Monthly Archives: February 2013

Rob Parker re-emerges: Writes about RGIII comments for Shadow League site

Posted on by

Rob Parker is back. The now former ESPN personality has hooked up with a site called The Shadow League.

His first column carries this headline: “Allow me to reintroduce myself; I’ve learned lessons, but I’m still Rob Parker.”

Parker opens by addressing his First Take comments on Robert Griffin III, which is why he no longer is on First Take:

I was Robert Griffin III.

I am RG III.

That’s because I’ve faced questions, too—always will. I faced them when returning home from college. I faced them when I first went to an NABJ conference as a young, ambitious cub reporter. I faced them recently when trying to convince the editors of The Shadow League that I wasn’t too old-school to resonate with their readers.

We are black men. This is what we do. We challenge each other. It will never stop, nor should it.

Continuing on that theme:

In no way did I mean to do any harm to Griffin III, the Redskins’ starting quarterback. By all accounts, he’s a good guy and had a tremendous rookie season.

When brothers talk to and about each other, it’s usually not intended with ill will. And that certainly wasn’t the goal of ESPN’s First Take, a show I proudly worked on for six years. I say ‘proudly’ not because it was regular loot, but because the show honestly gave black men a real, strong voice on a national platform.

No wonder it connected with so many brothers who have had to put up with all-white, sports-talk radio stations in a town near you. Yep, we didn’t have a voice there, but had one on First Take.

That was my goal: bring that voice to the forefront; give it an audience, some airplay. Stop just agreeing with the other guys at the table because it is easier, safer.

Nope. Not me. Never will be me.

You can’t be afraid of dialogue, talking about things that some people just might not know about. That’s how we learn, get educated and grow. Muting differing voices is hardly what America was built on. You don’t have to agree.

And here’s his lesson learned and sign-off:

Through the years, I have remained pretty consistent with my approach: be honest and fair. The Shadow League is getting the hard-hitting, thorough me.

I’ve learned something from the Griffin III situation. I learned, even more, that when you talk about race you need to be especially careful. However, it hasn’t changed me. And, I definitely won’t be muzzled here at The Shadow League. Trust me, those guys from the neighborhood will know it’s still me, still Rob from Jamaica, Queens.

So basically, Parker learned the lesson of being careful what you say about race on national TV. He’s now a long way from ESPN.

 

 

Top executive confirms what we already knew: Fox Sports 1 is on the way; Regis Philbin to be part of it?

Posted on by

An official annoucement still hasn’t been made, but News Corp COO Chase Carey confirmed the new Fox Sports channel during a conference call yesterday with analysts.

From Deadline New York:

“I guess you could call it the world’s worst kept secret,” he said. CEO Rupert Murdoch wasn’t there to help. (He stopped appearing on the quarterly calls in mid-2011 when the company was barraged by questions about the UK hacking scandal.) Carey says that “sports is a huge arena that has room in it” for new services. “We can build businesses that capitalize on the other assets we own and we do think sports is an opportunity there.”

However, the surprising/weird development is that Regis Philbin might have a show on the new channel. John Ourand of Street & Smith’s Sports Business Daily reported:

Fox and Philbin have not agreed on a deal yet, but sources say talks are serious and an agreement could be close at hand. Fox declined to comment on the rumors, but sources say Philbin would serve as the main host of a show that would look like a sports version of “The View,” with Philbin serving in the Barbara Walters-role as the part-time host. Philbin is a known sports fan, and sources said the show would be a sports show, as opposed to a hybrid entertainment-and-sports show.

Why would Fox want to go with somebody who is 81? Perhaps it’s all about perspective. News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch also is 81.

Maybe in Murdoch’s eyes, 81 is the new 50. Let’s hope.

 

 

 

 

A broadcaster’s life: 64-year-old Coppock faces challenge of staying relevant in young person’s game

Posted on by

If you live in Chicago and New York, you don’t need an introduction to Chet Coppock, the one-of-a-kind sportscaster full of enough bombast and bravado to fill Soldier Field.

And if you don’t live in either of those towns, this story still is highly relevant. It provides a snapshot of a broadcast lifer facing the challenge of being 64 in a young person’s business. He hardly is alone as countless veterans try to stay afloat in the constantly changing market.

