MSG President Dave Checketts said that the company did
consult "with some sponsors, not all," regarding Albert's
return. Checketts: "We're comfortable with the decision
that we made, and we hope we get sponsorship support."
Checketts, on possibly alienating MSG's audience: "I don't
know how people feel about these things, but I'm not worried
about alienating an audience. I feel quite frankly that I
can't judge how much a person should pay for his mistakes.
... I think we're going to get tremendous support. I think
people are going to rally around. How long do we have to
hold someone out? How long do we have to hold someone up
and punish them? It's not our right" (MSG Network, 7/15).
PITCH OUT? NEWSDAY's James Bernstein writes that Albert
"should consider himself lucky" to be back on the air, but
experts say that he "is unlikely to find himself endorsing
any products." Burns Sports President Bob Williams: "[I]t's
remote that Marv will ever be able to move beyond New York.
New Yorkers have a tremendous loyalty to one of their own.
But there's a stronger negative reaction outside of New
York. It's going to be impossible for him to do [national]
endorsements." But FCB analyst Bob Dorfman said he "could
see Albert on a national stage again," as a spokesperson for
certain companies, "such as breweries" (NEWSDAY, 7/16).
