In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote anyone who has "carefully watched" YES Network since Fox took control in '14 knows that YES voices have been "given more freedom and gradually became more critical of the Yankees when necessary." When the Yankees owned YES, all of the net's broadcasters and management "either knew what NOT to talk about during a telecast or anticipated what would rattle the front office and stayed away from it." Gradually, under Fox, voices like David Cone, John Flaherty and Michael Kay "became more outspoken." They did not "just explain strategy, they questioned it." A potential return to Yankees ownership of YES could "lead to the voices dialing back their critiques" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 10/14).
STILL NO WHITE SMOKE: WFAN's Mike Francesa said that he is "still in the negotiation stages regarding a new contract" with the station despite having returned to the airwaves in May. Francesa said, "I have not signed one yet. I still haven't even made an agreement yet." Multiple reports indicated that Francesa "signed a new WFAN contract" through '20 following his "short-lived retirement" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/15).
AWARDS & HONORS: ESPN The Magazine took home Folio Magazine's "first-ever Magazine of the Year Award." The publication was selected for its "consistent coverage of stories and controversies that transcend the sports industry and relate to a much broader audience," as well as for its graphic covers and designs (FOLIOMAG.com, 10/10)....Filmmaker Kathleen Jayme's "Finding Big Country" documentary about former NBAer Bryant "Big Country" Reeves won the People's Choice Award Friday at the '18 Vancouver Int'l Film Festival (VANCOUVERSUN.com, 10/13).
