NYP TV Sports this week surveyed top executives, announcers and agents to find out what the NFL broadcasting landscape could look like in 2006, when NBC takes over Sunday night football and ESPN becomes the new home of Monday night football.
There is potential for a tug-of-war between NBC and ESPN for Al Michaels and John Madden. Over the years, Michaels and ESPN have had a poor relationship, but Michaels is close with new Disney chairman Bob Iger. Iger is believed to be pushing for Michaels to stay at Super Bowl-less ESPN.
If Michaels left for NBC, Mike Breen would likely become the voice of the NBA Finals on ABC. If Michaels doesn’t go to NBC, Marv Albert could be next in line for Sunday night football.
Meanwhile, Madden could wind up on NBC, though most feel as if Fox Sports’ Cris Collinsworth is NBC’s top game analyst choice.
Even if Madden goes to NBC, Collinsworth could still wind up in NBC’s studio. Fox does have the right to match any deal Collinsworth receives.
Finally, Madden could join CBS in a three-man booth with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms.
If Collinsworth leaves Fox, the network will likely downsize to a two-man team with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Matt Millen, now the Lions president, could eventually be added. Meanwhile, the justretired Emmitt Smith has had at
least one conversation with NBC.
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Linda Cohn may not be on SportsCenter any more, according to sources. Cohn is in the midst of a contract negotiation and she wants to expand her horizons outside of Bristol. Play-by-play is a possibility. Cohn did not return
calls before deadline. ESPN declined comment.
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With WFAN’s Chris Carlin expected to stay on as Sid Rosenberg’s permanent replacement on Imus, the station is looking for a new overnight host. Some of the names on the short list are: Mike & the Mad Dog producer Marc Malusis, Tony Paige, Providence talk-show host Andy Gresh and 23-year-old Evan Roberts, who once hosted a show on the FAN when he was 13.
As for Rosenberg, he was fired from Imus after saying pop singer Kylie Minogue, who has cancer, “Won’t look so pretty when she is bald,” among other things. Strangely, though, Rosenberg has been allowed to keep his mid-day job for the time being – which probably means until his contract runs out. Why?
“Because what he said was on Imus’ show,” FAN GM Lee Davis said. “Sid has never said anything controversial on his mid-day show. It is two different shows.”
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Conflict of interest? ESPN’s new ombudsman is former Washington Post sports editor George Solomon. Solomon’s son, Aaron, is the producer of ESPN’s Around The Horn.
George Solomon could be handcuffed by not wanting to impede his son’s career.
“Don’t think I didn’t think of that,” George said.
Before accepting the job, George said, he first asked ESPN executives if they were sure they wanted someone as ombudsman whose son is an employee.
Next, he asked his son if he supported the set-up. Everyone said they were OK with it, George said.
When he writes about ATH, Solomon said, he will disclose that his son is the producer. George Solomon said he is working on the assumption that ESPN executives would never hold what he writes against his son.