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MLB’s Mitch Williams, Bob Costas & Peter Gammons Discuss Cliff Lee

Thanks to MLB Network for allowing me to post this video. Earlier today, the network aired a live special on the signing of Cliff Lee by the Philadelphia Phillies surprising the baseball world. The development occured late Monday night and on Tuesday, analysts were still scratching their heads on how the New York Yankees lost their most prized free agent to the Phillies.

Mitch Williams, Bob Costas and Peter Gammons all discussed what the signing means for the Phillies and where it will lead them. We have some quotage first, then the video.

ON CLIFF LEE SIGNING WITH THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES:

BOB COSTAS:

“Obviously, Cliff Lee was going to be rich no matter what, so he cashes in big time. But when money is not the only thing, then it restores some of your confidence that there are other factors. That’s part of what free agency is supposed to be about. It isn’t just about money, it’s about selecting your circumstances. What if you want to live closer at home? What if a particular city appeals to you? What if you prefer the National League over the American League or if you want to join a contending team? There are lots of considerations that should go into free agency other than money. In this case, although money was a factor, the fact that it wasn’t the single dominant factor is kind of refreshing.”   

PETER GAMMONS:

“This is a great team with great personality. Why not take the chance and acquire Cliff Lee? The numbers of those four starters are outstanding. You have the top three of the five active pitchers in terms of strikeout-to-walk ratios.”

 “In terms of dominance, this rotation has the chance to be the best. They throw strikes and they keep their team in the game. ….When you’re around all the Phillies, this is a team you love to be with. Cliff Lee was thinking, ‘I like to hunt, fish, live in Arkansas, I don’t need to have more money than Tyson chicken. I want to finish my career and be really happy. I’ve never been happier than I was with the Phillies, I think I’m going to go back there’…. This is one of the greatest teams a player can ever hope to play with. I think he absolutely took this for the right reasons.”

MITCH WILLIAMS:

“I think it’s a chemistry in the clubhouse. You can go out and buy players. You can’t go out and buy a team. A “team” is a word that describes how a group of individuals work together. In Philadelphia, they work together well and there isn’t a bunch of egos running around on the field. … There have been a lot of great ballplayers that you wouldn’t want to spend time with. The guys in Philadelphia are truly good guys. It’s a situation where Cliff is very comfortable.”  

 “That’s typical Ruben Amaro Jr. You don’t hear a thing about it until the deal is done. Ruben is one of the best I’ve ever seen at running silent or ‘Don’t announce a thing until it’s done.’”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA’S ROTATION IS NOW THE BEST OF ALL-TIME:

“Philadelphia’s pitching staff is going to be in the argument. Of course, they have to go out and do it and a lot of things can happen. Injuries and off-years, but potentially, they’ve got a staff that will be in the argument with the best of all-time. One that immediately comes to mind is the 1954 Cleveland Indians, with Early Wynn and Bob Lemon in the prime of their career years. Bob Feller was still very effective, Art Houtteman, Don Mossi, that was an awesome rotation. In 1971, the Baltimore Orioles had four 20-game winners. …  But I think [Roy] Oswalt or [Cole] Hamels are probably better than the Orioles’ fourth starter, Pat Dobson. Potentially, this Phillies’ rotation, if everyone maxes out, is about as good as any in the modern history of the game.”

BOB COSTAS ON THE IMPACT OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES:

“They took a swing and missed. … I don’t think it’s a disaster, but it’s a disappointment. I don’t think the Yankees are going to get much sympathy, considering the advantages they have every year and the run of success they’ve had. Outside the talk show callers in New York, I don’t think they’re going to get much sympathy.”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA IS THE WORLD SERIES FAVORITE:

“If you were talking about the old, straight pennant race days where over 162 games the best team would generally prevail, I’d say the Phillies are the World Series favorites. Or even when it was two divisions and you played eventually a seven-game League Championship Series, you might say that. But now, it’s such a gauntlet that you have to run. Would I be surprised if the Phillies don’t win the National League East? Yes, I’d be surprised. …But now anything can happen in a short series in the Postseason.

Now the video.

That’s going to do it for this post.

MLB’s Mitch Williams, Bob Costas & Peter Gammons Discuss Cliff Lee

Thanks to MLB Network for allowing me to post this video. Earlier today, the network aired a live special on the signing of Cliff Lee by the Philadelphia Phillies surprising the baseball world. The development occured late Monday night and on Tuesday, analysts were still scratching their heads on how the New York Yankees lost their most prized free agent to the Phillies.

Mitch Williams, Bob Costas and Peter Gammons all discussed what the signing means for the Phillies and where it will lead them. We have some quotage first, then the video.

ON CLIFF LEE SIGNING WITH THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES:

BOB COSTAS:

“Obviously, Cliff Lee was going to be rich no matter what, so he cashes in big time. But when money is not the only thing, then it restores some of your confidence that there are other factors. That’s part of what free agency is supposed to be about. It isn’t just about money, it’s about selecting your circumstances. What if you want to live closer at home? What if a particular city appeals to you? What if you prefer the National League over the American League or if you want to join a contending team? There are lots of considerations that should go into free agency other than money. In this case, although money was a factor, the fact that it wasn’t the single dominant factor is kind of refreshing.”   

PETER GAMMONS:

“This is a great team with great personality. Why not take the chance and acquire Cliff Lee? The numbers of those four starters are outstanding. You have the top three of the five active pitchers in terms of strikeout-to-walk ratios.”

 “In terms of dominance, this rotation has the chance to be the best. They throw strikes and they keep their team in the game. ….When you’re around all the Phillies, this is a team you love to be with. Cliff Lee was thinking, ‘I like to hunt, fish, live in Arkansas, I don’t need to have more money than Tyson chicken. I want to finish my career and be really happy. I’ve never been happier than I was with the Phillies, I think I’m going to go back there’…. This is one of the greatest teams a player can ever hope to play with. I think he absolutely took this for the right reasons.”

MITCH WILLIAMS:

“I think it’s a chemistry in the clubhouse. You can go out and buy players. You can’t go out and buy a team. A “team” is a word that describes how a group of individuals work together. In Philadelphia, they work together well and there isn’t a bunch of egos running around on the field. … There have been a lot of great ballplayers that you wouldn’t want to spend time with. The guys in Philadelphia are truly good guys. It’s a situation where Cliff is very comfortable.”  

