In Boston, Steve Buckley cited sources as saying that the Red Sox and WEEI-FM have offered their open position "in the play-by-play booth for radio broadcasts" to Tim Neverett, who would replace Dave O’Brien. Neverett has been a member of the Pirates’ broadcast team since '09. He recently completed his seventh season with the Pirates, "working both on the radio and TV side" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/20).
CONTRACT TALKS: In N.Y., Bob Raissman cited a source as saying that SNY execs are "in contract negotiations with Keith Hernandez, looking to bring him back" for the '16 season and beyond. Hernandez’ current contract expires in January. Hernandez has "teamed with Gary Cohen and Ron Darling since SNY began airing Mets baseball" in '06. The trio has "often been praised for its chemistry." There is "no doubt eliminating one of the voices from the mix would radically change the chemical balance of the booth" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/20).
COURT REPORT: The AP noted former FS1 reporter Colleen Dominguez alleged that the net was "guilty of age and gender discrimination when it withheld assignments and refused to air those she initiated on her own." Dominguez worked at the network "for more than a year." In a complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Dominguez "claims she was hired as a key sports personality with experience in most major sports." Fox declined to comment. Dominguez is "seeking exemplary and punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees, from Fox" (AP, 12/18).
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote he had "never had heard of him" prior to Saturday's Alcorn State-North Carolina A&T Celebration Bowl, but analyst Jay Walker "was excellent." He "spoke logical close-game strategy, logical clock-management and spoke in fluent, plain-talk football" (N.Y. POST, 12/20). Meanwhile, in Tampa, Kenya Woodard profiled ESPN's Tiffany Greene, who covered the sidelines during the bowl game. Greene is "one of only a handful of women to ever handle college football play-by-play for the network this year," and she is "believed to be the first African-American woman to do football play-by-play." She said that she is "adjusting well to her new role, but admits the schedule can be exhaustive" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/19).
