In Boston, Michael Silverman writes on a day when Red Sox P David Price could have "extended an olive branch" to NESN's Dennis Eckersley amid their ongoing feud, Price instead "doubled down on his eyewash act." Price said, "If Eck was around, he’d know who we are -- he’s never in the clubhouse. ... [Eckersley is] the one guy I’ve seen in my career that doesn’t ever show his face in the clubhouse. There’s a reason behind that. If you’re going to say what he says, you know, come around" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/31). Silverman writes doing the right thing is "not always easy," but it "shouldn't be that hard" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/31). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy notes Eckersley in Cooperstown received "much support" from friends and fellow HOFers. Eckersley “will be back in the NESN booth Thursday.” However, there will be no "‘talk it out’’ meeting with Price and Eckersley. Shaughnessy: “Why would Eckersley want to meet with a player who is so clearly unapologetic and still ripping Eckersley?" During a party in Cooperstown on Saturday, Red Sox President Sam Kennedy “inadvertently got an earful from a Montreal broadcaster." He was "unaware he was in the presence" of Kennedy when he spoke with Eckersley and "blasted the Red Sox’ handling of the Price ambush” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31).
SHE'S GOT IT: Former MLBer and ESPN analyst Doug Glanville in a special to the N.Y. TIMES wrote ESPN's Jessica Mendoza's standing as the net's only female MLB analyst "brings out the underbelly of sports fans’ taste for sexism." Glanville: "I root for Mendoza’s success because her journey inspires me, and many others, to think optimistically about what we can overcome despite the stereotypes attributed to our demographic boxes." At the "very least, we owe her respect." She is "working in a world where a segment of men will harass, denigrate and question her place." Just by showing up in the arena where she is working, she has "already endured more than the man next to her" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/30).
NEW TIMES, SAME DRAMA: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes ESPN's Sunday morning "E:60" "continues to shine." The latest example is Shelley Smith's "haunting and heartbreaking piece on former basketball star Schuye LaRue." The feature was "filmed over two years as Smith had on-and-off contact with LaRue, who is homeless and has schizophrenia." Smith's on-camera encounters with LaRue were "difficult to watch but showed Smith's talent for storytelling and, more important, her compassion" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 7/31).
HE SAID, HE SAID: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted Cavaliers F LeBron James on Twitter "denied" reports by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that he would be tempted to physically confront Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving if he saw him in person. The denial about the Cavs' trade drama sent Smith "to the mattresses to defend himself during his ESPN Radio show." Raissman: "Was this really about Smith defending his reporting? Or was his prolonged defense, which he carried on over the course of two days of radio shows, a device to keep the controversy brewing while engaging in some self-promotion to enhance his own brand?" Smith could have "easily and quickly made his point by simply saying he stood by his reporting and his source’s words were not to be taken literally." Instead, he took James’ denial, and "launched into an extended soliloquy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/30).
NOTES: NFL Network's Alex Flanagan is "joining the broadcast team" of the Chargers for preseason games on San Diego-based KFMB-CBS (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/29)....ESPN 1100 Las Vegas radio host Mike Pritchard's "last day on air" was Friday. Pritchard is leaving the station and "moving back to the Denver area to pursue opportunities as an NFL and Power 5 conference analyst" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/30).
