Kudos to ESPN, Kuselias for Farewell

Lame duck on-air talents rarely work on radio, at any level (locally or nationally), so it's been a surprise that ESPN backup talker Erik Kuselias -- bound for the Golf Channel in January -- has played such a big role on ESPN Radio the past week or so.

He's been working on "Mike and Mike in the Morning" this week, one of his typical roles filling in for Mike Greenberg. As always, Kuselias knows what he's doing, bantering with his partner and generating good onversation. His athletic background and his experience as a lawyer typically prompt some entertaining and interesting perspectives.

Best of all, his opinions rarely sound contrived or created just to evoke a reaction. When he's working, listeners get strong sports-talk radio.

Maybe that's why he's been given the opportunity to work this week, even with his departure a given. Because he's not overly emotional or reactionary, there's little danger he'll do something silly to damage his reputation on the way out the door.

Plus, when discussing his future (which begins Jan. 3 on the Golf Channel), he includes seemingly sincere appreciation for the people in charge at ESPN and the opportunities provided by the all-sports network.

Still, the Kuselias move is interesting on another level because the Sports Business Journal reported that DirecTV might drop the channel, which could cost it some 15 million viewers by the end of 2010. While Kuselias has done decent work, he has not been able to build beyond a niche with ESPN and the Golf Channel can provide a more regular role.

It certainly will not be a more visible role, though, because the network has struggled to attract viewers. Also according to the Sports Business Journal, the Golf Channel ranked 78th out of 90 cable networks in total-day viewership during November, with an average of 55,000 viewers in a 24-hour period. It averaged 88,000 viewers in prime time ... but Kuselias will be working mornings.

One plus for the Golf Channel was that it did draw better numbers in November than the MLB Network, Fox Soccer and NBA TV.