People & Personalities: Van Pelt Suspended From Radio Show

Van Pelt Suspended From Radio Show In Wake Of Rant Over Selig's Salary

DEADSPIN's A.J. Daulerio cited ESPN sources as indicating that the net's Scott Van Pelt "was suspended from his radio show" for this afternoon. Van Pelt last week on his show "hammered Bud Selig about the MLB Commissioner's $18.5[M] salary," and sources said that Van Pelt's "rant about Selig was 'too personal' for some of the ESPN bosses." Van Pelt, "reportedly on his own volition, called Selig to apologize and was in agreement that his statements were a little harsh" (DEADSPIN.com, 2/7). Van Pelt said Selig "couldn't have been more gracious. We spoke for about 20 minutes. He told me he accepted my apology and we're both moving on" (USA TODAY, 2/9).

WORTHY OF RESPECT: SI.com's Dave Heuschkel notes Magic radio analyst Richie Adubato during Friday's game against the Pacers "protested a call" by NBA referee Violet Palmer and "suggested she isn't qualified to be an NBA ref." Adubato said that Palmer "should go back to the WNBA because that's where she belongs," and he said that she "can call that a foul in the WNBA but not the NBA." Heuschkel wrote he does not have a problem "with Adubato disagreeing with the call," but Adubato "personally attacked her and questioned the credentials of somebody in their 12th season as an NBA ref" (FANNATION.com, 2/7).

DEEP COVERAGE: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament wrote the "most impressive new announcer" during NBC's pregame coverage of Super Bowl XLIII was Patriots S Rodney Harrison.  Harrison "was especially good explaining what he was thinking when" Giants WR David Tyree "made his incredible big catch in the 2008 Super Bowl with Harrison draped all over him" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/7).

NOTES: Golf Channel Managing Dir of PR Dan Higgins said that the net on-course reporter Andrew Magee "will be suspended for a recent comment -- when he thought he wasn't on-air -- about a sexually suggestive statement on a fan's T-shirt" (USA TODAY, 2/9)....ESPN2 "First Take" NFL analyst Jamal Anderson "was jailed in Atlanta early Sunday morning after being charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/8)....Globe & Mail columnist William Houston wrote his last column Saturday "after more than 5,000 bylines in The Globe and Mail over 29 years." Houston is "moving on to new pursuits" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/7).