Former MLB manager Lou Piniella has joined YES Network as a special contributor. Piniella will provide Yankees game and studio analysis on YES, will be involved in the net's Spring Training and potential postseason coverage, and will contribute to YES special event programming and YESNetwork.com (YES). YES Network President of Production & Programming John Filippelli said that he expects Piniella to "be a part of 25-30 broadcasts this season as a game analyst, and to work on the network's pregame and postgame shows" (N.Y. POST, 2/23).
BACK ON AIR: ESPN Radio's "The Scott Van Pelt Show" co-host Ryen Russillo was "back on the air yesterday after serving a suspension" for getting into an argument and almost fighting WEEI's John Dennis the night before the Super Bowl. ESPN "wouldn't comment" on Russillo's absence from the show since last week, but a source said that he was "serving an indeterminate sentence as a result of the face-off with Dennis" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/23).
RUNNING ALONGSIDE: In Charlotte, Jim Utter notes ESPN will "again run commercials side-by-side with live racing action in the second half" of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's 10 races this season. Fox will "also employ a side-by-side option during the final hour of its Daytona 500 broadcast on Sunday" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/23).
