People & Personalities: Brad Daugherty Said Priority Is With ESPN

Daugherty Says He Met With ESPN Brass Before Acquiring Stake In Race Team

ESPN NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty said he "had a long talk" with ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer and Exec VP/Content John Skipper before he bought a 33% stake in the new JTG Daugherty Racing team. Daugherty: "My first priority is TV, ESPN. Those guys have said it will not affect (my position). I thought it may. I guess it doesn't." Daugherty said that he "refuses to use ESPN as a platform to offer sponsor plugs or promote his race team." Daugherty: "I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it -- and don't like it when it's done" (ESPN.com, 7/23).

TALENT REVIEWS: GOLFWEEK's Mike Purkey reviewed ABC's coverage of last weekend's British Open and writes, "It's a shame Paul Azinger is not doing TV on a regular basis. He is golf's most insightful analyst and does what he is paid to do: take apart the thinking of pro golfers in pressure situations and be unafraid to say what's on his mind." Fellow announcer and golfer Tom Watson, who made his broadcasting debut during the Open, "shouldn't give up his day job yet, but he managed a few memorable shots" (GOLFWEEK, 7/25 issue).

NOTES: In Portland, Dwight Jaynes profiles Henry Abbott, the founder of NBA blog TrueHoop, and writes he is a "solid journalist." Abbott "doesn't just post links to other people's stories. Often, he breaks ground with well-researched reporting. He's scrupulously fair" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 7/24)....Freestyle motocross rider Brian Deegan will "help ESPN with commentating duties" during the X Games from July 31-August 3 (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 7/23)....Former L.A. Times MLS Chivas USA beat writer Jaime Cardenas has "bid an eloquent farewell to the newspaper (and possibly sports journalism)" (INSIDESOCAL.com, 7/23).