Former Warriors coach Mark Jackson has reached a multiyear agreement to rejoin ESPN, and called yesterday's Heat-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 on ABC alongside Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy (ESPN). In N.Y., Bob Raissman reported the deal "came together quickly" after Jackson was fired by the Warriors, and he "isn't looking at his return to ESPN as a short-term gig." Jackson's deal "doesn't have" an out clause (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/18). However, also in N.Y., Marc Berman reports the deal has an out that allows him to "return to coaching at any time" and to "talk to teams" (N.Y. POST, 5/18). SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported "leading the cause to bring back Jackson" were ESPN Senior VP/Production Mark Gross and Senior Coordinating Producer/NBA Tim Corrigan. Jackson "decided last Tuesday that he wanted to come back to ESPN and the following day, Gross spoke with IMG agent Sandy Montag, who represents Jackson." Jackson will have "a full schedule of games next year as a lead NBA analyst." Given the "volume of weekday games on ESPN and ABC during the regular season, he will likely end up as a solo analyst at times working with either" Breen, Mike Tirico or Dave Pasch (SI.com, 5/18).
NET MINDER: In Albany, Pete Dougherty conducted a Q&A with NBC NHL studio host Liam McHugh, who said of whether his goal was always to get into TV, "I spoke to some people, some editors at ESPN The Magazine, who really encouraged me. Maybe that's also a time they wanted to talk me out of writing because I wasn't good enough." McHugh said Bob Costas "is the gold standard," among broadcasters, while Dan Patrick is "someone I've looked up to, as well." He added TNT's Ernie Johnson is "someone I really admire." McHugh said Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith are "going to take that show in any direction they really please. He's got to roll with that. He's the one I have to really admire and look up to" (Albany TIMES UNION, 5/16).
SENT TO THE SHOWERS: In N.Y., Andy Clayton noted MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams is "taking a leave of absence from the network" after he reportedly "ordered the beaning of an opposing player during a youth baseball tournament last weekend in Maryland." The news came one day after Williams reportedly was "ejected" from another one of the youth team's games after berating an umpire (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/18).
NATIONAL PASTIME: In DC, Dan Steinberg noted ESPN's Bram Weinstein, a Maryland native, was "offered a chance to perform a Nationals double-dip" in two new "This Is SportsCenter" spots starring P Stephen Strasburg and LF Bryce Harper. Weinstein said, "They told me Harper and Strasburg were coming up, and I was like ‘Yeah, I definitely want to do it with those guys.' For me, it was a treat." Both spots were "filmed in January; the Strasburg commercial debuted on Sunday, while the Harper commercial will come out later this season." Weinstein said that he and Strasburg "did what felt like hundreds of takes over a few hours" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/18).
NOTES: Brewers’ fill-in broadcaster Matt Lepay, who called 24 games while regular play-by-play man Brian Anderson worked for TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage, said of his performance, “I was terrible, especially the first couple of games. I beat myself up something fierce after the first game.” He added of knowing when and when not to talk, “I felt I got more comfortable with that, but not completely so” (JSONLINE.com, 5/17)....Red Bulls F Thierry Henry will “join up” with the BBC as part of its FIFA World Cup commentary team next month (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/19).
