ESPN Hires Bud Collins for Tennis Coverage
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Aug 7, 2007 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Only weeks after NBC Sports announced the firing of Bud Collins, ESPN has hired him to join their tennis broadcasting team.
Collins, who is one of tennis’ most respected and recognizable journalists, will begin covering Grand Slams for the cable network in 2008 at the Australian Open. He will be participating in ESPN’s coverage of the US Open later this month on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and ESPN Radio.
“Bud Collins is tennis, a truly unique sports television personality, and ESPN is proud to add his insight, wit and wisdom to our coverage,” said Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production.
“For more than 40 years, Bud has had a courtside seat at every meaningful event in the sport. He knows everyone, and everyone knows him. When the opportunity presented itself to add Bud to our tennis team, it was an easy decision to quickly reach out to him – his perspective, great storytelling and inimitable style will help further distinguish our Grand Slam coverage on ESPN2 and on SportsCenter.”
“I’m stimulated and extremely pleased to be joining ESPN’s world-wide tennis coverage, and anxious to get started,” said Collins. “I am also delighted to be reunited with my long-time partner, Dick Enberg.”
Enberg worked with Collins for 20 years at NBC, including the “Breakfast at Wimbledon” live broadcasts starting in 1979.
“No one through the decades has been more important to the coverage of tennis than Bud,” said Enberg. “He is not just a historian – literally and figuratively the encyclopedia of tennis – but he has served as a docent.”
“He is a rich resource…we are very fortunate at ESPN to have him join our team, and I especially am looking forward with great anticipation to working with Bud again.”
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NonWoot | Aug 7, 2007 | Reply
Sigh… Age commands respect, I guess. But I bet if they took a poll, they would find that the majority, like me, change the channel while that hideous looking and sounding creature is on! Good for him and all, but he really kills the screen. (Especially when asking stupid question to female players.) …Sigh
Mitchell | Aug 7, 2007 | Reply
Bud Collins knows more about tennis than most of the top players. Yes, Bud is old. And yes, Bud wears funny pants. He is still a tennis encyclopedia. ESPN made a good choice. Shame on NBC!
stewpot | Aug 9, 2007 | Reply
Even folks like me that are on the outer fringes of understanding womem’s tennis knows of Bud Collins and might be tempted to view and see what he has to say.People like to put on their “comfy shoes” and “visit” with an old friend.