NBC Sports Washington GM Damon Phillips said the net declined to exercise Wizards TV play-by-play man Steve Buckhantz' option in order "to analyze our telecast and the talent and make sure we had the right team in place long-term," according to Dan Steinberg of the WASHINGTON POST. Phillips said, "We are performing our due diligence and exploring all options. The key is that the door is not closed on Steve’s return, and there’s a possibility he could return in his role." He added that he had kept Monumental Sports & Entertainment officials informed, but that they were "not involved in the process, and that 'I’m the one that made this decision.'" Phillips: "Our announcers, they are employees of NBC Sports. Not the team. Not Monumental Sports. We have full authority on who is going to be part of the broadcast moving forward." Phillips said that the net plans to "audition other play-by-play voices for the role, and that he wanted to push any decision to the offseason." He said that the net does "not have a deadline" for a decision. Buckhantz’ agent, Phil Hochberg, said last week that Buckhantz "would like to return for a 23rd season" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12).
NOT HOLDING BACK: ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, who grew up in the DC area and interned for Buckhantz at WTTG-Fox while he was a student at Maryland, said, "I can’t say the words I feel about it, even though it is cable television, but suffice to say I think it’s an impossibly idiotic decision from an organization that has made a few of them." He added, "Just look at the reaction from Wizards fans online. It’s unusual to see such a united voice on anything on social media, but people in the DC area are sideways about this. This is a rare moment for a franchise that’s mostly been disappointing to give their fans what they clearly want." Hochberg said that his client was already "reaching out to other outlets but that he would prefer to continue calling Wizards games" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/9).