Coppock recently gave this advice to a young broadcaster: “I said make all the dough you can before the age of 50. After 50, all bets are off.”

At one point, Coppock was that young person, enjoying the good life at the top. He was the sports anchor for the NBC affiliate in Chicago; launched a highly-rated show that was the forerunner for sports talk radio; and then took his act to Broadway working as a host for Cablevision in New York. In between, he did commercials with athletes like Michael Jordan and Walter Payton.

“I made $275,000 per year when I worked for Ch. 5 (in the early ’80s),” Coppock said. “In New York, it was into the 5s and 6s (as in $500,000-600,000). I won’t see that kind of money from a single entity again.”

Coppock then joked, “I don’t blow as much money on fur coats as I used to.”

So what do you when the phone stops ringing? Retirement isn’t an option. Coppock says he still has the hunger to work.

In his view, the course of action was clear: Hustle his tail off.

“I have to accept that Ch. 7 (in Chicago) isn’t going to come and say, ‘We want you to replace Mark Giangreco,'” Coppock said. “I have to accept the opportunities in the past aren’t going to be there. The stations want younger guys. I understand that. Heck, I was 31 when I joined Ch. 5.”

So Coppock finds the opportunities where he can. He does video work for the Chicago Blackhawks and serves as the studio host for Notre Dame football on radio. Coppock wrote a book and is constantly on Twitter and Facebook in an effort “to keep my name out there.”

His big endeavor is something called Noozebox.com. Working with Mike Romano, it is a Chicago-based site that covers and comments on all things sports from high school hockey to the Super Bowl.

“We found our niche with high school hockey,” Coppock said. “I don’t think people realize how big it is in Chicago. It’s enormous. We put up a video with a kid, and we get 1,500 hits minimum. I’m very optimistic about where it’s going. I see it as part of the new age.”

In a previous age, Coppock was front and center in New York or the voice of sports radio in Chicago. As late as 2009, he had a presence working weekends for the ESPN Radio outlet in Chicago. Then he took an offer to work at a web-based sports talk station founded by sports radio personality Mike North. The enterprise blew up quickly when the Feds learned that the owner, David Hernandez, was using a Ponzi scheme to fund the station and other businesses.

“That hit me like a left hook,” Coppock said.

Suddenly out of a job, Coppock had trouble finding a landing spot on Chicago radio. As he would say, “Everyone’s dance card was full.” He admits it was painful.

“There was a great deal of anger,” Coppock said. “It became obvious I was no longer in big demand. I began to literally think, ‘I’ve been called the Godfather of sports radio. That should give me a license to work until the day I die.’ Well, it didn’t work that way.”

Eventually, Coppock said acceptance of his situation helped him change his outlook. It has helped him to forge on.

Yes, it’s been humbling for a man who never has been humble. But you do what you have to do, Coppock said, especially when retirement isn’t on the agenda.

“You can’t beat yourself up,” Coppock said. “I’m proud of my legacy. You should be comfortable in your own skin. I have no bitterness. Disappointment? Hell, yes. But this business has given me more fun than any one person should be allowed to have. I’m looking forward to having more.”

And then in typical Coppock overstatement, he said, “With that being said, I’ll probably jump out of the window tonight.”
 

Dickie V news: Will call Final Four for ESPN International; teams with Magic Johnson for Indiana-Michigan State

Posted on by

Still going strong at 73, BABBEEEE!!!!

Yesterday, it was announced that Dick Vitale will call the Final Four games for the first time. However, it won’t be for CBS. Rather, he will be heard on ESPN International, which will air the games to 150 countries and territories.

Somebody should inform the rest of the world it will get loud at the beginning of April.

Said Dickie V.:

“I am thrilled for this awesome opportunity to sit courtside for the NCAA Championship game,” said Vitale. “I learned from the great Jim Simpson years ago that the championship game is the most important moment in the athletic career to many of the kids who are playing in it. I will deliver the same enthusiasm, energy, excitement and respect as I do with every game I work. I can’t believe it. All my buddies in Italy are going to be able to hear me. I just hope they can understand what I’m saying. It’s going to be Awesome Baby, with a Capital A!”

