• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 12, 2009

Former Turner Sports head Mark Lazarus, who showed an eye for talent by bringing Charles Barkley to TNT's NBA coverage, is overseeing a division set to launch a new series on Versus -- albeit with a lesser-known personality than the outlandish Barkley. Sports business series "The $ports Take" features Rick Horrow, a noted expert and lawyer in the area, and launches Aug. 25.

Lazarus serves as president of media and marketing for Career Sports & Entertainment, a sports-marketing firm that developed the series. The firm's vice president of programming development, Ned Simon, serves as executive producer. Simon previously had a role at Turner Sports in production.

Horrow has lectured on sports law and has made multiple appearances as an analyst on CNN and the BBC. He also hosts a radio show on the Fox Sports network. In 2000, Omnicom took a stake in his firm, which advises cities and leagues on sports venue development.

The half-hour "$ports Take" will air Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., and will discuss sports business headlines, while offering interviews with guests such as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who appears in the premiere. Other guests lined up include NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA Commissioner David Stern, according to Career Sports & Entertainment.

Versus may have found an attractive niche largely ignored by competitor ESPN, which has shied away from sports-business programming, perhaps because its dominant role in the arena would complicate things.

"$ports Take" could attract higher-end advertisers if it becomes a must-view among sports business executives, although Career Sports & Entertainment indicated that fans would be the principal target.

Lazarus said Horrow is "tremendously well-versed in the business of sports and is a household name with many key players in the sports and business industry ... we're excited to bring sports junkies a new perspective."

"We look forward to showcasing Rick Horrow's expertise as he examines the sports world from a unique business perspective," said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming production and business operations for Versus.

Lazarus joined Career Sports & Entertainment last year.