Newsmakers: As Expected, Roger Goodell Ascends To NFL Throne
THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of
some people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers:
WIN: ROGER GOODELL — Was there ever really any doubt? PAUL
TAGLIABUE’s right-hand man goes wire-to-wire to land top job at THE top sports
property, instantly becoming one of the industry’s most powerful.
LOSE: BENGALS — The team creates a “jerk” hotline to report
unruly fans at games. Hmmmmmm. Maybe they should have a similar number for their
players -– five of whom have been arrested in the last eight months — as
observers call for team to take a “tougher stand” against misbehaving athletes.
DRAW: “ESPN ON ABC” — The rebranding is a no-brainer, and follows
three years of efforts to consolidate ABC Sports and ESPN. Most acknowledge it’s
the right long-term move for the ESPN brand, but today the network faces the expected
criticism for neglecting the heritage of ABC Sports. Retired ABC announcer KEITH
JACKSON says, “A lot of people worked to make ABC what it was, and they deserve
more than to have their legacy callously tossed aside.”
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