In Boston, Chad Finn notes former NFLer Ted Johnson’s "burgeoning sports-radio career recently caught a major break" when his Sunday evening program on KILT-AM in Houston, co-hosted by Josh Innes, was "picked up nationally by fledgling CBS Sports Radio, which launched at the beginning of the year." Johnson said, "It’s been very flattering because I never saw it coming. I didn’t think I’d enjoy talk radio or as much as I have. Their vision (at KILT) for me is to be a host, not necessarily just a football analyst." Johnson has been "outspoken regarding the dangers of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/11).
WHAT'S UP, DOC? In N.Y., Richard Sandomir notes NBC hockey announcer Mike Emrick "has not been fully idle" during the NHL lockout, and his "most unusual assignment came last month: play-by-play of a girls’ 12-and-under league game." The idea came from NBC News' Brian Williams, who said, "I figured, ‘What is he doing?’ He must be driving Mrs. Emrick crazy. So we approached him and said, ‘The smaller the better -- would you be willing to call a kids’ game?’" Sandomir notes Emrick "liked the idea of calling a game without a labor dispute involved, and the girls’ game was put on his schedule on Dec. 12 in Troy, Mich." The segment aired as part of Thursday night's episode of NBC's "Rock Center" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/11).
CROSSOVER APPEAL: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand notes Michelle Beadle will co-host a new NBC Sports Network show called "The Crossover" starting Jan. 28 that will "incorporate various new-media tie-ins such as video screens that could flash viral videos." Beadle, who previously co-hosted "SportsNation" on ESPN2, said, "I'd be lying if I said we're reinventing the wheel. I came from a show trying to not take anything too seriously, which is easy for me. I don't know if we'll introduce anything mind-dropping. But we'll be there for people who don't want arguments or yelling" (USA TODAY, 1/11).
WELCOME ABOARD: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area announced that MLB Network host Ahmed Fareed would join the network and serve as an anchor and reporter for the net's "SportsNet Central." Fareed begins his new role Monday (CSN).
