Airwaves: Affair costs analyst Phillips his job at ESPN

Analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN this past week after initially taking a leave of absence from the company. (MLB Photos via Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO — A lot of little things going on around the airwaves:

- I thought Steve Phillips was great as an MLB analyst for ESPN. They did too, because this year they added him to the booth with the great Jon Miller and Joe Morgan for their Sunday night baseball broadcast. This week, Phillips was fired for having an affair with a 22-year-old ESPN female employee. I don’t see much wrong with the affair, but things got out of hand when the young lady did not want to end this hanky panky. Phillips, who is 46, initially took a leave of absence but ESPN then made it permanent.

I do not judge people on their personal life. That is not the foundation of this column. However, ESPN lost an outstanding analyst who really knew the ins and outs of the game of baseball.

- I love Tony LaRussa! He makes the St. Louis Cardinals sweat a bit, then accepts their offer to return as manager for next year.

Then he turns around and fires his hitting coach and hires beleaguered ex-home run hitter Mark McGwire for the spot. This is a great move by LaRussa. Now McGwire can publicly clear up the whole steroids issue and get on with his life.

In addition, this will allow him a platform to talk baseball once again without the cloud of steroids hanging above him. Advice to Tony, Mark and the Cardinals: Have a press conference as soon as possible and get it over with. You do not need this to be a distraction the day spring training starts. Hit it head on.

- Bob Griese is an idiot. Last week, during ABC’s telecast of the Ohio State-Minnesota game, they ran a promo for their NASCAR coverage on Sunday. This promo mentioned driver Juan Pablo Montoya not being in the top five in points.

Griese, in a lame attempt to be funny, noted that Montoya was not in the top five because he was out having a taco. Montoya is Colombian. Griese is an educated, classy guy.

Why in today’s politically censored and sensitive world would you say something like that? This is another example of a boring personality trying to be funny. Guess what? It wasn’t.

- “Friday Night Lights” reappeared this week on DirecTV. This is a great show that gets better and better each year. I usually do not like sports TV series, especially shows involving football, but this is an exception. The book was great, the movie very good and this TV rendition is holding its own.

Guillen brings personality to Fox broadcasts

This past week, at the start of the World Series, Fox added Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen to it’s Series pregame and postgame shows. Along with host Chris Rose, analysts Eric Karros and Mark Grace, Guillen is pretty good. In addition to his baseball knowledge, and outgoing personality, the usually foul-mouthed manager has promised not to swear on TV. This is a good move by Fox higher-ups Ed Goren and David Hill. Fox likes to go outside the box with its talent, and this move is a great example of that mentality.

• When calling the World Series for Fox, Joe Buck takes himself way too seriously at times. His partner, Tim McCarver, working his 20th World Series, is outstanding. Former catchers make excellent analysts. They see the entire game, from the pitching to the total field strategy. I am aware that McCarver has had his share of detractors, but I am not one of them.

• I like the fact that Comcast SportsNet Bay Area has added former Warriors general manager Garry St. Jean and former Warriors great Nate Thurmond to its broadcast team. They will alternate as analysts during the upcoming hoops season for pregame and postgame shows. Host Damon Andrews will be there for each show. Another good addition to the airwaves by Ted Griggs and his crew.

• ESPN’s “College GameDay” was in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday for the Oregon Ducks’ game against Pete Carroll’s USC Trojans. I really enjoy this show because it is fast-paced, informative, creates a buzz on campus and it is just good.

• Can things get any worse in Raidersville?

• Vernon Davis is sure playing well. But to go back to Alex Smith is not the answer. Iron Mike might not have a better choice, but to think Alex Smith can get it done is wishful thinking. Trust me, he can’t play QB. Eric Davis on the CSNBA postgame show had this very insightful comment: “The upside of Alex Smith is definitely there.” One question— where? There is no upside to Smith.

On target

The Cleveland Cavaliers did a smart thing this offseason by adding Shaquille O’Neal to their roster. He might be the missing piece that helps bring LeBron James his first NBA championship ring. Shaq has won four rings, and is the big inside body the Cavs desperately needed. It is must-watch TV whenever Cleveland is on.

Who said it

Andre Agassi
“I used it periodically for two years,” the tennis great said about his use of the drug crystal meth in a new autobiography “Open.” We all go through tough times in life and dig ourselves in a hole. This obviously was the case with Agassi at that point in his life. However, I applaud his honesty and respect the fact he made a huge comeback.

Reggie Miller
“Of course we will be checking TMZ for the gossip, and if we see something, we will run, blog and tweet about it,” the TNT analyst said when asked about the recent marriage of Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian and if it would it be a distraction to the Lakers this year.

One to watch

Through three games, the World Series has been all it was cracked up to be. A pivotal Game 4 is today in Philadelphia as Jimmy Rollins and crew try to take advantage of playing in front of a rowdy Phillies crowd. The Series will be the only thing going on in sports tonight, as the normal Sunday night NFL game goes on hiatus for a week. Fox (KTVU, Ch. 2) will carry all the action at 5:20 p.m.

Sports by numbers

3.7 million Viewers who watched TNT’s opening night NBA doubleheader

2.6 million Viewers who watched last year’s opening doubleheader on TNT

43 percent Increase of viewers from last year to this year

Artie Gigantino spent 25 years as a coach at the major-college and NFL levels, was lead college football analyst for Fox Sports Net for seven years, was with CBS for one year and was an executive with the Raiders for three years. E-mail him at agigantino@sfexaminer.com.