Hubbarth will host a new Twitter show before high-profile Saturday night games live from NBA arenasESPN IMAGES
In N.Y., Andrew Marchand notes NBA sideline reporter Cassidy Hubbarth "chose to stay with ESPN over an opportunity with Yahoo/Turner, and there is a Twitter component." She will begin a "new half-hour Twitter pregame show called 'Hoop Streams' before showcase Saturday NBA games on ABC." The shows will be "live from the arenas." Sources said that had Hubbarth left for Yahoo/Turner, she "could have been part of the social media show, 'The Bounce.'" Hubbarth, who also hosts college football studio coverage, has over 120,000 Twitter followers, and her career has "grown with the NBA’s social media presence" (N.Y. POST, 2/12).
TIME FOR A NEW STREAK: On Long Island, Neil Best noted last Thursday's Islanders-Devils game "marked the first broadcast" Islanders radio play-by-play announcer Chris King "missed because of illness or injury in 25 years." King visited his cardiologist for "further tests on Friday" before returning to the booth for Avalanche-Islanders on Saturday. He is due back for more tests "in the coming weeks" (NEWSDAY, 2/10).
MOVING FORWARD: An ESPN spokesperson said that the net has "'amicably resolved our dispute with Doug Adler,' including the intent to hire him for future ESPN tennis events." In '17, ESPN fired Adler for comments he made during a Venus Williams match at the Australian Open. A wrongful termination suit set for L.A. Superior Court in October had been delayed until May of this year, but Adler said his lawsuit was "never about the money, it was always about my reputation and credibility." Adler could "go back on the air" in July during ESPN's coverage at Wimbledon (L.A. TIMES, 2/12).