*******

Then today, it was announced that Vitale and Mike Tirico will be joined by Magic Johnson for ESPN’s telecast of the Indiana-Michigan State game on Feb. 19. It turns out Vitale recruited Johnson when he was coach of the University of Detroit. If he had pulled off that coup, who knows how basketball and broadcast history might have been changed?

Said Vitale:

“I remember him as a kid so well. He was a basketball junkie, playing the game for hour after hour on the playgrounds. He became ‘Magic’ from his work ethic. I have always said if there was one player I wish I could’ve coached in my life it would be Earvin Magic Johnson. I am thrilled to be able to work with him and Mike Tirico. Although, I might have to remind him a few times that Indiana will be playing as well.”

 

Is Gus Johnson on World Cup same as Chris Berman on U.S. Open?

Posted on by

Really, I can’t think of a better comparison. Like Chris Berman at the U.S. Open, Gus Johnson would appear to be totally out of his element calling a sport to scores of passionate and discerning fans.

However, the big difference is that I don’t know of one golf fan who likes Berman on the U.S. Open. He is an assault on our golf senses. Yet ESPN keeps thrusting him on us every year. Why, ESPN, why?

As for Johnson (favorite clip above because I was at the game), there appears to be a segment of fans who are open to the idea of him becoming the American voice for soccer. Even Rob Stone, who is far more identified with calling soccer for Fox, took the high road. He had the following tweet:

@RobStoneONFOX Huge @FOXSoccer welcome to @gusjohnson . Another massive addition for our sport.

However, there are plenty of soccer fans who are aghast at the idea of the highly excitable Johnson intruding into the biggest games of soccer. Clearly, this move will be very polarizing as evidenced by the response from fans on Twitter.

Here’s a sample:

jlmears: Sorry soccer, even Gus Johnson won’t make you exciting. #hater

jocoolwu I love Gus Johnson doing NFL/NCAA. This is dumbest idea ever – Gus Johnson groomed as voice of World Cup by Fox

jakesundstrom America is doing its best to ruin the World Cup by making Gus Johnson call games

SmothersFC Gus Johnson is going to be great for the 2018 World Cup

jmh0628 Not a Gus Johnson guy but I give him a lot of respect for not only calling soccer games but playing to better learn it, as well.

DanielSquizzato Picturing Gus Johnson calling a World Cup game… “RONALDO DOWN THE SIDELINE CAN THEY CATCH HIM WOWWWW”

KoreAmBear Gus Johnson note to self: “don’t say point guard, don’t say point guard, don’t say point guard.”

stmorway If one thing could get into into watching soccer, this might be it.

brennanrees guess I’ll be returning to days of watching World Cup en Espanol.

THowwwwse Don’t get me wrong, Gus Johnson is a fine commentator but he does not belong in the booth for soccer

mBowen31 Gus Johnson commentating the 2018 world cup is nothing short of a disgrace to the game

Erik_Sweet not to be outdone, ESPN has put together the broadcast team of Colicky Baby and Spoon Caught In The Sink Disposal…

epltalk Really disappointed with FOX Soccer’s decision to make Gus Johnson the voice of its coverage. Feels like they jumped the shark

pourmecoffee You’re about to wet your pants over a 0-0 tie.

‏lmechegaray I am a Brit who has lived in NYC for 10 years now. And I support you 100%!! Can’t wait to hear you say…messi!!! Cold-blooded!

*****

And your views? Let me know.

 

 

Gus Johnson Fox’s main voice on World Cup? What’s next? Seth MacFarlane hosting the Oscars?

Posted on by

I don’t know about global warming, but I’m fairly sure our dear old planet just flew off the tracks into a different orbit.

The soccer world is in a tizzy over the news broke by SI.com’s Richard Deitsch that Johnson is being groomed to be Fox’s lead man for its coverage of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Fox announced that Johnson will get his first big spin when he does play-by-play for the Real Madrid-Manchester United game on Feb. 13.

It’s part of the training process that will gear up Johnson for 2018, although he hasn’t committed to doing the World Cup just yet.

“I don’t know,” said Johnson to SI.com. “That’s too big right now for me, too big to think about and  digest. I am interested in getting a little better every day. I want to learn  this game. I am humbled by this game and their fans, and I am a little  intimidated by the travel. I’ll be in multiple countries and I don’t speak a  second language so I am going to have to become comfortable being an  international traveler. But I am excited about it.”

