On Long Island, Neil Best wrote ESPN "has found a new sweet spot in the social media era" for the ESPYs, and the net deserves "credit, even if it could not have anticipated Twitter" in '93. Best: "Make fun of it all you want, but the event dominated sports websites, radio and TV talk shows and actual human conversations well past the end of Wednesday night's show." And it "was not only because of Caitlyn Jenner" (NEWSDAY, 7/18). But in Orlando, George Diaz noted while ESPN "gave Jenner an award for her courage," the net "should have given itself an award for its brazen tabloid ratings play." ESPN "went for the glamour gotcha shot by picking Jenner" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/19).
NEW YEAR, FAMILIAR FACE: In Dallas, Barry Horn reported Brad Sham "will be celebrating the first night of the Jewish New Year on Sept. 13" rather than "opening his 37th season in the Cowboys broadcast booth." It will be "only the second game Sham has missed in two tours" with the team. Verne Lundquist will replace Sham in the Cowboys’ opening night booth and will "fill in alongside Babe Laufenberg." Lundquist "retired as the play-by-play voice of the Cowboys" at the end of the '83 season (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/18).
CALIFORNIA CALLING: Longtime A’s radio broadcaster Ken Korach this weekend was "back behind the microphone" after an extended absence. He was "rehabilitating a knee injury that, before Friday night, had limited his game-calling this year to a three-inning cameo on Memorial Day" (SACBEE.com, 7/18).
