People & Personalities: Hazel Mae Out At NESN
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| Mae Leaving NESN At Month's End |
NESN yesterday revealed that "SportsDesk" anchor Hazel Mae will leave the station at the end of this month. In Boston, gossip columnists Fee & Raposa note Mae, who joined NESN in '04, is the "second high-profile exit from the station in four months," as Tina Cervasio in February left for MSG after "failing to agree on a new contract" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/3).
OFF THE MARK: In Pittsburgh, Bob Smizik writes ESPN Radio 1250 Pittsburgh faces a "troubling time" after the station removed host Mark Madden following his insensitive comments about U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Madden has "been the station's main attraction -- for listeners and advertisers -- for years." Station GM Mike Thompson: "We are discussing our options. We probably will have multiple hosts." Smizik writes there is "no question a national search will be made," but "no one should be surprised if the station stays local, because outsiders have a hard time cracking this market." Meanwhile, it will "not be easy for [Madden] to find another local show." While stations "know he brings talent, controversy and an audience," they also know that he "has a rich history of being difficult to work with" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/3).
NOTES: ESPN's Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic and Mike Ditka will be the on-air commentating team for Broncos-Raiders on September 8 at 10:15pm ET, the second game of an ESPN "MNF" doubleheader (ESPN)....CBS' Gus Johnson, a Detroit native, is the "top candidate" for the Lions' play-by-play gig on WWJ-CBS (DETROIT NEWS, 6/3)....CLTV's Lou Canellis has joined the Chicago Bears Network as host for the team's five scheduled TV shows (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/3).
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