The Keith Olbermann SportsCenter era resumes Sunday after a 21-year layoff. In other news, ESPN has announced changes to its secondary Monday Night Football team, Linda Cohn has a new contract, and NBC’s NASCAR coverage will go without a play-by-play voice Sunday.
Olbermann Anchoring SportsCenter Sunday
ESPN contributor Keith Olbermann will co-anchor Sunday’s 11 PM ET edition of SportsCenter, his first time hosting the program since his initial departure from ESPN 21 years ago. As part of his current deal with ESPN, Olbermann will co-anchor the 11 PM SportsCenter 20 times this year.
Olbermann is currently in his third stint with ESPN (fourth if one includes a run on ESPN Radio), where he has worked on-and-off since 1992. In his second go-round from 2013-15, he contributed to — but did not anchor — SportsCenter with occasional commentaries. During his initial absence from ESPN in 2004, the network passed him over when inviting back former anchors for a week of reunion shows commemorating the network’s 25th anniversary. [ESPN PR 7.19]
Griese Replacing Ryan on MNF Back-Up Team
ESPN college football sideline reporter Brian Griese will replace Rex Ryan as the analyst on ESPN’s secondary Monday Night Football broadcast team this season. Griese will work alongside the returning Beth Mowins on the first game of ESPN’s Week 1 MNF doubleheader, Jets-Lions. Also joining the broadcast team is sideline reporter Laura Rutledge. [ESPN PR 7.19]
Cohn Staying at ESPN
ESPN has reached a contract extension with longtime SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn. Cohn, who joined ESPN in 1992, will continue in her current roles on SportsCenter and the new ESPN Plus hockey show In the Crease. [ESPN PR 7.19]
No PxP on Sunday’s NASCAR Race on NBCSN
NBC Sports will forgo the use of a play-by-play voice on Sunday’s NASCAR New Hampshire 301 on NBCSN, with analysts Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton forming an analyst-only broadcast team. Usual play-by-play voice Rick Allen will work from pit road.
NBC previously experimented with Allen calling a race from pit road earlier this season at Daytona. [NBC Sports PR 7.16]
