Outstanding Personalities Share Football

The four top individual Sports Emmy Awards, which were announced Monday, all went to on-air professionals whose work includes a large portion of football coverage -- again showing how TV's most popular sport makes commercial and critical stars of those who cover it.

Three of the major individual recipients have been in that category for years, and one rookie winner finally earned hardware to verify his status as one of the best in the business.

Bob Costas of NBC earned his 19th Sports Emmy, recognizing his work as Outstanding Sports Personality-Studio Host for work on "Football Night in America" and horse racing while Jim Nantz of CBS was named Outstanding Sports Personality-Play-by-Play for his work covering the NFL and golf. It was the second consecutive win in that category for Nantz.

Analysts Chris Collinsworth and Kirk Herbstreit completed the quartet with honors as Outstanding Sports Personality-Sports Event Analyst and Outstanding Sports Personality-Studio Analyst, respectively. For Collinsworth, it was his ninth Sports Emmy overall (two as event analyst and seven as studio analyst) while it was the first Sport Emmy for he likable and well-prepared Herbstreit.

John Madden, with a record 16 Sports Emmys for game analysis, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event in New York City.

Among networks, HBO earned nine Sports Emmys, followed by CBS and ESPN with seven each. MLB Network earned four.

ESPN's honorees included: "College GameDay," selected as Outstanding Studio Show-Weekly, it's second such honor in the past three years; and "Pardon the Interruption," which earned its first Sports Emmy as Outstanding Sports Show-Daily.

Click here for a complete list of winners.

CBS Sports Adds Partner, Keeps Tournament

CBS Sports and partner Turner Broadcasting System made the winning bid for an expanded NCAA Tournament beginning in 2011, the NCAA and those broadcast partners announced Thursday.

The 14-year deal worth more than $10.8 million includes TV, Internet and wireless rights through 2024.

As part of the agreement, all games in the tournament -- which would grow from 65 to 68 teams based on a recommendation by the Division I Men's Basketball Committee this week -- will be available live in their entirety on one of four national TV networks. So, instead of CBS providing regional coverage of only a single game to a specific area of the country during a certain broadcast window, viewers with access to the broadcast network and its partner cable channels may choose for themselves which game to watch when games overlap throughout the tournament.

Sixty-eight teams would also mean a play-in (officially "opening round") game in each of the tournament's four regions in the week before the first full weekend of play. And, with several outlets (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV) those games could be shown on separate channels at the same time or as two doubleheaders on a two channels. Although ESPN has broadcast the lone play-in game for the 65-team tournament in the past, the announcement Thursday indicated that the CBS-Turner deal would include all games in the tournament beginning in 2011.

The deal also moves later-round action in the tournament to cable for the first time, with CBS and Turner splitting coverage of regional semifinal games beginning in 2011.

Through 2015, CBS has exclusive coverage of the regional finals and Final Four, but beginning in 2016 it would split that coverage with Turner -- with the Final Four alternating every year between CBS Sports and TBS.

According to interim NCAA president Jim Isch, the deal provides more than $740 million annually to the organization. Revenue from the tournament provides nearly 96 percent of the NCAA's income.

Many thought the NCAA's quest for more money would lead to a greatly expanded tournament (as many as 96 games) and the possibility that ESPN, with its ability to generate money to pay for rights fees through its cable subscription fees, would emerge as the tournament's home.

Instead, CBS found a capable cable partner with Turner (which can also add cable revenue on a per-subscriber basis from basic cable bills) and held onto an event that has been one of its major sports properties for nearly three decades.

"This agreement with our colleagues at Turner and the NCAA secures CBS's standing as a year-round leader in sports television well into the next decade," said Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports. "In this agreement, we have created a new strategic partnership that not only makes this prestigious property an ongoing core asset in our stable of major television events, but a profitable one as well."

For TBS, which just a few weeks ago landed Conan O'Brien as host of a late-night program beginning in the fall, the deal provides more visible programming and more visibility in general. While ratings and viewership for regional semifinal games (and eventually regional finals and the Final Four) that air on TBS should logically be lower than those on CBS during the lifetime of the agreement, the events should draw larger-than-usual numbers for TBS and, again, allow access to cable with viewers who pay for specific channels as part of their monthly cable bills -- a revenue stream not available to broadcast networks such as CBS.

