SI.com's Richard Deitsch named Turner's Craig Sager and ESPN's Shelley Smith his "Media Persons of the Year" as part of his look at the year in sports media. Both Sager and Smith are cancer survivors and each returned to TV this year "after rounds and rounds of chemotherapy." They share the honor "not only for their sustained excellent work, but for inspiring others who are battling cancer." Deitsch doled out several other awards as well, including "Broadcast Team of the Year" to ESPN's Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman. McDonough "provides a quality listen for viewers in both college football and college basketball." He has "found a particular chemistry with Spielman, a non-shtick analyst rooted in film work and preparation, with a specialty on defense." Deitsch named Fox' Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt his "Newcomers of the Year," as the two veteran broadcasters were "paired together for the first time" this NFL season. Deitsch also named the SEC Network's Maria Taylor as the "Most Improved" for the year. It was her "second year as a college analyst and reporter" for the net (SI.com, 12/22).
WHIT'S END: Fox' Jason Whitlock took part in a Q&A with the INDIANAPOLIS STAR's Dana Hunsinger Benbow to discuss his departure from ESPN. Asked how "The Undefeated" went from being his brainchild to him being pulled from the project, Whitlock said, "Tough question to answer in a small space. A non-corporate, non-PC person trying to muster internal corporate support to do an ambitious, revolutionary project inside an establishment brand would make a great documentary." He added he was the "wrong fit at ESPN." Whitlock said, "I wanted to leave ESPN when control of 'The Undefeated' was taken from me. ... At the end of the day, in order for me to reach my full potential, I need an environment that allows me to be me." However, he said he did not regret his return to ESPN. Whitlock: "Greatest learning experience of my life. ... I see the world and the journalism industry much more clearly. Whatever I achieve moving forward will be a direct result of what I experienced at ESPN" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/22).
WELCOME ABOARD: CSN Philadelphia on Tuesday announced that Jessica Camerato has joined the RSN and will cover the 76ers for the website. She will start on Jan. 4. Camerato most recently was a Senior NBA writer for Basketball Insiders and a sports correspondent for Boston.com (CSN Philly). She will replace Dei Lynam, who will "stay with the network and focus on television work -- largely connected to its Sixers coverage" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/22).
VERTICAL HORIZON: THE BIG LEAD's Ryan Glasspiegel reported Chris Mannix is "leaving Sports Illustrated for Adrian Wojnarowski’s soon-to-be-launched NBA site on Yahoo -- The Vertical." Mannix has covered the NBA for SI since '03 (THEBIGLEAD.com, 12/21).
