Finding room for 'retiring' Chris Berman an appropriate, savvy move by ESPN that benefits everyone involved

Everyone knew Chris Berman's role at ESPN would be reduced months ago, but what he would do when he "retired" was either avoided, because there was nothing to share, or speculated about, because the possibilities as a result of his departure at the all-sports network (and potentially at its competitors) was endless -- just too good to ignore.

On Thursday, ESPN ended all the speculation. Berman, 61, while nudged toward a reduced role, would remain with the network that he helped build and define.

A six-time National Sportscaster of the Year, Berman has been with ESPN since 1979. He arrived in Bristol, Conn., a month after the fledgling network launched. He was among the founding fathers of on-air talent for ESPN and his prominence grew as the network itself became a more powerful force in sports and society.

When the NFL season ends though, Berman will be done with consistent, high-profile assignments. He has hosted "Sunday NFL Countdown" for 31 years, and was the lead host for coverage of the NFL Draft and Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby. Along with that, older viewers knew him for "SportsCenter" assignments and his pervasive use of nicknames as well as a trademark "back, back, back" call for home runs in baseball highlights, and at the Derby.

His signature approach connected with fans, especially earlier in his career. To some that same approach later seemed dated, and as he continued with it some perceived him as tone deaf to criticism. Still, Berman seems mostly respected by colleagues and peers who publicly shared abundant praise after the ESPN announcement.

Also, criticisms of his approach and work have generally seemed like a faddish/media-only practice not parroted by regular fans who were comfortable with his schtick. Ultimately, it was not a made-for-TV thing. Berman was himself and it worked for more than three decades.



In retirement, he'll "make appearances on-air" and "serve in public-facing roles," according to the ESPN release. While he will not be involved with studio coverage of the NFL on a week-to-week basis, he will appear each week on "Monday Night Countdown" with opinion pieces and perspective on historical events. He'll also host "NFL PrimeTime" highlights after the NFL's conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

Along with those football duties, he'll handle play-by-play during the MLB Divisional Playoffs on ESPN Radio and participate in the annual ESPYS Awards.

In a timely and well done interview (above), Berman told John Ourand of Sports Business Journal that he never considered leaving ESPN, and that he wanted to end his career where it started. He said the lull from when it became public that he would be retiring until the announcement was due in large part because he was in the middle of his season. Just as athletes and teams often do not negotiate in the midst of a season, Berman said that was his approach the past few months as well.

 "I'm leaving, but I'm staying," he said. Berman said having the ability to pick his spots and spend more time with his wife at their home in Maui was appealing. "It'll be different, but I'm around."

Berman leaves ESPN at a time when the network, while much bigger and more pervasive than what it was in 1979, remains perhaps just as challenged as the start-up entity was three-plus decades ago. Back then, ESPN was seeking relevance. It built that, long before it could afford to spend for sports rights fees, on the personalities of its on-air talent -- people like Berman. In some ways especially Berman.

Now, with subscribers cutting their cable cords by the thousands on a regular basis, with so many more outlets for sports news and information available, and with bloggers, critics and Internet snarks ready to share an opinion about anything, the chances of a personality cutting through the clutter and making a difference (let alone a mark on ratings and viewership) seems much more unlikely.

Berman deserves a spot on any Mount Rushmore of ESPN talent. There's no doubt about that. He has been the face of the place for the lifetime of many sports fans. Sure, his approach might seem silly to some anymore, but he's passionate, solid and talented.

It was wise of him and the network for him to remain as some sort of elder statesman. That's much better than having him leave for someplace else. Even if it was unlikely, and even if he was not appreciated by some, that would've hurt everyone involved -- like an all-time player in any sport finishing his career in some other city.

So, while things like his "Swami" segments and "The Two Minute Drill" might no longer get airtime, and perhaps appropriately so, Berman, who received the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozell Radio-Television Award for longtime exceptional contributions in 2010, will still be where he belongs -- on ESPN.