ESPN has found a new host for its annual awards show. In other news, Paul Pierce will again serve as a guest analyst for ESPN’s NBA Finals studio coverage, and David Ross and Alex Rodriguez will debut in new roles this week.
Peyton Manning to Host ESPY Awards
- Former NFL QB Peyton Manning will serve as host of this year’s ESPY Awards, ESPN announced Tuesday, becoming the third athlete to host or co-host the event. LeBron James hosted alongside Jimmy Kimmel in 2007 and Lance Armstrong hosted solo the previous year. Actor and wrestler John Cena held the role last year. (ESPN PR 5.16)
Pierce Joining NBA Countdown For Finals
- Former NBA G Paul Pierce will join the ESPN/ABC NBA pregame show NBA Countdown for the NBA Finals. Pierce also appeared on the show during last year’s finals and has made other guest appearances on the program. (ESPN PR 5.17)
A-Rod, Ross, to Make Debuts
- Fox Sports MLB analyst Alex Rodriguez will make his debut as a game analyst this week, working Yankees-Royals on Fox Sports 1 tomorrow and Angels-Mets on the FOX broadcast network Saturday. He will work alongside Joe Buck on the Saturday game. On ESPN, David Ross will make his first appearance as an MLB analyst on tonight’s Red Sox-Cardinals Wednesday Night Baseball game alongside Jon Sciambi and Aaron Boone. Ross joined ESPN in the offseason. (ESPN PR 5.15, Fox Sports PR 5.17)
