Chaos. That’s what the transfer portal is bringing to college football and basketball these days. Players thinking they’ll get more NIL money, or exposure, or a better chance at a title are on the move. They also move on after a coaching change, or if the experience isn’t quite what they thought it would be at their current school. Whatever the reason, it’s all anyone can talk about when it comes to college sports. Fair or not, it’s reality and not going anywhere.
I thought it might be fun to create a “Broadcasters Transfer Portal.” Just to see who might fit better somewhere else or be worthy of a ‘trade’ to another network to fill a hole. Now of course in this ‘land of make believe,’ I’m not taking contracts into account. That would ruin the fun of the process here, since some deals may be too much for the other network to really afford. Trades will be encouraged here as the networks create their dream teams to move forward.
There have been some interesting deals between networks in real life as well. Al Michaels for example, was traded in 2006 from ESPN, owned by the Walt Disney Company, to NBC for a cartoon character. Yes, it’s true. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was a popular cartoon character that Disney produced for Universal Pictures. When Disney tried to renew the contract, they realized they didn’t own the intellectual properties anymore. This deal brought the rabbit back to Disney.
ESPN was involved in another broadcasting trade when Joe Buck came over from Fox. Buck was allowed to leave a year early in exchange for a single Big Ten football broadcast, Penn State vs. Purdue.
I’m going to limit the movement here to those involved in network coverage of the major sports, including college football and hoops. Play-by-play, analysts, studio hosts and reporters are all fair game. So, ABC/ESPN, NBC, CBS, FOX and TNT/TBS are where we’ll draw from.
Let’s start in the portal.
Broadcaster Former Network Interested Networks
Brian Anderson (MLB/NBA/NCAA) TBS/TNT FOX, ABC/ESPN
Why leave? Anderson is a terrific broadcaster and a very versatile one as well. Right now, he is covering the NBA, MLB and NCAA Hoops for the TBS/TNT family. It’s a good gig for sure. But I wonder if there are other things he could be doing as well.
Who is interested? FOX would be an option, for their coverage of baseball. But that might not be a good landing place with Joe Davis in place as the top baseball guy there. FOX could also offer NCAA basketball, but not the NCAA Tournament.
ABC/ESPN Anderson could get his fill of baseball and college basketball but would have to give up on the NCAA Tournament. He could be the voice in waiting for the NBA, whenever Mike Breen steps aside. Plus, ABC/ESPN could offer him golf coverage as well, that’s where Anderson got his start. My guess though, would be that Anderson would stay put.
Noah Eagle (NFL/College Football) NBC CBS/ABC/ESPN
Why leave? He probably shouldn’t, because he’s just really starting out on the network stage. But he’s pretty darn good right now. Can’t hurt to explore right?
Who is interested? CBS where he could join his talented father Ian on the roster. The younger Eagle would be a natural to work on the NFL or College Basketball. CBS can offer a lot of both for him, which would keep him pretty busy. He’s already sort of worked there, with the Nickelodeon animated broadcasts during the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl.
ABC/ESPN Eagle would get a good mix of assignments at both ABC and ESPN. The network has every sport under the sun available. The only thing he probably wouldn’t get to do there is the NFL, with the Buck and Aikman duo entrenched in the MNF booth. Eagle would get to showcase his talents on College Football/Basketball and Major League Baseball. Those opportunities could be too good to pass up.
Adam Lefkoe (Studio host) TBS/TNT Fox/CBS/ABC/ESPN
Why leave? He deserves a little more airtime than he gets hosting the NBA on TNT Tuesday. Lefkoe came from the digital ranks and worked himself into an up-and-coming studio host. He’s impressed during his time in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Lefkoe finds a way to interject some humor into his hosting, without trying to hijack the spotlight from his analysts.
Who is interested? Fox Lefkoe could be a big addition to the network in a few fashions. Would be nice to see him in a prominent role in Fox’s coverage of NCAA football and basketball. His style would seemingly fit the network, which tends to draw in younger viewers. I think it’d be a great match. Plus, during the baseball playoffs, when Kevin Burkhardt is knee deep in the NFL season, Lefkoe would be a perfect #2 guy in that role.
ABC/ESPN Lefkoe could add a lot to ESPN’s various studio shows, whether it’s baseball, basketball or football, he’d be a great fit. The opportunities at the World-Wide Leader might be too good to pass up.
What do you think? Now, let’s get into some ‘Fantasy World’ broadcasting trades. I highlighted some of the real ones that have gone down over the years, but of course these are just me thinking out loud.
Proposed Trade:
Fox sends Greg Olsen to NBC, in exchange for Jason Garrett and Noah Eagle
There’s’ a lot to unpack here. Olsen, of course, is getting squeezed out of the top NFL booth at Fox for Tom Brady. Olsen is too good to go back to a secondary role. At NBC, he joins Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth as a 3-man booth on Sunday Night Football. Eagle would be a good get for Fox, who is building a young group of announcers. Eagle could find a role in an NFL booth, or with their college football or basketball booths. Garrett still is a work in progress to me. He gets loud when trying to make a point and it’s a little hard to watch. He could find a role on a lower-level NFL booth with Fox.
Proposed Trade:
Three Network Deal
Fox acquires Dave Pasch; ABC/ESPN gets Andrew Catalon; CBS acquires Kevin Kugler
I’ve always thought the three announcers in this deal were kind of underrated. Pasch is an excellent play-by-play man, that can handle basketball and football with ease. He would fit right into Fox’s college booths and might even get a crack at the NFL. Catalon is also versatile. It would be tough for him to leave, especially after an expanded role in this year’s NCAA Tournament but hear me out. ESPN can use him as a play-by-play announcer for most all of their sports, especially college basketball. The carrot they’d use to entice Catalon, is being the main guy when it comes to golf coverage. Right now, he is the understudy to Jim Nantz.
CBS would be smart to grab Kugler. They could plug him right in on NFL coverage and both college football and basketball. Plus, the incentive for Kugler would be a role on the NCAA Tournament coverage. He does the Final Four on Westwood One, so he could easily do the early rounds.
Proposed Trade:
ABC/ESPN sends Bill Walton and the rights to the “Conference of Champions” to TBS/TNT, for Shaquille O’Neal and the rights to Stupid Pet Tricks. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to hear Walton sitting alongside Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA. Walton and his jibber jabber would constantly be rebuffed by “Sir Charles” and man would it be an interesting view. Ernie Johnson would be seriously tested though, trying to keep control of that show. O’Neal’s personality would allow him to thrive wherever he goes. ABC/ESPN would plug him in right away on their NBA studio show and would be better for it. The throw ins for this deal are about equal. The Pac-12 is no more, and Stupid Pet Tricks should also be no more.
Chaos. Indeed.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
