NBA TV "Inside Stuff" co-host Grant Hill said that while he "still is mastering the rhythm of television, he's enjoying the challenge." He said, "The storytelling and being able to help create the narrative on guys is enjoyable. Bringing to life the many talents and personalities and interests and hobbies of guys that I saw firsthand as a player is fun. It's great PR for the league." Hill added, "It's a show where the thesis is to showcase guys in a positive light. It's a safe place. As a result, I think players are more willing to open up and show that side of them that maybe at times they're hesitant to reveal" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/10).
THREE'S COMPANY: In Tampa, Tom Jones wrote he likes ESPN college football analysts David Pollack and Jesse Palmer, but he does not "want both together." Both are "very good. Separately." However, when they "work together in a three-man booth on Thursday night games with announcer Rece Davis, it's just too much." The two "never shut up." During last Thursday's Oregon-Stanford game, it was "like the two have a bet to see who can use the most words." Pollack and Palmer "have good thoughts, but it's hard to digest their comments when you're always taking another bite" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/11).
DYNAMIC DUO: SI.com's Seth Davis wrote Friday's Boston College-Providence game was the "most entertaining game" he watched all weekend, largely because it was "so much fun to hear Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery call a game together again" (SI.com, 11/11). SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote the Johnson-Raftery pairing "gives FS1 instant credibility with its in-game basketball coverage." It is yet to be seen whether the network's studio team "can duplicate that, and if unlike college football, Fox Sports management will invest in college basketball reporters with journalistic bona fides as their competition in Bristol has done with college sports time and time again" (SI.com, 11/10).
BETTER TOGETHER: In DC, Adam Kilgore cited a source as saying that the Nationals’ broadcasting team on MASN "will almost certainly return intact in 2014." MASN has "picked up play-by-play man Bob Carpenter’s option for the 2014 season." The source said that analyst F.P. Santangelo’s deal "ran out after the season, but MASN offered him a new contract this week and wants him to return" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/9).
THE BATTLE RAGES ON: In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote ESPN host Keith Olbermann's "feud" with WFAN's Mike Francesa, Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton "reminds us of a steel-cage match involving four villains." Raissman: "You don't care who wins. you just want to see them destroy each other." The WFAN contingent's backs "must be hurting from carrying Olbermann," as they actually are "doing him a huge favor." His ESPN2 show "has about as much ratings traction as a bald tire," and that is one reason Olbermann "continues his 'feud'" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/10).
