.

Before ESPN Bet and PENN Entertainment make such decisions, the willingness has to first be there.

Many in the sports media world would rather stay away from online sports betting---in spite of its newfound legal and mainstream status. Others want to avoid connections for completely different reasons.

No matter the eventual participants, one thing is certainly for sure: There's no limit to this vast pool of talent ESPN Bet has at its disposal, which absolutely puts the ready-to-bust-out sportsbook app ahead of the eight ball with its November 2023 ESPN Bet promo code.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.