In N.Y., Mark Sanchez cites a source as saying that ESPN's Ryen Russillo "has not been on the airwaves since his Wednesday arrest and will not be heard again until Sept. 5 as he serves a suspension." ESPN in a statement said that he will return to "The Ryen Russillo Show" on that date (N.Y. POST, 8/29).
COMING ALONG? THE ATHLETIC's Steve Berman cited sources as saying that NBC Sports Bay Area’s Greg Papa "might be unlikely to continue calling Raiders games after the team moves to Las Vegas." When Papa has addressed the issue on his radio show, he has repeatedly said that it is all "speculation about a career and life decision that doesn't have to be made (by either side) for years." Berman wrote it is "fairly easy to connect the dots in a way that shows why Papa and the team could theoretically 'mutually part ways.'" The indignation Papa displayed on the air when Raiders Owner Mark Davis "went so far as to interview a longtime nemesis" in '15 of late Raiders Owner Al Davis, Mike Shanahan, for the team's coaching vacancy, "spoke volumes." It is also possible that the Raiders' decision to "replace Papa as the team's preseason TV play-by-play announcer with Beth Mowins" showed something about Davis' "feelings about Papa" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/25).
A VERY PLEASANT GOOD SEASON: The Dodgers are 91-38, and in L.A., Bill Shaikin wrote in this "magical Dodgers season, fans might wish" for Baseball HOFer Vin Scully to "come out of retirement" and return to the booth for one game. But Scully said that he has "no intention of going back on what he said last year." He really did "call it a career." Scully: "Fox has been kind every year when the Dodgers get into the playoffs. They’ve asked me to come in and do an inning or so. I don’t want to do that, and I certainly don’t want to get in the way of the Dodger broadcasts" (L.A. TIMES, 8/27).
FUNNY GUY: In N.Y., Brett Gubitosi notes ESPN tennis analyst Brad Gilbert "makes a career of creating goofy nicknames," for which there is "no systematic process." He looks at the player’s name and "formulates a word association he finds funny and hopes his audience thinks the same." Gilbert’s nicknames, many of which are "created spontaneously, originate from references to pop culture, food and brands, among many other sources." ESPN's Chris Fowler said, "A lot of these nicknames just sort of work their way into tennis lexicon." He added, "The dude eats, sleeps, breathes tennis, and it comes across" (N.Y. POST, 8/29).
TALK TO THE EXPERT: DraftKings has hired video host and producer Pat Mayo to become a fantasy analyst and host. Prior to DraftKings, Mayo produced content and served as a host for the FNTSY Sports Network. In his new role Mayo will be providing analysis and exclusive content for fans across the DraftKings platform (DraftKings).
