CBS has parted ways with its #2 NFL analyst, Dan Fouts. Also: Sports Illustrated has fired Grant Wahl; another possible MLB schedule scenario has leaked.
CBS replacing Fouts with Fox Sports’ Davis
The New York Post reported Friday that CBS has parted ways with NFL analyst Dan Fouts, who had been part of the network’s “B” team alongside Ian Eagle. Fouts joined CBS from ESPN/ABC in 2007 and was once part of ABC’s Monday Night Football team.
Later Friday, the Post reported that CBS will hire Charles Davis of Fox Sports as Fouts’ replacement. Davis has been on the FOX “B” team for the past three seasons and previously served as the network’s lead college football analyst. [NYP 4.10 a, b]
SI fires Wahl
Sports Illustrated has fired senior writer Grant Wahl less than a week after he was publicly critical of his bosses at Maven, which now runs SI’s print and digital operations. On Monday, Wahl condemned Maven’s recent layoffs of SI staff and said it was “shameful” that the company wanted to make his coronavirus-induced 30% pay reduction permanent.
Wahl had been with SI since 1996.
In a memo obtained by Front Office Sport, Maven CEO James Heckman upbraided Wahl as someone who “made more than $350,000 last year to infrequently write stories that generated little meaningful viewership or revenue” and accused him of having a “me-first attitude” incompatible with Maven culture.
Since taking over SI last year, Maven has laid off more than half of the staff and reduced the print magazine to quarterly, evergreen issues. [Awful Announcing 4.10, Front Office Sport 4.10]
MLB considering Arizona/Florida split
Major League Baseball is considering splitting its season between its Arizona and Florida spring training sites, with its teams realigned into their Grapefruit League and Cactus League divisions, according to USA Today. The Grapefruit and Cactus League winners would play in a World Series that would take place in late November.
The Arizona/Florida split is just one of “myriad proposals.” Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported that MLB was looking at a season held solely in Arizona. [USA Today 4.10]
Plus: Univision, MSG Network, League of Legends
The Univision family of networks on Friday debuted a simulated Liga MX competition that will include up to three matches per day. The matches, which will be played through EA Sports’ FIFA 20, will run for 17 weeks through June 7. … MSG Network brought back its MSG 150 studio show on Friday, with all personnel appearing remotely. … ESPN on Wednesday began airing airing the League of Legends Championship Series playoffs, with ESPN2 set to air coverage on the next two weekends. [Univision; MSG; ESPN PR 4.8]
