USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand reports ESPN’s Stuart Scott “learned last month" that the cancer with which he was diagnosed in ’07 and recurred in ’10 has “returned.” The “only workdays Scott misses are the chemo Mondays.” Meanwhile, Scott said that “whatever Lance Armstrong tells Oprah Winfrey in their interview, he’s grateful for Armstrong’s anti-cancer efforts.” Scott: “I don’t care about a bike race. I’m fighting cancer and I’m trying to stay alive for my daughters. ... (Armstrong’s) efforts that affected millions of people with cancer is his legacy. And you’re not going to argue me off that” (USA TODAY, 1/16).
GRASS IS GREENER: In Philadelphia, Bob Fernandez reports Golf Channel is the “fastest-growing cable channel, by percentage of daily viewers.” The channel is “claiming that title, thanks to new NBC corporate bosses who have insisted on higher-quality live and non-live programs.” The channel is distributed to 83.96 million U.S. homes and averaged 95,000 total-day viewers in '12. Golf Channel President Mike McCarley said that he was “seeking to develop programming around golf and the golfing lifestyle and recently released a live-streaming application similar to one used by NBC for the London Olympics” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/16).
HOME FOR HAWKS: The Blackhawks and WGN-AM yesterday announced a five-year broadcast rights extension that will keep the team on the station through the end of the ’18-19 season. WGN has been the Blackhawks’ flagship station since the ’08-09 season (Blackhawks).
FALL FROM GRACE: Former D’Backs announcer Mark Grace said on Monday that he “understands why” the team “fired him last season.” Grace will face trial on March 19 on “four felony counts of aggravated DUI.” Grace said, “I did this. The Diamondbacks didn’t do anything. I think it’s important to own this. I own this” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/15).
