THE ATHLETIC's John Walters notes "not a moment" of ESPN's "College GameDay" nor Fox' "Big Noon Kickoff" on Saturday was spent discussing California's name, image and likeness law. Walters wonders if neither program wanted to "touch the most topical story of the week because the talent might come off as either compromised or hypocritical." However, during ESPN's coverage of Washington-Stanford on Saturday night, play-by-play broadcaster Jason Benetti asked analyst Rod Gilmore, a former Stanford football player and an attorney, to "give his thoughts on SB 206" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/7).
STAYING PUT: In Pittsburgh, Nubyjas Willborn noted the Pirates will "remain on AT&T Sports Networks for the foreseeable future," as the two parties "agreed on a multi-year extension of their television rights deal." The Pirates "entered the offseason without a television home, when their contract expired at the end of the season." It "made sense to keep the Pirates' broadcasts in the same home as the Penguins, whose contract runs" through '29 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/5).
REINFORCEMENTS: In N.Y., Bob Raissman cited a source as saying that ESPN is "close to officially naming yet another NBA studio team" for this season. The "NBA Countdown" crew will "likely be (Friday and Sunday) Maria Taylor, Jalen Rose and Jay Williams." The net's Rachel Nichols will "serve as the pregame show" host (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/5).
