Sports TV News
Sports Media Reacts To Scott Van Pelt’s Tribute To His Dog On SportsCenter
“On Wednesday, Scott Van Pelt tweeted that he and his family said goodbye to their dog. The next night, he tried to put that grief into words.”

Published
1 year agoon
By
BSM Staff
The loss of a pet is not easy no matter who you are. Everybody processes these things differently, and if you are Scott Van Pelt, you have a very public place to do so.
“I apologize in advance for however this goes,” SVP began. “Le Batard asked if I cried when I wrote it, said I’m doomed if I did. So, I guess I’m doomed. It’s alright”
Van Pelt used his “One Big Thing” segment on SportsCenter after the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night to pay tribute to Otis, his boxer, who died this week. On Wednesday, Scott Van Pelt tweeted that he and his family said goodbye to their dog. The next night, he tried to put that grief into words.
Crushed to share that we had to say goodbye to Otis The Dog. Truly the most special friendship and bond of my entire lifetime.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) April 27, 2022
He was an absolute King.
Love on your good boys and good girls with all your might – every day that you can. There aren’t ever enough of them. pic.twitter.com/uzSPjnLEtV
“I don’t know what else in my life has made me cry like this – so much profound sadness over a love that was so damn pure,” he said, expressing a sentiment familiar to pet owners. “Now, it bothers my mom when I say nobody ever loved me the way Otis did, because she’s my mom. I understand, but I just say ‘Did I ever do anything that made you mad? Uh huh, exactly! Otis was never mad at me.'”
It struck a chord with many viewers and sports fans. That included a number of SVP’s sports media colleagues who took to Twitter to share condolences and their own emotions.
One Big Thing
— Stanford Steve (@StanfordSteve82) April 29, 2022
Otis the Dog
Long Live The King
RIP pic.twitter.com/Cmz22QhBPE
A man’s connection with his dog is unlike any connection in this world. My man @notthefakeSVP lost his and my heart aches. RIP Otis pic.twitter.com/hrEsUwyE08
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) April 29, 2022
For anyone who has a dog or has had one at any point, this is it. All the respect and love, @notthefakeSVP. 😔🙏🏼 https://t.co/vQDckqRjgK
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) April 29, 2022
Seven months ago, I'd have only understood what @notthefakeSVP was talking about theoretically, but now I feel it in my bones. I watched this as my dog slept right next to my legs and I couldn't imagine what it would be like to say goodbye to her. RIP Otis, you were so loved. https://t.co/H7s5RKbGAR
— Aishwarya Kumar (@kumaraishwarya) April 29, 2022
Beautiful tribute to Otis. Dogs are the absolute best https://t.co/MS2Xm4pVA4 pic.twitter.com/LKqWR97aeo
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) April 29, 2022
This was so perfectly put by @notthefakeSVP. I'm so sorry for your loss, but so happy you got to experience that love. Now excuse me, I need to cry and hug Bennett Dog. https://t.co/452CGBotAv
— Caroline Darney (@cwdarney) April 29, 2022
I should have not watched this while away from my pups on a trip 😢
— Ben Koo (@bkoo) April 29, 2022
A wonderful soulful tribute from @notthefakeSVP. https://t.co/eojzCmmNZQ
During the tribute, Scott Van Pelt explained that Otis was his first dog. He said there was no way he could have been truly prepared for the devestation he feels.
“I’ve read countless moving tributes through the years about what your bonds meant and what made your dogs unique. I always felt badly for you, but I had no idea honestly, and I wish I didn’t know now.”
Sports TV News
Inside the NFL Headed To The CW For 2023
“We are excited to partner with NFL Films and welcome “Inside the NFL” to The CW Sports family.