According to the release sent out by Fox, this is the depth of Johnson’s soccer background:

He called over a dozen MLS games on radio, mostly those of the San Jose Earthquakes; he has played pick-up soccer games in a park near his Manhattan home; spent several weeks in Europe last season attending games and conversing at length with Sky Sports executives and world-class football play-by-play announcer Martin Tyler.

Wait a minute, playing pick-up soccer counts as a credential? The fact that I’ve coached Little League probably doesn’t make me qualified to call the World Series, if you know what I mean.

With such a slim soccer resume, it isn’t a surprise that the move is highly polarizing. I’m hardly an expert on soccer, so I’ll let others weigh in with their analysis.

Ty Duffy, The Big Lead:

There are a couple areas for concern, though. Pacing could be a problem. Soccer is unlike most American sports. It is fluid and subtle. It does not have the same intricate rules or stoppages. The announcer should be a more delicate presence. Gus can be great. He’s our first choice for the last minute of an NCAA tournament game. He’s anything but delicate. Gus’ critics argue he’s loud, brash and too heavy-handed for American football. Can he tone it down enough to let a soccer game breathe? This is a sport where Martin Tyler, a man who can reach catatonia during a live broadcast, is considered the gold standard.

Brian Phillips, Grantland:

Gus Johnson is a good commentator. He’s got five years (!) to learn his stuff, and a huge incentive to get it right (i.e., calling the world’s biggest sporting event to an audience split between total neophytes and fiercely critical diehards). He’s better than just about anyone at zooming in on pivotal moments in big games and giving fans the crazed vividness they deserve. And since we’re talking about Fox, and probably came closer than we even want to know to a Buck-Aikman tag team on Denmark–Ivory Coast, I’d say it’s fantastic that we’re getting an announcer who actually makes games more fun. I mean, how many commentators on earth are legitimately fun to listen to? Maybe 10? It’s not a list that scrolls, put it that way. One of the guys who’s on it is calling a World Cup. This is good news! Euphoric screaminess is coming our way! Be happy!

Matt Yoder, Awful Announcing:

But will he be ready February 13th for Man Utd vs Real Madrid? Will he be ready for this year’s Champions League Final on Fox network television? Will Johnson and Fox be willing to endure the criticism that comes with the growing pains both will face from a fan base who has shown little patience for similar moves in the past?  These are huge tests and Johnson better hit the ground running from the outset, or else Gus at World Cup 2018 could be nothing more than a brief fantasy.

 

 

 

 

Boomer defends going off on Lewis: ‘Somebody had to say something’

Posted on by

On his WFAN radio show, Boomer Esiason explained why he won’t be getting any Christmas cards from Ray Lewis, following his harsh comments Sunday on NFL Today.

From Sports Media Rantz:

The next morning, a caller had brought up Esiason’s being fired up about Lewis (to borrow a quote from Lewis himself) on WFAN/New York’s “Boomer & Carton” morning show.

“Marino’s not going to say anything, Bill Cowher’s not going to say anything, and I get it,” Esiason said. “I’m there in the end; somebody has to say something.”

And sure enough, Boomer lowered the boom.

“I said to Shannon, ‘I appreciate you asking him a direct question’… And I understand the difficulties that a former teammate might have in that situation. and I know why Shannon went there, because Shannon has a great friendship with Ray Lewis; they spent time together this week in Ray’s hotel room.” And it was during that time that the “deer antler spray” allegations emerged, but “that’s a whole ‘nother issue… We only have two minutes to discuss these things.

“These guys are coming back from injuries quicker than anybody in the history of sports.”

 

Posted in CBS

Is Dino Costa done at Mad Dog Radio? Suspended since last Thursday

Posted on by

Dino Costa has been off the air since last Thursday. The Mad Dog Radio host explained in a post on his site after he received the news last week.

He writes:

On the other end was program director, Steve Torre.

The purpose of the call?

To inform me that I was suspended indefinitely because I accepted some money from a fan in Las Vegas to go to his Super Bowl party in Las Vegas.

I agreed to do this for the sum of $3500.

—>Plus airfare.

—>Plus hotel.

—>Plus a car service to and from the airport.

Torre told me I ran a ‘contest’.

No, I did not.

