Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 3, 1990 TAG: 9005030119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK TV/RADIO SPORTS COLUMNIST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Musburger, the signature personality of CBS Sports for more than a decade before he was fired April 1, is joining ABC Sports.
Neither ABC nor Musburger's agent, his brother Todd, would comment on the length or value of the sportscaster's new contract. But industry sources said Musburger signed for at least four years, and perhaps as many as seven years, at an escalating salary that begins in excess of $1.4 million annually.
Musburger was released from a 5 1/2-year CBS contract that paid him $2 million per year. His last CBS event was the NCAA basketball championship game April 2. In 1985, before Musburger signed his last CBS deal, he strongly considered a five-year, $5 million offer from ABC before CBS overwhelmed those numbers with their offer, a record for a sportscaster.
"Five years ago, I came within an eyelash of going to work for them," Musburger said of his new employers in a telephone conference call after his hiring. "I'm thrilled to get another opportunity."
After he left CBS, he negotiated with ABC and Turner Sports.
"They were very serious; I enjoyed my discussions with Turner," Musburger said of his other suitor. "I think they have a strong operation going in Atlanta. Had it not been for the opportunity presented by Dennis [Swanson] and ABC, I would have had no problem working with those people."
There has been speculation that Musburger might replace Al Michaels as ABC's "glamour" voice. Although Michaels has filed a grievance against ABC, he is under contract to the network through 1993. In naming Musburger to a job that will involve primarily college football and basketball play-by-play work, Swanson, the ABC Sports president, said Michaels isn't going anywhere.
"We've got Al under contract, and we expect Al to do `Monday Night Football' this year and be involved in the 25th anniversary Super Bowl [on Jan. 25]," Swanson said.
Musburger will serve as host for the pregame show for Super Bowl XXV in Tampa, Fla. He will call Big Ten and Pacific 10 conference football (and, starting in 1991, all CFA games also) with analyst Dick Vermeil, on the ABC backup team behind Keith Jackson and Bob Griese. Musburger's partner for college basketball telecasts has not been determined, although the former CBS voice could replace Jackson on the "A" team with Dick Vitale.
Musburger also will call an NFL wild-card playoff game Jan. 5, handle play-by-play on World League of American Football telecasts starting next spring and work varied "Wide World of Sports" shows. He said one of his favorite assignments will be play-by-play at the Little League World Series championship in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 25.
Musburger's first assignment for ABC Sports is expected to be the "All-Star Pro Sports Awards" show June 25. His first event work will be at the Hambletonian harness race on Aug. 4.
If Michaels does leave ABC, Musburger likely will inherit all of Michaels' top assignments. If Michaels extricates himself from his ABC contract, he is expected to land at CBS Sports, where in future years he would logically be the lead baseball voice.
"I consider him a friend," Musburger said of Michaels. "I'm hopeful that he'll be at ABC for as long as I am. It has not been discussed - between Dennis and I - anything about `Monday Night [Football].' "
At ABC, Musburger is expected to get some of the studio and on-site "host" work that has gone to Jim McKay and Frank Gifford in recent years.
Musburger, 50, was a dominant presence at CBS Sports, a situation that probably led to his firing. Musburger said CBS Sports President Neal Pilson and executive producer Ted Shaker forced him out in a battle of egos.
When he was dumped by CBS, Musburger had been the host of "The NFL Today" for 15 years, handled college basketball play-by-play including the NCAA Tournament and was scheduled to be CBS' lead baseball voice and host of the 1992 and '94 Winter Olympics shows.
Jack Buck, originally signed to work backup games, stepped up to replace Musburger on CBS' baseball package, which includes the playoffs and World Series.
Musburger reportedly was unhappy that he had been dropped from college football play-by-play and the host's role for the U.S. Open tennis championships and Masters golf shows in the previous year.
ABC Sports is a division of Capital Cities/ABC Inc., and there is speculation that Musburger also could work assignments for cable's ESPN, another Capital Cities property. An ESPN spokesman said there was no word on Musburger doing ESPN work, "although it's certainly possible."
by CNB