In San Diego, John Maffei reports the Padres after seven seasons "are replacing radio play-by-play voice Andy Masur," whose contract was not renewed. Miami-based WINZ-AM host Jesse Agler will serve as Content Dir for the team, "as well as serving as a play-by-play voice" on XEPRS-AM. Padres analysts Ted Leitner and Bob Scanlan "will both return" for the '14 season. Padres Senior VP & CMO Wayne Partello said that Agler's "actual radio/TV role is still to be determined" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/30).
YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE: In West Palm Beach, Dave George cited sources as pointing to ESPN's Chris Fowler "possibly being given the play-calling gig" for ABC’s “Saturday Night Football." It is "not a comfortable topic" for current host Brent Musburger, who is "represented in negotiations by his sports agent brother, Todd." Brent Musburger said, “I assume there’s something going on between Todd and them. I don’t know how far along the network is or what’s going on. The network has been very nice to me. Whatever reasons they have, that’s their business, but I’m going to be fine. I’m going to be on someplace. I love doing it" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 1/29).
STAKING HIS CLAIM: In Memphis, Kyle Veazey noted ESPN broadcaster Jason Benetti has a "mild form of cerebral palsy, an impairment that hasn’t affected his rise through the ranks." He is "getting more and more assignments from ESPN, including a regular weekly gig on the network’s American Athletic Conference package." Benetti has the "kind of rich, booming voice that’s natural to the profession." Benetti said, "I have no ill effects of CP when it comes to my speech. All it really affects is my walk" (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 1/29).
NOT A BIG DEAL: SPORTS ON EARTH's Colin McGowan noted Saturday's BYU-Gonzaga men's basketball game game was called by ESPN's Beth Mowins and Kara Lawson, and there "exists a future, hopefully, where this isn't 'a thing' anymore." It is an "objectively good thing that ESPN is cool with occasionally assigning two competent female announcers to a men’s basketball game," and it is an "objectively bad thing, even if it’s not surprising, that some people are upset by it." What the "vexation over Mowins and Lawson calling the BYU-Gonzaga game demonstrates is that women are damned if they’re hot and damned if they’re not." All Mowins, Lawson and Fox' Erin Andrews "can do is be the best sportscasters they can be, in whichever way they see fit." There is "no way of infiltrating a man’s world that won’t draw ill-founded scrutiny" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 1/28).
NOTES: NUGGETS.com's Aaron Lopez noted former Nuggets GM & coach Dan Issel is filling in "as an analyst alongside play-by-play man Chris Marlowe" for two Nuggets games this week on the Altitude RSN. Issel worked last night's Bobcats-Nuggets game and will do so again tomorrow for Scott Hastings, who is "doing broadcast work as part of the Super Bowl coverage this week" (NUGGETS.com, 1/28)....In K.C., Jeff Rosen reported the K.C. Star has "hired a new Royals beat writer," bringing on Andy McCullough from the Newark Star-Ledger. McCullough "was the lead Yankees beat writer" in '13 and before that, "spent several seasons" as the paper's Mets reporter (KANSASCITY.com, 1/29).
