If Fox Sports wants Brent Musburger for its planned sports betting show, the network is going to have to raise the stakes and ante up.
On Sunday night, the legendary former ESPN and CBS Sports announcer confirmed to Sporting News he has been approached about co-starring on a new sports betting show on FS1 this fall, but Musburger said there's no concrete offer on the table. Right now, he's satisfied with his new play-by-play radio gig for the Raiders and growing Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN) operation in Sin City.
SN previously broke the news that FS1 is planning one of the first major sports betting shows. Described by sources as an "Around the Horn" for sports gambling, the weekday afternoon show was projected to star Musburger, Clay Travis of "Outkick the Coverage," odds-maker Todd Fuhrman and Charissa Thompson.
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Musburger thinks the concept is a good idea — but only if the offer is enough for the 79-year-old to work remotely five days a week. When asked how he'd respond if Fox came back to the table, the TV-negotiations veteran showed he knows how to play the game.
"I'd ask, 'What are you offering me?'" Musburger said with a booming laugh. "It's the art of the deal — if you know what I mean."
Fox has declined to comment on the new show.
Musburger already works five days a week at his new VSiN. His interest in the new Fox show waned, said sources, after he landed Greg Papa's radio play-by-play gig for the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders.
The will-he-or-won't-he suspense about Musburger underlines the gold-rush nature of new sports gambling programming.
With the U.S. Supreme Court recently blazing the path for legalized sports betting outside of Nevada, sports TV networks such as FS1, ESPN and Chad Millman's Action Network are staffing up with new talent like Rob "World Wide Wob" Perez.
But who else will star on these shows? Sports betting TV personalities can't fake it. Outside of Scott Van Pelt's "Bad Beats" segment on ESPN's "SportsCenter," there's been little or no coverage of betting lines on sports TV.
Over the next few years, some media personality is likely to become the new Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, the way Matthew Berry has grown into the guru of fantasy sports at ESPN.
With his perch at Las Vegas-based VSiN, and history as a sports betting savant, Musburger is sitting in the catbird seat for this negotiation.
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Musberger would add a jolt of gravitas and expertise to any sports betting show. Or he can walk away from the FS1 talks to continue his late career renaissance, which includes the Raiders radio gig, VSiN and a show on SirusXM.
As far back as the 1970s, Musburger was talking about NFL favorites and underdogs with Snyder, albeit in code, on the seminal "NFL Today" pregame show. Don't forget, the NFL was founded by multiple owners who made their fortunes from gambling, bookmaking and horse racing.
"I always felt the NFL was denying its history," Musburger said.
Musburger used to bet on the ponies with the late, great NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle. He said he sought and received the OK from Rozelle to obliquely reference gambling on NFL Today as long as he and the Greek didn't quote the actual betting lines.
Yes, Musburger is glad sports betting is finally coming into the open, but he has a warning for any get-rich-quick wiseguys who think they're ready to pocket an easy buck: There will be plenty of fool's gold along the way.
"I don't want people to jump in and think this is going to be an easy thing," Musberger said. "These casinos aren't getting any smaller, you know?"
Similarly, Musburger is worried about greedy U.S. politicians seeking to fill their coffers by imposing punitive taxes on sports bettors — thereby driving them back into the arms of shady off-shore casinos in the Caribbean.
Right now, he added, sports betting has momentum that can't be denied.
"There's great interest. It's one of those forbidden fruits. It's like the legalization of marijuana. It's a sexy story."
Musburger's not the only big talent question mark surrounding FS1's planned sports betting show, which will likely air between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET.
With Musburger a longshot, Charissa Thompson is expected to drop out as host, said sources. She could be replaced by Fox's Rachel Bonnetta or Holly Sonders.
Meanwhile, FS1 is moving forward with the launch of a new expanded and revamped "Speak for Yourself" sports talk show. Fox might announce as early as this week that ESPN's Marcellus Wiley will succeed Colin Cowherd as co-host with Jason Whitlock.
The new "SFY" will likely expand to two hours (from the current one hour) and air from 3-5 p.m. ET instead of 5-6 p.m. ET, said sources.
