Mike Milbury will replace Eddie Olczyk during the latter’s cancer treatment. Also, new roles for Tommy Smyth, Kara Lawson and a pair of ESPN executives.
Milbury Filling in For Olczyk
NBC NHL studio analyst Mike Milbury will fill in for Eddie Olczyk on the network’s lead broadcast team through at least the Winter Classic, USA Today reported Wednesday. Olczyk, who is undergoing treatment for colon cancer, still faces “weeks of chemotherapy” and may be sidelined until the playoffs. Milbury will work alongside Mike Emrick and Pierre McGuire starting on Blues-Penguins next Wednesday. [USA Today 9.27 via Sports Business Daily 9.27]
Tommy Smyth to Work U.K. TNF Feed For Amazon
Amazon has named former ESPN soccer commentator Tommy Smyth the analyst on the alternate Thursday Night Football feed it is distributing to the United Kingdom, Sports Business Daily reported Thursday. Smyth, who left ESPN over the summer, will work alongside either Ross Dyer or Derek Rae, depending on the week. [Sports Business Daily 9.27]
Lawson Named Wizards Analyst
ESPN basketball analyst Kara Lawson has joined Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic — soon to be NBC Sports Washington — as its lead analyst for Washington Wizards games, it was announced Wednesday. Lawson, who will continue working for ESPN but in a slightly reduced role, is replacing longtime analyst Phil Chenier, who will work primarily in the studio this season. Chenier will join Lawson and play-by-play voice Steve Buckhantz on select games. [NBC Sports PR 9.27]
New Roles For ESPN Execs
A handful of ESPN executives are taking on new roles, according to a memo published on the company’s corporate blog Tuesday. Most notably, EVP/production Norby Williamson will shift to studio programming, a role that includes overseeing SportsCenter and ESPN’s new morning and daytime shows. Rob King, who previously in charge of SportsCenter, will now run ESPN’s original content, news-gathering and digital media operations, taking responsibility for the company’s suite of websites, documentaries and news shows and its editorial board. [ESPN Front Row 9.26]
