ESPN reporter almost an Okie

By Mel Bracht

Published: June 2, 2006

Rowe working with all-female crew during WCWS

Holly Rowe, one of ESPN's most experienced sideline reporters, is getting comfortable working in Oklahoma.

This past season, she served as a sideline reporter on ESPN's "Big Monday" college basketball games. This will be her third season as the WCWS field reporter.

"I discovered Braum's here, which is not a good thing," she said with a chuckle. "I've been to Stillwater and Norman a lot. I'm kind of getting to be an Oklahoma native."

Rowe, a University of Utah graduate and resident of Bountiful, Utah, has been covering women's basketball since 1993. She does play-by-play of Brigham Young University women's basketball and gymnastics, but is primarily a sideline reporter.

"I've done so many awesome events," she said. "I feel like I'm lucky and blessed. I'm doing my dream job."

In the fall, she will return as the sideline reporter on ESPN's Saturday night college football games, working with a new team, Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge.

"I worked with Mike at the women's Final Four," Rowe said. "He is just a lovely man. He's good, interesting and funny."

Rowe will celebrate her 40th birthday on June 16 by covering a sporting event for ESPN. She will be in Omaha, Neb., to cover the College World Series.

"I can't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday," Rowe said. "I'm old, but it's OK."

At the WCWS, Rowe works with an all-female announcing team, which she says can have it's advantages.

"It doesn't really make much difference, although I can get some outfit help sometimes like, 'Is this a bad outfit or not?'"

She said ESPN football analyst Bob Davie, a former Notre Dame coach, wasn't quite as accommodating when they drove to a game at Wisconsin.

"On the way to game, I said, 'I'm sorry, but I've got to stop and get some hair spray.' He's never let me live it down. He said, 'You know, we never pulled over for hair spray on the way to a Notre Dame game.'"

Women's College World Series

Record ratings for last year's WCWS earned the notice of ESPN programming executives.

The championship game between UCLA and Michigan drew a 1.8 rating (1.6 million households) and ESPN's eight WCWS telecasts averaged 959,000 households, up 61 percent from 2004.

As a result, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU are showing more women's softball games than ever this season. The networks will combine to air at least 51 games -- 15 regular-season games, 8 regional games, 11 super regional games and up to 17 WCWS game -- up from 42 games the year before.

Moving the WCWS a week later than the Memorial Day weekend has helped boost the ratings.

"It was a home run for us," said Carol Stiff, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. "We added a whole new round of games called the regional. We did four regional sites this year. We're starting to build story lines. We're starting to build momentum.

"It's an exciting sport to watch. It's seven innings in a two-hour window. It's got great personalities. And you've got some star power with the Cat Ostermans and the UCLA programs."

ESPN analyst Stacey Nuveman, a former UCLA catcher, says the shorter games are appreciated by viewers with short attention spans.

"Frankly the average sports fan appreciates that it's a faster game," she said. "It doesn't take 3½ hours to get through a nine-inning ball game. The atmosphere is very energetic and fun."

Although it's hardly a new game, Nuveman said it's still a novelty to many fans.

"If you're flipping through the channels, it's something like, 'What is this? It's pretty awesome.'

"And there are some elements to softball that people aren't familiar with, the lefty slappers, underhand pitching, the windmill motion."

Field reporter Holly Rowe said many viewers can relate to softball because they have played the game.

"I played softball growing up and I still play with my sisters and at family gatherings," she said.

"I think the women are very compelling because they are hardworking and dedicated, and I think that really shows up on TV."

Media notebook: Rangers extend contracts

The Texas Rangers have rewarded its broadcast team with new contracts, including a "lifetime" pact for longtime radio voice Eric Nadel.

Nadel, who turned 55 this month, is in his 28th year with the club.

"I feel elated and just filled with gratitude, that the organization appreciates my work to the point that they would provide me this type of a contract," Nadel said.

Nadel's partner, Victor Rojas, and the TV team of Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve had their contracts extended through at least 2009.

Lewin, in his fifth year with the Rangers, will give up his role on the Fox Sports' Saturday baseball broadcasts after this season, enabling him to do more telecasts.

FSN Southwest's "Big 12 Showcase," 2:30 p.m. today, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, reviews the Big 12 baseball tournament from Oklahoma City and looks ahead to NCAA tournament action. The show also announces the annual men's and women's Game of the Year recipient, as selected by a panel of media relations directors and conference staff.

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