Bob Ley is taking a lengthy sabbatical; Stadium has hired three prominent reporters; Bruce Bowen has lost his job as a Clippers TV analyst.
Bob Ley Taking Six-Month Break
ESPN Outside the Lines and E:60 anchor Bob Ley announced Tuesday that he will take a six-month sabbatical starting October 1. Ley, who joined ESPN three days after its 1979 launch and is the network’s longest-tenured broadcaster, said the idea to step away was his alone.
According to The Big Lead, Jeremy Schaap, Kate Fagan and Ryan Smith will fill-in during Ley’s absence. [Bob Ley/Twitter 8.15, The Big Lead 8.15]
Stadium Hires Goodman, McMurphy, Charania
Sinclair-owned Stadium announced Tuesday that it has hired former ESPN college sports reporters Jeff Goodman and Brett McMurphy and former Yahoo! NBA reporter Shams Charania. Goodman and McMurphy, whose hirings were reported months ago by The Big Lead and The Athletic respectively, began their tenures Tuesday. Charania debuts a week from Thursday.
Goodman, McMurphy and Charania are by far the most prominent figures to join the year-old outlet.
None of the three will write for Stadium, which exclusively produces video content. Goodman writes for The Athletic and Charania is also joining that site. McMurphy, who recently reported a major college football story on his Facebook account, has not yet found a writing destination. [Stadium, The Athletic 8.14]
FS West Cuts Bowen at Clippers’ Behest
Fox Sports West Clippers analyst Bruce Bowen will not return next season after the Clippers refused to approve his contract extension, ESPN reported Monday. Bowen, a former San Antonio Spur, made unflattering comments earlier this summer about then-Spurs F Kawhi Leonard, a pending free agent who is expected to consider joining the Clippers next offseason.
Bowen spent just one year as a Clippers analyst, replacing Mike Smith. [ESPN.com 8.13]
