THE BIG LEAD's Kyle Koster notes Bob Ley this morning announced a "six-month sabbatical from his 'Outside the Lines' hosting duties" beginning Oct. 1, citing the "need to recharge." Ley revealed that has been been "considering such a break for a while" and that the decision is 100% "his own." Ley "will return" on April 1. In the meantime, Jeremy Schaap, Kate Fagan, and Ryan Smith "will assume his 'OTL' duties" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 8/15). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Phillip Bupp writes if the "occasional break every once in a while is what it takes to keep someone as integral to the industry as Bob Ley for the foreseeable future, that’ll be something we’ll have to accept for the greater good" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 8/15).
WELCOME BACK: NBCSPORTS.com's Daniel McFadin noted NASCAR radio broadcaster Wendy Venturini "will return to her duties" this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, almost two months after being "struck by a car while running" in Novato, Calif. Among the injuries Venturini suffered were a "skull fracture and a concussion." She said of covering this weekend's race, "I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a long two months and I’m not 100 percent, but I’m getting closer and closer and this is [a] step back into real life and real world stuff. So I think it will help in my recovery" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/14).
BAD DECISION? NBC Sports Bay Area's Grant Liffman said of Bruce Bowen being dropped as the Clippers' TV analyst reportedly because of his criticism of Raptors F Kawhi Leonard, "If a guy is that sensitive, to the point in which they don't think he's going to come to their team because (of) their broadcaster ... to think it's that bad and then to try for this guy to come to your team, that's odd" ("The Happy Hour," NBC Sports Bay Area, 8/14). ESPN's Pablo Torre said, "This is the era we live in." ESPN's Bomani Jones said it is a "bad look for the Clippers." He added Bowen could get a job with the Spurs, because "they will have no problem with you lighting up Kawhi on fire every game" ("High Noon," ESPN, 8/14).
HOT STOVE: In N.Y., Andrew Marchand cites sources as saying that The Athletic has Turner Sports/NBA.com's David Aldridge "on its radar." If Aldridge ends up with The Athletic, he "could still remain with Turner as well, but it is not fully clear that he will." The Athletic also has "shown interest" in ESPN’s Chris Haynes and Frank Isola, who formerly wrote for the N.Y. Daily News (N.Y. POST, 8/15).