This was spontaneous, this was off the cuff, this was, in the end, radio genius.

I need not anyone at SXM to agree with me on this – it was radio genius.

End of story.

Apparently, Mad Dog Radio didn’t think it was genius, and Costa is on the sidelines. He did a post last night saying he hopes to hear something today. He also tries to make nice to Mad Dog Radio and Chris Russo.

He writes:

One way or another I’ll be finding out if I still have a future at SiriusXM Radio.

I certainly hope so — because in all candor — it would be difficult for me to not acknowledge that SXM has become almost like a second home and a second family for me these past several years.

I believe I have stated on the air many times – and here on this forum as well – that to be a part of something that has grown, and to be an asset that has assisted in fueling the growth of the Mad Dog channel — is something that gives me a great deal of personal and professional satisfaction.

Later, he writes:

Not only has management championed my style and allowed me tremendous leeway for my show’s — but in addition — I have come to understand that Chris Russo himself, has also both defended me at times, and he has stepped forward on at least two occasions to insure that The Dino Costa Show remained at SXM, where otherwise perhaps my show would have been cancelled possibly.

While Chris and myself have battled at times, taken shots at one another, there can be no question I believe, that he has also been in my corner in a quiet – yet convincing – sort of a way.

We are two very different people with two very different philosophies on how to do a talk radio show — but at this point there can be no denying that Chris himself, incredibly, has been somewhat a fan of my work along with many of you.

Sure to be more to this story.

 

 

 

 

 

Will Phil Simms be analyst for CBS’ next Super Bowl in 2016?

Posted on by

During the lead-up to Sunday’s game, Lance Barrow, CBS’ coordinating producer, was asked when preparations began for this year’s Super Bowl?

“The day after our last Super Bowl (in 2010),” Barrow said.

So that means Monday was day 1 of CBS’ preparations for Super Bowl L (the big 5-0) in 2016, the next time it has the big game. While the question may not have been discussed yesterday, you can be sure it will be asked within the highest reaches of the network: Will CBS give Phil Simms another shot at the Super Bowl?

CBS is an extremely loyal place, and Simms has been a good ambassador and a capable soldier, serving as its lead NFL analyst since 1998. Sunday was Simms’ seventh Super Bowl; two were with NBC. Quite an impressive track record.

Unfortunately for Simms, Sunday was by far his worst. As I wrote in a post yesterday, I can’t recall another time when the lead analyst in a Super Bowl received such an avalanche of bad reviews. It wasn’t as if all the critics had a conference call and decided what to write. Rather, it was a spontaneous reaction to an analyst who seemed hesitant to speak out during key points of the game.

Regardless of what network officials might say, the negative reaction definitely was heard all the way up to the office of CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves.

CBS knows it was a bad performance by Simms. The one time you really don’t want to be bad is during a Super Bowl.

If CBS decides to stick with Simms for the 2016 Super Bowl, it creates a problem. His presence will revive all the harsh critiques from Sunday. It will become a storyline for that year’s coverage. Can Simms redeem himself after 2013’s clunker?

“That’s not the story they’ll want,” said a TV insider.

If not Simms, then who? Internally, CBS has two former ABC Monday Night Football analysts on its roster. Boomer Esiason is terrific as a radio analyst for Dial Global Sports. The network could shift him from the studio. Dan Fouts, a Hall of Famer, has received high praise for his work at CBS and on radio for Dial Global.

CBS also could go outside. Who knows? What if Peyton Manning plays two more years and retires at the end of the 2014 season? Boom, CBS swoops in and puts him in the No. 1 seat next to Nantz in time for the 2016 Super Bowl.

Here’s a thought: Don’t discount the possibility of CBS using a three-man booth, with Simms and another analyst for the 2016 game. In fact, I think it is a strong possibility. It would enable the network to transition to a new look in the booth and allow Simms, who will be 61 in 2016, to call one last Super Bowl.

A little history: That’s exactly what NBC did with Simms when he went from player to analyst in the 90s. He teamed with Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire on that network’s No. 1 crew.

Then again, CBS could decide to stick with Simms. Perhaps, the network will determine one bad game doesn’t define a career.

Remember what I said about loyalty.

CBS doesn’t have to decide Simms’ fate today or even for next year. But a decision will have to made at some point.