ESPN has extended Rick Sutcliffe; cycling analyst Paul Sherwen passed away last week; Steve Nash will call a UEFA Champions League match; ESPN is parting ways with motorsports writer Bob Pockrass.
ESPN Extends Sutcliffe
ESPN announced Wednesday that it has reached a contract extension with MLB analyst Rick Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe, who joined ESPN twenty years ago, will continue in his current roles calling Wednesday Night Baseball and other assorted games. [ESPN PR 12.5]
Cycling Analyst Sherwen Dies
NBC Sports cycling analyst Paul Sherwen passed away last Sunday at age 62. The cause was heart failure, per The New York Times. Sherwen was the lead analyst for NBC Sports’ Tour de France coverage since joining NBCSN predecessor OLN in 2000 and previously called the event for ESPN/ABC, CBS and Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. In total, he worked the Tour de France 33 times, working alongside partner Phil Liggett. [NYT 12.6]
Nash to Call Barcelona-Tottenham
Former NBA player and current Turner Sports soccer analyst Steve Nash will call Tuesday’s FC Barcelona-Tottenham UEFA Champions League match on TNT, marking his first game assignment. Nash will work alongside Stu Holden. He will also work on-site for Wednesday’s Valencia-Manchester United match, though only during the studio segments. [Turner Sports PR]
ESPN Parting Ways With Pockrass
ESPN motorsports writer Bob Pockrass announced late last month that the company is letting him go. Pockrass, who has covered NASCAR since 1991, joined ESPN from Sporting News in 2015. [Twitter 11.29]
