In Philadelphia, Jake Kaplan reports former MLBer Ben Davis will "join the Phillies' broadcast team" this season on CSN Philly as the "third member in the booth." Davis and second-year broadcaster Matt Stairs will "provide color commentary alongside play-by-play man Tom McCarthy." Davis replaces Jamie Moyer, who left after just one season. Several sources said that the other finalist for the job, former MLBer Kevin Stocker, "turned down the position." Stocker is an analyst for the Pac-12 Network (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/20). Meanwhile, in Denver, Patrick Saunders reported former Rockies Exec VP, Chief Baseball Officer & GM Dan O'Dowd has "joined MLB Network as a studio analyst." O'Dowd will "begin his job" as part of the net's "30 Clubs in 30 Days" Spring Training series beginning March 3. O'Dowd previously "worked as a guest analyst during the network's winter meetings coverage in December in San Diego" (DENVER POST, 2/17).
FIGHT NIGHT: ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported Spike TV "rounded out its broadcast team" for the monthly “Premier Boxing Champions” series by adding former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver and Bellator MMA analyst Jimmy Smith. The pair will "join host Dana Jacobson and blow-by-blow announcer Scott Hanson" (ESPN.com, 2/19).
BULLS ON PARADE: CSN Chicago on Wednesday named Detroit News NBA beat reporter Vincent Goodwill its Bulls “Insider.” Goodwill will lead coverage on "Bulls Talk," and serve as an on-air Bulls contributor on "Bulls Pregame Live," "SportsNet Central" and "SportsTalk Live" (CSN Chicago).
YOU SERIOUS, CLARK? Redskins S Ryan Clark on Wednesday announced he is retiring from the NFL after 13 years and will join ESPN's "NFL Live" as an analyst (ESPN). Clark: "I had been working and talking to ESPN about if this does happen, where do we go from there? I felt like it was the right decision, it was the right time" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/19).
