In L.A., Sam Farmer notes ESPN's Booger McFarland tonight will have the "best seat" at FedExField for Jets-Redskins. McFarland will be "riding in an elevated chair that will be positioned over the line of scrimmage for each snap, giving him a God's-eye view of the action." McFarland will be "transported up and down the sideline by a cart." ESPN, which "debuts the technology" tonight, is "working out the kinks" before its "MNF" broadcasts in the regular season. McFarland will be "surrounded by a desk that features computer and video monitors, allowing him to call up statistics and replays to enhance his coverage." He will also have a "Facetime-type connection" with play-by-play analyst Joe Tessitore and analyst Jason Witten, so it is "in essence a three-man booth even though one is 100 yards away." Lisa Salters will "continue her role as sideline reporter" (L.A. TIMES, 8/16).
CAN'T WAIT: On Long Island, Neil Best notes WFAN's Bart Scott is "joining SNY's Jets pregame and postgame studio team," which includes analysts Ray Lucas and Willie Colon and host Jonas Schwartz. Scott said that he is not only "looking forward to a return to TV but also focusing on one team and going into greater detail than on a national show." Since '06, SNY's Jets postgame coverage has been a "popular destination for fans -- especially after frustrating losses" (NEWSDAY, 8/16).
TAKING A SWING: SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy cited sources as saying that DAZN is in "final negotiations" to sign Sugar Ray Leonard and Brian Kenny to call its Matchroom Boxing series. Leonard and Kenny "teamed up" last August to analyze the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor bout. DAZN's new announce team will "likely debut" Sept. 22 at Wembley Stadium for the Anthony Joshua-Alexander Povetkin fight (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 8/15).
NOTES: The AHL San Diego Gulls have "looked east" to find a new play-by-play announcer, hiring former AHL Utica Comets broadcaster Andy Zilch. Zilch "replaces Craig Elsten, who was let go after three seasons" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/15)....Philadelphia-based WPEN-FM’s "versatile fill-in host" Geoff Mosher, who had been co-hosting the 6:00-9:00pm ET timeslot alongside Devon Givens, has “left the station.” His “final shift was Monday night.” Mosher has “covered sports for 20 years" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/15)....The L.A. Times has hired Jorge Castillo to "cover the Dodgers" and Andrew Greif to "cover the Clippers" (TWITTER.com, 8/14).
