People & Personalities: Gruden, Harrison Dubbed Best Rookies

Gruden Praised For Passion For Sport, Knowledge He Provides

USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand and Michael McCarthy debate who the "top NFL television rookie" is this season. Hiestand writes ESPN's Jon Gruden "so far has been perky," and he "conveys a John Madden-like passion for the sport and its quirks and characters and, lately, its Wildcat formations." But Hiestand writes it is "easy for Gruden to seem like an upgrade" on "MNF" given its "years of meanderings with the miscast Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser." McCarthy writes NBC's "FNIA" analyst Rodney Harrison has been "bringing it for NBC, Dan Patrick and other TV/radio shows that mike him up." However, he can "laugh at himself too." McCarthy: "Isn't this what you want? A guy who tells it like it is rather than yukking it up or covering for ex-teammates and coaches" (USA TODAY, 9/25). In Oklahoma City, Mel Bracht writes Gruden "has been a real treat," as he brings "humor, enthusiasm and behind-the-scenes knowledge." But "even with his success in the booth, Gruden admitted to the media he already misses coaching and the 'scoreboard telling you how you're doing'" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 9/25).

Majority Of 253 Respondents Say That They Do Not Miss Madden On "SNF" Broadcasts

INSIDE INFO: In Indianapolis, Phil Richards notes NBC analyst and former Colts coach Tony Dungy during the September 13 episode of "FNIA" broke down Colts WR Reggie Wayne's game-winning touchdown from that day's Jaguars-Colts game, including identifying the play as 219 Z Crack Post. Colts QB Peyton Manning contacted Dungy after the show, as he was "less than giddy" with that information being disclosed. Manning: "He kind of diagrammed Reggie's touchdown. He kind of gave the name of it as well. I just didn't want that to become a weekly thing. You know, we'd have to change our whole offense" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/25).

IRREPLACEABLE: In California, John Maffei writes Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully is the "best there is -- and probably ever will be -- at calling baseball," and it is "hard ... to think that Scully's 60-year run behind the microphone will come to an end at some point." Maffei notes MLB Network's Matt Vasgersian is the "name at the top of the list" to replace Scully, but it is "questionable ... if his style -- 180 degrees opposite of Scully -- would play in L.A." (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 9/25).

STIRRING THE DRINK: USA TODAY's Hiestand reports Baseball HOFer Reggie Jackson will be part of TBS' MLB postseason coverage, as he will "do a series of taped interviews with past greats ...  that will appear on-air and online." Jackson ultimately "would like to call TV baseball games." Jackson, who "appeared on ABC games years before he retired" from MLB in '87, said, "It's certainly something I'd do again" (USA TODAY, 9/25).

MIAMI RADIO WAVES: In Miami, Barry Jackson reports WAXY-AM parted ways with Program Dir Steve White, who co-hosted the station's 1:00-3:00pm ET show, and hired Hank Goldberg "for a weekly show." WAXY Station Manager Howard Davis said that Jonathan Zaslow will "fill-in on the early afternoon show" slot vacated by White, though he is "not a candidate for that permanent job." Goldberg also is not a candidate and "will do only one program per week -- a football show" at 7:00pm on Thursdays (MIAMI HERALD, 9/25).