• June 26, 2001

The Major League Baseball (MLB) New York Yankees and their parent company -- the YankeeNets LLC -- don't just have television issues to contend with as they pursue creating their own television network.

The Bronx Bombers also must figure out what to do with their radio broadcasts for 2002, since their covenant with the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Radio Network, which purchases time on WABC to air the games in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state area, expires after the 2001 campaign.

As Pinstripe principal owner George Steinbrenner seeks to create a new radio deal, he could enjoy some attractive alternatives.

One scenario involves WEVD, which has been up for sale. Speculation has cropped up in the past few weeks that Disney-owned ESPN is nearing a purchase of WEVD. Should that occur, there is probably no greater means of strengthening ESPN's New York radio franchise then to serve as the radio station of the Yankees.