Newly named Redskins radio analyst Chris Cooley said that several "national media outlets" approached him with job offers, but he turned them down in part because he "did not want to move ... nor change his lifestyle." Cooley said, "This is the only job I considered. What I wanted to do is be Sam Huff and Sonny Jurgensen and travel with the team for the next 50 years." In DC, Rich Campbell noted Huff recently retired as the team's radio analyst and play-by-play announcer Jurgensen "turns 79 next month, so it's easy to see how Cooley's role in the game broadcast might increase sooner rather than later" (WASHINGTONTIMES.com, 7/18).
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: In L.A. Tom Hoffarth writes it is "against most odds" that Keith Olbermann has been "allowed to do some bridge building" with ESPN. However, Olbermann "needs ESPN as much as the network needs him back to help give credibility to their channel ... as there is perceived competition now from the launch next month of Fox Sports 1." Olbermann "could famously fall flat in this comeback attempt -- and he will likely be used on other ESPN shows and events as he re-establishes his footing." But many obversers are "curious as to the odds or over-under for his length of tenure" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/19).
PREPPING FOR TWO-A-DAYS: Raycom Sports announced that Steve Martin and Tim Brant will again split duties as the play-by-play announcer for ACC Network football games this year. Dave Archer returns as analyst, while Rachel Baribeau replaces Mike Hogewood as the sideline reporter. Tom Werme and Tommy Bowden will host the studio show "ACC Blitz" (Raycom Sports). Meanwhile, former Auburn and Iowa State coach Gene Chizik has joined SiriusXM Radio as an analyst on its college sports channel (SiriusXM).
GETTING A DESK JOB: Former Texans OL Chester Pitts will join Houston's KPRC-NBC as a "year-round member of the station's sports staff." He will anchor the Friday sportscasts and "contribute to 'Sports Sunday' and to the Monday sportscasts during football season." Pitts retired after the '10 season (CHRON.com, 7/18).
SAYING GOODBYE: Baltimore Sun columnist Kevin Cowherd is leaving the paper after 32 years. He wrote he has "decided to move on and look for new challenges," but "no one's pushing me out of here." He noted he is "definitely not retiring from the workforce," and he has a "couple of projects in mind and some time to figure it out, so we'll see where it all leads" (Baltimore SUN, 7/18).