"This is landmark deal for Turner Broadcasting and we're extremely pleased to begin a long-term relationship with the NCAA and our partners at CBS and to have a commitment tht extends well into the next decade," said David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports for Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

Mike and Mike Interview Big Ben's Lawyer

Credit Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic for conducting -- and especially their producers for landing -- an interview Thursday with William Cornwell, the attorney for suspended Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The interview on "Mike and Mike in the Morning" (listen here) was as insightful and well-done as possible in the situation. Greenberg and Golic asked the right questions. While Cornwell deftly dodged some, he was refreshingly candid regarding some others.

For example, he acknowledged that a suspension of as many as 8 to 10 games was at least discussed by NFL officials. And he started making some correct steps toward helping the troubled athlete rebuild his image.

It will certainly take a long time for that to happen, especially for some in Pittsburgh, but the exchange was good radio all around.

Proximity Impacts Radio Prognosticators

Just a couple of hours after Colin Cowherd spent much of his show Wednesday mostly ranting to a national audience about what a mistake it would be for the Pittsburgh Steelers to trade Ben Roethlisberger, at least one Pittsburgh-based sports talk show was mostly championing a trade of the franchise's star quarterback.

From afar, it was easy (and sounded a little more sensible) for Cowherd on ESPN Radio to stress caution about possible overreactions or possibly overvaluing morals by a professional sports team. He correctly argued that Roethlisberger ranks as one of only a handful of athletes who can do what he does, and he said a trade would impact the team both short term and long term -- damaging hopes for on-field success in 2010 and potentially costing the team more for a high-round pick than Roethlisberger, with no guarantee of a performance payoff.

Conversely, "Seibel and Starkey" on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh worked to be measured in their comments, but often sounded more like auctioneers for the troubled quarterback during their afternoon drive show. Clearly, the emotional scars were deeper closer to the story.

The Pittsburgh pair were more apt to point out the quarterback's history of problems, while Cowherd acknowledged Roethlisberger's troubles but did not dwell.

From afar, Cowherd argued the team should pull the quarterback closer and provide support systems, if necessary. With a closer view, the Pittsburgh hosts knew more from personal experience (especially Starkey who has been in the market and done a standout job for years) and were not as forgiving.

Often, the reverse happens in controversial situations. Those closer tend to be more parochial, protective and forgiving, while those farther away toss critical darts because they don't know better.

With Roethlisberger, it's interesting that the reactions are almost exactly -- and unanimously (judging by other national shows and other Pittsburgh-based shows) -- opposite.

NFL Draft About Glam and 'Wow'

Some people might tune into the NFL Draft to hear analysts and former players discuss how players selected fit into a specific team's schemes, or even speculate about on-field Xs and Os, but as the draft moves to a prime-time slot Thursday it's clear the NFL and its TV partners believe those people are a minority.

Both ESPN and the NFL Network will cover the proceedings -- and both plan red-carpet shows to start their coverage.

Whiles hard-core fans who wait hours for a seat at Radio City Music Hall comprise most of the live audience in New York City, the draft's producers (and the league) have entertainment on their minds with the first round taking place at night for the first time this year.

Everyone agrees people will be watching, and they want to give them something special -- something that resembles an awards show.

"Just on the ratings, it's going to have a huge impact on Thursday night. It's a largely viewed night in prime time. The promotion leads to all of that awareness," ESPN senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman said during a teleconference last week.

League officials invited more players to be at Radio City Music Hall in person this year, another move designed to boost TV.

"The electricity and abundance of players will make it more of a 'wow' factor," Rothman said. "Increasing from eight to 14 players is a big deal. We've sprinkled more cameras around the theater to have more vantage points to capture that a little bit more. I think it will be pretty electric."

(Unless you're the only one of the 14 players brought to the Big Apple and for some reason your draft stock slides.)

The move away from a football-specific holiday for hard-core fans to a TV show started years ago, with the draft expanding over a series of days and starting later on its first day. With the prime-time move, the league and its TV partners get more opportunities to polish and present the draft as a special event.

It will be interesting to see how coverage evolves, though, because the TV types have promised somewhat contradictory approaches at times.

Specifically, during the teleconference, Rothman said: "The approach this year is less is more, keep it in Radio City, keep it where the action is, keep it where the buzz is and make it more simple and fleet-footed." But, according to USA Today this week, ESPN's arsenal includes cameras in the homes of 25 potential draftees.

Still, expect the Xs and Os and talk about the "best player available" to dominate draft coverage overall. While Thursday night's first round gets glammed up, the heart and soul of draft coverage remains ESPN's Mel Kiper, pick-by-pick speculation and opinions after each and every pick. Plus, the event rarely plays out as expected.

