Jeanne Zelasko
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Zelasko is a journalist and sportscaster who took over as the pre-game host of Fox's MLB games in 2001
after the departure of Keith Olbermann
until October 2008. She also covered pre-game for MLB 2K6, MLB 2K7, and MLB 2K8 alongside Steve Physioc. She can now be seen as the court reporter during the television program Judge Joe Brown, succeeding Jacque Kessler.
doing metro traffic reports and then hosting a talk show on KCEO-AM radio. Her television career began at KDCI-TV News in San Diego in 1993 anchoring the weekend newscasts.
Early in her career, Zelasko co-hosted the San Diego Padres
pre-game show for Prime Sports West, a regional sports network in Southern California (now Fox Sports Net West). While working as an assignment reporter for the network, she covered a variety of sports including the NFL, NHL, college basketball and auto racing.
in 1996 as part of the original broadcast team anchoring the newly formed Fox Sports Net’s National Sports Report
, as well as a sideline reporter for Fox NFL Sunday
. In February 2001, Zelasko joined Fox's NASCAR
broadcast team as a pit reporter.
Fox network cancelled the Major League Baseball pre-game show (as a cost-cutting measure) following the 2008 season.
in Detroit
's Comerica Park
, Zelasko angered many fans for her treatment of legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell
. Many didn't like the way Zelasko abruptly—and in many fans' eyes, awkwardly—cut Harwell off just 17 seconds into a pre-game interview, as Harwell was detailing the accomplishments of famous Tiger Al Kaline
. Harwell later said he wasn't offended by Zelasko, and let the matter drop.
, on the MLB Network
; she made her MLB play-by-play debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
on May 20, 2009, making her the first woman to do play-by-play for a Dodgers game. Zelasko is currently working alongside former Dodger Mark Sweeney
, who is serving as the analyst.
. In 2002, she had a cameo as an Anchorwoman in the Swiss motion picture Birdseye
.
-owned KABC-TV
in Los Angeles
and a triathlete who completed the Ironman
in Hawaii
.
December 30, 2007, Fox announced that Zelasko was being treated for thyroid cancer
.
She was still scheduled to host Fox's on-site pregame show, and serve as a sideline reporter on Fox's Cotton Bowl Classic and Orange Bowl
broadcasts. Fox spokesman Dan Bell said: "She'll be out for as long as her treatment takes. We can't wait to have her back in her MLB studio chair in April."
2001 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Arizona Diamondbacks*Postseason - October 9 to November 4Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
after the departure of Keith Olbermann
Keith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
until October 2008. She also covered pre-game for MLB 2K6, MLB 2K7, and MLB 2K8 alongside Steve Physioc. She can now be seen as the court reporter during the television program Judge Joe Brown, succeeding Jacque Kessler.
Early life and career
Zelasko started her broadcasting career during her college days at San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
doing metro traffic reports and then hosting a talk show on KCEO-AM radio. Her television career began at KDCI-TV News in San Diego in 1993 anchoring the weekend newscasts.
Early in her career, Zelasko co-hosted the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
pre-game show for Prime Sports West, a regional sports network in Southern California (now Fox Sports Net West). While working as an assignment reporter for the network, she covered a variety of sports including the NFL, NHL, college basketball and auto racing.
Fox Sports
Zelasko was hired by Fox SportsFox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
in 1996 as part of the original broadcast team anchoring the newly formed Fox Sports Net’s National Sports Report
National Sports Report
The National Sports Report was a "sportscast" that aired on United States television channel Fox Sports Net.-Brief history:The program began in 1996, when FSN was launched, as Fox Sports News. The show aired twice a night, at 6 and 10 p.m. It was the national network's equivalent to SportsCenter...
, as well as a sideline reporter for Fox NFL Sunday
FOX NFL Sunday
Fox NFL Sunday is the pregame show for the TV show NFL on Fox. The program is broadcast on Fox television affiliates nationwide. The audio portion of the show is broadcast over the Fox Sports Radio network, distributed by Premiere Radio Networks...
. In February 2001, Zelasko joined Fox's NASCAR
NASCAR on Fox
NASCAR on Fox is the Emmy-winning branding used for Fox Sports's broadcasts of NASCAR races airing on the Fox network since 2001. The production has been in high-definition since 2005.-Background:...
broadcast team as a pit reporter.
Fox network cancelled the Major League Baseball pre-game show (as a cost-cutting measure) following the 2008 season.
Ernie Harwell interview
While covering the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 76th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 12, 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan,...
in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
's Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
, Zelasko angered many fans for her treatment of legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell
Ernie Harwell
William Earnest "Ernie" Harwell was an American sportscaster, known for his long career calling play-by-play of Major League Baseball games. For 55 years, 42 of them with the Detroit Tigers, Harwell called the action on radio and/or television...
. Many didn't like the way Zelasko abruptly—and in many fans' eyes, awkwardly—cut Harwell off just 17 seconds into a pre-game interview, as Harwell was detailing the accomplishments of famous Tiger Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
. Harwell later said he wasn't offended by Zelasko, and let the matter drop.
MLB Network and Los Angeles Dodgers
As of April 2009, Jeanne has taken on multiple roles including special assignments for the MLB TonightMLB Tonight
MLB Tonight is the signature program that airs on MLB Network and is simulcast on MLB Network Radio. The show offers complete coverage of all Major League Baseball games from 6pm ET till 1am ET during the regular season. It is taped live in Studio 3 of the MLB Network facility in Secaucus, New...
, on the MLB Network
MLB Network
MLB Network is an American television specialty channel dedicated to professional baseball. It is primarily owned by Major League Baseball. Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications have minority ownership of the new network, with MLB retaining a controlling two-thirds share...
; she made her MLB play-by-play debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on May 20, 2009, making her the first woman to do play-by-play for a Dodgers game. Zelasko is currently working alongside former Dodger Mark Sweeney
Mark Sweeney
Mark Patrick Sweeney is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. He is best known for his skill as a pinch hitter, where he ranks second in career pinch hits with 175 and first in career pinch hit runs batted in with 102....
, who is serving as the analyst.
Filmwork
In 1997, she had a guest role in the TV series Diagnosis: MurderDiagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman...
. In 2002, she had a cameo as an Anchorwoman in the Swiss motion picture Birdseye
Birdseye (film)
A.K.A. Birdseye is a Swiss 2002 criminal comedy film starring Fred Ward and many other award-winning actors.- Background :The film is a mockumentary and was shot in Zürich, Los Angeles and Colorado...
.
Personal
In 1998, Zelasko married Curt Sandoval, a sports anchor and reporter for ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-owned KABC-TV
KABC-TV
KABC-TV, channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, licensed to Los Angeles, California. KABC-TV's studios are located in Glendale, California...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and a triathlete who completed the Ironman
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
December 30, 2007, Fox announced that Zelasko was being treated for thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
.
She was still scheduled to host Fox's on-site pregame show, and serve as a sideline reporter on Fox's Cotton Bowl Classic and Orange Bowl
2008 Orange Bowl
The 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Kansas Jayhawks on January 3, 2008, at Dolphins Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Spread bettors favored Virginia Tech by three points, but in a game dominated by defensive and...
broadcasts. Fox spokesman Dan Bell said: "She'll be out for as long as her treatment takes. We can't wait to have her back in her MLB studio chair in April."