The Dodgers’ Vin Scully will say his goodbyes at the end of the regular season. In other news, Chris Berman will be joined by a rotation of special guests on Monday Night Countdown, and NBC executive Mark Lazarus has expanded responsibilities.
Scully Retiring at End of Regular Season
- Retiring Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play voice Vin Scully will not broadcast the team’s playoff games this year, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday, meaning his seven-decade broadcasting career will conclude on the final day of the regular season. Scully, in his 67th season with the Dodgers, wanted to avoid making multiple goodbyes during the postseason, when assignments are contingent on the length of playoff series. Instead, he will bid farewell at the Dodgers’ home finale on September 25 and their season finale in San Francisco on October 2. Scully: “And then that will be it.” (L.A. Times 9/13)
Rotation of Special Guests to Join Berman on Mondays
- Starting next week, a rotation of former NFL players and coaches will join Chris Berman in-studio on ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown. The guest analysts will fill the vacancies left by the retired Tom Jackson and the four new Sunday NFL Countdown analysts, who appear on-site for Monday night games. ESPN analyst Mike Ditka will be the first guest, followed by Michael Irvin, Joe Theismann, Dick Vermeil and Joe Namath — each of whom once worked for ESPN and/or ABC. (ESPN Media Zone)
NBC’s Lazarus Gets Expanded Role
- NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus has been “promoted to add oversight of NBC’s broadcasting business,” Sports Business Daily reported Friday. He will continue to serve in his NBC Sports role, serving now as chairman of NBC Broadcasting & Sports. As part of his new position, he will have oversight over NBC-owned local broadcast affiliates. (Sports Business Daily 9/16)
