SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted ESPN management is "requiring all of its editorial talent, from people who appear on-air to those who write for the company’s many outlets, to attend a two-hour presentation" at the company’s Bristol HQ on Dec. 13. The topics at the presentation "will include the company’s current priorities, the recent changes to the social media policy, how political and social issues should be handled by editorial staffers and upcoming initiatives." Clearly, the timing is "intentional with layoffs coming to ESPN this week as well as an endless cycle of negative news." The company told staffers that "all employees are required to attend the presentation in-person" (SI.com, 11/26).
ALL IN THE NAME OF PROMOTION: In N.Y., Evan Grossman noted Hockey HOFers Ray Bourque and Bryan Trottier appeared on NBC Sports' float during the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Bourque wore a Bruins jersey and Trottier a Penguins jersey despite winning two of his six Stanley Cups with the Islanders. Grossman wrote, "Blasphemy. Unless of course you're trying to sell a Black Friday hockey game between the Penguins and Bruins" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 11/24).
ACING THE AUDITION: THE ATHLETIC's Steve Berman noted accepting NBC Sports Bay Area's offer to "become the latest Warriors sideline reporter was a no-brainer" for Kerith Burke, who "had the credentials to fill" the shoes of her predecessor Rosalyn Gold-Onwude. Burke said, "Ros was covering the NCAA Tournament and NBC Sports Bay Area extended the offer to me, 'do you want to fill in for these games?' I was like, are you kidding me? Of course I do. ... I think they wanted to see more of my basketball work. I had been covering a lot of UConn women’s basketball. And this was an opportunity to show my stuff and fill in. I suppose it was an audition. It didn’t necessarily feel like that at the time, because I don’t think anybody knew Ros was leaving" (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/24).
