In Tuscaloosa, Cecil Hurt notes Alabama football radio color analyst Phil Savage, who served nine years, will "not return" next season. Savage said that he is "stepping down from the post to devote more time to his new job with the Phoenix franchise in the Alliance of American Football." Savage, 53, "replaced the late Kenny Stabler in the broadcast booth alongside play-by-play announcer Eli Gold, bringing a more analytical, but still popular, style to the broadcast." Crimson Tide Sports Network GM Jim Carabin was "not immediately available" to discuss the timetable for Savage's successor (TUSCALOOSANEWS.com, 7/5).
PHILLY TURNOVER: NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jessica Camerato, who has covered the 76ers since January '16, said her time with the RSN has "come to an end." In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe notes the move "comes on the heels of the departure" of sideline reporter Molly Sullivan, who worked with the net since '12. Camerato’s departure "comes a week after the network announced the hiring of Taryn Hatcher, a former Comcast SportsNet intern, as a multi-platform host and reporter." Despite Hatcher’s experience as a sideline reporter for Big Ten Network, she is "not expected to replace Sullivan on the sideline during Sixers games." It "appears Hatcher is likely to fill many of the roles once held by Marshall Harris" (PHILLY.com, 7/5).
END OF AN ERA? In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes WSCR-AM management has moved to "bust up" the station's weekday morning "Mully & Hanley Show" with the "imminent sidelining of Brian Hanley after 26 years at the station." Hanley had been "paired with" Mike Mulligan for the morning show since '08 and has been with the station since '92. However, his "contract-renewal talks broke down." WSCR is "said to be interested in using Hanley as a weekend and fill-in host" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/6).
SETTING GOALS:In. N.Y., Sandra Garcia noted this year's FIFA World Cup is the ninth for Telemundo's Andrés Cantor, who is "most famous for bellowing 'goooool!' at each World Cup score." Asked how he translates the energy of the match into his commentary, Cantor said, "The idea is to have the people on the edge of their seats, to play the game alongside the players. The idea is not only to yell out 'gol.' I just try to get people enthused, at least, those who are not hard-core soccer fans." Asked if he tries to downplay his Argentine accent, Cantor added, "I will never do so. I am proud of my Argentine accent. ... I have a little bit of an accent from everywhere in Latin America. But if you get me mad, you will hear my best Argentine accent" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/5).
