Monday, March 26, 2007
Joe Theismann is out as a "Monday Night Football" analyst after one season, a person familiar with the decision said yesterday.
Reached on his cellphone, Theismann declined to comment on the Newsday report "until I fully understand what has taken place." But he did not deny the news and hinted that it came as a shock.
Theismann is believed to have been informed Friday. An ESPN spokesman said only "we have nothing to announce."
The likely replacement alongside Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser will be Ron Jaworski. He worked one end of a Monday night doubleheader last year and is calling Arena Football League games.
Many critics noted a lack of chemistry between Kornheiser and Theismann in their first season together, but the two believed it improved as the season went on. When Kornheiser said in January he would return to the booth, it was assumed the trio would remain intact.
Theismann, 57, has been an analyst for ESPN since 1988, beginning on the network's Sunday night NFL package. An official announcement of his ouster could come today. . . .
The NFL set a paid attendance record for the fifth straight season, surpassing 22 million for the first time.
Total attendance was 22,199,712, up more than 400,000 fans from the 2005 season. The regular season numbers for 2006 were 17,340,879, another record.
· TENNIS: Grand Slam champions Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams played for the first time since the 2005 Wimbledon semifinals, and Sharapova was slightly less erratic, winning, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Sharapova overcame 13 double faults to exact a measure of revenge from the Williams family. She was drubbed by Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in January.
Sharapova is seeded No. 1, even though she lost the top ranking to Justine Henin on Monday. Henin lived up to her new billing -- barely -- when she came from behind three times in the third set to beat Virginie Razzano, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5).
Third-seeded Andy Roddick, who has yet to lose his serve in two matches, beat No. 32 Gilles Simon, 6-4, 6-4. Roddick's fourth-round opponent will be No. 13 David Ferrer, who won when they met in the quarterfinals last year.
No. 5 Martina Hingis lost to 17-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, and settled for a consolation prize: the $20 million milestone. Hingis became the fourth player to reach that mark in career earnings, joining Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova.
· CRICKET: Bermuda totaled 94-9 against Bangladesh at the World Cup as the game was reduced to a maximum of 21 overs a side after rain delays.
If Bangladesh avoids defeat at Port of Spain, Trinidad, it will become the final team to reach the Super Eight stage and send India home. A Bermuda win would mean India qualifying. . . .
Police investigating the death of Bob Woolmer said they have closed-circuit TV evidence that may show who killed the Pakistan coach at the World Cup in the Caribbean.
Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica on March 18, less than 24 hours after Pakistan was eliminated following an upset loss to second-tier Ireland. Police later determined the 58-year-old former England international was strangled.
· AUTO RACING: Pablo Perez was in stable condition after surgery to remove shrapnel from his legs after an accident in the season-opening Indy Pro Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Car owner Chip Ganassi said Perez will have more surgery tomorrow and doctors hope to transfer him to a hospital in Indianapolis soon.
· COLLEGE LACROSSE: Senior Ian Dingman had three goals and Navy gave up only nine shots on goal in a 6-3 victory over Bucknell in a Patriot League game in Lewisburg, Pa. The Midshipmen (8-0, 5-0) continued their best start since 1986.
-- From News Services and Staff Reports
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