 “That’s typical Ruben Amaro Jr. You don’t hear a thing about it until the deal is done. Ruben is one of the best I’ve ever seen at running silent or ‘Don’t announce a thing until it’s done.’”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA’S ROTATION IS NOW THE BEST OF ALL-TIME:

“Philadelphia’s pitching staff is going to be in the argument. Of course, they have to go out and do it and a lot of things can happen. Injuries and off-years, but potentially, they’ve got a staff that will be in the argument with the best of all-time. One that immediately comes to mind is the 1954 Cleveland Indians, with Early Wynn and Bob Lemon in the prime of their career years. Bob Feller was still very effective, Art Houtteman, Don Mossi, that was an awesome rotation. In 1971, the Baltimore Orioles had four 20-game winners. …  But I think [Roy] Oswalt or [Cole] Hamels are probably better than the Orioles’ fourth starter, Pat Dobson. Potentially, this Phillies’ rotation, if everyone maxes out, is about as good as any in the modern history of the game.”

BOB COSTAS ON THE IMPACT OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES:

“They took a swing and missed. … I don’t think it’s a disaster, but it’s a disappointment. I don’t think the Yankees are going to get much sympathy, considering the advantages they have every year and the run of success they’ve had. Outside the talk show callers in New York, I don’t think they’re going to get much sympathy.”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA IS THE WORLD SERIES FAVORITE:

“If you were talking about the old, straight pennant race days where over 162 games the best team would generally prevail, I’d say the Phillies are the World Series favorites. Or even when it was two divisions and you played eventually a seven-game League Championship Series, you might say that. But now, it’s such a gauntlet that you have to run. Would I be surprised if the Phillies don’t win the National League East? Yes, I’d be surprised. …But now anything can happen in a short series in the Postseason.

Now the video.

That’s going to do it for this post.

MLB’s Mitch Williams, Bob Costas & Peter Gammons Discuss Cliff Lee

Thanks to MLB Network for allowing me to post this video. Earlier today, the network aired a live special on the signing of Cliff Lee by the Philadelphia Phillies surprising the baseball world. The development occured late Monday night and on Tuesday, analysts were still scratching their heads on how the New York Yankees lost their most prized free agent to the Phillies.

Mitch Williams, Bob Costas and Peter Gammons all discussed what the signing means for the Phillies and where it will lead them. We have some quotage first, then the video.

ON CLIFF LEE SIGNING WITH THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES:

BOB COSTAS:

“Obviously, Cliff Lee was going to be rich no matter what, so he cashes in big time. But when money is not the only thing, then it restores some of your confidence that there are other factors. That’s part of what free agency is supposed to be about. It isn’t just about money, it’s about selecting your circumstances. What if you want to live closer at home? What if a particular city appeals to you? What if you prefer the National League over the American League or if you want to join a contending team? There are lots of considerations that should go into free agency other than money. In this case, although money was a factor, the fact that it wasn’t the single dominant factor is kind of refreshing.”   

PETER GAMMONS:

“This is a great team with great personality. Why not take the chance and acquire Cliff Lee? The numbers of those four starters are outstanding. You have the top three of the five active pitchers in terms of strikeout-to-walk ratios.”

 “In terms of dominance, this rotation has the chance to be the best. They throw strikes and they keep their team in the game. ….When you’re around all the Phillies, this is a team you love to be with. Cliff Lee was thinking, ‘I like to hunt, fish, live in Arkansas, I don’t need to have more money than Tyson chicken. I want to finish my career and be really happy. I’ve never been happier than I was with the Phillies, I think I’m going to go back there’…. This is one of the greatest teams a player can ever hope to play with. I think he absolutely took this for the right reasons.”

MITCH WILLIAMS:

“I think it’s a chemistry in the clubhouse. You can go out and buy players. You can’t go out and buy a team. A “team” is a word that describes how a group of individuals work together. In Philadelphia, they work together well and there isn’t a bunch of egos running around on the field. … There have been a lot of great ballplayers that you wouldn’t want to spend time with. The guys in Philadelphia are truly good guys. It’s a situation where Cliff is very comfortable.”  

 “That’s typical Ruben Amaro Jr. You don’t hear a thing about it until the deal is done. Ruben is one of the best I’ve ever seen at running silent or ‘Don’t announce a thing until it’s done.’”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA’S ROTATION IS NOW THE BEST OF ALL-TIME:

“Philadelphia’s pitching staff is going to be in the argument. Of course, they have to go out and do it and a lot of things can happen. Injuries and off-years, but potentially, they’ve got a staff that will be in the argument with the best of all-time. One that immediately comes to mind is the 1954 Cleveland Indians, with Early Wynn and Bob Lemon in the prime of their career years. Bob Feller was still very effective, Art Houtteman, Don Mossi, that was an awesome rotation. In 1971, the Baltimore Orioles had four 20-game winners. …  But I think [Roy] Oswalt or [Cole] Hamels are probably better than the Orioles’ fourth starter, Pat Dobson. Potentially, this Phillies’ rotation, if everyone maxes out, is about as good as any in the modern history of the game.”

BOB COSTAS ON THE IMPACT OF THE NEW YORK YANKEES:

“They took a swing and missed. … I don’t think it’s a disaster, but it’s a disappointment. I don’t think the Yankees are going to get much sympathy, considering the advantages they have every year and the run of success they’ve had. Outside the talk show callers in New York, I don’t think they’re going to get much sympathy.”

BOB COSTAS ON WHETHER PHILADELPHIA IS THE WORLD SERIES FAVORITE:

“If you were talking about the old, straight pennant race days where over 162 games the best team would generally prevail, I’d say the Phillies are the World Series favorites. Or even when it was two divisions and you played eventually a seven-game League Championship Series, you might say that. But now, it’s such a gauntlet that you have to run. Would I be surprised if the Phillies don’t win the National League East? Yes, I’d be surprised. …But now anything can happen in a short series in the Postseason.

Now the video.

That’s going to do it for this post.

