This week's debut of sports columnist John Czarnecki on
Fox Sports Net (FSN) as a correspondent from the NFL owners'
meetings in FL indicates that FSN is "starting to put real
journalists on the air as experts," according to Leonard
Shapiro of the WASHINGTON POST, who notes the practice has
been "used so successfully by ESPN over the past 10 years."
Shapiro notes that FSN is "trying to put a dent in ESPN's
large ratings advantage," and writes that "similar hires
wouldn't hurt the effort" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/31).
THEY COULDN'T REACH HIS GOALLLL!!! ESPN.com's Jamie
Trecker reported that Univision soccer announcer Andreas
Cantor ended his involvement Tuesday with the network,
"following negotiations that his agent, William Morris' Raul
Mateu, called 'fair.'" Morris: "They made a fair proposal,
but ultimately, Andreas was looking for opportunities above
and beyond what Univision could provide." Trecker:
"Univision thus loses its most visible announcer and its
lead soccer presence -- the question is, does the network
care?" (ESPN.com, 3/30). Cantor will "call Summer Olympic
soccer for NBC" (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 3/31).
DID FREEMAN HAVE FREEDOM ON ESPN BOOK? SI's John
Walters reviews Mike Freeman's new book "ESPN: The
Uncensored History" and writes that Freeman says that he was
"flatly rebuffed" when he asked for access to ESPN employees
while writing the book. But ESPN VP/Communications Chris
LaPlaca says ESPN "never prohibited individuals from talking
to Mike." Walters: "Forced to rely too heavily on ex-
employees, Freeman provides an unflattering portrayal, an
account more 'boo' than 'yah.' ESPN deserved to be treated
better. So did Freeman" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 4/3 issue).
