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Could Mike Tirico Replace Doc Emrick On NHL Games?

“It is also possible that no permanent replacement is named right away.”

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Mike Tirico

Andrew Marchand has wasted no time trying to figure out what the next move is for The NHL on NBC. The New York Post columnist published a piece on Monday after his colleague Phil Mushnick broke the news of Emrick’s retirement outlining what NBC’s plan could be for replacing the NHL’s iconic voice.

Marchand says not to rule out Mike Tirico as the one tapped to take over. He is the face of the NBC Sports brand and outside of Sunday Night Football, the NHL on NBC is the network’s only relationship with any of America’s four major professional sports leagues.

Tirico certainly has a full plate at NBC. He is a studio host for Sunday Night Football and is expected to take over the play-by-play role after Al Michaels retires. He also handles studio coverage of horse racing’s triple crown, the Olympics, and major golf events. Tirico is also the play-by-play voice of NBC’s coverage of Notre Dame football. Still, this could give NBC the opportunity to paint Tirico the way FOX does Joe Buck – the voice of the network’s most important sports moments.

Marchand mentions that Kenny Albert, the more obvious candidate, is still a strong possibility. He has been on the call of NBC’s #2 NHL game each week. The network also uses him to call the conference finals each year and Olympic hockey every four years.

It is also possible that no permanent replacement is named right away. The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed back the start of the next NHL season. It has also delayed the 2020 Summer Olympics to July of 2021. It would make it virtually impossible for Tirico’s schedule to not overlap.

On top of that, the NHL is set to negotiate a new media rights deal soon. NBC only has rights to the league’s national broadcasts, including the Stanley Cup Finals, for one more year. The league is reportedly interested in splitting its national TV rights with ESPN and FOX said to be interested. What effect that might have on NBC’s hockey schedule remains to be seen.

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Neil Everett Exits ESPN After 23 Years

“ESPN changed my life, but now it’s time for me to change my life.”

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Courtesy: NBAE via Getty Images

Neil Everett’s SportsCenter days are over. Front Office Sports reports that the anchor has chosen to say goodbye to ESPN after 23 years at the network.

“ESPN changed my life, but now it’s time for me to change my life,” Everett said. “Time to write a new chapter.” 

The network reportedly offered Everett a new deal. Had he agreed to it, the anchor would have taken a salary reduction.

This is a significant moment for SportsCenter. Everett moving on means one of the show’s longest-tenured partnership comes to an end. He had worked with Stan Verrett since 2009.

Everett’s exit comes in the same week that it was revealed Chris Chelios would not return to the network’s NHL coverage next season. The Walt Disney Company is currently in the middle of trying to cut 7000 jobs to save $5.5 billion.

As for the future, Everett says he will seek to increase his TV role with the Portland Trail Blazers. He has been part of the team’s broadcast crew on NBC Sports Northwest for the last two years.

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Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica To Make FOX TV Debut on Belmont Coverage

“Everyone I’ve worked and interacted with at the company has been so helpful and open to someone who has spent his entire professional life elsewhere.”

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Courtesy: KFSM

As the college football season was winding down, fans found out one of the foundational members of the College Gameday staff would be leaving ESPN. Chris “The Bear” Fallica left the network and has been working for FOX since the new year. This weekend during the network’s coverage of The Belmont Stakes, he will finally make his TV debut for his employers.

“It’s been great. This will be my first TV appearance, so I’m excited,” Fallica said in an interview with FOXSports.com. “But we’ve been cranking out content on the digital side since January, and I’m very happy with how the USFL picks have been going (4-0 last week for those of you counting at home). Everyone I’ve worked and interacted with at the company has been so helpful and open to someone who has spent his entire professional life elsewhere.”

Fallica, who worked for ESPN for nearly three decades, is going to be a major presence in FOX’s gambling content both on air and online. Making picks is nothing new. He had been doing it on College GameDay for years prior to his exit. 

In addition to making football picks, horse racing is going to be a major part of what The Bear does for FOX. While this will be his TV debut on FOX, Fallica put the spotlight on one of his colleagues.

“It was a great decision to bring Tom [Durkin] back for this call. His voice is synonymous with the sport for a generation of racing fans, so it will be a treat to hear him call a race again.”

Durbin is coming out of retirement to call the race. This is the first year that the Belmont is airing on FOX as part of a rights deal with the New York Racing Association.

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FOX Reportedly Considering Replacing Reggie Bush on Big Noon Kickoff

“Marchand writes that the favorite to replace the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner is the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner. Mark Ingram II is expected to retire from the NFL and join FOX.”

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Courtesy: Getty Images

It looks like changes are coming to FOX’s college football coverage. Andrew Marchand reports that the network is considering replacing Reggie Bush on Big Noon Kickoff.

Bush and the network reportedly argued over money before the 2022 season. FOX kicked the tires on multiple options, including Desmond Howard and Robert Griffin III of ESPN. Eventually, it decided to bring Bush back on a one year deal. With that deal set to expire and the two sides again at an impasse, FOX is eyeing other options.

Marchand writes that the favorite to replace the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner is the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner. Mark Ingram II is expected to retire from the NFL and join FOX.

If Ingram does join the show, he would be the first analyst from outside of the conferences FOX carries. Ingram played his college football at Alabama. He has since amassed more than 8000 yards over 13 seasons in the NFL.

FOX declined to comment on the report. Marchand reports that with no deal finalized, there is an outside shot that Ingram returns to the NFL, Bush returns to FOX and there is no change at all. That, however, is considered a long shot.

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