Sports Media Update - June 19th...........

Being a Hall of Fame athlete certainly doesn't automatically translate to the same level of performance in another endeavor, especially the broadcast booth. Tony Gwynn has not set the world on fire with his broadcast analysis, but he did manage to handle a broadcast challenge with class worthy of a Hall of Fame style mention.

This past Saturday (June 13), Gwynn was again working as an analyst on the Padres local telecast on their interleague game against the Angels. There was a very close play at home plate with the result being that the runner was called out, was clearly upset at the umpire and went on to the dugout rather than risk ejection. Seconds later, the replay showed that the runner was safe and that the Padres were robbed of a run, and possibly of a bigger inning to follow.

Gwynn was calm and collected as he gave his thoughts on the play at the plate and how the runner appeared to have been safe. What makes this significant?

The base runner happened to be Tony Gwynn Jr., his son. I'm sure that no one would have questioned it had Gwynn Sr. been more vocal or sounded upset at seeing his own son losing out on what should have been a run scored and possibly changing the course of a game. But his remaining a complete professional, along with the other announcers going along without bringing up that they were talking with the player's father, was very impressive. I'm also surprised that this incident received such little media attention elsewhere.

NEW YORK: WFAN listeners get a chance to hear Joe Benigno reunited with Sid Rosenberg on Friday (6/19) when Sid guests with Joe (or so we are being told - given that Sid is currently without a fulltime local sports talk gig) during his 11 AM hour.

DALLAS: ESPN 103.3 Radio has had a busy week, with a lot of positives for its audience. Earlier the station announced a 4 year extension of their Dallas Mavericks contract which keeps the Mavs through the 2012-13 season. Related programming will include a weekly show with coach Rick Carlisle. Chuck Cooperstein and Brad Davis will continue to handle the call of every game.

The station also introduces a "Lunch With A Legend" series which begins next week, on Friday 6/26. Fans that come to a local restaurant for a 3-course lunch will be at a live broadcast of the Michael Irvin Show with special guest Nolan Ryan. Great idea - but it could be a challenge getting a bigger legend for future lunches.

Time will tell how this all impacts the ratings for the ESPN station. The May ratings again showed The Ticket with a significant lead over ESPN Radio, while The Fan is a distant third in men 25-54.

105.3 The Fan adds Texas A & M Football play-by-play, joining the Cowboys on KRLD-FM.

ALABAMA: It's the Crimson Tide version of "soothing the Savage beast". Not really, but former Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage has joined the University of Alabama football network as radio analyst beginning with the coming season. He joins play-by-play voice Eli Gold on the 50+ station network. Opening day is Sept. 5th in Atlanta's Georgia Dome against VA Tech.

TOLEDO: Sports radio WLQR expands its coverage area by adding the 106.5 FM WRWK signal beginning this coming Monday (6/22). The brilliant part of this is that the AM and FM will split up when there are play-by-play conflicts to provide full coverage choices, such as when the Tigers and Lions play at the same time.

The station will continue coverage of the Tigers, Lions, and Red Wings from Detroit, Ohio State football and basketball, along with some national feeds of baseball, NFL, and college football bowl games.

Finally, as the NFL season draws closer, Westwood One has begun unveiling its Sunday radio doubleheader broadcast schedule. In addition Westwood One will again feature all Sunday and Monday night games along with Thursday night games and all post-season contests.

Most of the broadcasts will be announced as the dates get closer, and are subject to local market blackout, but here are the early season games just announced:

SUNDAY NFL DOUBLEHEADER SCHEDULE

2009 REGULAR SEASON GAMES

9/13/09, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ CAROLINA PANTHERS - 12:30 PM ET

9/13/09, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS - 3:45 PM ET


9/20/09, HOUSTON TEXANS @ TENNESSEE TITANS - 12:30 PM ET

9/20/09, BALTIMORE RAVENS @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS - 3:45 PM ET


9/27/09, ATLANTA FALCONS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - 12:30 PM ET

PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS - 3:45 PM ET


10/4/09, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - 12:30 PM ET

10/4/09, DALLAS COWBOYS @ DENVER BRONCOS - 3:45 PM ET


10/11/09, MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS - 12:30 PM ET

10/11/09, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ DENVER BRONCOS - 3:45 PM ET


10/18/09, NEW YORK GIANTS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - 12:30 PM ET

10/18/09, ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - 3:30 PM ET


10/25/09, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

@ WEMBLEY STADIUM IN LONDON, ENGLAND - 12:30 PM ET