One of the calmest and coolest people in broadcasting is ESPN’s Mike Tirico. It does not matter if he is courtside calling a thrilling NBA game — like the classic played last week between the Suns and the Mavs — or in the booth doing Monday Night Football. He is always in control allowing the game to take center stage and keeping his opinions to himself.
Well this week he is in Washington and finally gets to sound off, co-hosting PTI with Tony Kornheiser on Thursday and Friday while Michael Wilbon is on assignment.
» Tirico on co-hosting PTI: “During the season Tony asked me if I would like to do it and I said sure who would not like to be on PTI. It is a show that everyone in sports watches, fans, players, owners and people in the media. PTI is the ultimate fun sports debate with Tony and Mike doing the show without malice but still making solid points. I look forward to getting a chance to add my two cents to the debate.”
» Tirico on MNF: “It was such a great ride the first year. I have to say I am so proud to be a part of one of sports signature shows, to be with such a great group as Tony, Joe Theismann, Suzy Kolber and Michelle Tafoya, it was something I will never forget and I hope we will be together for a long time.”
Launch of WPL
This week Comcast SportsNet launched WPL — a new Monday through Friday talk show that will air from 5-6:30 p.m. (with some prime time replays) and hosted by Russ Thaler.
» Thaler on what to expect on the show: “We hope to have a fast-paced show with A list guests from all areas of sports. We will focus on the mid-Atlantic region but no topic is off the table and since we are located in the most powerful city in the world we will indeed make sure that politics and sports do mix.”
Georgetown in primetime
Friday night’s big NCAA showdown between Georgetown and Vanderbilt will be seenon CBS9 at 7:30 p.m. The game will feature the CBS broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Billy Packer.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer.
