CBS’ ouster of David Feherty has gone over as well with golf fans as the Red Sox’s shameful canning of its popular commentator, Don Orsillo, did with Boston boosters.
Golf fans pan CBS’ ouster of David Feherty
David Feherty and CBS reportedly fail to agree on terms of a new contract, making the popular golf analyst a free agent.
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The two events have little in common, other than the business of sports in which both men work and the coincidental timing, with the PGA Tour playing the Deutsche Bank Championship outside of Boston this week. Sports Business Journal’s report on Tuesday that the network and the sardonic, popular Feherty could not come to terms on a contract extension followed by just a week the news that the Sox had cut ties with its broadcaster of 15 years.
Admirers of Feherty, who was with CBS for 19 years, were displeased with the move.
If it's true that CBS isn't bringing Feherty back, their broadcasts just took a massive hit. One of a kind talent.
— Adam Sarson (@Adam_Sarson) September 1, 2015 Feherty won five times on the European Tour during his professional golf career. He offered a lighthearted look at the oh, so serious game of golf that differs dramatically from the solemn, self-important tone of others, most notably his former CBS colleague Jim Nantz. Fortunately for those who enjoy a dash of skepticism sprinkled with witticisms along with knowledgable analysis, the 57-year-old from Northern Ireland still has his hand in at Golf Channel, which airs the show named for its star.
With the two sides reportedly failing to agree on the sportscaster’s “role on the network’s golf coverage,” SBJ reported that last week’s Barclays event was Feherty’s swan song with CBS.
The question making the rounds in golf circles is which network will scoop up the services of the lovable commentator. Many believe he’ll find a spot on NBC’s golf coverage since the company owns Golf Channel and he’s already got a deal with that outlet.
Others expect FOX Sports, whose U.S. Open telecast was widely panned, to make a run at Feherty.
Like Orsillo, who inspired a national campaign to save his job and may have already landed another gig, Feherty will be behind someone’s microphone soon. The network that signs the highly regarded announcer will be the stronger for it.
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