ESPN's Doris Burke is profiled by the Albany TIMES UNION's Pete Dougherty in advance of her working the NCAA Women's Tournament in Albany this weekend, and she called herself a "happy accident in the world of sports broadcasting." She said, "When I left coaching in 1990 because I wanted to get married and have children and be a mom, never did I dream my career would take the path that it did. ... I am the beneficiary of exceptional timing." Burke: "What happened to me was I was fortunate to have been on the (New York) Liberty telecasts at Madison Square Garden Network. ... The then-leader of that network, Mike McCarthy, was paying attention to my work on the Liberty telecasts and said, 'Listen, we're going to look for an opportunity when Clyde Frazier can't make a game, we believe in your abilities and we'd like you to call an NBA game.'" Burke added, "The only event that I have not had an opportunity to work that I grew up watching was the men's NCAA Tournament. That would be the only thing that I've not had the chance to do that, as I have gone on in my career, [I] would love to be a part of" (Albany TIMES UNION, 3/27).
THIS IS 40: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes the MLB Cardinals have expanded the duties for TV analyst Tim McCarver this season, with his schedule on FS Midwest "being set at 40 games this season." The initial plan was for McCarver "to have the same 30-game workload as last season." The additional appearances are a "welcome development for those fans who appreciated his no-nonsense, candid commentary last season." He will "work with play-by-play announcer Dan McLaughlin on all his assignments this season, as he did last year" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/27).
EARNING THE GOLD MEDAL: In S.F., Ann Killion writes Warriors sideline reporter Rosalyn Gold-Onwude is the "freshest new face in Bay Area media," as she has "made a strong impression" in her first season with the team. Her rapport with the players and her knowledge of the game "comes shining through the screen." Warriors F Draymond Green said, "She understands things from the athlete’s standpoint. She has a high basketball IQ. Her Stanford education shines through. And she has a swagger about herself" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/27).
CROSSING THE LINE: In Chicago, Phil Thompson noted WSCR-AM's Dan Bernstein "apologized Thursday for sexist remarks he made Wednesday night" about CSN Chicago reporter Aiyana Cristal. Bernstein "referenced the broadcaster's physique during a Twitter conversation" with fellow radio host Matt Spiegel. Bernstein: "I'm an idiot. There are certain times when you can be childish and crass and there are other times when it's just really stupid to be a child. My tweet was childish, my tweet was crass and unnecessary and I'm sorry I dragged an innocent person into it who's doing a job." Spiegel also "apologized for his role in the exchange through his Twitter account," as well as "during an on-air conversation with Bernstein" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 3/26).
