The MLS Timbers yesterday announced Christian Miles will serve as the team's TV play-by-play announcer for the remainder of the '13 season. Miles, a Portland native, will begin calling Timbers games on July 7. Timbers analyst Robbie Earle will remain in the booth while also contributing to NBC Sports Network's MLS coverage (Timbers). NBCSN hired former Timbers broadcaster John Strong to handle play-by-play duties for the net's MLS coverage (THE DAILY).
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES? In Atlanta, Ken Sugiura reports Georgia Tech and WQXI-AM yesterday "ended their arrangement that had made the sports-talk station the Yellow Jackets’ AM flagship station" since '01. The school and the station "had a year remaining on their contract but will dissolve the relationship" that called on WQXI, known as 790 The Zone, to "carry football and men’s basketball games as well as coaches’ shows." All-news station WYAY-FM, which "has been Tech’s FM home since 2008, will become the Jackets’ sole flagship." Georgia Tech Associate AD/PR Wayne Hogan said that the perception that WQXI hosts have been critical of the school's football team "was not a factor" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/25).
MULTIPLE COVERAGES: In N.Y., Stuart Elliot noted in an "effort to woo readers," magazines including SI are "being published with two, three, four or more front covers." Time Inc. Sports Group Editor Paul Fichtenbaum "plans to run multiple front covers on the coming issue" of SI on the '13-14 NFL season. Fichtenbaum said, "Part of our job is to entertain people. And it’s an opportunity for us to be really creative. You want to take that chance any time you can" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/24).
WRITE STUFF: ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel writes the MAC "is offering" fans the chance to attend the conference's football media day next month. Fans from each school "may apply to cover their beloved, and the MAC will approve the questions for the head coach before they are asked." The MAC is "trying to market itself to the public." Maisel: "If I’m the league, and I don’t feel like I’m getting enough attention, then I do what I have to do to connect to MAC fans. Bravo" (ESPN.com, 6/25).
