LITTLE LEAGUE BLUNDER: USA Central Little League
Manager Tom Meyer "was upset" with ESPN after a highlights
package focused on an error made by his team's SS in the
last inning, and the player crying afterwards -- a play
which did not result in the winning run being scored.
Meyer: "They said they weren't going to do that. No one
feels worse than that kid. There's no reason to do that."
An anonymous ESPN official: "That was a terrible decision.
First, it embarrassed a 12-year-old kid and second, it
really wasn't the deciding play" (N.Y. POST, 8/25).
PERSONALITIES: Maple Leafs LW Nick Kypreos announced
his retirement from hockey, and was named a studio analyst
on CTV Sports Net's NHL broadcasts (TORONTO STAR, 8/25).
...Braves announcer Don Sutton, who has one year remaining
on his TBS contract, "may end up back in" L.A., as the
Dodgers "have been privately talking about adding Sutton to
their team of announcers." The Angels also "want him" (I.J.
Rosenberg, FASTBALL.COM, 8/24)....Former tennis player Kathy
Rinaldi will make her announcing debut as an analyst for USA
Network's U.S. Open coverage (USA Sports).
NOTES: USA Network ends its 17-year run of "Tuesday
Night Fights" following tonight's broadcast (Mult., 8/25).
...CBS TV network employees "are bracing for a wave of lay-
offs as the flagging network is set for a big round of cost-
cutting." Though some said that "the number of lay-offs has
yet to be determined," one estimate put the total at "as
many as 200" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/25)....In Miami, WFOR-TV
will carry four Dolphins games in Spanish (as well as
English) this season, beginning with Friday's exhibition
game against the Packers. The Spanish broadcasts will be
available to viewers with SAP capacity on their TVs (MIAMI
HERALD, 8/25)....ABC's "MNF" Online will relaunch on Sunday,
September 6, the NFL's opening day. The site, abcmnf.com,
will have pre- and post-game columns from "MNF" announcers
Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf and Boomer Esiason, as well as a
weekly column from sideline reporter Lesley Visser, and a
monthly "issues" column by Michaels (ESPN Internet).
