People & Personalities: New Roles Gives Gammons More Options

Gammons Says He Will Have More Freedom After Leaving ESPN For New MLB Roles

MLB analyst Peter Gammons said he will have a "little more freedom of time, a little more freedom of opportunity" after leaving ESPN this week for roles with MLB Network, MLB.com and NESN. Gammons: "I was just convinced that this was a tremendous opportunity at this point in my life. ... There were still other things beyond this, in terms of book writing and so forth, that I want to do I hope in the next five years" (Albany TIMES UNION, 12/11). In L.A., Diane Pucin writes MLB Net "made a splash by hiring" Gammons, as his ability to "get current players to talk to him as well as his ability to offer historical perspective ... made the veteran baseball reporter a must-have." Meanwhile, MLB Net President & CEO Tony Petitti said that the league's "extensive video library would be used more frequently" on the channel going forward (L.A. TIMES, 12/11).

ADDITION BY SUBTRACTION: In Boston, Chad Finn writes the "early winner of this hot stove season has been NESN, which improved its roster with two significant transactions," the addition of Gammons and the departure of Dave Roberts. Roberts, who this week was named Padres Special Assistant of Baseball Operations, "was almost too friendly, to the point where he was either reluctant to or incapable of criticizing players who had recently been his peers." Meanwhile, acquiring Gammons is a "coup of the highest order for NESN" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/11).

STAYING PUT? In San Diego, Jay Posner notes MLB Rangers and Chargers play-by-play announcer Josh Lewin's Rangers contract expires this month, and his Chargers deal is "up after this season." But Lewin said his agent is talking with both teams and the "wheels are in motion for the status quo to continue." Lewin: "I'm confident there will be news on both fronts soon. We're getting close on both. Everybody is being very cooperative and it's just kind of premature to say anything is done." Meanwhile, Posner notes the Padres' radio broadcasters are "all under contract for 2010," and Padres President & COO Tom Garfinkel recently said, "We don't expect to make any changes" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/11).

SHARP DRESSED MAN: In Utah, Jody Genessy notes NBA fans recognize TNT NBA sideline reporter Craig Sager for his "eye-catching apparel." Sager: "I have fun with it." Sager during Thursday's Magic-Jazz game "sported a black jacket with sparkly pin-stripes, a patterned gold vest and matching coat-pocket hanky, a dark tie with diagonal stripes and ... some shiny, snazzy gold shoes to bring it all together." Sager "traces his funky fashion back to his teenage years" in Batavia, Illinois. But Genessy notes the reactions to Sager are "not always that positive" -- he was "once compared to a circus act" by Lakers coach Phil Jackson (DESERET NEWS, 12/11).

A WELCOMED HOLIDAY GUEST: CBC "HNIC" analyst Don Cherry will serve as a guest studio analyst for NESN's broadcast of the December 30 Thrashers-Bruins game. Cherry, who coached the Bruins from '74-79, will appear in-studio during the net's "W.B. Mason's Bruins Face-Off Live" as well during intermission coverage (NESN).