Our Wednesday Linkage

Let’s do some links on this rainy Wednesday in the Northeast. By the way, last night I went to a great Japanese restaurant in Providence, Haruki East on Wayland Avenue. Highly recommend it. And on a rainy Tuesday night, there was a wait so that tells you it’s quite popular. Ate there with my parents and my cousin and his girlfriend. The food was definitely worth the wait. Sushi was great and so was the Tempura. Great food in a great city.

Ok, done with the restaurant review. To the links.

Starting with Michael Hiestand of USA Today, he has TNT’s Marv Albert not having the slightest idea as a young announcer that Phil Jackson would end up being a successful NBA coach.

Bruce Jenkins of Sports Illustrated says the world media including Tennis Channel failed to properly describe Roger Federer’s whiff during match point of the Madrid Open on Sunday. 

David Tanklefsky of Broadcasting & Cable comes out of ESPN upfront presentation with the impression that the network is totally embracing social media and becoming more interactive with viewers.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Versus brought in the highest ratings for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs since Nielsen started measuring them in 1994.

Anthony Crupi at Mediaweek notes that TNT has won the cable primetime ratings for the third week in a row thanks to the NBA Playoffs. 

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the NHL is red hot in the TV ratings.

Diego Vasquez of Media Life writes that sports has helped to raise broadcast TV viewing levels to even with last year.

Subbing for CNBC’s Darren Rovell, Chad Walters says teams can save money by eliminating some waste.

Phillip Michaels of Macworld reviews the ESPN SportsCenter XL app for the iPad.

Jon Friedman of Marketwatch.com says reporters covering the LeBron Watch have the toughest beat in the media.

I should not do this because this will probably get shut down, but we have a Neil Best sighting. Newsday’s Neil Best writes that Fox is looking at expanding its MLB offerings into primetime on Saturdays.

Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com writes in Press Box that the Preakness Stakes saw a ratings downtick from last year.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says Nationals fans can listen to Stephen Strasburg’s next start tonight.

Tom Jones in the St. Petersburg Times says Peter Gammons had to correct a statement he made on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday.

Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News looks at what the new ESPN/ACC rights deal means for the Big 12.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that a local radio station is picking up high school football games for the fall.

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press reports that former Fox NFL analyst Ray Bentley is joining a local radio station.

In the Indianapolis Business Journal, Anthony Schoettle says IndyCar is gaining more confidence in Versus. 

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune writes that viewers found Versus in droves for Game 2 of the Blackhawks-Sharks series last night.

Phil says Blackhawks fans have to make due without TV voice Pat Foley calling the NHL Western Conference Finals due to Versus and NBC having exclusivity.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says Big Ten conference commish Jim Delaney isn’t revealing much about the league’s expansion plans.

Curtis Zupke from the Orange County (CA) Register says NHL TV ratings continue to increase. 

Jon Wilmer of the San Jose Mercury News looks at what the ESPN/ACC deal will mean for the Pac 10′s TV negotiations.

Will Reisman in the San Francisco Examiner writes that Versus cut off the end of the third stage of the Tour of California on Tuesday.

Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times says the WNBA’s Storm had several glitches with its inaugural in-house telecast on FSN Northwest. 

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy explains why the NHL Conference Finals began on the same days for the first two games.

Sports Media Watch has the weekend overnight ratings.

SMW says Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals did well for TNT, but not as well as last year’s ratings aberration.

And SMW has some ratings news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Jeremy Roenick who did a great job for NBC during the Olympics, will join NBC’s studio for its coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Matthew Coller at the Biz of Hockey writes that an exciting NHL postseason is paying dividends for the league besides TV ratings.

SportsbyBrooks looks into the tight-lipped investigation into the death of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg.

And we’ll end our links there for now. Back later with breaking news and the return of the Sports Media Weekly podcast following a week’s absence.

A Mid-Week Link Thing

Let’s do linkage today. Trying to get links done earlier so you may have noticed the Primetime and Late Night Viewing Picks up at around 8 a.m. I try to do them before I go to bed and schedule them to publish at 8 a.m. so that leaves me free to the links in the morning and other work in the afternoon. So far, so good. Let’s do the links now.

From USA Today, Michael McCarthy writes that the NFL is going to charge fans to gain access to the Super Bowl field after the game. And it’s not going to come cheap.

Michael Hiestand of the Nation’s Newspaper says this year’s Sugar Bowl didn’t rate as well as last year’s game, but there are reasons for that.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News reports that Tennis Channel is filing an FCC carriage complaint against Comcast.

Brian Stelter and Brad Stone of the New York Times write about TV’s push into 3-D and that includes ESPN.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times wonders if consumers will be as enthusiastic about 3-D as TV programmers are.

In lieu of not having The Five from WEEI.com anymore (I’ve been told the feature has been canceled), we’ll move to getting Len Berman’s Top Five from That’s Sports. We’ll link to this every day, but unlike Kristine Leahy’s feature, there’s no video.

Brent Cunningham of the Columbia Journalism Review talks with the New York Times’ Alan Schwarz about his uncovering about the impact of concussions in the NFL.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record writes that the New York Knicks and Rangers will both appear on free TV twice this month.

Laura Nachman says an upcoming Philadelphia media luncheon will have a sports theme.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has video of new DC NFL team coach Mike Shanahan being quite fascinated with TV sports reporter Lindsay Czarniak.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the media circus has already begun as Shananan is ready to take over the reins of the DC NFL team.

Jim looks at Peter Gammons’ debut on MLB Network today. 

Tim Lemke gets some background on ESPN 3D.

Tim looks at the marketability of Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas in the wake of his locker room gun incident.

Sarah Talalay in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel looks at the Florida Marlins new road uniforms.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News has Rodney Harrison picking the Eagles over the Cowboys this weekend.

Barry discusses Peter Gammons’ debut on MLB Network today.

David Barron has some news and notes.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business isn’t enthusiastic about ESPN 3D.

Phil Rosenthal in the Chicago Tribune says ESPN and Discovery are trying to sell viewers on 3-D.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News pokes fun at ESPN 3D.

Tom writes an obituary for the late Angels TV voice Rory Markas who died yesterday. 

Tom remembers the late Rory Markas in his blog.

Tom also has Vin Scully remembering Markas.

Tom says Peter Gammons and Bob Costas team up for the Baseball Hall of Fame announcements today on MLB Network.

Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times has the obituary for Markas.

Diane Pucin of the Times says the Angels have a tough decision to make in the wake of Markas’ passing.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star also writes about Markas’ passing.

Lyle Spencer of MLB.com also has a story on Markas.

William Houston of Truth & Rumours reviews TSN’s production of last night’s World Jr. Hockey Championships gold medal game. 

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media has a profile of Fox Sports director Artie Kempner who will be on loan to NBC Sports this weekend.

The Big Lead looks at the feud between the snowboarding community and USA Today Olympics writer Christine Brennan.

Joe Favorito says the Baseball and Pro Football Halls of Fame may have to extend invitations to broadcasters, bloggers and possibly fans to vote for future elections as newspapers dwindle.

In honor of Team USA winning the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships last night, Puck The Media’s Steve Lepore dusts off a classic Jack Edwards moment from last year’s Bruins-Canadiens game in Montreal.

One last link and this has nothing to do with sports. If you’re new to Twitter or thinking of whom to follow, Vanessa Grigoriadis of Vanity Fair has some of the “Tweethearts” who have carved their own niches on the site. I particularly follow Julia Roy, whom I met at Blogs with Balls, and Felicia Day who is part of the beloved “Whedonverse“. 

That’s it for the links. Off to do some work now.

Our Tuesday Linkage

Let’s do some linkage for you on this Tuesday.

Starting with USA Today, Edward C. Baig looks at ESPN’s planned launch of its 3-D network in June.

Michael Hiestand has the ratings of various weekend events.

EPL Talk reports that Fox is in talks to buy Setanta Sports US. 

SportsbyBrooks reports that the voice of the Anaheim Angels and USC basketball Trojans, Rory Markas died of a heart attack today.

Bil Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times also discusses Markas’ passing. 

The Sports Business Daily is reporting that Captain Blowhard is complaining that daddy doesn’t love him anymore. 

The Huffington Post also looks at Captain Blowhard’s whining.

I was going to write an open letter to Captain Blowhard about his incessant complaining and whining, but decided against it. A day later, I’m happy about my decision. It sounds to me as if Captain Blowhard wants to leave ESPN. Then leave and stop complaining. Captain Blowhard complains that the Mothership did not take his “scoop” seriously. Well, if he wants to be a serious sports journalist, stop writing stupid columns filled with pop culture references. You made your bed, Captain Blowhard, you must lie in it. You had a chance to be taken seriously when you were at the Boston Herald, but because editors didn’t recognize your “talent”, you left because you didn’t want to get stuck doing high school scores. And you decided to break out on your own doing your own niche and you did it well. But no one considers you to be an insider or a journalist. You were a comedy writer at Jimmy Kimmel Live. You’re more of a humorist who latched onto ESPN.com when it was in its infancy. Now you’re complaining that ESPN didn’t pick up your tweet. Do me a favor, Captain Blowhard. Shut up, do your job and write more pop culture references or leave the Mothership and start your own company so you can blow your own horn and pat yourself on the back for your alleged “scoops”.

Ok, so I wrote it anyway. I need to let go of my anger. Back to the links.

Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times offers four New Year’s resolutions for sports media.

Stuart Levine of Variety says bowl games continue to do well for ESPN.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says a Tiger Woods lookalike is finding business to be awful in 2010.

Frank Juliano of the Stamford (CT) Advocate says Cablevision is adding NESN just in time for the 2010 baseball season. 

Darren says the movie, “The Blind Side” is becoming one of the most successful sports movies ever.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union also discusses the ESPN 3D launch.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says Time Warner Cable in the local area will produce weekly high school basketball games.

And Ken says Versus will air a package of NBA D-League games starting this month.

Keith Groller from the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that there has been plenty of football on the airwaves.

Laura Nachman says heritage Philadelphia newsradio station KYW will be outsourcing its weekend sports reports.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that CBS’ NFL Today insider Charley Casserly is saying that Mike Shanahan has already pieced together his coaching staff for the DC NFL team.

Tim Lemke isn’t too thrilled about the ESPN 3D announcement.

Tim says a former Washington Times staffer is joining MASN. 

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that the Lingerie Bowl will be held in South Florida on the night before the Super Bowl.

Sarah writes that the Orange Bowl and South Florida tourism officials are fearful of a college football playoff. 

The Miami Herald uses a wire report that ESPN has won an Eclipse Award for its coverage of the Belmont Stakes back in June. 

From the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Dave Walker says a local radio station will become a Fox Sports Radio affiliate. 

Jim Harris of Arkansas Business recaps an appearance by ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla at a local luncheon.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News has the finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer talks to a Queen’s City sports anchor who suffered a heart attack during the Christmas holidays.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business says Vanity Fair has a rather interesting Tiger Woods cover.

Ed also has one last interview with the late Chicago sportswriter Bill Gleason.

Greg Hansen at the Arizona Daily Star notes that ESPN/ABC has already picked some Pac 10 football games for next season’s schedule.

Patrick Finley of the Daily Star says the Pac 10 and Fox Sports Net will discuss how to adjust the conference’s basketball tournament in the wake of USC announcing a self-imposed postseason ban. 

Larry Bohannan from the Desert Sun (CA) says while TV will miss Tiger Woods, several West Coast PGA Tour stops won’t.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the final college football TV schedule until September.

CTV says 4 million Canadians watched the Olympic men’s hockey team announcement last week. 

Chris Zelkovich in the Toronto Star has some Canadian TV numbers.

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com speaks with Peter Gammons as he gets ready for his MLB Network debut on Wednesday.

Sports Media Watch says the ratings for the NHL Winter Classic were down from last year.

SMW writes that the Rose Bowl’s last airing on ABC did very well.

SMW notes that Fox’s final NFL doubleheader of the season finished strong.

Chris Byrne’s Eye on Sports Media has video of Boise State’s cowbell girl who looked so excited to be at the Fiesta Bowl. For a while, the cowbell girl was a trending topic on Twitter last night. Now we find that she’s blind. Oh well.

Chris shares some thoughts on whether he should have posted the video. 

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Versus got its own NHL matchup wrong.

That’s it for now.

