This Week's Newsmakers: MLB Net Scores Big With Peter Gammons

THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers:

WIN: MLB NETWORK -- The league-owned network debuts with a bang in January, opening in 50 million homes with BOB COSTAS in tow, and this week continues on a successful run by landing the services of PETER GAMMONS. Making a move to snag one of baseball's most influential journalists from ESPN offers further ammo for the upstart network trying to cement its place in a busy marketplace. MLB Net boss TONY PETITTI lauds Gammons, saying, "It is hard to imagine a reporter who is more deeply associated with a sport than Peter is with Major League Baseball." 

LOSE: BRANDT ANDERSEN -- The Utah Flash Owner in recent years has earned himself a reputation as one of the sharpest and brightest execs in the NBA D-League, but his reputation takes a hit following the stunt at Monday's home opener. Andersen strongly hints that MICHAEL JORDAN may indeed face BRYON RUSSELL in a one-on-one match inspired by Jordan's remarks during his HOF induction speech. He goes so far as to hire a Jordan impersonator to walk around Salt Lake City to stir up interest. But a franchise-record crowd floods Andersen with boos when they learn the promo was nothing more than a hoax, forcing Andersen to apologize and offer ticket refunds.

DRAW: DANICA PATRICK -- Her long-awaited move to NASCAR is now official as Danica agrees to a two-year deal to drive in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, and her arrival instantly creates a level of interest the circuit has not seen in recent years. But how long will the hype last if Danica finishes in the back of the pack in her first few stock car races? Also, is she spreading herself too thin with her limited NASCAR schedule and harming the chances at improving upon a fifth-place finish last year with her full-time Andretti Autosport ride in the Izod IndyCar Series?