Regional sports networks such as FSN Pittsburgh walk a fine journalistic line with some of the teams they cover.

On one hand, such networks make a legitimate effort to honestly cover the teams whose games they carry, which, in the case of FSN, are the Pirates and Penguins. Toward that end, they hire qualified journalists who work hard to deliver balanced news.

At the same time, though, regional sports networks are important partners of the teams they cover. Without the Pirates and the Penguins, in all likelihood, there would be no FSN. It's important to FSN that those teams do well.

Likewise, those teams need the revenue they receive from FSN.

For FSN, it's a balancing act that requires constant fine tuning. Unfortunately, FSN lost its balance this week with its brief but gushing post-All-Star Game tribute to Kevin McClatchy that regularly appeared between innings of its coverage of Pirates games.

As a screen shows a shot of PNC Park, an announcer says, "An All Star thanks to the Pirates and Kevin McClatchy." As PNC fades, the screen shows, "Thank You Kevin McClatchy."

A bit much.

It's true McClatchy lobbied hard to get the game. And, once it was awarded the Pirates and the city carried out a near-flawless presentation. But overlooked in the thank you was the fact the game never would have been awarded to the Pirates, just 12 years after it previously had hosted it, if McClatchy's mismanagement of the franchise hadn't demanded it.

The only reason the Pirates got the All-Star Game was because the franchise was in a desperate -- and that's not too strong of a word -- need of a pick-me-up. The All-Star Game was a life preserver for the Pirates. But they weren't accidentally thrown overboard into the rough seas of competitive baseball. They got where they are -- the team with the worst record in the National League and with one of the most hopeless futures in MLB -- with mismanagement to the highest degree.

That doesn't deserve thanks, not even from an important corporate partner.

A Clear signal

The hiring this week of Joe Bendel, who had covered the Steelers for the Tribune-Review, just a few weeks after Tim Benz was lured away from ESPN Radio 1250 looks to be an obvious signal that Clear Channel is going to operate Fox Sports Radio 970 as a competitive entity, which it had not been doing in the past.

For most of its existence, Fox Sports Radio was Stan Savran, who was the only on-air employee of the station. But with the firing of Savran earlier this month and with Benz and Bendel replacing him, Clear Channel is putting on the gloves.

It's not just ready to take on ESPN with Fox but with all six of the stations it operates in the Pittsburgh region. Already, Ellis Cannon, at NewsTalk 104.7, is competing hard against ESPN's Mark Madden in the 6 to 7 p.m. hour. Now the broadcasting giant wants to bring the full force of its empire into the sports fray.

Gene Romano, the senior vice president of programming for Clear Channel, threw down the gauntlet.

"One of the strengths we bring to our sports partners, listeners and advertisers is our ability to use all of our radio stations to help promote and entertain. Our goal is to continue to build a strong sports platform.

"We are excited about what Tim Benz and Ellis Cannon, for example, bring to our organization. They represent the new generation of sports-talk talent and offer a fresh perspective, smart approach, outstanding knowledge of Pittsburgh sports and entertainment value. The addition of Joe Bendel gives us another fresh show, even more bench strength and outstanding reporting abilities."

Benz and Bendel will fill the time slot left by Savran. Benz will work solo from 3 to 4. He'll be joined by Bendel for the next two hours. Bendel will then work 6 to 7 by himself. That means there will be four sports shows on in that hour: Cannon, Madden, Bendel and Gene Collier and Jeff Hathhorn on KDKA.

Clear Channel has significantly gained ground in the sports reporting area, long dominated by ESPN. Benz has been the most aggressive sports radio reporter in town and his loss is a big one for ESPN. He's yet to be replaced. Adding Bendel gives Clear Channel a large advantage.

"We are able to give our sports talk talent a voice on more than just one of our radio stations," Romano said. "KDKA's audience appeal is primarily 60-plus, WEAE [ESPN] serves a more narrow niche. [Our stations] give us a chance to appeal to a very broad coalition of listeners. The Fox Sports 970 talents will have the opportunity to be heard on more than just one of our stations to help them build a bigger audience."

Lange in negotiations

Mike Lange, fired as the TV voice of the Penguins, continues in negotiations with the team to do its radio games. FSN, which owns the television right, fired Lange. The Penguins immediately offered him their radio job.

"They made a proposal and we're putting together a counterproposal," Lange said. "My agent is out of town, so we'll probably get together next week."