On Long Island, Neil Best wrote Sarah Kustok’s first season as lead Nets analyst for YES Network is a "historical sports media milestone, but as historical milestones go it has been lacking in narrative tension." Her play-by-play partner Ian Eagle said, "It’s been a non-event, a non-issue. To me, that is the best compliment that you could have." Kustok "appreciates the import of being the first woman named a lead, solo game analyst on a regional sports network for an NBA team." She said, "I fully understand why it matters, and it matters to me." But she added, "I just want to show up and go to work." Kustok credited producer Frank DiGraci, Eagle and play-by-play man Ryan Ruocco and the rest of the crew for easing the transition, but she said that it "surprised her how quickly she felt comfortable." Kustok: "I never imagined I would be having this much fun" (NEWSDAY, 3/1).
DORIS' DAY: HBO's Andrea Kremer said ESPN's Doris Burke is "doing something no other woman ever has, she's announcing NBA games full-time on network TV." Burke on Tuesday was profiled on "Real Sports," and Kremer said her "breakthrough may seem like a success story for our time, but it's really a story nearly three decades in the making." Kremer: "She will prepare for every game, as she always has, with meticulous detail and exhaustive study. But there is one thing she will not do to keep her high-profile TV job." Burke: "I promise you I'm not having plastic surgery. I'm 52. I've earned every wrinkle on my face. I actually like my wrinkles and guess what? There are a lot of 60-year-old men who have wrinkles, no hair, glasses and nobody gives a damn" ("Real Sports," HBO, 2/28).
BID FAREWELL: NEWSDAY's Best reported MSG Networks hockey analyst Stan Fischler plans to "announce his retirement from television to spend more time" with family. Fischler, a "prolific author of books about hockey," also has a newsletter called "The Fischler Report." He writes "historical features for NHL.com and would like to continue writing for MSG’s blog." Fischler, who worked for MSG since '75, will "address his retirement from TV during Friday's pregame show" (NEWSDAY, 3/2).
LEAVING THE HIVE: The Hornets announced that the team's longtime play-by-man Steve Martin "plans to retire" at the end of this season. Whether on radio or TV, Martin has "called every season of NBA basketball" since the original Hornets’ debut in '88. Initially, he was the team’s "radio play-by-play announcer." He "moved over to television quickly," and paired with analyst Gil McGregor." That pairing "moved on to New Orleans" when the Hornets relocated in '02. When the Bobcats started in '04, Martin "moved back Charlotte" to be their radio voice. Again, he later "transitioned to television," eventually pairing with Dell Curry. Three years ago, FS Southeast "wanted a change in the TV team." That is when Martin "returned to radio, replaced by Eric Collins on television" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/28).
NOTES: MLB Giants broadcasters Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez will "split the assignments" on NBC Sports Bay Area this season when Mike Krukow misses 40 games due to an ongoing muscle condition (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/27)....Former ESPN personalities Britt McHenry and Bram Weinstein will host a weekly news roundup show on DC-based WTTG-Fox that will "range from politics to entertainment to pop culture." The program will be called "Like It or Not" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/27)....MSG Networks named Michelle Gingras a host and sideline report for Red Bulls telecast during the '18 MLS season. She was most recently with BeIN Sports, and has had stints with Yahoo Sports and the Devils (MSG).
