In Columbia, Josh Kendall noted former Univ. of South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier "expects to meet with SEC Network officials in the next month, and could be on" TVs this fall. Spurrier on Monday said, "We have tentatively discussed getting together to talk, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. ... I have seen people who don't do anything, and that doesn't work. Hopefully, I will get involved in something here in about a month or so" (Columbia STATE, 6/28). YAHOO SPORTS' Sam Cooper noted Spurrier after announcing his resignation in October made a guest appearance on ESPN's "College Gameday" and recently held down a two-hour spot on the "Paul Finebaum Show." Spurrier has "never been afraid to speak his mind and has appeared comfortable on camera during past network appearances." He "seems like a natural fit to join ESPN’s coverage" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/27).
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL: FS1's Colin Cowherd said that Max Kellerman will replace Skip Bayless as Stephen A. Smith's new partner on ESPN's "First Take." Cowherd said that Kellerman is "close to a deal." He also said Kellerman's "SportsNation" co-host Michelle Beadle is "pissed off" over his apparent departure (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/29). In N.Y., Justin Terranova notes it is "unclear if Cowherd is speaking with direct knowledge of Beadle's feelings" (N.Y. POST, 6/29).
NEW GIG: Former Univ. of Oklahoma football player Dusty Dvoracek said that he "has been hired by ESPNU to be [an] analyst on college football game broadcasts and studio shows." Dvoracek said that he "expects to work a full slate of college games on Saturdays and handle a variety of ESPNU college football shows from the network's studio in Charlotte." Dvoracek said that he will continue to be part of Oklahoma City-based WWLS-FM's "Monsters of the Midday" show. In Oklahoma City, Mel Bracht notes Dvoracek in recent years has worked for FS Oklahoma, FS Southwest and Sooner Vision (OKLAHOMAN, 6/29).
TARGET AUDIENCE: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote Bill Simmons' new HBO show "Any Given Wednesday" was "what chokes" in the week in media. Hoffarth: "Whether it was Simmons' "wardrobe choice (or lack thereof), the whiny tone of voice we could never get used to when he did ESPN TV work, or feeling as if we were just watching a taped podcast, we must not be the target audience" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/26).
TASTE TEST: In Boston, Chad Finn wrote recently fired WEEI-FM evening host Mike Adams "was an acquired taste." His guests generally "seemed to be there because he liked them, not because they had some sizzling take." At a time when sports radio in Boston, including Adams' evening counterpart on WBZ-FM, is "structured around negativity, faux anger and contrived points of view -- and draws the ratings to justify such miserable behavior -- Adams's approach became more refreshing the longer he was around." But it is "not difficult to understand why a change was made, and it did not come out of left field" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/24).
