In Boston, Chad Finn noted the 2023-24 NBA season will be Mike Gorman's "last as the Celtics’ television play-by-play voice." Gorman has "called Celtics games since the 1981-82 season." There is speculation on who NBC Sports Boston will "choose to replace Gorman once his farewell season is complete." The job is "coveted for obvious reasons by established and up-and-coming play-by-play voices alike from all corners of the country." But the network is "emphasizing, as it should, Gorman’s final season and the highlights of his Hall of Fame career rather than offering early clues to who might succeed him behind the microphone a season from now." Finn wrote Celtics radio voice Sean Grande’s appearance with host Adam Kaufman on the Celtics Beat podcast recently was "notable." Grande is an "excellent and accomplished NBA broadcaster in his own right." Finn: "The vast majority of Celtics fans would approve of Grande becoming the television voice, or even the sole play-by-play voice across both media if that were logistically possible" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/19).
QUESTIONS LINGERING: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote it is "rare for a network to strike this brand of gold" as ESPN did with its NBA commentary team of Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and Mike Breen. But it is even "rarer to strike gold than flush it down the toilet." The crew of Van Gundy, Jackson and Breen "was a compelling team, in the truest sense." The ultimate demise of Van Gundy and Jackson "sends a signal to the Free World that at ESPN, excellence behind the ESPN microphone is no guarantee of keeping one’s gig." Raissman wonders could the dismissals have "anything to do with JVG, and his sometimes-controversial commentary, being perceived as an irritant to the NBA hierarchy?" Or was this a case of ESPN’s Faculty "wanting nothing, no matter how small, serving as an impediment to its ongoing NBA negotiations?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/19).
MOVING ON: In Houston, Matt Young reported after 14 years as a sports anchor and reporter at KHOU-CBS, Daniel Gotera is "leaving the TV business." Gotera in an announcement said he is departing KHOU "for a job outside of the television world" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/18).
