In San Diego, Kevin Acee reports former NFLer Nick Hardwick, who in '15 "served as a sideline reporter" on Chargers broadcasts during his first year on the job, has been "elevated to color commentator" for radio telecasts. Hardwick said, “I couldn’t be more thrilled. This is such an opportunity. ... It’s an incredible rush. I’m looking forward to it.” Acee notes Hardwick is a "popular player who has become an ambassador for the team in the two years since his final game." It is a "small but significant step in the right direction by a team coming off a 4-12 season and pushing an initiative attempting to procure public money for a new stadium" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/10).
HARSH WORDS: "Fox Sports Daybreak" co-host Mike North on yesterday's show said of the new ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball" booth, "Jessica Mendoza is the worst baseball announcer who has ever announced the game of baseball. Now, if you want to call me a sexist, go ahead. But I’m an observer, and I’ve been observing and listening to baseball announcers for 20, 30, 40, 50 years." He added, "I shut the sound down to watch that game; she’s just not a good announcer. If she was a man, she’d be (fired like) Tony Kornheiser or Dennis Miller. OK? And that’s the God honest truth about it" (FOXSPORTSRADIO.IHEART.com, 5/9).
DEFENSIVE SHIFT: Former ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling yesterday on "The Dan Patrick Show" said that he got fired from the net "for things people thought I said or things people perceived I was, none of which I was." Schilling said of the Facebook post that eventually led to his dismissal, “I am not trying to sound like a victim, but somebody was out to make sure that everybody saw the thing that I posted and this one really did ... catch me by surprise.” Patrick asked Schilling, “Would you rather cover politics or baseball?” Schilling added, "Based on the discussions and the offers that I’ve been sifting through right now, I am going to end up doing sports ... but I don’t want to be held to that. I want to talk about stuff that moves the needle. ... I think I am going to end up in a format that will allow that to happen.” Schilling noted he was earning $2.5M a year at ESPN (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 5/9).
PART-TIME JOB: In N.Y., Andrew Das reports NYC FC MF Frank Lampard, who has yet to play for the MLS club this season, "will be a part of the BBC’s coverage of this summer’s European championships in France." A club spokesperson said that Lampard "would not travel to France or do prolonged studio work as part of his as-yet-unspecified duties." The team unequivocally said that Lampard "would not miss any games or practice sessions because of his BBC commitments" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/10).
FEELING MINNESOTA: In St, Paul, Jace Frederick notes WNBA Minnesota Lynx associate head coach Jim Petersen, who is in his eighth season with the club, was "offered the Connecticut Sun’s head coaching position this offseason." But Petersen also is the T'Wolves color analyst for FS North. Had he taken the Sun job, he "estimated he would have had to cut 25 games from his regular-season schedule and wouldn’t have been able to work" any potential postseason games. With those limitations, it is "no guarantee Fox would have even been able to keep him." Petersen said that the Sun "couldn’t offer the financial compensation necessary for him to take the leap." Petersen is "one of the top assistant coaches in the WNBA, and his broadcasting ability is viewed in a similar light" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/10).
