People & Personalities: Sid Rosenberg Out At WFAN

On Long Island, Steve Zipay cites two sources as saying that WFAN-AM host Sid Rosenberg “was forced to resign yesterday after failing to appear to host the station’s Giants pregame show” on Sunday. Rosenberg told listeners on Friday that he was “going to an event in Atlantic City during the weekend.” Because Rosenberg “had been warned about his erratic behavior in the past, he was told to resign or be fired.” Rosenberg’s contract with the station ran through next year, and he had returned to the station in April “after spending a month in rehabilitation” for substance abuse (NEWSDAY, 9/13). Rosenberg’s appearance in Atlantic City was for FHM magazine, which he said has hired him to write a sports column (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/13).

OL’ LANGE SIGNS: In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik reports Penguins play-by-play announcer Mike Lange, who has been with the team since ’74, agreed to a one-year extension with FSN Pittsburgh, with the net holding an option for a second year. But Lange “left little doubt that the financial terms were not altogether to his liking.” Lange: “It was rocky. It’s negotiations. It’s business. The scene has changed, no question about it. You have to accept it or move on.” Lange admitted that he “looked around while negotiations sputtered” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/13).

BROWN OUT: In Orlando, Tim Povtak reported ESPN’s Dee Brown had “verbally accepted” a job as the Magic’s radio analyst, but his “current ESPN contract would not permit him to do both jobs.” ESPN picked up the second option year on Brown’s contract (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/11).