Peter Gammons Makes His Official MLB Network Debut on Wednesday

This just in to Fang’s Bites, Peter Gammons will make his first appearance on MLB Network on Wednesday when the Baseball Hall of Fame elections are made. Take a look at the release:

PETER GAMMONS TO MAKE HIS MLB NETWORK DEBUT WITH 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame Election Announcement SHOW ON JANUARY 6

Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Matt Vasgersian, Tom Verducci, Jon Heyman & Ken Rosenthal also to be part of Hall of Fame announcement show live at 1:00 p.m. ET

Hall of Famers featured throughout new episode of Baseball’s Seasons: 1959 airing January 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET

Secaucus, NJ, January 4, 2010 – Hall of Fame award-winning baseball writer Peter Gammons will make his debut on MLB Network with the 2010 Baseball Hall of Fame Election announcement show on Wednesday, January 6. MLB Network’s Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Matt Vasgersian, Tom Verducci, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal and National Baseball Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson will also be part of the 90-minute announcement show beginning live at 1:00 p.m. ET. Gammons, Costas, Reynolds, Vasgersian, Verducci, Heyman and Rosenthal will then recap of the 2010 Hall of Fame ballot results with the hour-long show Class of 2010 at 9:00 p.m. ET. This will be the first time that Gammons, a baseball journalist for 40 years, and Costas, a 30-year sports broadcasting veteran, will work together.

 Also on Wednesday, Victor Rojas, Dan Plesac, Sean Casey and Jon Heyman will cover the latest updates and moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season with Hot Stove, MLB Network’s nightly studio show in the offseason, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Following Hot Stove, MLB Network will air the premiere of Baseball’s Seasons: 1959 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The documentary-style series, created by Major League Baseball Productions, will feature the most memorable moments of the 1959 Major League Baseball season. The episode covers the Go-Go Chicago White Sox and their quest to top the New York Yankees in the American League; the adjustment of the Dodgers to the team’s new home in Los Angeles; the debut of Maury Wills and the emergence of future Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale; the two-time defending NL Pennant winners Milwaukee Braves with Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and pitchers Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn; and the World Series between the Dodgers and the White Sox. As Baseball’s Seasons examines each year in the context of the time’s culture and society, the 1959 episode highlights integration throughout the United States in comparison with integration in Major League Baseball, who had seen the debut of Jackie Robinson twelve years earlier.

New Year, new employer and new setting for Peter Gammons.

Thursday’s Stuff

I have links for you today. Trying to finish these early so I can some work done.

The Associated Press has the top 15 cable programs for last week which includes some programming from ESPN.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that ESPN will finish third in the yearly cable primetime ratings.

Anthony says Monday Night Football scored for ESPN this week.

Romanesko reports that Editor & Publisher, the organization that covers the newspaper industry is now ceasing publication. Very sad.

Carolyn Giardina of the Hollywood Reporter looks at the 3-D test being conducted at Cowboys Stadium for the San Diego-Dallas game.

John Eggerton of Multichannel News says hearings will be held on Capitol Hill later this month on pirating sports broadcasts over the internet.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that the Sportsman Channel is being upgraded on Comcast systems in Chicago.

Sports Illustrated’s Dan McGrath says Cubs TV analyst Bob Brenly is ready to get back into managing.

Alden Gonzalez from MLB.com writes about Dick Enberg being inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame next week.

Sean Gregory of Time looks at how the PGA Tour’s TV partners are treating Tiger Woods.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at how the Tiger Woods story is affecting sports marketing.

Paul Baker from the Ridgefield (CT) Press writes about Monday Night Football director Chip Dean receiving an honor from Arizona State University.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says since the Tiger Woods Slam into a fire hydrant the day after Thanksgiving, his website has seen increased traffic.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times has some thoughts on why Peter Gammons left ESPN in favor of MLB Network.

Dustin Long of the Virginian-Pilot says NASCAR might be putting more of its races online (scroll down). Thanks to Jay Busbee of Yahoo’s From the Marbles blog for the link.

The Orlando Business Journal says the St. Petersburg Bowl now has a sponsor.

Tom Jicha of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel talks about a West Palm Beach TV station outsourcing its sports reports to the local ESPN Radio station.

Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News is amused by Michael Strahan’s comments on the Cowboys’ Flozell Adams.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business wonders if the sluggish economy is responsible for the excellent TV ratings for sports programming.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says NBC’s Rodney Harrison is on the Packers’ Super Bowl express.

Riverside County (CA) Press-Enterprise looks at the Lakers’ Luke Walton taking the mic for a couple of games.

Peter Hadekel of the Montreal Gazette talks with International Olympic Committee member and director of the Vancouver Organizing Committee Richard Pound on the business and economic impact of the 2010 Olympic Games.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the Tiger Woods story is leaving sponsors, the PGA Tour and others wondering what’s in the golfer’s future.

Chris Zelkovich from the Toronto Star looks at a civilian who won a one year contract to broadcast sports.

Writing for Pro Football Weekly, Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald says NFL Network’s game productions has a ways to improve.

Sports Media Watch says the Big 12 Championship did well for ABC on Saturday.

SMW says college football on the ESPN family networks was the most viewed in over a decade.

SMW has some ratings news and notes.

SMW says the Tiger Woods story is good business for Yahoo, but not for Tiger’s sponsors.

And the SMW speaks with TNT Inside the NBA producer Tim Kiely.

John Daly’s Daly Planet blog looks at whether NASCAR fans are willing to watch a new one hour weekly highlights show on Showtime.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media wonders where Mike Milbury is on NBC’s coverage of the NHL Winter Classic.

We conclude with Kristine Leahy doing The Five on WEEI.com.

That’s going to do it for now.

Peter Gammons Talks About Joining MLB Network

On Wednesday at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Indianapolis, Peter Gammons joined MLB Network head honcho Tony Petitti and MLB Advanced Media CEO Bob Bowman in a media conference call to announce his joining the channel as well as MLB.com full-time. On Tuesday, we learned that Peter was leaving ESPN after 20 years and joining MLB Network/MLB.com and NESN.

