In Cleveland, Tom Reed noted the Cavaliers on Thursday named John Michael the team’s new play-by-play announcer to succeed Joe Tait. He will work alongside analyst Jim Chones “once the NBA lockout ends.” Until the work stoppage is resolved, Michael will “continue his duties as an in-game host” of Blue Jackets telecasts on FS Ohio and provide analysis “for the network's pregame and postgame shows.” The Cavs “became familiar with Michael during his two seasons” calling games for the AHL Lake Erie Monsters (CLEVELAND.com, 10/6).
FUTURE UNCERTAIN: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar reports MLB Cardinals TV play-by-play announcer Dan McLaughlin's future “won't be doing TV broadcasts of University of Missouri or Missouri Valley Conference basketball this winter" after he was arrested last week for the second time in 13 months "on a drunken driving charge.” He has “begun a treatment program that his brother Kevin said will preclude him from doing those games -- assuming he had been allowed to return.” McLaughlin “had been doing Mizzou basketball telecasts since 1999, on the school's in-state network.” McLaughlin had split the TV play-by-play duties “with Chris Gervino, the sports director at KOMU-TV in Columbia who also is the reporter on Tigers' football broadcasts and the host of coaches' shows.” Gervino now is “scheduled to do all 11 of the games in the team's television package.” Caesar notes “still to be determined" is McLaughlin's situation on Cards broadcasts (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 10/7).
STARK CONTRAST: In N.Y., Richard Huff noted Melissa Stark has joined NFL Network after having been “out of the business for four years ... to be a wife and full-time mother to her four children.” Stark said, "This really seemed like the right opportunity for right now. It was a great way to get back in with a first-class organization, and get back to reporting, which I love." Huff noted she “gets a chance to balance life at home with the kids and with her husband, Mike Lilley, who convinced her to say yes” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/6).
DO THE EVOLUTION: MLB Network analyst Eric Byrnes said that he has "evolved" in his role over the last year. Byrnes said, "When I first got here last year, I really just got by on the fact I had played last year. I just used a lot of my experience, where, as the season developed last year and definitely as we have gotten into this year, I've kind of taken more of an analytical role. I've definitely spent a lot more time researching other players" (MLB.com, 10/5). Meanwhile, the net announced Pirates P Joel Hanrahan and Padres manager Bud Black will serve as guest studio analysts on "MLB Tonight" next week. Hanrahan will appear in-studio on Oct. 10-11, and Black on Oct. 12-13 (MLB Network).
