USA TODAY's Kevin Allen notes Gold Medal-winning U.S. F Kendall Coyne Schofield's "memorable performance" in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition "prompted NBC to hire her as an analyst" for Lightning-Penguins tomorrow at 8:00pm ET on NBCSN. Coyne Schofield, who worked as a sideline reporter while at Northeastern, will "appear on the pregame show and then go Inside the Glass with Pierre McGuire." She will also "appear during intermissions that will be called by John Forslund." This "isn’t the first time NBC has turned to [a] women’s hockey star for its broadcast team." Former U.S. Olympian A.J. Mleczko Griswold has "served as an NHL analyst for NBC" (USA TODAY, 1/29).
CBS' ELDER STATESMAN: In DC, Ben Strauss profiles CBS' "NFL Today" host James Brown, who this weekend will "host the Super Bowl pregame show for the ninth time" in his career, "more than anyone other than Brent Musburger." Brown, 67, is "one of the most ubiquitous presences in sports television," though his personality "gets bigger once the cameras turn off." He "remains the broadcasting pro on a set full of ex-jocks." Brown: “My job is to make everyone else look good." But he is also "proud of the work at CBS beyond football." He has "served as a fill-in anchor on the 'CBS Evening News' and is a special correspondent for the news division." Brown "has two more seasons remaining" on his contract with the net (WASHINGTON POST, 1/29).
CALL IT LIKE HE SEES IT? NBCSPORTS.com's Craig Calcaterra noted the Tigers are hiring FS Detroit analyst Kirk Gibson as a special assistant to Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Al Avila, and this may be "something of a conflict of interest." Gibson was upgraded to a full time Tigers analyst this offseason, and he is scheduled to "split time with Jack Morris." Calcaterra wrote while he does not think many people "will squawk about this," he is "surprised that the Tigers and Fox Sports Detroit are fine with it" (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/28).
GET WELL SOON: In Boston, Adam Himmelsbach noted Celtics TV analyst Tommy Heinsohn today will undergo further testing "related to what appears to be a mild case of sleep apnea, and he is hopeful that he will be able to return to the broadcast booth soon." He "has been absent from NBC Sports Boston’s broadcasts since late November." He said that he had "hoped to return earlier this month, but then his progress was stalled by an illness" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/28).
