When the Knicks open the regular season Wednesday, they will do so without a familiar face courtside — reporter Tina Cervasio.
Cervasio, who had been at MSG since 2008, learned in late June her contract would not be renewed. MSG later hired Rebecca Haarlow for the role. Cervasio’s final assignment for MSG will be Sunday’s Red Bulls game against the Fire.
“I was very upset initially,” she said during the Mets’ off-day World Series workout at Citi Field Friday. “I was shocked. I did not see it coming. My contract was only up in a couple of days when I got the call. So it was very shocking and I was really disappointed.
“I loved my job covering the Knicks and Red Bulls. I was there a long time. Especially with the new staff, I just felt like it was a rough year covering 17 wins, or you could say 65 losses (last season). I felt like I laid really nice groundwork, and I was at the draft. I lost a job that I loved, so I was upset.”
Cervasio would not say who delivered the news, but she said she was told “they were looking to reach a new audience or a different audience, I don’t know. They were looking for a new chemistry.”
MSG issued a statement that said, “MSG would like to thank Tina for her work on Knicks and Red Bulls telecasts and we wish her all the best.”
“I wasn’t told I made a mistake,” she said. “I wasn’t told about an attitude or my work ethic. I’ve always changed the way they wanted me to change. If they wanted me to do something different I always did that … I didn’t expect anything was awry.”
Cervasio said hearing from a variety of people around the NBA made it easier to move on.
“I got an email from a current Knicks player on behalf of the guys that I covered that they were bummed to hear I wouldn’t be there and wishing me the best and praying for me,” she said. “So that really touched me.”
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Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
