People & Personalities: Padres' Broadcasters Provide Shining Light In Tough Season

In San Diego, Tim Sullivan wrote the Padres “work best right now as a radio product,” particularly since color analyst Bob Scanlan “entered the booth.” Scanlan is "worth lending an ear," as he "tells you things you wouldn’t know and couldn’t have guessed unless you had played the game professionally." Scanlan, who played nine years in MLB, injects "without seeming intrusive, speaking succinctly and on point and, unlike so many former ballplayers in broadcasting, is an aggressive acquirer of new knowledge” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/24). Also in San Diego, Chris Jenkins profiles FS San Diego announcer Mark Sweeney, who “fulfills myriad roles” for the net. However, the one that “most incorporates his particular perspective on game is that three-inning stretch where he provides analysis from alongside the Padres dugout.” A 14-year MLB veteran, Sweeney was a “must-see interview subject, comfortable answering even the toughest questions and willing to share his insights without issuing a stream of baseball clichés or evade-speak.” Sweeney’s “extensive experience with the Padres made him seem a natural fit" when FS San Diego landed the new Padres contract (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/24).

OLYMPIC WARRIOR: CSNBAYAREA.com's Matt Steinmetz reports Warriors announcer Bob Fitzgerald “will be doing play-by-play for men’s and women’s basketball for NBC Sports at the 2012 London Olympics.” Fitzgerald will do play-by-play for 32 total games. He said that he will be “working the men’s games with" 76ers coach Doug Collins and the women’s games with Basketball HOFer Ann Meyers. TNT's Craig Sager will handle the sideline reporting. Steinmetz noted this “will be the fourth Olympic call of Fitzgerald’s career,” having worked the ‘08 Beijing Games (men’s water polo), the ‘04 Athens Games (men’s and women’s basketball) and the ‘96 Atlanta Games (swimming) (CSNBAYAREA.com, 5/24).

BEADLE BAILEY: ESPN’s Michelle Beadle is leaving the net on May 31 for NBC Sports Network and "Access Hollywood," and in Boston, Chad Finn notes Beadle soon will “try to find” the chemistry she developed with Colin Cowherd on “SportsNation” elsewhere. Beadle said, “A lot of things are being tossed around right now, but I like that I’m being asked my opinion and have some input." She added, "My big thing is I like to be in a spot where I can have an opinion every single day, and I’m hoping to keep that going because, you know, it’s not normal yet for women in this business to have an opinion, and I was very grateful that I got to do that.” Beadle: “For me, I understand that ESPN is where a lot of sports broadcasters want to go, but for me personally, it’s not just the NBC Sports brand, it’s everything that NBC entails. There’s room to do so much under one umbrella” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/25).

JOIN THE CLUB: FS North announced that Tom Hanneman has joined the net as a studio host for the T’Wolves, Twins, Wild and Univ. of Minnesota hockey. Hanneman spent the past 23 seasons on T’Wolves broadcasts, including the past 11 as the team’s TV play-by-play announcer (FSN). In Minneapolis, Kent Youngblood notes Hanneman “fills the role vacated when Anthony LaPanta was named the TV voice of the Wild.” FSN Senior VP & GM Mike Dimond said that a “national search has already begun to replace Hanneman, a collaborative process between FSN and the Timberwolves.” The job of calling UM hockey games on FSN also is open, and Dimond said that he “would like to have both positions filled by Aug. 1” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/25).

COME ON BOARD: The Illinois DAILY HERALD announced Mike North is joining its staff as a “twice-weekly columnist and thrice-weekly video producer” beginning June 19. North was the co-host of the “Monsters in the Morning” radio show with former NFLer Dan Jiggetts, as well as a sports talk radio show at WSCR-AM in Chicago. North’s columns “will be published Tuesdays and Fridays, and his three weekly sports videos will be carried” on the newspaper’s website every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 5/24).

DAILY DOSE: The BOSTON GLOBE's Finn notes Randy Scott, who “helped stabilize ‘NESN Daily’ with his sharp writing and amiable manner during his year and a half with the network, is leaving for ESPN, where he’ll begin in mid-June as an anchor on ESPNNews.” Finn writes, “It’s a terrific, deserved opportunity for him, and a smart hire by ESPN” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/25).