With the end of ESPN's "Mike and Mike" comes a new opportunity for Mike Greenberg on a big-time morning show. With that, ESPN had reportedly been targeting Fox Sports star Charissa Thompson to fill the new co-host slot. That apparently won't be happening, per SI.
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"She has consistently said in previous interviews with SI that she feels a certain loyalty to the company given they first gave her an on-air chance. It is believed she will continue as the host of Fox NFL Kickoff, which airs at 11:00 AM ET and leads into Fox NFL Sunday."
This was the prior report, via Sporting News:
"ESPN is targeting Charissa Thompson of Fox Sports to join Mike Greenberg on his new morning show, sources tell Sporting News.
"Thompson is described as a top ESPN target to join Greenberg on his New York-based morning show that launches Jan. 1, 2018."
In April, Sporting News was reporting that ESPN was targeting Sage Steele for the spot, but things must have changed. It will be interesting to see if ESPN goes back to Steele.
Sporting News' earlier report on Sage Steele being a possibility
To that end, Michael McCarthy of the Sporting News brings word that Steele could be joining Mike Greenberg in something of an unlikely partnership for the morning.
Steele could join Mike Greenberg on his new solo morning show that will air on ESPN, said sources.
The new "Greeny & Friends"-type show will be shot in New York. If ESPN is willing to break up the 17-year partnership between Greenberg and Golic, you better believe the Worldwide Leader in Sports is going to throw massive marketing support behind Greenberg's new program.
That isn't the only possibility, though, as McCarthy also floats that Steele could be assigned opposite Greenberg on ESPN2 in the same (or similar) time slot.
Steele also could slide into a morning "SportsCenter" anchor slot on whatever programming replaces the current "Mike & Mike in the Morning" on ESPN2. "Mike & Mike" will likely morph into a radio-only show with Trey Wingo teaming up with Golic in place of Greenberg.
Thompson worked for ESPN from 2011-2013, working on shows such as SportsNation and Numbers Never Lie.
