6 Most Surprising Sports Media Comebacks After Scandal and Controversy
Russini returns to the spotlight
Russini’s podcast debut marks her first official return to sports media after several months away. The story describes her comeback as taking place on the margins of the industry, given the attention surrounding her resignation from The Athletic.
She is not the only high-profile sports media figure to attempt a career recovery after a public controversy. Past cases show that comebacks can lead to long careers, renewed jobs, or a lower-profile return.
Albert rebuilt a major career
Marv Albert was fired by NBC in 1997 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges following a highly publicized trial involving his sex life and sexual assault allegations. He returned to national broadcasts with Turner Sports in 1999, calling NBA games on TNT, and NBC rehired him later that year.
Albert went on to call NFL games on television and radio. He remained TNT’s lead NBA voice until retiring in 2021.
Olbermann and Brennaman returned
Keith Olbermann left ESPN for Fox Sports in 1999 after a bitter departure. He later became a prominent political host on MSNBC, then returned to ESPN in 2013 and 2018, with controversy accompanying those later stints.
Thom Brennaman lost his local Reds and national Fox jobs after using a slur before a 2020 game against the Kansas City Royals. He apologized and took steps toward accountability before The CW hired him to call college football in 2024. He also hosts a morning show on Cincinnati Reds flagship station WLW.
Others found varied paths back
Craig Carton was imprisoned in 2019 for securities and wire fraud connected to his gambling addiction. After his release in 2020, he returned to WFAN, moved to FS1 for a national role, then rejoined WFAN at the start of 2026.
Greg Anthony was suspended after a 2015 arrest in a prostitution sting and reinstated later that year, but did not regain his top broadcast role. Harold Reynolds, fired by ESPN in 2006 after a sexual harassment claim, maintained that a hug had been misinterpreted. He joined MLB.com in 2007 and MLB Network at its 2009 launch, where he has remained.
Key points
- Dianna Russini is scheduled to debut a BetUS-sponsored podcast Wednesday.
- Marv Albert returned to national broadcasting in 1999 and retired in 2021.
- Keith Olbermann returned to ESPN twice, in 2013 and 2018.
- Greg Anthony and Harold Reynolds resumed broadcasting, but their paths differed.