Monthly Archives: October 2012

Acquiring EPL rights will be huge victory for NBC Sports Network

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It isn’t baseball, but it isn’t curling either. From Richard Sandomir of the New York Times:

Fox and ESPN jointly bid for the three-year contract starting in 2013 to show E.P.L. games, but they appear to have been outbid by the NBC Sports Group, which has been eager to find must-see sports shows for its recently rebranded NBC Sports Network.

Fox has broadcast the E.P.L. in the United States for nearly two decades, growing along with the world’s most popular league. ESPN broadcast about 80 of Fox’s E.P.L. games each year under license.

But NBC has bid about $85 million a year for the new E.P.L. rights, just under four times more than Fox currently pays for the rights, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. Greg Hughes, a spokesman for NBC Sports Group, declined to comment.

If NBCSN wins the E.P.L. rights, which will be announced in the coming days, it would boost their struggling lineup. NBCSN wildly exceeded all its past records during the London Summer Olympics, but it is without any N.H.L. games because of the ongoing lockout. Its other programming includes Major League Soccer, cycling, boxing, college sports, bull-riding, hunting and fishing, as well as a variety of studio shows.

Why the need for Fox/MLB to chase every last dollar? In-game Taco Bell promotion is off base

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It is the eighth inning with the Giants holding a 1-0 lead. Suspense is building with Angel Pagan on first with one out.

There he goes! Gerald Laird makes the throw. Safe!

A dramatic stolen base, to be sure, that ultimately gave San Francisco a key insurance run. And what was the initial reaction from Joe Buck and Tim McCarver?

Instead of instant analysis, a graphic flashed on the screen and Buck read a promo saying the stolen base meant Taco Bell now would be handing out free tacos next Tuesday.

Really in the eighth inning of a tight World Series game?

Buck gets paid a lot of money to do what he does, but I can’t imagine he was pleased having to read that promo during such a pivotal moment. Can you imagine Vin Scully being required to do the same thing?

I know there are bills to be paid, and the Taco Bell promotion is a seven-figure deal. But there also should be some sanctity during the concluding portion of what are the most important games of the year.

Why is it always necessary for the networks and league to chase every last dollar? I just wish somebody would say enough is enough when it comes to these in-game intrusions.

And no, I won’t be going to Taco Bell on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My First Job with Mike Tirico: How Larry King helped land him anchor job in Syracuse

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Mike Tirico is an immense talent. He didn’t need a fluke meeting with Larry King to help him land his first job.

Still, it never hurts to have a lucky break.

Earlier this week, while doing a Q/A with Tirico about his jammed schedule with ESPN, he told me a great story about his roots.

And I must share.

In the latest edition of My First Job, Tirico recalls how King unknowingly played a role in launching his professional career as a weekend sports anchor in Syracuse in 1987. Keep in mind, Tirico only was a junior at Syracuse University at the time.

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In 1987, Syracuse went to the Final Four. I worked the games at the same college station where Marv Albert, Bob Costas, Dave Stockton, Marty Glickman and Ted Koppel all worked.

Larry King was writing his USA Today column. You know, the dot-dot-dot thing. He writes, “The next time I need a sportscaster, I’m going to call Syracuse and tell them to send me the next one that’s ready.”

We saw that. So when we go to Washington to broadcast the Syracuse-Georgetown game, we ask if we can go see Larry King’s overnight radio show. It was a huge show back then.

The first hour, Larry has a Rutgers history professor talking about the Civil War. It couldn’t have been more boring. Then Larry does “Open Phone America” in the second hour. Larry is opening the mail, writing bills, and he’s on the air. We thought he was unbelievable.

Up to this point we’ve had no interaction with Larry except for a wave from the other side of the glass.

Larry then goes, “Would you like to know what it is like to be in college in 1987? Is it drugs? Sex? Books? We’ve got three college kids from Syracuse who are here, and they’ll be with us for the full hour.”

