The plan is for McKenzie to start walking into a soft retirementtsn
THE ATHLETIC's Sean Fitz-Gerald reported TSN's Bob McKenzie, who has "established himself as the authoritative voice on hockey," has signed a five-year contract extension that will "carry him through his 69th birthday." He will "continue to work the world junior hockey championships, the NHL draft and other major dates on the hockey calendar." However, he will "begin to ease away from the daily grind of life as an insider" after the current NHL season. McKenzie "may not appear as regularly on local radio, or tweet as often about trades or injuries, hirings or firings," as the plan is for him to "start walking into a soft retirement" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/31).
END OF AN ERA: In Memphis, David Cobb notes Grizzlies radio analyst Hank McDowell is "stepping away from the microphone" after 13 seasons with the team. McDowell, who underwent brain surgery about two months ago, also called Univ. of Memphis games. McDowell "split the Grizzlies radio analyst duties for the last 11 seasons" with former NBAer Elliot Perry. Perry and Grizzlies Senior Editor/Analyst Michael Wallace will "share the radio analyst duties" this season alongside play-by-play announcer Eric Hasseltine (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 11/1).
FUTURE IS UNCLEAR: In St. Paul, Andy Greder cites sources as saying that the contracts of Minnesota United's on-air broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Callum Williams, analyst Kyndra de St. Aubin and sideline reporter Jamie Watson have expired and it is "unclear whether any will return" in '20. The trio have been "together for games on Fox Sports North" since the club joined MLS in '17 (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/1).
MOVING ON: Former SI writer Jonathan Jones has joined CBS Sports as an NFL insider. Jones will contribute to NFL coverage across multiple CBS platforms including CBS Sports HQ, CBSSPORTS.com and CBS Sports Network. Jones spent the past three years at SI (CBS Sports).
