News & Notes: RIP Jack Ramsay

Hall of Fame NBA coach and broadcaster Dr. Jack Ramsay has passed away.  Dr. Ramsay died after a long battle with cancer over the past decade.  Dr. Ramsay coached the Portland Trailblazers to their only title in 1977.  In the last 2 decades he is one of the most respected analysts working on Miami Heat and then ESPN and ESPN Radio broadcasts. He was a World War II Navy serviceman and inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1992.  Ramsay passed at the age of 89.  [ESPN]

Kevin Burkardt will be joining FOX Sports full time in 2015.  Burkhardt has been a torrid rise in the broadcasting ranks receiving an NFL Playoff assignment in his first year, bypassing veterans Kenny Albert and Thom Brennaman.  Burkhardt is currently the new studio host for MLB on FOX's pregame show and is expected to work College Basketball assignments this fall.  Burkhard is still under contract with SNY as the field reporter for the New York Mets through this season. [NY Post]

FOX Sports 1's Crowd Gone Wild hosted by Regis Phibin has been cancelled.  The program was highly promoted in the heels of  FS1's August 2013 launch, but from its inception struggled in ratings.  The show will end in May.  With the show's departure, the Mike Francesca Show will receive an extra hour running from 1 p.m to 5 p.m.  [Fang's Bites]