We’re like, “You’re kidding me.”

We did the whole hour at 2 a.m. One of our professors called in, and he made a big deal out of it. It was written up in the Syracuse newspaper.

At the time, I’m also interning at the CBS station in Syracuse. During that spring, they’re going through weekend sportscasters like they’re giving them away. They went through three in a 9-10 week stretch. Now they’re looking to hire somebody. And they make the great decision everyone makes at some point: Let’s hire somebody young and cheap. I was young and cheap.

Fast forward two months, and this weekend sports job opens up. The old veteran news anchor tells the GM of the station, “You should give Mike a shot. He’s good on the radio. And you read about him on Larry King.”

Larry King.

I got a six-week tryout as a junior in college. I was horrific the first weekend. I was Albert Brooks in Broadcast News with the flop sweat.

For some unknown reason, they gave me a second weekend. I got through that tryout and was there for 4 1/2 years before going to ESPN.

 

 

Stephen A. denies he said what people thought he said

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Here’s the exchange on First Take that is causing a commotion.

Here’s Stephen A. trying to clarify things on a post on Youtube.

People aren’t buying. The Big Lead’s Jason McIntyre wrote the word was “scrubbed out” in subsequent airings on the show.

“His non-apology denial is laughable,” McIntyre wrote.

In the comments section at Big Lead, somebody wrote, “I heard Knickerbocker, please.”

 

Does Ozzie Guillen still have a future in TV? Stock is down after Castro flap, dismal year

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Ozzie Guillen always seemed to have a future in TV. The Venezuelan version of Charles Barkley, Guillen landed a role with Fox Sports as a studio analyst for the 2010 World Series. He did well enough to earn a nod to sit at ESPN’s table for the 2011 Series.

But Guillen is nowhere to be found during this year’s World Series. And that might be the case for the 2013 season in regards to TV.

Guillen’s TV stock definitely has fallen in the wake of his regretful comments on Fidel Castro and then the disaster he oversaw with the Miami Marlins. There’s definitely not a positive vibe.

In the words of one TV insider: “My hunch is that Ozzie has to go to the penalty box for awhile.”

Guillen may not even be interested in a TV gig. Obviously, he is hoping somebody will offer him another managing job for 2013.

However, if the call never comes, TV might be Guillen’s best option to help rebuild some of the damage done during 2012. It would keep him visible and current with the game. The strategy seemed to work well with Terry Francona.

Will somebody give Guillen a chance? He’s outspoken, fun and knows baseball.

But Guillen is carrying some baggage now. The networks don’t like baggage.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Van Gundy talks about ripping ESPN on an ESPN conference call

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Jeff Van Gundy was on an ESPN conference call Wednesday to preview the NBA season. Naturally, though, he was asked about his comments earlier this week to USA Today’s Michael Hiestand. He claimed the league blocked ESPN from hiring his brother, Stan, for a studio job.

From the call:

Q. I realize you do have bosses on the phone, but how would you characterize ‑‑

Van Gundy:  You think?  (Laughing.)

Q. How would you characterize the feedback that you received from that piece, either internally at ESPN or within NBA circles?  And I ask that because it’s just rare that we see somebody talk about how truthful, really truthful broadcasters can be on the air.

Van Gundy:  Well, I think this:  As I pointed out in that article, ESPN has been really, really good to me, and even after things that I said that some of them may have agreed or disagreed with, they’ve never really tried to squash my opinions.  And yet I think you can probably understand, I wasn’t really looking for a reaction from the outside to either support or disagree.  I just said what I felt was my truth.  From ESPN it’s been fine.  I haven’t heard anything positive or negative.

But from an individual standpoint, I really ‑‑ I said what I said, and now I really want to move forward and not really go back and rehash my opinions.

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Earlier, Van Gundy was asked whether Stan still would venture into broadcasting this year?

Van Gundy:  I think he has some opportunities in radio, and then I think he may try to do some stuff, either college basketball or some work with an NBA team.  But I don’t think anything has been solidified.

