In DC, Chelsea Janes reports MASN's Ray Knight, a fixture on the RSN's pre- and postgame Nationals coverage since '07, will "not return next season." Sources said that MASN "did not pick up" his contract option. The RSN "pulled Knight off its broadcasts in mid-September, and did not provide any official explanation for the move." But a source said that MASN pulled Knight after he was "involved in a verbal altercation with a member of the MASN production team -- an exchange in which Knight berated a MASN employee with an expletive-laden tirade." Knight is "well-known for his candor and occasional inability to mask his feelings about Nationals' shortcomings." MASN has "yet to decide who will join Nats Xtra host Johnny Holliday" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/5).
IN HOT WATER: NBC said that it is "investigating a Facebook comment allegedly made" by IndyCar analyst Paul Tracy. The post tells Indianapolis resident Chris Cunningham, who has a common friend with Tracy, that Tracy had "invited immigrants to a party at Cunningham's house 'to listen to you play a mini guitar, then they are going to rape your wife then you.'" Tracy in response said that he is the "victim of fake social media accounts." Cunningham said that Tracy had "often delved into political debates with inappropriate comments." But he said this incident "crossed the line" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/3).
FROM THE HILL TO THE ICE: In DC, Jacob Bogage noted Fox News Senior Capitol Hill Producer Chad Pergram was on the radio call for Stars-Capitals on Saturday night as the "third man in the booth with John Walton and Ken Sabourin." Pergram was "responsible for the intermission reports, game resets toward the end of each period and spots on the pregame and postgame shows" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/3).
THE REAL MVP: In Nashville, Erik Bacharach noted Rhett Bryan, who serves as the spotter on Titans' radio broadcasts, has been one of the "unsung heroes" of the production since first stepping into the role in '99. Titans radio play-by-play announcer Mike Keith and Bryan "began a journey" that year that has "spanned decades." Bryan "took a hiatus from spotting" from '14-17, when he "served as Titans Radio's game-day host." But he returned for this season, and in Week 2, "served as spotter for Keith for the 400th time" (TENNESSEAN.com, 11/3).
