Good for Kara. Local TV is really where it's at for sports these days, and we all know what an absolute mess ESPN is right now. If she leaves, it would be another major talent loss for ESPN's WCBB coverage, as both O'Brien and Burke aren't coming back either. I think they would have to move Lobo down from the studio into color commentator to have any hopes at all of salvaging their coverage of the Final Four.
ESPN hired a lot of new faces at much lower salaries this past spring when some of the long time "stalwarts" we'd gotten use to, did not have their contracts renewed (or were asked to take a pay cut). I tuned to SportsCenter this morning, and didn't see anyone I recognized. Much of ESPN's programming features new faces from different places.
No doubt they've been hired from various LOCAL stations across the country at a raise in salary from that of their former employers, but for much less than that of their predecessors. After all, who would pass up the dream of a lifetime opportunity to work for the "World Wide Leader"?
If this is an opportunity that Lawson wants, then good for her. If that position is offered, she should take it. If she does, I would wish her all the best. Kara has become an exceptionally good analyst/broadcaster. She's going to end up some where. Where ever that some where is, she will be well compensated, and no doubt happy. Everyone knows (as Dorothy told Toto), there's no place like home.
This would be a major talent loss, but when you're trying to keep the bottom-line salaries under control, you're going to lose some of your best on-air (in front of the camera) talent. Kara is always fair and knowledgeable in her assessments of women's college basketball, its games and its players. Personally, I hope she stays put doing women's college basketball games and studio analysis for ESPN, so that we can all continue to enjoy her style, experiences and observations.