But I think he’d like to dip his toe in the water and see if, one, he likes it, and two, if he finds it fulfilling, because I think when you do get fired, there is a grieving period you go through as a coach, and I think he’s trying to figure out what’s next.

Whatever he decides, he’s smart, he’s hard‑working, he’ll figure it out.

*******

Van Gundy continued to stand by his brother over what happened in Orlando. When asked the Magic future, he threw in a dig about management.

Van Gundy: As for me, I think they arguably have as good a team as they had last year going into the Playoffs when Howard was out.  And I think they competed hard in that series, and I think you’ll see Orlando play exceptionally hard.

 

 

 

 

Posted in NBA

Watch Tiger Woods’ last interview with CNBC for a while; different from Bartiromo than Rovell

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I’m pretty sure Tiger Woods won’t be popping up on CNBC any time soon. His recent appearance in an “exclusive” interview with Maria Bartiromo was awkward to say the least.

Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg always has liked having his client appear on CNBC. He viewed it as a great way for Woods to reach corporate America.

Last November, Steinberg arranged for CNBC’s Darren Rovell to interview Woods live in Florida. Now Woods gives put exclusive live interviews almost as much as he gives reporters his cell phone number. So clearly Steinberg had an agenda here.

Of course! They discussed Woods’ endorsement of Fuse Science, which has something to do with energy and performance. Note that Rovell said it was “an equity deal” in prefacing a question to Woods.

Rovell said, “This is an equity deal. Would you have done an endorsement deal like this two or three years ago?”

Woods merrily said yes.

Well, Rovell has moved on to ESPN. So when the former world No. 1 went for another Fuse hit on CNBC Tuesday, the interview duties were handled by Bartiromo.

The end result probably didn’t go as planned for the Woods camp. Bartiromo’s first question was, “What are your financial interests in the company?”

Woods danced around the question.

Bartiromo then asked again, “Do you have an ownership in the company, Tiger?”

Woods declined to answer even though Rovell noted in the November interview that he had an equity stake. To be fair, I’m not sure why Woods couldn’t admit he owns part of the company.

Later, Bartiromo tried to compare Lance Armstrong’s situation to Woods’, at least as far as endorsements are concerned. Totally different situation: Armstrong cheated in his sport; Woods cheated on his wife. Armstrong is finished as an athlete and an endorser; Woods still is performing and winning again and getting endorsements.

Woods took out his tap shoes again and danced around the Armstrong question as best he could. You could feel Steinberg cringing in the background. The last thing he wanted was for his client to be dragged into a discussion about Armstrong.

Then Bartiromo asked why Woods wasn’t winning more majors. Woods had to remind her that he won three times in 2012 and that he still has plenty of golf left in him at age 36.

All in all, probably CNBC’s last “exclusive” with Woods for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

The rise and fall of Eddie DeBartolo: New NFL Network documentary looks at former 49ers owner

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Check out the latest edition for A Football Life on Eddie DeBartolo (NFL Network, 8 p.m. ET). A fascinating look at an owner who had an incredible run. And then it all ended.

Here’s the link to the preview.

NFL Films senior producer Peter Frank talked about the documentary in an interview with Street & Smith’s Sports Business Daily:

Q: Was DeBartolo receptive to the idea of profiling him, or was he hesitant?
Frank: It was hard at first. He and his people were reluctant. I just gather that they’ve been approached by other people about doing his story, too. I think they knew us from his time as an owner and that certainly helped that there are actually people in this building here who know him and who know some of the other 49ers front office folks. We did tell them, “Listen, this is not a whitewash. We have to ask you about all aspects of your life, one of which is why you are no longer the owner of the 49ers.” They said that they were fine with that. There were no stipulations as to what we could or couldn’t ask and Mr. DeBartolo answered every question that we asked to him. He didn’t decline to answer anything.

