Just got off a conference call with high-ranking ESPN exec Norby Williamson and SportsCenter anchors Hannah Storm and Chris McKendry to discuss the new live, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. SC block debuting Aug. 11.
Before taking questions Williamson announced that SportsCenter would go live at noon today to discuss developing matters such as Manny maybe being Manny somewhere other than Boston, Ken Griffey Jr. finally getting away from Reds TV analyst Jeff Brantley and Brett Favre in limbo and presumably unimpressed by Craig Carton and his bullhorn.
Williamson said a busy weekday morning/afternoon such as this one is exactly why the live concept came about.
"It sort of validates where we’re going when you look at what’s been going on this morning,'' he said, adding that a week into the project next month, ESPN will "look back at it and say, 'Man, why didn’t we do this sooner?'"