Finebaum's contract was set to expire July 25 after signing with ESPN in '13ESPN IMAGES
Paul Finebaum has signed a long-term contract extension with ESPN. He will continue to host his own daily radio/television show on SEC Network while also appearing on "College GameDay" and "SportsCenter," as well as other programs (ESPN). SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy noted Finebaum's current five-year deal was "slated to expire July 25." ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro "personally had a hand in the negotiations with Finebaum and his reps at CAA" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 7/12).
KAY'S CHOICE: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cites sources as saying Michael Kay has signed a "new, five-year guaranteed deal" with ESPN Radio 98.7 N.Y. to continue hosting his daily show. Don La Greca, who appears on Kay's show, also has "signed up for five more years" with the station, and he "will continue to be the No. 2 Rangers radio play-by-player behind Kenny Albert." Kay signed an extension last month with YES Network to "keep him as the highest-paid local play-by-play announcer in baseball." Of all the ESPN Radio shows, Kay's program "was closest to its WFAN competitor" in the spring book (N.Y. POST, 7/13).
GOOD OPENING SERVE: Andy Murray "made his debut as a BBC commentator" at Wimbledon this week, and viewers "seemed to enjoy Murray's expert insight." He and fellow commentator Tim Henman "joked about which of them the public would view as more boring" (AP, 7/11). The GUARDIAN's Haroon Siddique wrote Murray "proved himself a natural" in the booth. He was "affable, insightful" and displayed a "mischievous sense of humour." Siddique: "There seems sure to be a place for him in the BBC’s Wimbledon team when he finally hangs up his racket, should he want it" (GUARDIAN.com, 7/10).
NFL NOTES: Peter King's new column for NBC will debut Monday and will "carry the name 'Football Morning in America.'" The column will "feature some small additions and minor tweaks but will largely feel familiar to longtime readers" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/12)....Former NFL coach Jeff Fisher is "scheduled to be an analyst on one NFL game" on Fox. He will be "paired with" Dan Hellie for the Jets-Jaguars broadcast on Sept. 30 (NYPOST.com, 7/12).
PARTY ON THE WEEKEND: THE DAILY spoke with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain’s Jenny Cavnar for this Friday's edition of Weekend Plans.
