SI.com's Richard Deitsch confirmed that ESPN's Sam Ponder "has indeed been offered" the host position vacated by Chris Berman on "Sunday NFL Countdown." However, nothing "is signed." ESPN President John Skipper and Senior VP/Event & Studio Production Stephanie Druley "believe Ponder has great potential as a studio host." Skipper also "wants to get more women in front-facing positions for the network’s NFL coverage." There has also been "plenty of internal talk that management wants the host of this show to focus on facilitating conversations between the analysts as opposed to being an NFL wonk" (SI.com, 3/5).
A REAL NEWS JUNKIE: THE BIG LEAD's Ryan Glasspiegel cited sources as saying that Kaylee Hartung is "leaving ESPN for CNN." Hartung has been a "rising star at ESPN the past few years, covering college football and college basketball as a sideline reporter." Prior to joining ESPN in late '12, Hartung "spent five years with CBS News" in DC, reporting for their web site. Hartung is expected to start at CNN next month, and she will "contribute news reporting and features as a national correspondent based in Atlanta." She is not slated to "contribute to Turner Sports" at the outset of her deal (THEBIGLEAD.com, 3/3).
MARCHING ORDERS: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote one of the "most interesting poaches that CBS/Turner has made" ahead of the NCAA tournament is hiring Steve Lavin, who has "been locked in lately with Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Network." Another "overdue hiring is Debbie Antonelli, who will become the first woman in 21 years to be an NCAA Tournament analyst." Ann Meyers was the "last do it" from '92-95 (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/5). Meanwhile, SI's Deitsch noted he has "gotten a lot of questions about why Brad Nessler is not calling NCAA Tournament games." The nets said that they were "making no changes to their play by play group" for this year's event (SI.com, 3/5).
ROYAL RELIEF: In K.C., Pete Grathoff reported Royals TV play-by-play announced Ryan Lefebvre has signed a new three-year extension with FS K.C., meaning he will "continue to work Royals television broadcasts until the team’s TV deal" ends in '19. He also "will call a number of games on radio -- as he does each year" (K.C. STAR, 3/4).
OLD SCHOOL: Clippers radio broadcaster Ralph Lawler said he has "no plans for when he might retire." However, the 78-year-old Lawler, who is in his 32nd year with the Clippers, added that he would "like to travel more with his wife, Jo, than the Clippers schedule allows." Lawler: "We’re having so much fun, and with the new ownership, the new management, it is so different than it used to be. They make it very difficult to want to leave this club. It would make me feel almost like I’d be disloyal if I were to quit." (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/6).
