Dick Vitale‘s return to broadcasting has been delayed; famed NASCAR voice Ken Squier is in declining health; the College Football Playoff names a new executive director; plus MLB Opening Night.
Dick Vitale delays return
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale will delay his return to broadcasting as a result of ongoing health needs for his throat. Originally, Vitale eyed the November 28th game between Kentucky and Miami at Rupp Arena for his return to action but determined he needs additional time to heal after consulting with his doctor this past weekend.
After announcing in July that he had vocal cord cancer and received six weeks of radiation treatment, Vitale rested his voice for months, speaking publicly for the first time last month to announce his return. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro voiced his support for Vitale, indicating he will return to the microphone once his health improves.
Vitale said in a statement, “While I’m disappointed with the latest developments, I remain hopeful. The cancer is gone, which is amazing news, yet the impact of the treatments has taken its toll on my voice and requires more healing.” Per ESPN’s press release, there has been no new return date set. (ESPN, 11.13)
Ken Squier’s health deteriorating
Hall-of-Fame NASCAR broadcaster Ken Squier, 88, is in declining health per a social media post by fellow motorsport announcer Dave Moody. Squier has faced many health-related issues recently, having overcome shingles, COVID, a stroke and fractured pelvis all within the last three years, per Moody.
In his time as a broadcaster, Squier worked for CBS, Turner, ABC, Fox, and was co-founder of Motor Racing Network — a radio station that syndicates broadcasts of motorsports across the country. Squier coined the moniker “The Great American Race” for the Daytona 500, a race he called every year from 1979 to 1997. His career spanned outside of motorsports as well, having served as play-by-play commentator for CBS’s coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.
Read the full announcement from Dave Moody here.
CFP names Clark as Executive Director
The College Football Playoff Board of Managers announced Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark as next Executive Director of the College Football Playoffs on Friday, per release. A three-star General in the United States Air Force, Clark also played four years of college football for the U.S. Air Force Academy. General Clark will replace current Executive Director Bill Hancock following his retirement from service in 2024, though Hancock will stay on board through January 2025 to aid in the transition.
2024 will mark the first year of a 12-team expanded playoff in college football. One of the more pressing questions General Clark faces as the incoming Executive Director will be to find a media partner for the additional playoff inventory. As the incumbent, ESPN seems to be a frontrunner for at least some of the new inventory, while Fox and Warner Bros Discovery have also expressed interest. (CFP, 11.10)
MLB announces opening night game
ESPN is set to televise the first game of the 2024 MLB season at Globe Life Field in a matchup between the reigning champions Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs. The game is set for Thursday, March 28th at 7:30PM ET and will feature the returning “Sunday Night Baseball” team of Karl Ravech, analysts David Cone, Eduardo Pérez and reporter Buster Olney.
Next year marks what could well be the penultimate season of MLB on ESPN as the network has an option to opt-out of its contract after 2025. (ESPN, 11.13)
