In St. Louis, Dan Caesar cites sources as saying that there "have been discussions" about former Fox broadcaster Tim McCarver being a part of the MLB Cardinals' broadcasts next season, "probably in a limited role." McCarver on Thursday said, "As I (said) this past summer I was not retiring -- I never used that word. ... So we'll see. I just don't want to crawl in a hole some place for the rest of my life. That's unrealistic" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/6).
STALKING THE MAMBA: In L.A., Eric Pincus wrote Lakers G Kobe Bryant "seems indirectly to be directing programming for NBA TV." With the "possibility that Bryant might return Friday in Sacramento from his Achilles' tendon injury, the Lakers-Kings game was added Wednesday to NBA TV's national broadcast." With Bryant not playing after all, the NBA on Thursday "predictably" announced that it is "dropping the just-added Kings game from the national broadcast -- instead, the Lakers-Raptors game will now be aired on NBA TV" on Sunday (LATIMES.com, 12/5).
POLITICAL JUNKIES: In DC, Dan Steinberg looks at how WJFK-FM's "The Sports Junkies" landed Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, and writes the show's four hosts have "never been accused of excessive maturity, or of rigorous journalism, but they've earned a loyal following among Washington area sports fans for their lively, irreverent chatter." On Thursday they "briefly became international newsmakers." Ford staff members "anticipated a two- or three-minute segment," but it "wound up lasting nearly 24, plowing through a scheduled commercial break." After the interview, the show's hosts "were discussed on NBC’s 'Today' show, fielding interview requests from CNN, and mentioned by virtually every major Canadian news publication" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/6).
BEST FOOT FORWARD: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Kevin Helliker noted MLS and ESPN last year decided to move the MLS Cup Final to Saturday afternoon to "avoid competing against the NFL." However, the move "placed the MLS Cup in competition with the SEC title game." Both the Real Salt Lake-Sporting KC MLS Cup Final and the Missouri-Auburn SEC Championship game begin at 4:00pm ET on Saturday, and MLS is "accustomed to futbol getting kicked around by football" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/5).
