Tennis great Chris Evert retired from NBC yesterday, starting a search for her replacement that includes Mary Carillo, Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin, according to sources. Carillo is the favorite.
The 48-year-old Evert decided to relinquish her roles on the network’s French Open and Wimbledon coverage to stay at home with her family.
Thirty years ago, Evert began her tennis playing career and has been traveling ever since.
“I wouldn’t trade my tennis or TV broadcasting experiences for anything,” she said. “But thirty summers is a long time to spend on the road.”
NBC is expected to renew its Wimbledon deal by the end of the month, but the cable contract is undecided. ESPN is considered the favorite over incumbent TNT, which would allow Carillo to consider NBC.
Carillo, a former player and longtime analyst for CBS and other networks, worked Wimbledon for TNT last year.
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Former Rutgers coach Bob Wenzel is a very solid college hoops analyst. The 50-year-old Wenzel broadcasts about 40 games a year for CBS, ESPN and international TV, while he also is a five-day-a-week Merrill Lynch financial broker.
On games, Wenzel’s passion is apparent, and his analysis is opinionated and interesting – a winning combination. After playing and coaching – which Wenzel doesn’t want to return to – Wenzel thinks broadcasting is the best way to stay in the game.
In March, Wenzel will work the first week of CBS’ NCAA Tournament coverage for the third year.
While he has already broadcast the Final Four for international TV, he one day would like to do it in the United States.
“That’s my goal,” Wenzel said.
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This week on SportsCenter, NFL analyst Sean Salisbury listed the Lions’ Desmond Howard as his softest player of the year. Salisbury cited Howard’s ear injury, which occurred when a celebrating teammate knocked Howard’s helmet after a good return.
Then, a few days later on SportsCenter, Salisbury broke down the Lions’ talent after the team hired Steve Mariucci as coach. Salisbury went out of his way to say, Howard is “not soft at all – as a matter of fact [he is] one of their tougher players.”
The quick reversal made Salisbury look anything but tough or believable. Given the viciousness of NFL play, saying any professional player is “soft” is a stretch anyway, and Salisbury, as a former NFL quarterback, should know better.
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YES is turning into Nickelodeon this week. Besides featuring 18-year-old LeBron James on Saturday night, it will have “Harlem Champions: The Road to Williamsport” on Tuesday at 10 p.m.