Ros Gold-Onwude has a new role on ESPN’s “First Take,” Kevin Garnett‘s “Area 21” is not returning next season; Ken Griffey Jr. is making another guest analyst appearance on ESPN; Urban Meyer is adding Big Ten Network duties.
Gold-Onwude filling in on First Take
Former Turner Sports reporter Ros Gold-Onwude is serving as a fill-in for Molly Qerim on ESPN’s “First Take,” a role she began on Thursday. Gold-Onwude said on Twitter Wednesday that she will make appearances on the show this month, next month and “beyond,” though it should be noted that the role is temporary and she has not officially joined the cast.
Her “First Take” role comes weeks after Turner elected not to renew her contract, ending her tenure at just two years. Prior to joining Turner, she was the sideline reporter on local Golden State Warriors telecasts. [Gold-Onwude/Twitter 8.21, ESPN]
Garnett’s “Area 21” not returning to TNT
The Kevin Garnett-hosted segment “Area 21” will not return to TNT’s NBA coverage this season, The Big Lead reported this week, though the door is not closed to Garnett working with TNT in the future. In his three seasons with Turner, Garnett’s role was limited exclusively to Area 21, save for one week last December in which he filled in for Shaquille O’Neal on TNT’s main studio set. [The Big Lead 8.21]
Griffey Jr. to serve as guest analyst on ESPN
Former Seattle Mariners OF Ken Griffey Jr. will serve as a guest analyst on Monday’s Yankees-Mariners game on ESPN. Griffey will join play-by-play voice Dave Flemming and analyst Eduardo Perez. Exactly three years ago, he was a guest analyst on another Yankees-Mariners game on ESPN, working alongside Jon Sciambi, Rick Sutcliffe and Doug Glanville on that telecast. [ESPN 8.22]
Meyer adding BTN duties
Fox Sports college football analyst Urban Meyer will also have a studio role on Fox-run Big Ten Network, it was announced Thursday. Meyer will be part of a rotation of analysts working with hosts Dave Revsine and Mike Hall.
As for Fox itself, the company is adding former Cal and NFL RB Shane Vereen as a game analyst this season; he will work alongside Justin Kutcher and Petros Papadakis. [BTN 8.22 via Awful Announcing 8.22; Fox Sports 8.21]
