Turner Sports signed Marv Albert to a multiyear
contract and the former NBC announcer will return to the
broadcast booth on April 2 for the first of six regular-
season NBA telecasts on TNT and TBS, according to Prentis
Rogers of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. In addition to the NBA,
Albert will also work on boxing, the Goodwill Games, and
"other new programming," which Rogers calls a "veiled
reference" to the Turner/NBC football league. Albert will
also call games for Turner during the playoffs, though that
number "will depend" on his obligations to MSG Network and
local Knicks radio. Albert: "I've been saying all along I
have to take it step by step, and this is a big step."
Turner Exec Producer Mike Pearl, on Albert's hiring: "I'd be
lying if I didn't think there will be some negative reaction
somewhere about it. But it is our belief most of the
reaction will be positive" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/16).
Pearl said the net "did research" on whether viewers would
accept Albert's return and "indicated" the advertising sales
division "also was consulted" before the move (WASHINGTON
POST, 2/16). Pearl, asked to explain the hiring of Albert:
"Because I think he is one of the top play-by-play
broadcasters in the business. Because his name was cleared
by the court. ... And because he has taken good care of his
personal situation" (NEWSDAY, 2/16). USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke reports that Albert will work 25-30 NBA regular and
post-season games in upcoming years for Turner, but because
of exclusivity rights held by MSG, Albert will not be able
to work any Knicks games on Turner (USA TODAY, 2/16).
REAX: In Boston, Jim Baker writes that "if Latrell
Sprewell can come back after choking his coach, if game
officials can be rehired after airline ticket-related tax
evasion .... why can't Marv Albert call their games?" But
Baker adds that Albert "brings heavy baggage among those who
ask what kind of the image the NBA and Turner are
projecting" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/16). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick
writes that Albert "has been given his first second chance
-- the legit kind, the kind we're told that everyone
deserves. Good" (N.Y. POST, 2/16). In Dallas, Kevin
Blackistone writes that Albert, "like all the athletes gone
wrong ... deserved his second chance, too. ... There was no
reason for the sports broadcasting business to keep Albert
locked out any longer" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/16).
