Olbermann smooching up to ESPN honcho, hoping to return?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/sports/keith-olbermann-expresses-interest-in-return-to-espn.html?ref=media&_r=0

He has a (reported) $70M lawsuit going against Current TV, but in the meantime he's angling to get back home.

Olbermann’s expressions of interest included dinner at New York’s Four Seasons Restaurant with John Skipper, ESPN’s president.

“Keith Olbermann, both personally and through a couple people I know, reached out to say, ‘Gee, I would love to have dinner,’ ” Skipper said. “I agreed to dinner with Keith because I assumed he’d be provocative and witty and fun to have dinner with, and he was indeed lots of fun. We talked sports and politics, and we had a nice chat. He is very interesting.

“Clearly he was looking to see if there was an entry point to come back.”

That should work out fine, since Keith is so easy to get along with and keeps everything copacetic.

 

He got a lot of air time during the recent 30 for 30 short on the T206 Wagner baseball card, too.

 

Keith Olbermann would still be one of my faves had he never left ESPN.

I will never view Keith O in the same way after his MSNBC sojourn.

 

Whatever the topic he's hired for, a network can be sure of two things when it hires Olbermann. 1. Ratings will go up. 2. Number one won't be worth all the agita.

 

Agree with Dan Patrick that he'd be good on MLB. Maybe do "essays" two to four times a week putting what we are seeing in any given week (an unusual play, performance etc.) into historical context.

 

I always enjoyed the description from an ESPN exec (I think in Freeman's book) about his leaving: He didn't burn bridges. He napalmed them.

 

We need the "How bout no" bear right about now...

 

Not seeing this happening, not after burning bridges in Bristol. Plus he'd be one of many voices deamanding attention at the WWL, unlike his first stint.

 

Does Olbermann realize Sportscenter is all about social media trends now, and forced debate?

 

Exactly. He'd be miserable unless he was able to choose the topics, and write the scripts.

The quotes from ESPN's President are gold. He's basically ruled it out already. Would love to know how the Times got the story.

 

Simmons would probably nix it, given their feud, but letting Olbermann produce/direct a 30 for 30 might be a good move.

If they are giving Mariotti a freelance assignment, they can find one for Olbermann too.

 

As a stalwart crusader against arrogant media people, this story makes me smile.