In DC, Jacob Bogage reports ESPN is "cutting ties" with Uni Watch Founder & Editor Paul Lukas, who often penned reviews of team uniform changes and alterations. Lukas said that his relationship with ESPN, which began in '04, is "set to end" in March '19. ESPN now has "full-scale coverage of the aesthetics of sports, separate from the Uni Watch brand." Lukas launched a "supplemental website" in '06 for "smaller stories." He said that the blog, which "operates independently of his ESPN contract, isn't going anywhere" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/19).
DOUBLE DUTY: In Indianapolis, Zachary Horrall reported NBC Sports and former NASCAR and Champ Car driver A.J. Allmendinger have "agreed to a multi-year contract that will put Allmendinger in the TV booth" for the net's IMSA Sports Car Championship coverage. Allmendinger will start with the Rolex 24-hour sports car race at Daytona Int'l Speedway next month. He will "serve as an analyst for the network's IMSA coverage, which NBC Sports will take over" in '19. Allmendinger will also "contribute to NBCSN's NASCAR show, NASCAR America." His "analyst debut will come with an interesting twist: Allmendinger will compete in the Rolex 24 next month for Meyer Shank Racing" (INDYSTAR.com, 12/19).
NOTES: Former Univ. of Louisville interim men's basketball coach David Padgett is "joining ESPN as a color analyst." Padgett's television duties will "begin in January, on the call" for Rhode Island-St. Louis on Jan. 6 (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 12/19)....SB Nation's Tyler Tynes is "heading to the Ringer to cover the intersection of race, politics and sports and is planning to launch a podcast" (POLITICO.com, 12/20).
