Behind the Mic: NBC Adds Kyle Petty to NASCAR Team; Carlos Pena Heads to MLB Network

Kyle Petty has joined NBC Sports Group’s upcoming race day broadcast team. He will work alongside host Krista Voda as an analyst during pre- and post-race shows on NBC and NBCSN surrounding Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series race coverage, which launches this July. In addition, Petty will continue his role as a regular contributor to NASCAR AMERICA on NBCSN.  Over the course of a 30-year racing career, Petty amassed 173 Top-10 finishes. Throughout his racing years and since retirement in 2008, he has worked as an on-air commentator for several networks, including TNT, SPEED, ESPN, Turner, Fox Sports 1 and the Performance Racing Network. The appointment of Petty follows previous NBC Sports NASCAR on-air announcements for analysts Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, race announcer Rick Allen, pre- and post-race host Krista Voda, and reporters Marty Snider, Kelli Stavast, Mike Massaro and Dave Burns…

…After a 14-year career, Carlos Pena has joined its MLB Network’s roster of on-air talent as a studio analyst. Pena, who served as a guest analyst on MLB Network during the 2014 and 2009 Postseasons, will appear across MLB Network’s studio programming and make his debut on MLB Now and MLB Tonight this Thursday, December 4.  Pena, a 2009 American League All-Star and 2008 Gold Glove Award winner, hit 286 home runs and 818 RBI in his career. A first baseman and designated hitter, Pena broke into MLB and played this past season with the Texas Rangers (2001, 2014) and also spent time with the Oakland Athletics (2002), Detroit Tigers (2002 – 2005), Boston Red Sox (2006), Tampa Bay Rays (2007 – 2010, 2012), Chicago Cubs (2011), Houston Astros (2013) and Kansas City Royals (2013)…

…Richard “Digger” Phelps, one of the nation’s most well-known college basketball personalities, has joined Campus Insiders as a college basketball analyst for the 2014-15 season.Phelps will appear on Campus Insiders throughout the season, including providing regular analysis and conducting select interviews with coaches.  He will be part of Campus Insiders’ conference tournament, Selection Sunday and NCAA Tournament coverage, and will be on-site for the network at the NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.  His first appearance on Campus Insiders was on November 17. Phelps spent 20 seasons as the head coach at the University of Notre Dame, compiling a record of 393-195 at the school.  His teams made 14 NCAA Tournament and three NIT appearances, reaching the NCAA Final Four in 1978.  After leaving Notre Dame, Phelps spent two decades as a college basketball commentator and analyst at ESPN…

…ESPN analyst and veteran NBA executive Tom Penn has agreed to a multi-year extension with ESPN. Penn regularly contributes front office and basketball operations expertise to SportsCenter, NBA Coast to Coast, NBA Tonight and additional studio programming. He also provides extensive analysis during ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the NBA Draft. Additionally, Penn will debut as a contributor to NBA game coverage, providing insight throughout the telecasts on analytics and how they’re being used by NBA teams. Penn joined ESPN in 2010 after four seasons in Portland as vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager of the Trail Blazers. Previously, Penn served as assistant general manager and legal counsel of the Memphis Grizzlies…

…Former NBA head coach and 2013 NBA Coach of the Year George Karl has joined the roster of expert hosts on SiriusXM NBA Radio (XM channel 86, Sirius channel 207). Karl will host regularly throughout the season on the SiriusXM NBA Radio channel, where he will take calls from listeners around the country and share a coach’s perspective on the league and its headline stories…

…U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan joins FOX Sports’ soccer studio team as a guest analyst for The Official Draw of the Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. The Draw Show in Ottawa on Dec. 6. Rob Stone anchors FOX Sports 1’s hour-long coverage live from the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles, along with analysis from Morgan, former USWNT teammate Heather Mitts and retired national team players Ariane Hingst (Germany), Kelly Smith (England) and Monica Gonzalez (Mexico).  Kate Abdo hosts on-location in Ottawa and is joined there by legendary 1999 USWNT head coach Tony DiCicco and FOX Sports soccer insider Grant Wahl…

…U.S. Men’s National Team and Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron joins NBCSports.com as a special correspondent. Cameron will collaborate with ProSoccerTalk’s Joe Prince-Wright on a weekly feature for the site, discussing pressing topics in the Premier League, and providing player insight and analysis. In addition, twice a month, Cameron will take over one of NBC Sports Group’s social media accounts and answer questions from fans. In addition to his role with NBCSports.com, Cameron will contribute to NBC Sports Group’s Premier League telecasts, joining play-by-play caller Arlo White Cameron debuted on Nov. 23 to call Crystal Palace v. Liverpool on CNBC…

…Curling analyst Linda Moore, a 25-year veteran of TSN’s curling broadcast team, is retiring from broadcasting. Moore, a national and world champion and Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games gold medallist, is stepping away from the broadcasting world due to a chronic health condition. Moore has been part of TSN’s curling broadcast team since 1989, working alongside acclaimed curling play-by-play voice Vic Rauter. TSN curling analyst Russ Howard, a two-time Brier champion and 2006 Olympic gold medallist, has been a mainstay in the booth with Moore and Rauter since 2008. Olympic silver medallist Cheryl Bernard joined TSN as a guest analyst for its live coverage of the Seasons of Champions’ opening event, the 2014 HOME HARDWARE CANADA CUP on Dec. 3…

…Pac-12 Networks are tapping the services of former Arizona State wrestler Anthony Robles, who will make his broadcasting debut this season as an analyst throughout the channels’ slate of 11 televised wrestling matchups. He dbuted on Nov. 24 at 7p, when his alma mater Sun Devils visit Oregon State…

…Jesse Washington, Danielle Cadet and Ryan Cortes are joining the editorial team for Jason Whitlock’s soon-to-launch site that will provide in-depth coverage, commentary and insight on sports, race and culture directed towards the African-American audience. Jesse Washington, a veteran writer and editor, joins the project as a senior writer, based on the East Coast. Danielle Cadet, a former writer/editor for “The Huffington Post Black Voices,” will be a senior editor for the site, based in Los Angeles, Calif. Ryan Cortes will be based in Los Angeles as a staff writer.