Here are highlights of that conference call. If I find audio and/or video, I’ll add it here.

quotes from peter gammons, tony petitti & bob bowman on gammons joining mlb network & MLB.com

December 9, 2009 – MLB Network held a conference call Wednesday afternoon with Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons, MLB Network president & CEO Tony Petitti and chief executive officer of MLB Advanced Media Bob Bowman to discuss Gammons’ new roles with MLB Network & MLB.com. It was announced Tuesday, December 8 that Gammons would join MLB Network and MLB.com as an on-air and online analyst. As part of a multi-year deal, Gammons will offer analysis and commentary on MLB Network for breaking news and special events like the Trade Deadline, First-Year Player Draft, Winter Meetings and Postseason. Gammons will also serve as a signature and regularly featured writer for MLB.com’s new columnist initiative, writing commentary on breaking news and posting several articles online each week.

Gammons was honored as the recipient of the 2005 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing during the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Gammons was voted the National Sportswriter of the Year for 1989, 1990 and 1993 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and was awarded an honorary Poynter Fellow from Yale University.

Highlights from the call include:

Tony Petitti

On working with Gammons

There’s no doubt that one of the most important relationships viewers have with our network is through the talent. To add Peter to a list that already includes Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds, Al Leiter, Barry Larkin among many, it’s just a really important step for us. Peter will provide great insight and one thing that he’ll do that I think is sort of unique is not only will he offer commentary on what’s going on in the game on an everyday basis, but also, he’ll generate content for us with programming ideas, much like we said last year with Bob Costas. We’ll be able to develop programs for Peter; he’ll have ideas for shows and segments. The great advantage we have with being 24/7, 365, is that we’ve got a great outlet for all his expertise.

Having a deep, talented team is really crucial, because that’s where our talent comes from. The fact that we’ve put together a really good team initially makes it more attractive for people like Peter and, for some, to see what we’ve accomplished in our first year makes it a little bit easier now to recruit, now that people have seen the shows.

Bob Bowman

On working with Gammons & MLB Network

We’re equally excited about trying to leverage and utilize Peter’s unique talents between us and the network.

Adding someone like Peter who understands the game and can write about it … we think it’s very exciting because the written word is not dead, no matter what [others] may say. We hope to give it even more life, and we think we will, with the hiring of Peter Gammons.

Peter Gammons

On projects he’ll do with MLB Network & MLB.com

I just see so many different directions that I can go with this. The opportunities, selfishly, are boundless. What the network has done in a very short period of time frankly has astounded me. It is so good. I have a lot of friends who work there and love it and the combination of the writing and the network, to me, lets me move on to another stage in my career after 40 years in the newspaper, magazine and television industry. I almost feel that this merges all three together and … I have tremendous confidence and respect for the people with whom I’ll be working.

Some of the writing forum fascinates and really excites me. And I think that there’s so much, because the network is all baseball, and … to be a voice for the game and to be able to come up with ideas and projects that I want to do, it’s really exciting to me.

On what attracted him to working with MLB Network

As a viewer, one thing that I’ve really understood in the year is the passion the network has for the game I love so much and I think that’s very important. There’s no superficiality. There’s a clear passion for baseball and presenting baseball to the fans and I think it’s been done not only with that degree of passion but with objectivity. As a viewer, when I started watching it when it began, the question was “how objective will it be?” and it’s very evident to me that the network has encouraged full objectivity and allowed the people on-air to be exactly who they are.

This is a tremendous opportunity at this time in my life – a little more freedom of time, a little more freedom of opportunity. There are still other things beyond this in terms of book-writing that I want to try to launch into the next five years. I have really been tremendously impressed and swept away by the concepts that were brought to me.

On maintaining objectivity in his reporting for MLB Network & MLB.com

It’s been made very clear to me that that’s the way it is. Tony and Bob know me and they know I’ve thought it out a lot over time about where are conflicts – and there are essential conflicts in almost everything we do today in any form of media – but I am who I am and I’d like to think that after 40 years in the media business that people accept me and that I’m going to have, I hope, the same integrity that I’ve always had.

On how journalists work across multimedia platforms

It makes me very happy to see people get the opportunity to go into television from newspapers or go into other forms of media. … It’s really fun to grow with the medium and yet I still never really felt that it’s that much different than what I did with the Boston Globe in 1972.

Certainly this was the biggest news of the Winter Meetings.

Some Mid-Week Links

Doing some linkage and my computer has been acting up on me. This is all connected with me falling asleep with the lights and my glasses on. I have a feeling I dropped my computer while asleep so I have to deal with it shutting off about seven times today. So while I deal with trying to stabilize the machine, I’ll do some linkage.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about Peter Gammons leaving ESPN for the MLB Network.

Tom Singer of MLB.com looks at the Gammons move to MLB Network and MLB.com.

USA Today’s Mike McCarthy writes about Gatorade dropping a line of Tiger Woods-theme drinks before the Tiger Slam into a fire hydrant.

The Sports Business Daily looks at the latest Tiger Woods news including the lack of his TV ads since his scandal broke the day after Thanksgiving.

Reed Albergotti of the Wall Street Journal writes that Woods may not be getting the best PR advice.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says now is the time to buy Tiger Woods memorabilia.

Darren talks with Kobe Bryant about his new Nike shoe.

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn writes about Peter Gammons’ decision to join NESN and the MLB Network.

The Boston Herald’s John Tomase and Michael Silverman also have a story about Gammons’ departure from ESPN.

Jessica Heslam of the Herald has a look at the sports radio ratings.

Will Leitch of New York Magazine wonders if the Tiger Woods story is changing sports journalism.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union is a bit surprised that NBC and the NFL chose to stand pat with its Sunday Night game in Week 15.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says up to 10 college bowl games will be on local sports radio this holiday season.

Ken says CBS Sports will have its top college football announcing team on Army-Navy this weekend.

Laura Nachman says another Philadelphia Inquirer reporter is moving to Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s upgraded website.

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that Orange Bowl officials as well as Miami tourism officials are hoping Iowa fans will make the trip to see their team in droves as they did in 2003.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says it appears Josh Lewin will return to call the Texas Rangers on TV for next season and beyond.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle looks at the local ratings of the college football conference championships as well as high school football.

Over to Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business who wants to put an end to the Tiger Woods coverage.

Ed writes about a new website devoted to Chicago high school sports.

Ed looks at more shuffling between the Tribune and Sun-Times.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal writes that the Bucks get another shot on national TV this Friday.

