NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Michael Barkann recovering after emergency procedure
Barkann's fiery voice has been noticeably absent following two high-profile losses by the Eagles and Phillies.
Where’s Michael Barkann?
That’s what many Eagles fans were asking Sunday following the Birds’ disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkann has hosted Eagles pre- and postgame coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia since the channel’s inception in 1997, back in the Comcast SportsNet days. Normally, he’d be among the loudest voices slamming the Eagles, but Sunday he was off the air, replaced by Amy Fadool Kane.
Kane was also in his chair Thursday night, after the Phillies season-ending loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of their wild-card series. His fiery voice was certainly missed by angry fans.
“I just want to watch Michael Barkann and Ricky Bo scream for an hour to put me to sleep,” one fan wrote on social media.
Barkann has been off the air since the middle of last week since undergoing an emergency cardiac ablation, a procedure to stop dangerous heart rhythms not responding to normal treatment.
Barkann told The Inquirer he’s recovering and hopes his health scare can serve as a wake-up call to fans to schedule an appointment with their doctor and get their heart checked out.
“I feel great after the procedure and hope to return to the air soon,” Barkann said.
How soon remains up in the air, but Barkann is optimistic he’ll be back for the Eagles Week 5 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday.
Barkann also encouraged fans to check out Simon’s Heart, a local nonprofit fighting cardiac arrest in children.
Ross Tucker impressing fans and critics
Eagles preseason announcer Ross Tucker has called four games in CBS’ No. 2 booth alongside Ian Eagle, and so far he’s left fans impressed with both his football knowledge and his ability to transform NFL jargon into insightful commentary.
During Sunday’s Patriots-Bills game, punt returner Marcus Jones appeared to fumble the ball, which would have given Buffalo possession at the goal line. Even Eagle, in his 29th season calling NFL games, thought the Bills were getting the ball.
But before Jones fumble, the ball was touched by Bills cornerback Te’Cory Couch. By rule, if the kicking team touches the ball first, the receiving team can choose to either take the ball at that spot or, in the case of a long return, keep the result of the play.
“So this is still Patriots football,” Tucker said. “A lot of people don’t realize this, but because a Buffalo Bill touched it before Jones picked it up, there’s nothing that can go bad for the Patriots.”
The good news for Tucker is he’ll remain in the No. 2 booth alongside Eagle all season. CBS officially parted ways with Tony Romo on Friday, one month after the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was pleaded no contest to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
CBS replaced Romo with former Houston Texans defender J.J. Watt, who has been calling games alongside Jim Nantz. The pair has been stiff but serviceable, and will call their first Eagles game together in Week 11 when the Birds take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 22.
Meanwhile, Eagle and Tucker could end up calling the Eagles in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 18. CBS has not yet announced its announcing schedule.
Quick hits
Was that former Temple football head coach Matt Rhule in the final episode of HBO’s Lanterns? Yes. Rhule, in his fourth season with Nebraska, made a cameo in the season finale as a high school football coach, which said he filmed two summers ago. “I don’t know that I’ll be taking my talents to Broadway anytime soon,” Rhule told reporters Monday.
Former Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is heading to ESPN to join the network’s pregame and halftime show NBA Countdown, according to multiple reports. He’d fill the role vacated by Michael Malone, who left the show to become the men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina.
ESPN is also bringing back Inside the NBA, featuring Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. The beloved show will air on ESPN or ABC 25 nights during the regular season, five more than last season, including the Sixers’ home opener on Oct. 22 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Sideline interviews during and after games can be a slog, but CBS did something interesting following the Patriots’ upset victory against Bills — they showed Drake Maye a replay of Efton Chism III’s acrobatic touchdown catch and asked for a reaction. Maye didn’t offer much insight, but it’s much better TV than the bland interactions networks typically receive from athletes and coaches.
Veteran Phillies radio announcer Scott Franzke spoke to my colleague Scott Lauber, offering informed thoughts about the issues the team faces this offseason... and a few moves they could make.
