Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer yesterday said he has felt HBO regarded him as an “unwanted stepchild.” In L.A., Lance Pugmire noted Schaefer was referring to HBO's offer in early '12 for a Victor Ortiz fight that eventually landed on Showtime for an offer that a source said "was greater by $300,000." Boxing insiders also have "pointed to Schaefer’s longtime friendship" with Showtime Sports Exec VP & GM Stephen Espinoza as "an inside job." Schaefer said that HBO Sports President Ken Hershman "turned his back to him, the pair not speaking since December." Top Rank Chair Bob Arum "praised HBO for its stance" (LATIMES.com, 3/20).
RED BIRD ON A WIRE: In St. Louis, Derrick Goold wrote MLB Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is "out to change youth sports" with his blog on mikematheny.com. Matheny said that he "does plan to continue" the blog during the Cardinals season. The site is "tied to the 'manifesto' he wrote four years ago about how oppressive parents were sapping the fun out of youth sports." Matheny "received permission from the Cardinals to offer his view on things going on with the club" (STLTODAY.com, 3/20).
POOR CHOICE OF WORDS: Former MLB manager Lou Piniella during yesterday's Yankees-Red Sox telecast on YES Network said of the notable offseason trade between the Marlins and the Blue Jays, "I don't want to use the word 'raped,' but they (Toronto) basically took a lot of talent from the Miami Marlins." In N.Y., Bob Raissman notes Piniella "later apologized." A Yankees official said that the organization "stood behind Piniella while recognizing he made a mistake" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/21).
SOUL MAN: In Philadelphia, Vaughn Johnson reported AFL Soul co-Owner Ron Jaworski "gave glowing reviews" to the arena league's new TV deal with CBS Sports Network. But Jaworski also said that the league is "in the negotiating stages of striking more television deals -- namely with Fox and NBC -- and possibly broadcasting more games next season or during the second half of this season." He added that Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will "carry Soul games locally." Meanwhile, a local radio deal is "still in the works as well, but nothing has been made official" (PHILLY.com, 3/19).
