Author James Andrew Miller on the "SI Media Podcast" discussed Bill Simmons, noting writing is “what he does best and was the oxygen for his tremendous growth.” The cancellation of his HBO show was “probably disappointing in some ways," but in some ways was "probably liberating" because he could focus on writing. Meanwhile, Miller said FS1’s Katie Nolan is a “real talent and she knows it, FS1 knows it so I would expect if she does stay they’re going to have to come up with not only something that’s more than what she’s doing now, they’re going to have to come up with more money." Miller noted Fox Sports National Networks President Jamie Horowitz is “pretty savvy so I would guess he’s going to come up with a way to preempt as much as that as possible" (“SI Media Podcast,” SI.com, 3/30).
WHO'S THE ROSS? In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes former MLBer David Ross this week discussed if his role as a special assistant to baseball operations for the Cubs "conflicted with his responsibilities as an ESPN analyst." Ross: "It's pretty obvious that I'm a little biased toward the Cubs anyway, so if you expect me to badmouth a team that's done so much for me and me not be a Cubs fan, you're wrong." Ross added, "I'm going to tell the truth and I'm going to be honest. A guy who makes a mistake, it's pretty obvious I'm going to have to make that a point in whatever I'm talking about the Cubs on TV. But I'm going to be a Cub for life, and I'm going to support that organization as best I can" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/31).
BATTING CLEANUP: CSN Chicago announced that former MLBer Scott Podsednik will join the net's "White Sox Pregame Live," as an additional studio analyst on a number of select games this season (CSN). In Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen notes Podsednik is "expected to work alongside" Chuck Garfien and Bill Melton for about 20-25 games this season (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/31). Also in Chicago, Colleen Kane notes Podsednik "filled in for Steve Stone" during some White Sox broadcasts in the past (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/31).
LEAVING A VOID: On Long Island, Neil Best notes the Mets will begin the season without late Fox Sports and SNY baseball director Bill Webb, who died at 70 on March 7 after nearly four decades directing Mets games. Keith Hernandez, Gary Cohen and producer Gregg Picker recalled him "not only as one of the most influential directors in baseball history, but as a personality as difficult to ignore as he will be to replace." Dan Barr, who worked with Webb and directed many games as he battled cancer over the past two seasons, will "succeed him and is widely respected." Webb "worked in a variety [of] roles in his career," among them as Fox' lead director for national games, including the World Series. But he was "associated more than anything else with the Mets" (NEWSDAY, 3/31).
TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH: In Miami, Barry Jackson writes the Marlins and FS Florida are "opting for the more traditional one analyst approach" this season, and the man they hired -- former MLBer Todd Hollandsworth -- "has a lot going for him." However, what Hollandsworth "lacks is substantial experience calling games in a big-league booth." Hollandsworth estimates he "filled in as a game analyst on 8 to 15 Cubs broadcasts over the past eight years but believes he’s ready to handle a 150-game package alongside Rich Waltz" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/31).
NOTES: Former Indiana men's basketball coach Tom Crean has a "new gig, albeit a short-term one." Crean will be "joining the crew at ESPN as an analyst during this weekend's Final Four" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/31)....As part of a nationwide restructuring by parent company Bell Media, CTV Calgary is "losing three sports reporter/anchor positions in Calgary." The employees affected include Glenn Campbell, Lisa Bowes and Heath Brown (CALGARY HERALD, 3/31).
