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Under Review
In addition to winning seven Grand Slam singles titles, John
McEnroe has been a broadcaster, an author, a musician and an art
gallery owner. But at age 45 he says his new gig on CNBC, as host
of the talk show McEnroe, is the first time in his life that he's
had a real job. "It's still CNBC, so I'll definitely be covering
politics," says McEnroe, whose one-hour nightly show debuts on
July 7 at 10. "But my three loves are sports, art and music. If I
have my way, I'll have at least one athlete and a musical segment
on every show." McEnroe will have a sidekick, America's Funniest
Home Videos host John Fugelsang, to rein him in--but not too
much. The host says his penchant for speaking his mind will be on
display. "I would like to think that I'm somewhat unpredictable
and honest," says McEnroe.
--L.A.
Media critics have called him a "buffoon" (New York Daily News)
and an "over-the-top ... hoop-head" (Philadelphia Daily News),
but Stephen A. Smith must be doing something right. The ESPN pro
basketball analyst (and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist) has been
everywhere lately: offering commentary on SportsCenter, guest
hosting Pardon the Interruption and popping up all over the
network's NBA programming. While he lacks subtlety--his bombast
can cause even the most tolerant viewers to reach for their mute
buttons--the 36-year-old Queens native is always passionate and
brimming with personality. (His funkily acidic pronunciation of
SLA-va Med-ve-DEN-KO became a damning criticism of the Lakers'
forward.) Smith has occasionally clashed with fellow NBA talking
head Greg Anthony, but in on-air punditry, of course, he who
yelps loudest yelps longest: Smith replaced Anthony on the
network's live NBA draft coverage.
