Despite leaving its golf coverage, Sonders is expected to remain with Fox Sports in a studio roleFOX SPORTS
GOLFWEEK's Forecaddie reported Holly Sonders "will not be part of Fox Sports’ future golf telecasts" going forward, four years after the net "hired her away from Golf Channel." Sonders said she would continue her relationship with Fox Sports and "transition into a studio role." Sonders was "in contract negotiations four years ago with Golf Channel when Fox Sports offered a lucrative deal to join its newly-acquired USGA coverage package." Meanwhile, Fox Sports also has "not renewed Irish golf journalist Shane O’Donoghue, another member of the original 2015 announcing team" (GOLFWEEK.com, 10/31).
MIKE'S ON? On Long Island, Neil Best notes Mike Francesa only returned to WFAN six months ago, but the "question for listeners and the station itself is how long he will remain before leaving again." Francesa said that his radio show and new "Mike's On" app "might not be compatible, and that if forced to choose one or the other, it would be the latter." He "declined to get more specific regarding when or if he might leave WFAN, beyond saying he would never walk out in the middle of a ratings book." Best notes the autumn book runs through Dec. 5. However, Francesa has "no signed contract with Entercom, WFAN's parent company." Francesa, Entercom and CAA, which reps Francesa, "continue to negotiate shared ownership of his app, which launched in late August" (NEWSDAY, 11/1).
CROSSING OVER: FS1's Doug Gottlieb worked as a sideline reporter for Bears-Dolphins last month, and SPORTING NEWS' Michael McCarthy noted it is "part of a recent trend of sports TV networks allowing single-sport experts to work other sports." Through Week 8 of this NFL season, Fox "has invited" FS1 TV hosts such as Joy Taylor, Karyn Bryant of "UFC Tonight" and Megan Olivi of "UFC Ultimate Insider" to work the sidelines of NFL games. Golf play-by-play announcer Shane Bacon also has worked the sidelines for a Fox NFL game this season. ESPN similarly "allowed NFL Insider Adam Schefter to moonlight as an NBA sideline reporter last season." NBC's Eddie Olczyk also "parlayed his role as an NHL broadcaster into another gig as a horse racing analyst/handicapper" for the net's Triple Crown coverage (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 10/31).
ROAD TO RECOVERY: In Boston, Kathleen McKiernan writes Red Sox fans "got more good news" this week aside from the World Series win, as longtime NESN broadcaster Jerry Remy, who has been battling cancer, will "be back." Remy said he is "kicking cancer's ass" yesterday at Fenway Park ahead of the championship parade. McKiernan notes the 65-year-old Remy "hasn't been broadcasting games since August, when NESN announced his cancer had returned" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/1).
BACK TO HIS ROOTS: Longtime Yankees radio announcer John Sterling will call Hawks-Nets on Dec. 16, taking over play-by-play duties on the YES Network telecast (YES Network). Sterling was the Nets' "full-time play by play man" from '75-80 before "serving eight years with the Hawks." Joining Sterling on the broadcast will be reporters Sarah Kustok and Michael Grady (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 10/28).
NOTES: NBA reporter Chris Mannix is "exiting Yahoo to return to Sports Illustrated." Mannix "first came to Yahoo" in January '16 as "part of The Vertical" after working at SI since '03 (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 10/31)....Former NHLer Patrick Sharp has "joined NBC Sports Chicago as a pregame and postgame hockey analyst." He is "scheduled to make his first appearance in his new role" today (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/31)....Former NHLer Colby Cohen has been "hired by NBC Sports Philadelphia as a Flyers analyst." He is "slated to make about 15 appearances on upcoming editions of Flyers Pre- and Post-Game Live." Cohen appeared Tuesday night on the net's Flyers coverage alongside host Amy Fadool Kane and former NHLer Chris Therien (PHILLY.com, 10/30).
