Ley is a conservative and has argued that ESPN needs more "ideological diversity"ESPN IMAGES
THE RINGER's Bryan Curtis profiled ESPN's Bob Ley, who is a "capital-J journalist, a man who rises above Bristol’s petty intrigues to a higher moral plane." He has a "rare combination of gravitas and self-awareness." It is "telling of Ley’s standing that he both promotes and sabotages the 'liberal ESPN' debate." Ley is a conservative and has "argued ESPN needs more ideological diversity." However, there is "no ESPNer who has been woker longer than Ley." He has "gotten more stories on ESPN’s air about race, sex, gender, and labor than anyone." Ley is "still ESPN's voice of record" (THERINGER.com, 7/26).
NEW VOICES: In New Orleans, Ron Higgins reported former NFLer Zach Strief was "officially named the Saints' new radio play-by-play announcer despite having virtually no broadcast experience." He is "replacing the legendary Jim Henderson, who served as 'Voice of the Saints' for 32 seasons before retiring Feb. 1." It is "not unusual when a player moves from the playing field to the broadcast booth as an analyst." But it is "extremely rare to retire and instantly become a play-by-play announcer without years of training and experience" (NOLA.com, 7/25).
TALENTS TO BRISTOL: In Hartford, Alex Putterman notes former NFLer Dan Orlovsky will "take on a massive role at ESPN, the type reserved for analysts viewed within the network as rising stars." On Friday and Saturday nights, he will "call college football games on ESPN and ESPN2." On Sundays, he will "work some NFL games" for ESPN Radio and "appear periodically" on "SportsCenter." Orlovsky's rise in media has "been swift and impressive" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/27).
SLOW TO GET UP? THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch wrote there is "no fix" for ESPN's "Get Up!" The morning show could "start to use rotating hosts," and Taylor Twellman may be part of that. It "could help the chemistry of the show but there were so many factors working against 'Get Up!' from the start." Management "won’t pull the plug in the short term because it wants to see if the NFL will give the show a bump." The "core problem for 'Get Up!' is that it is not destination viewing" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/26).
NOTES: In S.F., Susan Slusser notes the A's on Monday will "honor late play-by-play man Bill King with an entirely ad-free radio broadcast." The broadcast will "celebrate the one-year anniversary of King receiving the Ford Frick Award" from the Baseball HOF. S.F.-based KGMZ-FM Program Dir Matt Nahigian said that when the team "suggested the idea, he checked with the station’s sales department and was assured that the ad inventory could be handled elsewhere" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/27)....In Birmingham, Michael Casagrande noted former QB John Parker Wilson "will join Eli Gold in the booth" calling Alabama football games this season. Bama also "announced Rashad Johnson will be the new sideline reporter on game broadcasts" (AL.com, 7/26).
