CBS Sports "recently parted ways with Gus Johnson, a play-by-play mainstay on its college basketball coverage for 16 years, after the two sides could not agree on a new deal," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Johnson also has worked as a play-by-play voice for CBS' NFL coverage since '98. Johnson's marketing agent, Christian Gesue, indicated Thursday night that his client's departure from CBS "was not official," and he "would not elaborate further." Johnson, scheduled to work Showtime's PPV coverage of Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley bout, also "has called college basketball for the Big Ten Network for the past two years." Sources said that Johnson "has spoken with Fox Sports about a role in its college football coverage." Fox Sports, which has 49% ownership of the Big Ten Network, "recently upped its inventory of college football as part of the 12-year, $3 billion contract between the Pac-10 and ESPN and Fox." Deitsch noted Johnson's "animated style and signature calls" at the conclusion of NCAA men's basketball tournament games "earned him cult status among younger college basketball fans" (SI.com, 5/5). A source said Johnson is discussing "a significant role" in Fox's college football coverage (L.A. TIMES, 5/6). Another source said that Johnson, "whose CBS contract expired after the Final Four, received a written offer from Fox earlier this week" that includes both NFL and Pac-12 football. But in N.Y., Bob Raissman reports Johnson's reps "have not presented the offer to CBS execs," and when they do, "probably next week, CBS will have one week to match or say adios to Johnson" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/6). USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand cites a source as saying that "no decision has been reached" on Johnson's future with CBS. The source said that "it's expected that CBS will get a chance to match other offers -- and that Johnson hopes to stay with CBS" (USA TODAY, 5/6).
MAKING A MISTAKE? YAHOO SPORTS' Ryan Greene wrote if CBS has in fact parted ways with Johnson, the network "fouled up here." Between his "constant enthusiasm and outstanding signature calls late in games, Johnson long ago earned his way towards a promotion to a much more prominent spot on CBS's college hoops food chain." But "that chance never came." Greene: "We don't know what happened during negotiations, and probably never will, but the outside perception, no matter how you cut it, is that CBS should have paid Johnson whatever he wanted in a new deal" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/5). In N.Y., Phil Mushnick notes before the current NBA season, Johnson was "let go as MSG Network's radio voice of the Knicks, allegedly for demanding more or the same money for fewer game assignments" (N.Y. POST, 5/6). Meanwhile, in L.A., Tom Hoffarth writes an opening at CBS "could affect the career choices facing Lakers radio play-by-play man Spero Dedes, who's in negotiations with the team about becoming its TV voice starting next season, replacing Joel Meyers." Dedes has called both NCAA tournament and NFL games for the net in recent years (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/6).
TWITTER WORLD NOT HAPPY: ESPN's Tony Reali noted the report about Johnson Thursday and called it the "news that broke Twitter" ("PTI," ESPN, 5/5). SI’s Stewart Mandel wrote on his Twitter account, “They might as well cancel March Madness next year. Without Gus, it doesn't count. … It's a testament to Gus' popularity that this news seems to be bigger (on Twitter at least) than a national champion hoops coach retiring.” The Newark Star-Ledger's Brendan Prunty wrote, “I wonder if CBS parting ways with Gus Johnson will be like when Fox cancelled Family Guy. At least I hope so.” HolterMedia President Pete Holtermann: “CBS losing Gus Johnson for March Madness is like taking Luther Vandross off ‘One Shining Moment.’ Just can't be done. Oh wait…” The L.A. Times’ Diane Pucin: “If Pac-12 gets Gus Johnson too, Larry Scott will rule the world.” N.Y. Times’ Judy Battista: “So Gus Johnson out at CBS, and Bob Papa out of the NFLN game booth -- not the smartest looking day for network executives.”
