In Milwaukee, Tom Haudricourt noted Turner Sports' Brian Anderson is the "only TV broadcaster to call games" in both the NBA bubble and MLB's postseason bubble. Aderson, who also calls play-by-play for the Brewers, "spent 51 days in the NBA 'bubble' in Orlando, working a total of 24 games," and then headed for San Diego the MLB playoffs. Anderson "figured he has been tested for COVID-19 a total of 40 times this year." He said the NBA did a "great job with the presentation" from Orlando. Anderson: "At home, you didn’t really notice much different. But, in the arena, it looked like a movie set. They put on a television event. ... It was an amazing experience." Anderson has been "away from home for 68 of the past 71 days" (Milwaukee JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/16).
MORE CHANGES FOR METS? In N.Y., Bob Raissman wondered if new Mets Owner Steve Cohen will embrace the "free-wheeling, often off-the-wall," approach of current TV crew Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez? Or, would he "like to see more of Bobby Valentine behind the microphone?" Raissman: "Will Cohen be able to handle the voice’s critiques (which can be harsh) of the manager and players during telecasts? Or will he want the trio to lean in a more 'positive' direction to help sell the product?" Meanwhile, Raissman cited sources as saying that Craig Carton and WFAN have "reached an agreement in principle on a deal" that would see Carton return to the radio net "most likely in afternoon drive" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/19).
TAKING PRECAUTION: USA TODAY's Steve Gardner noted Andrew Siciliano yesterday was not hosting DirecTV's Sunday Ticket Red Zone channel for the "first time since DirecTV launched" the product in '05 due to a positive COVID-19 test. Shortly before yesterday's early games were set to kick off, Siciliano "revealed on social media that he tested positive for COVID-19 and therefore would not be taking his familiar spot on TV sets across the country." After that positive result early yesterday morning, Siciliano "said a retest came back negative." Dan Hellie replaced Siciliano, who had "hosted 260 consecutive Red Zone Sundays on DirecTV" (USA TODAY, 10/19).
