New Show Could be a Winner for Le Batard

People will start deciding winners and losers as hype and reaction intensifies this week with the impending release (officially May 24) of the ESPN book -- "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of EPSN" -- but one potential winner already has emerged and it has nothing to do with the book.

Miami Herald columnist landed Dan Le Batard a gig as host of a show ("Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable") starting Sept. 12 on ESPN2. He'll continue as a columnist for the paper and as host of a daily radio show in Miami.

He's long been the fill-in-guest-of-choice for "Pardon the Interruption," which enhanced his visibility.

Still, this TV might be a nearly can't-miss TV opportunity. Any potential road to success for Le Batard will come (beyond his own opinion and skill) thanks to the talent and vision of Erik Rydholm, the executive producer of "Pardon the Interruption" and "Around the Horn." So far, almost everything Rydholm has touched has worked. And Le Batard is smart enough to embrace that support.

"I'm in exceptional hands," he told his own paper for a story about the show. "The creative community 'PTI' has is the inspiration for the radio show we do."