Chicago Tribune Olympics reporter Philip Hersh says webcasts are no longer the bane of figure skating.

Barry Stavro of the Los Angeles Times writes that Lakers fans will hear some different voices on the radio calling games this weekend.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the NFL TV schedule for Week 14.

Tom says the Bowl Championship Series is extremely unfair.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star looks at the battle between the mainstream sports media and the sports leagues.

William Houston of Truth & Rumours says the Tiger Woods story is inciting both thoughtful and stupid comments.

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable says the Cowboys will use its huge videoboard to conduct a 3-D test on Sunday during its game with the Chargers.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News writes that Spike’s Ultimate Fighter season finale drew its highest ratings to date.

Some NFL ratings from the Sports Media Watch.

First, Sunday Night’s Packers-Cardinals game did well for NBC.

Fox saw excellent ratings for Cowboys-Giants.

But CBS experienced a big drop for its regional coverage.

ESPN’s Monday Night Football did very well.

SMW wraps up the ratings from Week 12.

SMW has the weekend overnight ratings.

And the SMW talks with Kenny “The Jet” Smith of TNT’s Inside the NBA.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media shows us the new face of Canadian sportscasting.

Emmett Jones of the Sports Business Digest has Ana Ivanovic’s dress for the Australian Open next month (it’s next month?!!!).

Maury Brown in the Biz of Baseball says Bloomberg is making a big push to get a foothold into baseball analytics.

We end with Kristine Leahy doing The Five on WEEI.com.

That’s it for now.

BREAKING NEWS: Peter Gammons Joins MLB Network and MLB.com

Peter Gammons leaves ESPN and picks up two outlets. In addition to working for NESN which will be his home base, Peter also will work for MLB Network. The story leaked just a few short hours after we learned that Peter was leaving ESPN, his place of employment for 20 years. He now joins MLB Network which has amassed a really good stable of baseball reporters including Tom Verducci, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal. That’s a Murderer’s Row of insiders that ESPN will be hard pressed to match. While ESPN has Buster Olney, Peter Pascarelli, Tim Kurkjian and Jayson Stark among others, MLB Network has really stepped up.

In addition, Peter will write for MLB.com. We have the official announcement from MLB Network.

Hall of Fame Baseball Writer Peter Gammons Joins MLB Network and MLB.com as On-Air and Online Analyst

Gammons to Serve as an Analyst on MLB Network Studio and Feature Programming

Gammons to be a Signature and Regularly Featured Writer in

MLB.com’s New Sports Columnist Initiative

Secaucus, NJ and New York, NY, December 8, 2009 – MLB Network and MLB Advanced Media today announced that Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons has joined MLB Network and MLB.com as an on-air and online analyst. As part of a multi-year deal, Gammons will offer analysis and commentary on MLB Network for breaking news and special events like the Trade Deadline, First-Year Player Draft, Winter Meetings and Postseason. Gammons will also serve as a signature and regularly featured writer for MLB.com’s new columnist initiative, writing commentary on breaking news and posting several articles online each week.

During the 2009-2010 offseason, Gammons will appear on Hot Stove, MLB Network’s nightly offseason studio show featuring updates and analysis of the moves all 30 clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season. He will also contribute to MLB Network’s Spring Training program 30 Clubs in 30 Days and do studio work on short documentary-style pieces and other select programming. Gammons will also be a regular analyst on MLB Tonight, MLB Network’s signature nightly studio show.

Also today, NESN announced that Gammons has entered into a multi-year agreement to join the network in January 2010 to serve as a studio analyst and reporter.

“It’s hard to imagine a reporter who is more deeply associated with a sport than Peter is with Major League Baseball,” said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “Having Peter associated with MLB Network is an incredible opportunity and another great step for MLB Network as we head into our second year on January 1.”

“Peter is one of the best known baseball observers and his illustrious 40-year career has included coverage of some of the most important moments in baseball history,” said Dinn Mann, executive vice president and editor-in-chief of MLB.com. “We are thrilled he will be the anchor of our soon-to-be-launched daily columnist website that will include this country’s best baseball writers.”

“After 40 years covering baseball, the opportunity to move on to MLB Network is a great and daunting opportunity,” said Gammons. “My journalistic life has revolved around baseball, and to be involved with people whose network is devoted to baseball, and baseball only, is something I look forward to with excitement. We all wish pitchers and catchers reported tomorrow. One of the greatest things about baseball is that it is held to a higher standard than any other sport, which holds those of us who care about it to a higher standard. I hope I can contribute to that standard.”

“For generations, baseball has been the writers’ sport, from John Updike to Roger Angell to Tom Boswell,” said Gammons. “To be afforded the opportunity by MLB.com to write about breaking news, inside information, issues, players, people, history and the perspective of the game’s place in society from Jackie Robinson to our current generation of socially-conscious players like Torii Hunter, Carlos Pena, and C.C. Sabathia is a forum that makes this next chapter of my journalistic life exciting and rewarding.”

Gammons was honored as the recipient of the 2005 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing during the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Gammons was voted the National Sportswriter of the Year for 1989, 1990 and 1993 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and was awarded an honorary Poynter Fellow from Yale University.

Gammons most recently served as a baseball analyst for ESPN from 1988 through 2009 as well as a writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. He began his career as a reporter for the Boston Globe in 1969 and wrote a weekly Sunday baseball column for many years. He has also worked for Sports Illustrated covering the National Hockey League, college basketball and Major League Baseball (1976-78, 1986-90). He has also served as a contributor to Baseball America. In 1984, Gammons wrote the critically acclaimed book Beyond the Sixth Game, a look at free agency.

Gammons joins MLB Network’s roster of on-air talent, including studio hosts Bob Costas, Matt Vasgersian, Victor Rojas, Greg Amsinger and Matt Yallof, studio analysts Sean Casey, John Hart, Barry Larkin, Al Leiter, Joe Magrane, Dan Plesac, Harold Reynolds, Billy Ripken and Mitch Williams, reporters Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae, and baseball insiders Jon Heyman, Tom Verducci and Ken Rosenthal.

Good stuff. Been quite the busy day for us who cover the sports media.

