In Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen notes although announcer Hawk Harrelson has "considered cutting back his workload," it is "tough to see the White Sox broadcaster ... pulling himself away from the booth" in '15. Harrelson: "I looked at the schedule 15, 20, 30 times. I narrowed it down to about 120 games but now that’s out the window." He added, "I was thinking about cutting my season short this year and now with all that’s going on I don’t think I’m going to do it. It’s going to be a great year, a fun year to watch and when it gets like that I don’t care if you do 162 or 192" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/16). Also in Chicago, Ed Sherman writes Harrelson is "pumped up and ready to go the distance" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/17).
PAPER TRAIL: In N.Y., Keith Kelly reports N.Y. Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. yesterday "started handing out pink slips to 21 Newspaper Guild members." Among those "on the involuntary cut list" was sports reporter Mary Pilon, "whose job was eliminated only three years after she was heavily recruited from the Wall Street Journal" (N.Y. POST, 12/17).
SPORTING CHANCE: In K.C., Sam McDowell noted SKC announced Monday that it has "hired Nate Bukaty to be the lead TV play-by-play announcer for the 2015 season, replacing Callum Williams, who served in the role for the previous four years." Bukaty "has been broadcasting" for SKC in "various roles since he began a soccer radio show in 2010, culminating in his role as the radio play-by-play man for home games last season." Williams and Diego Gutierrez "formed the club’s two-man TV booth last season." Gutierrez also "will not return next season in his color commentating role." His replacement "has not been named." The club also announced Monday that Jake Yadrich "will remain on the broadcast team next season after he worked as the sideline reporter for Sporting’s TV network this season" (K.C. STAR, 12/16).
AROUND THE TRACK: NBC Sports Group has added motorsports reporter Rutledge Wood to its multiplatform coverage of NASCAR, F1, IndyCar, Global Rallycross and Mecum Auctions. He most recently worked as a correspondent for "NASCAR RaceDay" on FS1 and has co-hosted NASCAR events, including the annual awards banquet. Wood also has been co-host on History's "Top Gear" (NBC Sports).