Q: Was there any pushback from the NFL about profiling DeBartolo, who left as 49ers owner after a highly publicized corruption case involving former L.A. Gov. Edwin Edwards?
Frank: No. All the ideas that get submitted, somebody sees them somewhere and there was actually (no pushback). I did wonder about that at first too, given the way that Eddie D left the league. I didn’t know if there was any problem and apparently it turned out that there’s not. We haven’t had a single problem. [Frank said the league had no editorial input and did not require final approval before the broadcast aired].

 

 

 

New book: How much did dealing with ‘media nonsense’ impact La Russa decision to retire?

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I covered Tony La Russa during what had to be the low point in his career. In 1986, I took over as the White Sox beat writer for the Chicago Tribune.

That was the year Ken Harrelson assumed the role of general manager. Let’s just say it was a bad marriage. It resulted with La Russa being fired in June of that year.

Given what La Russa went on to accomplish in Oakland and St. Louis, there’s little question why Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf called it the one decision he regrets the most.

I had a good relationship with La Russa during that season with the Sox and several years thereafter when he was in Oakland. I always found him to be fair, interesting and accomodating. I do recall I have never seen a coach or manager suffer more after a defeat.

Yet through the years, I have heard some writers complain about dealing with La Russa. It appears the feeling was mutual.

In his new book, Tony La Russa: One Last Strike, has a couple of interesting passages about his relationship with the media. Co-written with Rick Hummel, the Hall of Fame baseball writer with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he says the media element of his job wore him down. It was a factor in his decision to retire after winning the title in 2011.

Here’s La Russa:

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The media evolved over the years to the point where second-guessing and a lot else besides recapping the games took over. I want to make it clear that I understand that media people have to make a living and that, like me and our players, they have to survive in a highly competitive environment. Still, just because I understand all that doesn’t mean that I enjoyed it. It was more like I tolerated it as part of the dues you pay to stay in the game.

One consequence of media proliferation was it seemed as if some members of the media were trying so hard to make a name for themselves that they began to compete with the very players they were interviewing for the attention of the public. Toward the end of my career, these competitive individuals were becoming more the rule than the exception, and as in most competitions, hostilities were a natural result. Being stuck in the middle between the players and the media when this occurred was a taxing and irritating part of my job.

Having to manage the media, though not my full-time job, took up a considerable amount of time and energy and also took some of the enjoyment out of managing.

********

(Later he wrote)

Now, I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush here, because looking back at the span of my career, I have known plenty of appreciative and respectful players, as well as media members who were responsible and loved the game. Call it the squeaky wheel syndrome, the bad apple or whatever; but human nature being what it is, you tend to remember the really good and the really bad, and the big middle becomes kind of blank….

When I added in all the rest–the media nonsense especially–I thought that if I wasn’t getting the same enjoyment even under the best of circumstances with this team, then it really was time to get out at the end of the year.

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“Media nonsense”? Yeah, don’t think La Russa misses dealing with the media.

 

 

 

No games, no worries: Strong sports TV night includes 30 for 30, Costas, Real Sports

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Considering there aren’t any games, it is a strong night for sports on TV.

As I wrote earlier, I highly recommend the latest 30 for 30, Benji (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET). Be sure to watch with your kids. There is much to be learned from this film.

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The latest Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO, 10 p.m. ET) features Frank Deford looking back at the life of Steve Sabol. Gumbel also interviews Michael Strahan.

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Costas Tonight (NBC Sports Network, 10 p.m. ET) returns with an interview with former Boston manager Bobby Valentine. While I long since have overdosed on Red Sox coverage, it still figures to be interesting to see Bob Costas chat with Bobby V.

Also on the show, Michelle Beadle will make her debut on Costas Tonight, joining Costas to discuss top trending social media topics; and former NHL star and current NBC Sports Group analyst Jeremy Roenick will discuss the NHL lockout, and his experience going through a similar thing in 2005 when he lost an estimated $8 million in salary.