THE BIG LEAD's Ryan Glasspiegel reported SI.com's Seth Davis was "laid off" on Thursday. A source said that SI was "laying off five staffers" after the publication's parent company, Time Inc., "missed earnings badly this week, sending their stock price down." Some of those laid off will be "recognizable to readers, and will impact college sports coverage." However, the source said that SI does plan to "announce new hires in the coming months" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 5/11).
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE? ESPN has extended the contract for NBA analyst Chauncey Billups. He will continue to appear on the ABC/ESPN's "NBA Countdown" pregame show. Billups joined ESPN for the '14-15 season (ESPN). In Albany, Pete Dougherty wrote ESPN recently has been "announcing numerous contract renewals." While the folks in Bristol may "believe spreading the news is masking the stench, ESPN is showing an egregious lack of respect for the departed, most of whom were let go for reasons other than their abilities" (TIMESUNION.com, 5/11).
KNOW SOMEBODY: In Houston, David Barron noted former MLBer Josh Beckett is "working about 23 Astros games this year" as an analyst. Beckett "never aspired to be in broadcasting, so his presence on the Astros telecasts is largely a matter of knowing people who knew people." Beckett said that Root Sports Southwest Coordinating Producer John Valek "said during a conversation with Beckett's former teammate Carl Pavano that he was looking for a part-time analyst." Pavano "suggested that Valek call Beckett, who lives with his wife and two children in Boerne, near San Antonio" (
HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/11).
