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People & Personalities: Rogan Agrees To Stay With UFC For Another Year

UFC analyst Joe Rogan last night announced on his podcast that he has "agreed to terms to stay with the UFC for 'at least one more year.'" He said, "I was on the fence, man. ... I just do too much (expletive)." He said he was "real close" to leaving the organization. Rogan: "It was like, either I’m just gonna completely bail off of this or I’m gonna figure it out." Rogan will "reduce his schedule to only work domestic pay-per-view events." That "eliminates international travel and working events on FOX, freeing up his schedule for his stand-up comedy and other media obligations and interests" (MMAJUNKIE.com, 7/26).

ACTION JACKSON: SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported ESPN execs "very much wanted" NFL analyst Tom Jackson to work this NFL season, though he has "decided not to return to the network." Deitsch wrote Jackson will be "missed," as the word that "always came to mind about his work is thoughtful." Deitsch: "As a viewer, I respected him even when I disagreed with him." Jackson in recent years was "particularly compelling speaking out on Kasandra Perkins, who was murdered" by former Chiefs LB Jovan Belcher before he took his own life. Jackson "never took the full descent to being an outright p.r. operative" for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league. Deitsch: "If he has interest continuing to work in sports media, someone should hire him" (SI.com, 7/26).

GIVE ME THE LOWE DOWN: DEADSPIN's Kevin Draper cited sources as saying that ESPN has "re-signed superstar basketball reporter Zach Lowe to a multi-year contract." Lowe joined Grantland from SI in October '12 and "spent three years there before transitioning to ESPN.com." His contract "was up this fall." The "big rumor within basketball media circles was that Lowe would follow former Grantland coworker Jonathan Abrams to Bleacher Report." Hanging onto Lowe means ESPN has "won its second big battle to retain top-tier basketball writers." The net earlier this year re-signed Ramona Shelburne after Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski "made a strong offer for her to join The Vertical and strengthen his army of scoopers" (DEADSPIN.com, 7/25).

MORE ESPN NEWS: ESPN's NFL Nation Giants reporter Dan Graziano has been named a National NFL reporter for the net, while NJ.com's Jordan Raanan has been hired to replace Graziano as ESPN's Giants reporter. Nick Wagoner will cover the 49ers this year after covering the Rams for three seasons. Meanwhile, the Undefeated has added Domonique Foxworth, LZ Granderson and Mark Wright to its staff. Foxworth, the former NFLPA President, will offer perspective on topical issues of the day, while Granderson will contribute regular columns and essays. Wright will be responsible for building relationships between the Undefeated and historically black colleges and universities (THE DAILY).

FOR PETE'S SAKE: Baseball HOFer Pedro Martinez' turn to broadcasting was examined by GQ's Patrick Sauer, who wrote Martinez joined MLB Network net last season and has "become a favorite, a mix of 'Inside the NBA' hosts featuring Kenny [Smith]'s astute insights, [Charles] Barkley's fun-loving personality, and Shaq's goofball self." Martinez primarily appears on the net's "MLB Tonight." Asked about becoming a go-to broadcaster for learning about pitching, Martinez said, "I wasn't a complete package when I came into the league, so I try to offer knowledge I picked up along the way. I made my game better by studying, analyzing, and learning from other pitchers who'd been doing it longer. I was a patchwork of so many other players, so now I can offer every single aspect I took from baseball and help others make their game a little bit better" (GQ.com, 7/24).

NOTES: CSN Mid-Atlantic named Tarik El-Bashir a Capitals reporter and J.P. Finlay a Redskins reporter. Both have experience covering their new assignments (CSN)....Former Olympic runner Sanya Richards-Ross and former decathlete Trey Hardee will join NBC's coverage of track and field at the Rio Games (NBC).

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On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

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SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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