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Twins Increase Justin Morneau’s Role On TV

“After sitting out the 2017 season, the former MVP and four-time All-Star officially retired and joined the Twins TV broadcast team in 2018, calling more games in 2019 and now taking over as their lead analyst this season.”

Brandon Contes

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Justin Morneau is taking on an increased role as part of the Minnesota Twins broadcast team. First reported by Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune, the retired first baseman will be in the Twins TV booth as an analyst for 80 games this season.

FOX Sports North recently stated their Twins’ broadcast lineup hasn’t been finalized, but according to Hartman, Morneau is adding to his schedule, while Hall of Fame pitcher and longtime analyst Burt Blyleven will work less games. The 68-year old Blyleven contributed as an analyst for 80 games in 2018, 50 last year and will likely reduce his schedule to 30 broadcasts this season.

Meanwhile, Morneau has continued to increase his analyst work for the Twins in recent years. After sitting out the 2017 season, the former MVP and four-time All-Star officially retired and joined the Twins TV broadcast team in 2018, calling more games in 2019 and now taking over as their lead analyst this season.

In addition to joining their broadcast team in 2018, Morneau also took on a role in the front office which was described as assisting with “position player development by focusing on transition programs and teaching an understanding of major league expectations, environment, and culture.” Whether or not that has changed was not announced, but recently, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made it clear he was not comfortable with journalists moonlighting as front office personnel.

“Let me give you a short answer on that one: No. I’m not all that comfortable with it. I’m really not,” Manfred said earlier this month according to the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff. “But it’s a topic that remains under discussion internally. As you know, it causes a lot of complications, not just on this particular incident or comments, but in general.”

“This particular incident” referred to Pedro Martinez and Jessica Mendoza criticizing Mike Fiers for exposing the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Martinez works for MLB Network and TBS as an analyst, while also contributing as a special assistant to the Boston Red Sox. Mendoza is an ESPN analyst and has since resigned from her role as a baseball operations adviser to the New York Mets.

Unlike Mendoza and Martinez, Morneau will not be working as an analyst on the national stage. Similarly, Kirk Gibson continues to call games locally for the Tigers on FOX Sports Detroit while working as an adviser to general manager Al Avila. But again, whether or not Morneau is still working in the Twins front office has not been reported in conjunction with the news that he’ll be taking on an increased analyst role.

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Report: NFL to Put Christmas Day Doubleheader Up For Bids

Bidding is expected to start at $50 million among the current NFL media partners but some think the games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

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The NFL will reportedly put its Christmas Day games up for auction, allowing its current media partners to bid for the games. Now, it’s up to CBS, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Prime Video to pay up for rights to one of these two marquee games.

According to Front Office Sports Michael McCarthy, preference will be given to linear networks, so Prime Video and Peacock may sit this one out. Bidding is expected to start at $50 million but McCarthy and his sources expect that number to rise. John Kosner, the former ESPN executive, thinks the new Christmas Day games could sell for $75 million to $100 million apiece.

The NFL announced a Wednesday Christmas Day doubleheader during its annual league meetings. The league originally said it wouldn’t force games on Christmas Day if the holiday fell on an odd day of the week, though as the NFL continues to put games on days outside of Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays, we’re running out of days that don’t feature NFL football.

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Colorado Rockies & DirecTV Reach Agreement to Carry Games on TV

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination for their favorite local teams. We will continue to work with MLB…so fans can get their games.”

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Breathe easy, Rockies fans — you will be able to watch your club on linear TV this year. At the buzzer, DirecTV and the Colorado Rockies agreed on terms to distribute the team’s games throughout its local service.

Starting today, DirecTV Choice subscribers across Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Southern Idaho, Western Nebraska, and Northern New Mexico can now watch the Rockies on a special channel simply titled, “ROCKIES.” The games will be available on DirecTV and DirecTV STREAM via channel 683.

“Colorado sports fans have made DIRECTV the top destination to get all their favorite local teams,” said Rob Thun, chief content officer of DIRECTV. “We will continue to work with MLB, the NBA, NHL, and other top leagues and their local franchises so the most avid fans can get the games they want while other customers have more choice over the content they want to pay to have in their homes.”

Reports just days ago out of Colorado said there were “no guarantees” the Rockies would not find a TV home in time for Opening Day following the sunsetting of AT&T SportsNet. The only other way to watch the team is to use its direct-to-consumer Rockies.tv streaming service, which fans say is too pricey for a team that lost 103 games last season. Luckily, the team was able to secure a TV home for 2024, though the future is still uncertain.

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Erin Andrews Reveals Infertility Journey in Emotional ‘Today Show’ Interview

FOX reporter Erin Andrews sat down with ‘The Today Show’s’ Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

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FOX reporter Erin Andrews shared her story of infertility and surrogacy with NBC’s Today Show. Last summer, Andrews and her husband welcomed a baby boy via surrogate after trying for a decade to get pregnant via IVF, during which she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016. Today, she sat down with Kristen Welker to discuss her journey, how Welker’s own journey inspired her, and more.

Andrews says Welker’s announcement on the Today Show made her think a baby could be possible. “I remember Kristin Welker’s announcement on your show,” Andrews said last year, “and I actually watched that the morning Mac was born, because that just hit me.”

When they finally sat down, Welker asked Andrews why her journey resonated with the sports reporter so much:

“Because I see myself in you. Kristen, the video of you moderating debates after you’re waiting on bad news or maybe you just received it, that’s me. I can tell you every stand-up I’ve done at a football game where I’ve gotten the news that it didn’t work. I’d be talking about Tom Brady going for this record and my record is that I still was failing…I would have chest pains every time I was waiting for the call if it worked, and I knew it wouldn’t work.

Erin Andrews on ‘Today’

Andrews knew surrogacy was the only path to having a child. Although her family’s first attempt failed, her second attempt was a success, and she got to hear her child’s heartbeat for the very first time. The pair discuss the complex emotions that come with surrogacy, saying that bonds with their child could be affected because they didn’t carry their child. However, Welker assured Andrews that those feelings go away once you can talk to your child.

Once her son was born in June, who Andrews called, “a miracle,” she then talks about her child glowingly, talking about how he is just like mom — vocal. “He’s all me,” she says.

Andrews supports Baby Quest, a non-profit that grants money to families in need of IVF or surrogacy to have a baby but don’t have the funds to pursue these expensive treatments. Both Andrews and Welker acknowledged how difficult and unattainable their journies are for some families — and Andrews even used the NFL’s “My Cleats, My Cause” initiative to raise awareness for her cause.

“People don’t need to feel embarrassed that they have a surrogate or are looking for other help,” Andrews said.

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