THE ATHLETIC's Christian Caple wrote in the eight years since Mike Yam joined the Pac-12 Networks, the studio host has become its "most recognizable figure." However, the Pac-12 Networks informed Yam last week that he "would not be returning for a ninth year, citing financial reasons presumably related to the COVID-19 pandemic." Yam currently is "thinking about what he wants to do next -- maybe play-by-play, or more studio work" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/14).
UNDER STRICT WATCH: NBC's Mike Milbury, who has been calling NHL games in the Toronto hub at Scotiabank Arena, said that not all broadcasters are "allowed full access throughout the building -- a lesson he learned after venturing into the Zamboni entrance to watch a few minutes of an Islanders game." Milbury: "By the time I got back to the press box, I got a call from someone from NBC telling me I couldn't go to the Zamboni entrance, because it's not in the bubble" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/16).
IMMEDIATE BLOWBACK: In Chicago, Phil Rosenthal notes during Saturday's Brewers-Cubs telecast on Marquee Sports Network, analyst Mark Grace called his ex-wife a "dingbat" three times on the air during a story he was telling. As complaints "piled up on social media, it was left for Grace to apologize after the game" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/17).
