In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes the Rams radio broadcasts are in their fifth season on WXOS-FM, but with the contract "set to expire after this season there is at least one known other suitor." WXOS "wants to keep the broadcasts" but KTRS-AM also is "interested in the rights." KMOX-AM also "could be a factor, though the station already has Cardinals and Blues broadcasts and adding the Rams would cause some logistical problems for the CBS Radio affiliate." But times have "changed from when stations routinely paid teams big rights fees; a lot more sharing of expenses or financial risk in one form or another is more common now" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/15).
ONE OF A KIND: In Buffalo, Alan Pergament notes WGRZ-NBC on Wednesday was "the only network affiliate to carry the lengthy" Sabres news conference live announcing the firings of GM Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston and the hiring of President of Hockey Operations Pat LaFontaine and interim coach Ted Nolan. Time Warner Cable's YNN "also carried it live." WGRZ "deserves some congratulations for ignoring the bottom line to air the event on TV at some cost." It was "legitimately 'Breaking News'" (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/15).
GET WELL SOON: The Trail Blazers said that radio play-by-play announcer Brian Wheeler "will miss the team's upcoming four-game trip to Boston, Toronto, Brooklyn and Milwaukee because of illness." It will mark Wheeler's "first absence in his 16-year career with the Blazers" (OREGONLIVE.com, 11/14). Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley noted Marquette Univ. men's basketball radio announcer Steve True on Wednesday was "struck by a car that blew through a red light and plowed into the side of True's car." True on Thursday morning was "said to be up and alert and in good spirits" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/14).
BACK ON THE AIRWAVES: In Boston, Gayle Fee noted former WEEI-FM host Glenn Ordway has "taken a gig on Sirius XM Radio where he will host Saturday and Sunday mornings on the Mad Dog Sports Radio channel" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 11/14).
