Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Media

People & Personalities: NBA Reporter Marc Spears Moving From Yahoo To ESPN

Yahoo Sports NBA reporter Marc Spears is leaving the website for ESPN's The Undefeated after six years, and The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski took to Facebook to thank him for being one of the "founding fathers" of the site. Wojnarowski wrote, "It felt like we spent a thousand days and nights together chasing big and small stories, all of them -- all together -- putting Yahoo Sports on the map for NBA coverage." He continued, "Whatever we became covering the league at Yahoo, we became an immense part because of Marc Spears. Marc gave me so much credibility with players in the league. Because I worked with him, a lot of guys were more apt to trust me. That was true with agents, coaches, executives too" (FACEBOOK.com, 3/17).

Mackenzie is not expected to make another comeback attempt on the LPGA Tour
TURNING THE PAIGE: In Seattle, Scott Hanson notes Golf Channel's Paige Mackenzie's profile at the net has "steadily risen," as she is a co-host of "Morning Drive" and a studio analyst for "Golf Central." Mackenzie last year "continued her work with Golf Channel even as she made" a comeback attempt on the LPGA tour. However, that made it "impossible for her to prepare for competition the way she wanted." Mackenzie: "It was hard to be competitive when I had another full-time job." Mackenzie has not "officially retired and still has playing status" on the tour, but "don't expect another comeback" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/18).

THE VOICE: In N.Y., Daniel O'Leary noted a health scare in the '00s "nearly robbed" Dick Vitale of his "trademark voice." Appearing on the syndicated show "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," Vitale said, "I went through a tough period. Only a couple people knew about it, really. ... There came a point where I came very close, very close, I thought maybe it was over." Vitale was referred to Dr. Steven Zeitels, who also has worked with Adele. After surgery, Vitale "couldn't speak for about a month." He said due to that, he "no longer calls doubleheaders or does games on back-to-back nights" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/17).

RANK & FILE: In Phoenix, Jay Dieffenbach ranked announcers from Arizona's "four major professional sports teams." Suns TV play-by-play man Steve Albert was first on the list for his "wealth of broadcasting experience" that has given him "wit wisdom and a good dose of self-awareness." Albert has "no ego" and "works solely for the education" of his audience. D-backs TV analyst Bob Brenly took the No. 2 spot for his "ability to communicate baseball's nuances in a credible, conversational way." Coyotes TV analyst Tyson Nash was third because he is "eager to share his on-ice -- and his off-ice -- experiences." Nash also "retains a somewhat old-school-hockey mentality" that helps him explain some of the sport's unwritten rules (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/16).

NOTES: SI.com's Richard Deitsch cited TV execs as saying that former NFLer Peyton Manning likely "will not go into sports broadcasting full-time." However, CBS "remains the favorite to land Manning should he decide to enter the profession" (SI.com, 3/16)....Miami-based WAXY-AM host Eric Reed resigned Wednesday "citing family reasons." Reed: "After eight years, it just seemed like the time was right for me to move on" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 3/16).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/03/18/Media/People-Personalities.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/03/18/Media/People-Personalities.aspx

CLOSE