Published
4 hours agoon
June 7, 2023By
BSM Staff
After being cut loose by Paramount+ earlier in the year, Inside the NFL has found a new home on The CW, premiering on September 5 at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. The transition will mean the show is set to air on a broadcast network for the first time. It previously was carried by HBO and then Showtime. It will also be available to stream on The CW app and on cwtv.com.
The Emmy Award-winning series, which has been on the air since 1977, is centered around highlights and interviews from the previous week, with distinctive footage and audio supplied by NFL Films. It gives football fans an outlet to catch up on the action they might have missed, even though the scope of highlight shows is diminishing because of the advent of social media in an immersive content landscape.
“We are excited to partner with NFL Films and welcome Inside the NFL to The CW Sports family,” Dennis Miller, president of The CW, said in a statement. “For almost five decades, Inside the NFL has been an industry leader in showcasing can’t-miss weekly highlights, unprecedented behind-the-scenes content, exclusive access to players and lively discussion. By combining this premiere NFL content with our robust broadcast audience, we look forward to bringing this legendary sports series to more fans than ever before and to advertisers for the first time.”
Producers and hosts for the latest iteration of the show will be announced at a later date, and it will also have an impact on the fall programming schedule for the network itself. Recent editions of the show were hosted by James Brown and featured various former players, such as Brandon Marshall, Phil Simms and Julian Edelman.
“Generations of football fans have grown up watching Inside the NFL,” Ross Ketover, senior executive of NFL Films, added in a statement. “It is a show we cherish at NFL Films and we are thrilled to bring it to a great new partner in The CW. This is a special opportunity to reimagine and reboot Inside the NFL for a wider audience and a new generation of fans. We can’t wait to get started.”
Sports TV News
Frank Thomas Joins Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+
“He will make his debut on June 9.”

Published
4 hours agoon
June 7, 2023By
BSM Staff
It didn’t take long for Frank Thomas to find a new gig. He is joining Apple TV+. He will make his Friday Night Baseball debut this week according to Front Office Sports.
Thomas’s role will involve multiple duties. He will conduct interviews with some of the game’s biggest stars. Those will take place on the field and in clubhouses before the games. He will also be in the booth for select games.
After FOX hired Derek Jeter to join its studio coverage of Major League Baseball, the network let Thomas go. He had been part of MLB on FOX since 2014. Royce Dickerson, who worked with “The Big Hurt” at FOX is now Apple’s executive producer for live sports.
Frank Thomas will not be available for Apple every week. He will be used on marquee matchups.
He will make his debut on June 9. Thomas will interview Mike Trout ahead of the Angels’ visit to Seattle to take on their division rivals, the Mariners.
Sports TV News
Darren Pang to Replace Colby Cohen On Blackhawks TV Crew
“At this time, we have decided it’s important for my family to be back close to our family and our home in Philadelphia.”

Published
6 hours agoon
June 7, 2023By
BSM Staff
Changes in media coverage for hockey are continuing amid the Stanley Cup Final with the announcement of Colby Cohen walking away from Chicago Blackhawks broadcasts. The team is reportedly hiring Darren Pang, who has been featured as a reporter on NHL on TNT national broadcasts throughout the postseason, as their lead television color commentator. He will work alongside the sophomore play-by-play voice of the team, Chris Vasters, on NBC Sports Chicago. News of the decision was first reported by Jeff Agrest of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Blackhawks television crew utilized a hybrid approach last season, rotating between Cohen, Patrick Sharp and Troy Murray. The change comes one offseason after the team revamped its television booth following the retirement of Pat Foley, which resulted in Eddie Olczyk joining the Seattle Kraken television booth. Cohen confirmed news of his exit Wednesday morning on Twitter in a statement where he expressed his gratitude for his two seasons on Blackhawks broadcasts.
“My family and I want to thank the Wirtz family and the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization for… two great years working for one of the greatest organizations in sports,” Cohen said in a tweet. “We will miss the thunderous noise of the United Center and the great city of Chicago where our daughter was born. At this time, we have decided it’s important for my family to be back close to our family and our home in Philadelphia.”
Cohen spent just over three years with NBC Sports Philadelphia as a broadcaster for the Philadelphia Flyers, and has also worked on ESPN’s NHL coverage since 2016. It is unknown if Cohen will pursue another regional broadcasting role before the start of next season. He was originally hired by the team in 2021 to serve as a content analyst, creating digital features for the Blackhawks and working on studio coverage.
Pang has worked on Bally Sports Midwest with the St. Louis Blues for the last 14 years, but is now presumably set to move on and work with the team he played for as a goaltender over parts of three seasons. Additionally, he is expected to remain with Warner Bros. Discovery, recently telling the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he is on the verge of inking a three-year contract extension with the company. Pang is expected to be the primary color analyst, with the team either finding new roles for Sharp and Murray or using them in a backup capacity. Most hockey insiders expect the Blackhawks to open next season with rookie sensation and consensus first-overall draft selection Connor Bedard on the roster.