NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol said that while
firing Marv Albert was "at the top of my list as the saddest
and toughest thing I've ever had to do," he hopes that one
day Albert will get a chance to resume his broadcasting
career, according to Leonard Shapiro of the WASHINGTON POST.
Ebersol: "The most important thing is for him to get back
his life. I hope it happens on my watch, so I might be one
of the people to use him." Ebersol said the network stayed
with Albert when charges were first filed because, "I felt
like he deserved a chance in court." He added that the
decision to fire him was made "solely" by him and NBC
President Robert Wright, "although he indicated there was
some pressure from several advertisers." Ebersol: "None of
the sports organizations large or small ever uttered a
strong opinion one way or another" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/28).
Ebersol, on Albert: "He assured us of his innocence and that
there would be no plea bargain. He assured us since May
that there would be no surprises. We had a deal and it was
not lived up to." More Ebersol: "There's no double standard
here. Athletes are performers, but commentators are
interpreters. ... They have a special place" (Richard
Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 9/29). An NBC source said that the
net gave Albert "more than two hours" to resign, "but when
he didn't respond, they had no choice" but to fire him
(Neuman & Foerstel, N.Y. POST, 9/29).
PUBLIC OPINION: A N.Y. DAILY NEWS poll published Sunday
showed that 53% of those surveyed said NBC was right when it
fired Albert. But 72% of those who currently watch TV
sports said they would watch games in which Albert was the
sportscaster. The Blum & Weprin survey reached 505 New
Yorkers last Thursday night after Albert's plea. Regarding
NBC's decision, men were "more likely" to support the move
than women, as 57% of men said NBC was right to fire Albert,
compared with 49% of women. Asked if Albert would be able
to resume his sportscasting career, 38% said yes; 50% said
no and 13% were unsure (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/28).
REAX: ESPN's Dick Schaap: "One of the many bizarre
things about the fall of Marv Albert is that no one I know
in the business is gloating" ("SportsWeekly," ESPN, 9/28).
Albert was the lead topic on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters."
Mitch Albom: "I think we'll see him on television in
something. Not at the network level, not doing what he's
done before." Mike Lupica: "I think he has to go away for a
while. I think he has to admit wrongdoing and that he needs
help ... but I actually think he will work at the network
again." Bill Conlin: "I think he's cooked for the network,
but I do think we will see him locally in New York on
cable." More Lupica: "[T]his is what happens in real life
when you embarrass your company, when you lie to your
bosses, and you do commit some sort of crime." More Conlin:
"[T]here was a level of arrogance here that underlined the
whole Marv Albert thing" ("The Sports Reporters," 9/28). In
NEWSWEEK, Frank Deford writes Albert "is not just damaged
goods that can now be cleverly rehabilitated; he is Humpty
Dumpty." He adds that the voice of a sportscaster is "key,
and if the Voice conjures up images of 'threesomes' and
assault-and-battery plea bargains, it's not what fans -- or
sponsors -- want to hear" (NEWSWEEK, 10/6 issue). In
Chicago, Sam Smith wrote under the header, "Give Albert A
2nd Chance" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/28).
NOTES: The Basketball Hall of Fame "has no plans to
remove" Albert "from its list of inductees" (Peter May,
BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28)....In N.Y., Knicks radio broadcaster
Mike Breen "has been groomed to replace" Albert on MSG
Network and while MSG's Al Trautwig is a "possibility,"
Breen is the "clear favorite" (Phil Mushnick, N.Y. POST,
9/27)....Acclaim Entertainment has "decided to go ahead with
the release next month of a football video game" featuring
the voice of Albert. NEWSDAY's Harry Berkowitz wrote that
Acclaim "may emerge as the only company that does not end
its ties with Albert" (NEWSDAY, 9/27).
