Comings & Goings

Although MLB fans won't feel the impact until the current lockout is resolved, MLB Network took a big step backwards with the reported termination of reporter Ken Rosenthal. While we will continue to be blessed with Rosenthal's in-depth reporting via Fox Sports and other sources, this move could ding the surrounding coverage which MLB Network provides.

It's not only the awful reason, which was reportedly because of Rosenthal's criticism of Commissioner Rob Manfred, although that adds to it. It is because Rosenthal will be tough to replace because of all of his sources and the number of important stories he has brought us over the past 12 years. His thorough coverage needs to be replaced. Obviously, this is far from a typical off-season, which now leaves us without any of their live shows during the weekdays. Let's hope that when MLB Network comes back with their studio coverage that it doesn't decline any further. Either way, it's hard to take getting rid of a significant contributor merely because of a properly expressed opinion.

This coming final weekend of the NFL season includes both Fox and CBS doing national doubleheaders. One oddity is that the primary doubleheader games on both networks are NFC matchups. With CBS losing out on the Raiders vs. Chargers game (selected by NBC for Sunday Night Football), CBS gets and features the Tampa Bay vs. Carolina game in the late slot. At the same time, Fox shows the 49ers vs. Rams game to most of the country. 

As the Cleveland Browns wrap up their disappointing season on Sunday against Cincinnati, radio analyst Doug Dieken will be doing his final broadcast. After 37 seasons in the role, the 72 year old Dieken is retiring. Dieken was drafted by the "original" Browns back in 1971 prior to playing in 203 consecutive games with the franchise.

NBA fans wanting to see the much anticipated matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets next week (Weds. Jan. 12) are going to have to stay up later than anticipated. It is understandable that ESPN is picking up this telecast of (as of press time) the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. However, since the Knicks are scheduled for the "early" spot (7:30 ET), ESPN is not going to give up a Knicks telecast. (This is even though the game is against the Dallas Mavericks.) As a result, the Chicago vs. Brooklyn telecast is scheduled for 10:05 PM ET. This means that the Bulls are forced to begin a weeknight home game at 9:05 PM. 

On the college side, James Laurinaitis is leaving his broadcasting roles with both WBLS 97.1 Columbus and the Big 10 Network. In this case, it is not a retirement. James is leaving to join Marcus Freeman's staff at Notre Dame. The two were teammates at Ohio State.

 

Fox Sports has entered in to horse racing. Starting in 2023 Fox will air The Belmont Stakes, giving it a share of the Triple Crown. This will be the first of a reported eight year deal.

PHOENIX: A bit of local history on Tuesday (Jan. 4) when Luis Arturo called play-by-play of the Coyotes game on a separate Spanish broadcast.