In L.A., Tom Hoffarth reports an online petition is asking Fox to include Dodgers announcer Vin Scully in its '11 World Series coverage, and the petition, which was started by Mets blogger Matt Falkenbury, has "snowballed to more than 5,000 cyber signatures as of Thursday afternoon. Scully last called the World Series for a national network in '88, and he said in an e-mail, "I appreciate the honor, but the Series broadcast is none of my business." However, Hoffarth notes Fox' "decision-makers are talking among themselves about a strategy to see if this can work" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/24).
URBAN RENEWAL: ESPN Friday was scheduled to announce that college football analyst Urban Meyer "will call noon ET ESPN games that are largely expected to involve Big Ten teams." Meyer will work alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch and fellow analyst Chris Spielman. He will also appear on "College GameDay" from the sites of games "and do taped features for that show." Meyer's debut as a game analyst will likely be for the Akron-Ohio State game on Sept. 3 (USA TODAY, 6/24).
COVERING THE BASES: ESPN's Jenn Brown said covering the College World Series has been "an awesome experience." Brown, one of two on-field reporters for the CWS, said, "As someone who is reporting from the dugouts during games, I try to be the eyes and ears for our guys in the broadcast booth and for everyone watching at home." A graduate of CWS participant the Univ. of Florida, Brown said that she "has made a special effort to remain impartial." Brown: “The last thing I want to do is come across as biased" (Omaha WORLD-HERALD, 6/22).
A LITTLE BACK AND FORTH: TENNIS.com's Jonathan Scott wrote ESPN Wimbledon announcers Dick Enberg and Chris Evert "make for something of a constantly needling father-daughter tandem," often "amiably butting heads in the booth during telecasts." Through the first two rounds at the All England Club, Enberg and Evert have created a "lot of unintentional comedy." Evert has "openly scolded her patriarch on a couple occasions, as when Enberg suggested, after Evert opined that no one wins Wimbledon playing defense, that she herself wasn't such the powerful player." She said, "What are you saying ... Dick?" (TENNIS.com, 6/22).
NO FAMILY REUNION: In Cincinnati, John Kiesewetter reports announcers Marty and Thom Brennaman likely are not "going to do a Reds radio game together this year." Marty, in his 38th season calling Reds games, said, "He came home to work with me, and now we don't get to do any games on the radio." Thom is in his fifth season on the Reds broadcast team, and his role "changed last year, when he was named primary play-by-play TV announcer." Thom also is calling "about eight Fox national games of the week, and scheduled to do Fox NFL games this fall." But "doing a game with Dad this year isn't completely a dead issue for Thom, with the NFL labor uncertainty." He said, "I wouldn't rule that out at all. It depends on what happens with the football season" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/24).
TOUCH THE SKY: Former NFLers Rocky Boiman and Nick Ferguson will serve as studio analysts for at least one Sunday this season on Sky Sports in the U.K. The duo, who will work separate games, were rewarded based on their performance from this week's NFL Broadcast Boot Camp. Sixteen retired players took part in this week's camp from Monday through Thursday in Mt. Laurel, N.J. The boot camp is designed to help retired players learn the broadcasting business from talent, producers and execs from each of the league's network partners. This marks the first year boot camp participants were rewarded with a position from the event. The NFL says 36 of the 90 former players who took part in the Broadcast Boot Camp from '07-10 have earned broadcasting jobs (John Ourand, THE DAILY).
LOOSE ENDS: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes MSG Radio Network "has landed a keeper" in new Knicks radio play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes, who is joining the team after broadcasting Lakers games the past six years. Mushnick also notes Fox' hiring of Chad Pennington for NFL games this year and sarcastically writes, "Why would a network hire a modest, thoughtful type?" (N.Y. POST, 6/24).
