POLITICO's Joe Pompeo cites sources as saying that N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica is "among those who are heading out the door" following another round of cuts at the paper. The sources said that Lupica "commanded one of the newsroom's top salaries" and that he and management "were unable to come to terms on a new contract." Sports editor Teri Thompson "also received a pink slip." Sources noted that the cuts, which began this morning, would be "companywide as opposed to concentrated solely in the newsroom" (POLITICO.com, 9/16).
TO QB OR NOT TO QB: In N.Y., David Leonhardt reported that Gregg Easterbrook’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback column “has joined The Upshot” on NYTimes.com. Easterbrook will be "writing every week during this NFL season," and his pieces “will focus on football strategy.” They will be posted before noon ET each week. The column previously has resided on ESPN and Slate (NYTIMES.com, 9/16). Easterbrook's first effort this season is about how Giants QB Eli Manning told RB Rashad Jennings "not to score" late in Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF: ESPN's Chris Berman said of the noted criticism of his broadcasting style, "Nobody, whoever you are, is going to be beloved by 100 percent of the people. ... I feel that my style on the air is speaking with or maybe to people, not at them. ... This is who I am. But I’m kind of similar as I was in the 80s to now as far as who I am" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 9/15).
FIRST TIME, LONG TIME: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts cites sources as saying that Toronto-based CJCL-AM hosts Bob McCown and Stephen Brunt have split as a result of McCown's "unhappiness over Brunt’s guest appearances on the new and popular Tim & Sid television show, which is broadcast nationally in the same time slot as Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown." Sources said that the tipping point "came two weeks ago when Brunt filled in for Tim & Sid co-host Sid Seixeiro on a day he was not scheduled to be on Prime Time" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/16).
