In N.Y., Jake Becker notes WFAN's Mike Francesa and SiriusXM Radio's Chris Russo had an "impromptu on-air reunion" at Radio Row in Houston on Thursday, where Francesa gave "insights into his fast-approaching post-WFAN career." Russo asked, "January 3, 2018, will you be working somewhere?" Francesa replied, "Yes. I'm not promising it'll be conventional. It's something new. I would say I'm talking to six or eight people. It will not be on the FAN. It might not be conventional radio." Russo later "pushed his old radio partner to join him at Sirius XM." Francesa said that he will be "keeping the phone lines wide open on Dec. 15." Francesa: "The last day is just me and the callers. No guests" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/3).
ALL THE WAY ICED UP: In Baltimore, Jeff Zrebiec notes former NFLer Steve Smith Sr. has agreed to a multiyear deal with NFL Network to "provide analysis on various shows, including 'NFL GameDay First,'" which airs every Sunday at 7:00am ET during the season. Smith is also part of the net's coverage of Super Bowl LI. It was "widely expected that Smith, who played the past three seasons with the Ravens, would enter broadcasting after his playing career was over." Smith "auditioned with several networks over the past couple of years when he wasn't playing, and he had a regular spot on ESPN's 'Mike & Mike' this past season" (Baltimore SUN, 2/3).
CUTTING BACK: In Baltimore, Eduardo Encina reports health problems are forcing Orioles radio play-by-play announcer Fred Manfra, a "well-recognized voice of the team for 24 seasons, to retire from full-time broadcasting duties." The 70-year-old Manfra said that he will "broadcast just 11 home games this upcoming season." He has "scaled back his schedule in recent years because of building physical ailments." The Orioles said that MASN studio host Jim Hunter, who "often filled in during Manfra’s absence, will play a larger role in radio broadcasts this year" alongside Joe Angel (Baltimore SUN, 2/3).
SWITCHING TEAMS: Washington Times sports columnist Thom Loverro, a longtime contributor to ESPN Radio 980 DC, yesterday announced that he is "now working" for WJFK-FM. In DC, Dan Steinberg notes Loverro had been "one of a stable of guests on 980’s reconstituted 'Sports Reporters' show, including Chris Knoche, Steve Buckhantz and others." However, when that station "turned the Reporters show into a Steve Czaban program, Loverro ... was out." Steinberg: "Don’t expect a newly unleashed voice now that Loverro is off Redskins Radio." Loverro said that he "never was told what he could or couldn’t say about the Redskins," despite 980’s being owned by Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3).
LEAVING A LEGACY: ESPN broadcasters Chris Berman and Brent Musburger recently either retired or took scaled-back roles with the net, and in Miami, Barry Jackson writes both were "broadcast heavyweights who left an indelible imprint on their industry." Sports fans 30 and older "likely have spent more time listening" to Musburger and Berman than they have "spent listening to many of their friends and relatives." Both, at times, "were overexposed." Both men were "polarizing because they possess healthy egos (hardly unusual for the business) and injected themselves into their work" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3).
