This Time, All At Once Is Fine

Sports fans are getting even closer to an extended period of having all of the major sports playing with multiple games at the same time as the NFL season is now within two weeks from its scheduled start.

Fox Sports is already, and understandably, aggressively promoting its Opening Day doubleheader game of Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans. This will mark the debut of Tom Brady with the Bucs, made even more special since there are no preseason telecasts leading up to it.

Once the NFL season starts, we will have a stretch of MLB games along with continued NBA and NHL Playoff games, making for perhaps the most significant period for content in sports TV history.

In addition, Fox Sports moved right away to replace Thom Brennaman from its NFL telecasts with the addition of Kevin Kugler to work with Chris Spielman. Kugler, who had been doing Sunday Night Football radio on Westwood One, has filled in on Fox NFL telecasts earlier, including calling a game in place of Brennaman during the 2018 season. No word yet from Westwood One on a Sunday night replacement as of press time.

ESPN appears to have completed its announcer switch between Monday Night Football and its college telecasts. Word is that Joe Tessitore, as expected, will team with Greg McElroy on selected college telecasts this season. Of course, ESPN is not in a position to officially announce their announcing assignment, since the schedules are still very much up in the air.

At CBS, Kyle Long, the just retired lineman and son of Howie Long, has joined CBS Sports starting immediately. Long's first assignment will be as an analyst on the "That Other Pregame Show" on CBS Sports Channel on Sunday mornings. Long comes with some radio experience, having done some co-hosting on Chicago's WMVP 1000 during last season.

NEW YORK: WEPN ESPN has extended host Dave Rothenberg for two more years. This comes as he celebrates his 10 year anniversary with the station. Rothenburg will continue as a co-host middays with Chris Canty and Rick DiPietro. However, the recent schedule change has this trio only on from 9 to 11 AM.


BUFFALO: Host Chris Brown has been suspended indefinitely as a co-host of One Bills Live, which airs on WGR and the local version of the MSG Network. If it's any consolation for Brown, it was not due to any comments about current social or political conditions on social media or on the air. The offense was Brown discussing specific events which happened at a team practice, which is against NFL policy. The station is going with guest hosts to fill in along with co-host Steve Tasker. As of press time, no word about the length of the suspension.

SAN LUIS OBISPO: C.J. Silas on The Ticket 1280 made news by not commenting on the current political climate this past Wednesday night (8/26). Her not commenting, however, made for a full hour of her show being almost totally silent, except for her announcing that the silence was in solidarity. This came shortly after the Bucks (and then other NBA teams) stopped the evening's playoff games from happening. 

DENVER: Darren McKee was removed from his long time hosting role last Monday (8/24) after tweeting the n-word on social media. McKee, known on the air as D-Mac, claimed he was typing Nuggets instead. As of press time, no word on a possible return date.