Fox "wanted" ESPN's Bill Weber to join Darrell Waltrip,
Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond on its NASCAR announcing
team next year, but ESPN reportedly "won't let Weber out of
his contract," which has "at least" two years remaining,
according to Jerry Lindquist of the RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
(8/17). Meanwhile, Jeff Hammond, crew chief for Chad
Little's No. 97 Winston Cup Fords, has been hired as an
analyst on Fox Sports' pre-race programming for next season.
Hammond also has a role in Fox Sports' race coverage (Fox).
MORE NAMES & FACES: Heat TV and radio analyst Jack
Ramsay will leave the team to work exclusively for ESPN. He
will continue to tape his ESPN segments from a booth in Fort
Myers, FL, and will start with ESPN Radio at Christmas (MIAMI
HERALD, 8/17)....Redskins preseason play-by-play announcer
George Michael "fumbled" enough to be cut "on the spot"
during last week's exhibition telecast. Michael talked about
the "New York" Patriots' no-huddle offense and "didn't know
the score." He also mistook Adrian Murrell for Stephen Davis
and Deion Sanders for Darrell Green (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH,
8/17)....Bob Kurtz is leaving NESN and will be replaced by
Bob Rodgers (BOSTON HERALD, 8/17).
