Hubie Brown wants to return as ABC’s lead NBA analyst. But will he be invited back?
The informative Brown’s contract ended after the just-concluded Finals.
While he looks at himself as a “teacher,” people close to the NBA think the league may want more of an entertainer to appeal to the casual fan.
Reached after the Finals at his home in Atlanta, Brown, 72, emphasized that he loved working with Mike Breen and wants to return.
“I thought Breen and I had a very good year, and naturally I would like to continue what I am doing,” Brown said.
ABC Sports VP Mike Soltys concurred with Brown’s assessment, but could not guarantee Brown’s return.
“Hubie and ABC had a strong Finals and we will do our standard postseason review of all elements of our production in the coming weeks,” Soltys said.
If ABC makes a change, Mark Jackson – who works ABC’s NBA studio, and Net games on YES – is a possible replacement.
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While Fox Sports remains the favorite to retain Major League Baseball and NBC is considered as the most likely second choice, CBS Sports has emerged as an unlikely wild card, NYP TV Sports has learned.
CBS Sports executives recently held talks with baseball officials about doing a package that would feature the World Series, part of the ALCS and NLCS, the All-Star Game and a limited regular-season schedule, according to sources.
CBS is still considered a longshot because it doesn’t need baseball at all. It already has the NFL, March Madness, golf and, most importantly, is the No. 1 rated network in prime time.
In the cut-throat business of sports TV, CBS and baseball also could be creating a “false” option in an effort to force Fox or NBC or even ABC to pony up more money for the World Series deal.
“CBS Sports analyzes each rights package but only moves forward in creating deals that make good business sense for the company,” CBS Sports VP LeslieAnne Wade said.
In Fox Sports’ current contract with MLB, it pays $2.5 billion for six years.
This is the final season of the deal.
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While ESPN’s Peter Gammons is doing a good deed by donating the proceeds of his CD – yes, a musical CD from Peter Gammons – to charity, he should not have had players such as Trot Nixon and Tim Wakefield on it, and he should not be donating the money to Theo Epstein’s family foundation. There are plenty of other charities not associated with people Gammons covers.
“I understand that,” said Gammons, 61, who releases Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old on July 4. “I actually did think about it a little bit. I kind of took it like a golf tournament. If a Rick Sutcliffe has a golf tournament, [it is OK.]” Fair or unfair, ex-athletes turned TV analysts play by different rules from TV reporters who want to be respected journalists.
Gammons’ heart was in the right place, but his mind was not.
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During Wednesday’s Mets-Red Sox game, SNY and NESN – which broadcasts Boston games – are going to trade Ron Darling for Jerry Remy for two innings.
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While the more we watch them, the more we agree with the CBS view that sideline reporters barely serve a purpose, ABC/ESPN’s Lisa Salters is talented at her job.
Working the NBA Finals, she asked probing, relevant questions and even threw in some follow-ups.