BREAKING NEWS: Peter Gammons Joins NESN

In addition to joining the MLB Network, Peter Gammons gets to stay home more often as he will join NESN as a studio analyst and reporter in 2010. Here’s the press release:

PETER GAMMONS TO JOIN NESN AND NESN.COM IN 2010

BOSTON, MA – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network, announced today that Hall of Fame baseball writer and longtime ESPN and Boston Globe baseball analyst/reporter Peter Gammons has entered into a multi-year agreement to join NESN as a regular studio analyst, reporter and online contributor.

“This is a great day for our fans. Peter is the most respected and relied upon baseball journalist in the country,” said Sean McGrail, NESN President and CEO. “Peter brings to our baseball coverage a depth of knowledge and experience unmatched in the industry. Joining Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley and Jim Rice, we are proud to add Peter to our studio and online coverage of Red Sox baseball.”

Gammons will serve as a studio analyst, reporter and offer commentary for over 50 of the network’s hour-long pre and post game shows and as co-host of Red Sox Hot Stove and Red Sox Spring Break LIVE. He will also make regular contributions to NESN.com.

“I’m a New Englander who wanted to be Jackie Jensen,” said Peter Gammons. “I started out at the Boston Globe and wrote about Jerry Remy when he was at Somerset High School. I was lucky enough to be there for the Munson-Fisk fight in 1973 and The Sixth Game and the ’78 playoff, and when my local cable company wouldn’t put NESN on our system I signed the override petitions.”

“NESN has given me the opportunity to come back to my roots and once again be part of my neighborhood, and I am truly excited about it. During the 2007 World Series, Matt Holliday said that what differentiated Fenway Park from any other stadium is that fans don’t react, they anticipated, and that creates a tension unlike any other audience in sports. It is a great feeling to be back with that audience.”

Also today, MLB Network and MLB.com announced that Gammons will be an on-air analyst for MLB Network programming providing analysis and commentary and will also be a signature and regularly featured writer on MLB.com’s new sports columnist initiative.

This is a big coup for NESN and NESN.com. In the battle for Boston readers, NESN gets its first real splash for its website.

AP Reporting Peter Gammons Joining MLB Network

Not surprising to hear this. The Associated Press reports that Peter Gammons who earlier today announced his departure from ESPN at the end of this week’s Winter Meetings will join MLB Network.

I hope to have more later.

Sent from my iPhone.

UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: Here’s the link to the Associated Press story written by Ronald Blum about Gammons joining the MLB Network. We have another Peter Gammons story coming up.

BREAKING NEWS: Peter Gammons To Leave ESPN

In a story that is just breaking, ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys has tweeted that Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons has announced that he will leave ESPN after the Winter Meetings this week.

Gammons joined ESPN back in 1989 becoming along with fellow Boston Globe writer Will McDonough, one of the first newspaper reporters to join a TV network. McDonough was hired by CBS Sports around the same time. Here’s the release.

Gammons Ends Hall of Fame Run with ESPN

Baseball Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons has decided to pursue new endeavors and will no longer be a contributor to ESPN after this week’s winter meetings.

Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production:

“As a print journalist moving to television, Peter was a pioneer who became a Hall of Famer. His contributions to ESPN will never be forgotten. We’re sad to see Peter go, but understand his desire for new challenges and a less demanding schedule.”

Peter Gammons:

“My decision to leave ESPN and move on at this point in my life has been conflicted. I owe a great deal of my professional life to ESPN, having spent more than half of my 40 years in journalism working for the network, and the choice to move on was made with nothing but the strongest feelings for the people with whom I worked. ESPN gave me a great deal more than I gave it, and will always be a huge part of who I am.

“I will forever be joined at the hip with John Walsh, who hired me as an ink-stained wretch, plunked me on TV and has always been a guiding spirit. Understand how the people who run ESPN treat people: when I was felled by a severe aneurysm in 2006, George Bodenheimer, John Skipper, Norby Williamson, my former Boston Globe boss Vince Doria and everyone made certain that my family and I had the best care and support, far, far beyond any reasonable expectation. My ESPN life has been lined with foxhole people whom I’ll never forget.

“I’ve been able to work with my closest and oldest friends, like Jayson Stark, Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, Peter Pascarelli, Jerry Crasnick and Charlie Moynihan. I spent three seasons doing games with a producer, Tom Archer, who is among the most revered leaders I’ve ever met. I told everyone last October that the team baseball coordinating producer Jay Levy put together with Mark Preisler and Marc Carman was the most creative in my 20 years on the show. I apologize to hundreds of people I owe for all these years for not mentioning their names.

“You would have had to be there for 20 years to know how hard so many good people sweated in anonymity to make all of us look as if we knew what we were doing.

“My friend Tom Rush – who taught James Taylor and me our first guitar chords – once wrote how strange it seems to walk away alone. With no regrets.”

John Walsh, ESPN executive vice president and executive editor:

“Peter was the best and the brightest in making the transition from print to video. For ESPN, he contributed 21 Hall of Fame years as a journalist and, throughout, set the standard for others to reach for.”

Gammons bio

Peter Gammons, a highly respected Major League Baseball journalist, was an ESPN reporter/analyst for 20 seasons (1989-2009). He regularly provided analysis on ESPN’s Sports Emmy Award-winning Baseball Tonight. From 2006-08, he reported during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball telecasts from the ballpark, generally from field level. Gammons also provided “Diamond Notes” and other reports for SportsCenter. Amongst his multimedia role, Gammons also wrote a column and a blog for ESPN.com.

Gammons, 64, was honored as the recipient of the 2004 J.G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing during the 2005 Hall of Fame induction ceremony July 31 in Cooperstown, N.Y. He was selected in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

He began his career as a reporter for the Boston Globe in 1969 and wrote a very popular weekly Sunday baseball column for many years. He has also worked for Sports Illustrated covering the National Hockey League, college basketball and Major League Baseball (1976-78, 1986-90).

In 1986, upon his return to Sports Illustrated as a senior writer following a second stay at the Globe, he wrote numerous stories covering some of baseball’s most important news events, as well as authoring “Inside Baseball,” Sports Illustrated’s weekly baseball notebook.

Peter is one of the most respected writers in baseball and his induction into the writers wing at the Baseball Hall of Fame is very much deserved.

It is not known where Peter is going, but speculation has it that he could join MLB Network.