Names Keep Changing at Fox

The “Fox trot” exodus continued this week, with Lisa Guerrero becoming the latest significant news person to leave Fox Sports Net.

It wasn’t that long ago that the cable network had a stable on its “National Sports Report” that included Keith Olbermann, Chris Myers, Kevin Frazier, Van Earl Wright and Steve Lyons.

The show is gone. And the cast has been scattered.

Olbermann recently rejoined MSNBC, where he is the prime-time anchor covering the war in Iraq. Myers now mainly works in radio -- his role at Fox has been reduced to hosting the NASCAR pre-race show on the big network. Frazier is at ESPN, Wright at Fox Sports Net’s local “Southern California Sports Report” and Lyons is an announcer for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Guerrero, who had become one of Fox Sports Net’s most recognizable people, said she left to pursue acting opportunities and to develop a sports show of her own.

In deciding not to re-sign with the network, Guerrero cited that fact that the number of updates she was doing on “Best Damn Sports Show Period” had been reduced from four to two per hour.

The de-emphasis on national sports news at Fox Sports Net has been apparent since the arrival of “Best Damn Sports Show” in July 2001. The 400th edition of the nightly show aired Wednesday, which was also Guerrero’s last day.

A feature attraction on the show next week will be a daily swimsuit fashion show. It’s somewhat comforting that a press release promises that Tom Arnold will not be modeling a Speedo.

Meanwhile, featured on the 3 p.m. “SportsCenter” segment each day at ESPN next week will be a special “College GameDay” series focusing on spring football.

You can see the approach is different. The emphasis at Fox Sports Net is entertainment, with an appeal to the more casual sports fan.

The half-hour “National Sports Report” was dismantled to make room for “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and replaced by periodic sports updates.

Also, more emphasis was placed on Fox Sports Net regional news shows such as the “Southern California Sports Report.”

At one time, the “National Sports Report” had a staff of about 200. Some left the network and others were reassigned. Three weeks ago, 19 middle management and production people were given two-week notices, cutting the staff for what is now called the L.A. resource center from 74 to 55.

Morale has been low, but an insider said morale picked up this week because of a change in the resource center’s responsibilities, which now include producing special pieces for specific regions.

Bob Thompson, president of Fox Sports networks, says it was never a case of de-emphasizing national sports news but rather a new infrastructure driven by the local aspect that makes up the network.

“Most of our news pieces are now produced locally,” he said.

He said he was saddened by the recent layoffs, calling them “unfortunate.” He said efforts were made to find new jobs for those laid off.

As for Guerrero’s departure, Thompson said he understood.

“I can’t say that I blame her,” he said.

He said research showed that viewers tuned in and out of “Best Damn Sports Show Period” and that because of a ticker at the bottom of screen they didn’t really want more than two updates an hour.

It wasn’t that they didn’t like Guerrero, who had built quite a following. Her work on the updates was solid, and she took her one-on-one interviews with such sports figures as Kobe Bryant, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez seriously.

Although some co-workers at times complained she could be difficult and demanding, others were supportive and cited a strong work ethic.

New Outlet

The John Wooden Award has a new television home. The winner will be named by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Saturday afternoon on Channel 2 at about 3:30 p.m., following the third round of the Masters.

In recent years, the award ceremony was televised nationally by Fox Sports Net.

Saturday’s telecast is local, but Channel 2 will syndicate it to the home markets of the finalists. Officials hope that CBS will make it a national television event in the future.

Jim Hill and new Hall of Famer James Worthy will serve as hosts of Saturday’s half-hour show. The announcement of Worthy’s induction was made Monday.

“It has been an emotionally draining week,” Worthy said Thursday. “I haven’t experienced anything like it since winning my first NBA championship [in 1985].”

Short Waves

One of the highlights of a big golf weekend will be a 90-minute tribute to Jack Nicklaus on CBS Sunday at 10 a.m., leading into the final round of the Masters.... Even the History Channel is getting involved in golf this weekend. Its “Stories from the Hall of Fame” series Saturday at 8 p.m. will feature five legendary golfers.

An unusual event in which two amateur golfers, using their handicaps, will square off against John Daly and Lee Trevino in separate matches will be televised June 2 by the Golf Channel. The event, called “People vs. the Pros,” will take place at Lake Las Vegas and feature three days of preliminary competition to determine who advances to the televised matches. The deadline for entering is Tuesday. Information:

peoplevsthepros.com.

A series of shows in which five people will be selected to vie for $250,000 and the opportunity to climb Mt. Everest begins on ABC Saturday at 3 p.m.... Radio daze: XTRA (690, 1150) is bringing in Don Martin from Denver’s powerful KOA as its new program director, effective April 28. Robin Bertolucci, who was the program director at XTRA and KFI, will concentrate on KFI.

TNT, which televised Thursday night’s Laker game nationally, reports its Thursday night NBA ratings are up 20%, from a 1.0 to a 1.2. And ratings during the second half of the season are up 10% over the first half.... The ESPN Zone in Anaheim televised Monday’s NCAA championship game in HDTV, a first for any of the ESPN restaurants.... The Masters is being televised in HDTV by both USA and CBS.... NBA Commissioner David Stern said on a conference call that by next season he hopes to have deals with all the major cable companies to carry NBA TV, which has been televising selected games in HDTV.... ESPN and DirecTV are still in negotiations over carriage of ESPN HD.

Saturday is a big day, with 2 1/2 hours of Kentucky Derby prep races. On ESPN at 12:30 p.m. will be coverage of the Wood Memorial and Bay Shore Stakes from Aqueduct. Then NBC offers “NTRA Road to the Kentucky Derby” at 1:30 p.m. with coverage of the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.... TGV, the 24-hour horse racing network, became available on DirecTV’s channel 602 this week. Meanwhile, HorseRacing TV, a competing network, announced a new agreement with Cox Communications that extends viewership into Orange County and expands coverage in San Diego.