FS1's Skip Bayless recently "opened up" about his '96 book, "Hell Bent," and the effect it had on his relationship with Troy Aikman. Appearing on "The Seth Davis Podcast," Bayless said, "No one who read that book thought Troy Aikman was gay. No one. Trust me. Because even Troy's supporters who read the book loved the way I wrote it." Bayless: "For the record, I tried to get in touch with Troy after he seemed to have a public issue with it. I wrote him a note that said, 'I'm dumbfounded by this that you have any issue with this book. I would have thought you would have loved this book.' He was like the last American hero to me. And to this day I haven't seen Troy, and I would be happy to sit down with him today and talk to him" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/22).
ONLINE SERVICE: AT&T has signed a deal with Fox Networks Group to "continue showing its networks across its offerings including its online video service, DirectTV Now." Fox in a statement said that under the agreement, networks such as Big Ten Network and Fox-owned RSNs will be among those available to DirecTV viewers (REUTERS, 11/21).
BACK TO THE CITI: Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen has "agreed to a multi-year deal" to remain with SNY. Cohen has been a Mets broadcaster since '89 when he "called games on radio" and is the "only Mets play-by-play voice in SNY history." Cohen will continue to be "paired with longtime boothmates Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling" (NEWSDAY, 11/23).