A "reach" for a player earlier than anticipated, another player sliding down board or even an unexpected trade usually shake things up -- and those unplanned things often make a broadcast better than any of the planned, pre-packaged efforts.

Paterno's Role Limited for Spring Game

A nearly three-decade tradition at Penn State will come to an end April 24 when coach Joe Paterno does not work as color commentator for most of the Blue-White Game, the annual scrimmage that marks an end to spring practice.

Paterno, 83, will participate in the broadcast, but only on a limited basis. He'll also appear on TV as ESPN2 broadcasts the game nationally.

The game begins at 2 p.m., and the A-list TV crew for the assignment includes Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Matt Millen. With a two-hour window for coverage, expect the visit from ESPN2 to focus on college football in Happy Valley in general and on the game itself.

In fact, more of the former would not be a surprise. With Penn State regularly attracting 75,000 fans for its spring game, a focus on the atmosphere and, when Paterno's in the booth, the state of college football would not be a surprise.

On the field, Penn State has a quarterback battle (Kevin Newsome, Matt McGloin, Paul Jones) and one of the nation's best running backs (Evan Royster), and those storylines might merit some focus and prompt some interest. But it's not as if every play (or any play, unless someone gets hurt) matters in a spring football scrimmage.

That's just what makes Paterno's absence on radio a loss, though. He made the spring game entertaining, and he made it matter.

Paterno had worked the radio side of the final spring practice scrimmage annually since the late 1970s. At one time, when his brother George was alive and working as the regular color commentator for the broadcasts, the spring games were must-listen radio.

In fact, many of the media members who cover the team on a regular basis would come to the Blue-White Game prepared with a small radio and ear buds to keep an ear on the broadcast while they watched the scrimmage themselves. The brothers' banter was always entertaining because they were not afraid to contradict or question each other about what was happening or what the on-field action meant.

It might have been difficult at first for non-discerning listeners to tell the difference between the two Brooklyn born and bred brothers, but the comments eventually made it obvious.

Even without his brother at his side in more recent year, Joe Paterno was always the highlight of the Blue-White Game on radio. He was honest in his assessments, insightful and opinionated. Despite his sometimes obvious disdain for the media, Paterno was great as a media member with the once-a-year assignment.

Plus, his presence provided an extra personal connection to both him and the program. Fans and listeners got better insights into the team, because Paterno almost always said what he was thinking -- and you could hear either the appreciation or irritation in his voice, depending on what had happened on the field. Those listeners also got an extra insight into the coach himself, and his personality.

The move comes in part because it's a busy weekend at Penn State, with the kickoff of a major fundraising campaign where Paterno will be front and center as some events. The TV presence also plays a part, because when ESPN2 shows up it expects to have access to the coach. And nearly 1 million people (based on viewership for ESPN2's spring games last year) will tune in to watch the Blue-White Game.

Those who tune in on radio will be at a loss without a full game of the coach's comments, though.

Best: Bradshaw Berates Big Ben

Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox Sports NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw had the best comments, on-the-mark and unfiltered, about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger this week. And they came early in the week -- before even more allegations about the incident in Georgia involving Roethlisberger, 26, and a college undergraduate became public.


While critics of Bradshaw would argue (and possibly correctly) that Bradshaw, a former Steelers quarterback himself, certainly enjoyed himself off the field during his playing days, that's no reason to dismiss his comments. It's not a matter of the pot calling the kettle black, or Bradshaw forgetting how he conducted himself 30 or 35 years ago during his career.

Bradshaw was asked a question and responded. With age and experience on his side, his criticisms and perspective were valid.

Plus, he was showing midseason form as an NFL studio analyst.

During his career Bradshaw has evolved. He's gone from being called dumb as a player to someone who was goofy and entertaining that crafted a career in movies and on TV. Now, as an elder statesman (or at least the oldest guy on the set) on NFL studio shows, he's becoming more a voice of the game.

Sure, he might come off a bit grumpy or old school, bit it rarely sounds bitter. He remains one of TV's best studio talkers and in this situation -- having played his entire career in Pittsburgh for the Rooney family that owns the Steelers -- he brings an important point of view.

Maybe people feel emboldened to pile on with Roethlisberger facing a growing public relations nightmare (and, it seems, a possible suspension), but Bradshaw was not one of them. What he said was heartfelt, personal and spot-on -- and it came without an ulterior motive. Rarely to TV types provide such insight, whether on air or in a moment like this, but that approach has become what's defined Bradshaw's quality work in general.