In Miami, Barry Jackson writes that ESPN's
"SportsCenter" has "been at the root" of a trend that
"sports could do without," which is anchors showing "neither
restraint nor the ability to edit their own work and
determine which jokes work and which fall flat." Jackson
writes that ESPN's Kenny Mayne and Stuart Scott are "the
primary offenders" and adds, "Hopefully, today's young
sportscasters realize they can distinguish themselves
without using a nightly stand-up act" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/11).
SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS ARE SHINING ON ME: In N.Y., Bob
Raissman points out that NBC NBA analyst Bill Walton "can
flash the funk, while at the same time, poke fun at
himself," making him "the most versatile analyst working on
TV" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/11)....Also in N.Y., Phil Mushnick
notes the state of sports-talk radio anchors and uses WFAN-
NY as a prime example of providing "smug hosts who bully and
belittle callers for no reason other than that it gives them
the opportunity to display their inflated sense of
importance" (N.Y. POST, 6/11)....Pat Summitt will serve as
an analyst for ESPN's '99 WNBA coverage (ESPN).
IT'S IN THE MAG: In Detroit, Becky Yerak profiles ESPN
Magazine. MI-based Sales Manager Rob Houghlin, on ad sales
in MI and northern OH for the book: "When you look at the
amount of money spent by GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler,
Detroit is a linchpin market" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/11).
