Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 03, 2008 at 08:02:18:
No agreement between White Sox, announcer Darrin Jackson
His longest contract as a player was one year, and that speaks to why Darrin Jackson changed uniforms eight times in his baseball career.
But as a broadcaster, Jackson has never been in the uncomfortable position in which he currently finds himself — unsure whether the White Sox want him back next season.
The Sox hold an option on Jackson, and they don't plan to let him know their intentions until late in the season or after the season, when they're obliged to do so contractually.
"Common sense lets you know that obviously if they want you back, they would have already picked your option up," Jackson said Tuesday in the Sox's dugout at U.S. Cellular Field. "And if they wanted you back for a long time, they would have given you a long-term contract. But that doesn't mean none of that's going to happen. It still could."
Sure, it could. But there's a reason the Sox are biding their time, and two industry sources with knowledge of the situation say it's an obvious one: Steve Stone.
If Stone doesn't join a Cubs ownership group, the Sox would strongly consider moving him from their radio booth to TV to pair him with Hawk Harrelson. That could open a radio position for Jackson alongside Ed Farmer.
Sox marketing executive Brooks Boyer would not address that possibility, saying the team is waiting to decide on Jackson so officials from all of its broadcast partners — WGN, Comcast SportsNet and WSCR-AM 670 — can offer their opinions.
"I've talked to D.J. and been open and honest," Boyer said. "Nobody's playing any games."
Jackson moved into the Sox's booth after playing his final season for the South Siders in 1999. He and Harrelson seemed slow to bond, but now they're peanut butter and jelly.
"D.J. and I have become very, very close — not that we weren't earlier — but even closer the last few years," Harrelson said. "As long as I'm here, I'd like him to be here. Of course, that's Brooks' call."
Harrelson, though, said he would be reluctant to lobby for his partner's return.
"That's not my business," he said. "It's just the way I grew up. Everyone knows how I feel about D.J.
"I was hoping the Bulls would draft Derrick Rose. But I was not about to go up to [Chairman] Jerry Reinsdorf and ask him to do that."
Jackson, on the one hand, called the situation "no big deal to me."
But with two young children in Chicago and two more in Arizona, he would like a clear picture of his future.
Asked if he would like the club to inform him of its plans before October, Jackson replied: "That would be great. I've spoken to everyone concerned in the front office. I've said my piece."
Jackson has met with Boyer and broadcasting chief Bob Grim, and he recently huddled with Reinsdorf.
"Am I looking forward to going somewhere else? No. No. Contrary to that, this is where I'd love to be," Jackson said. "When I took this job, the first thing that crossed my mind was: Broadcasters, heck, they can be in the same spot for 15 or 20 years.
"Nine years I've been here, and it has been great. I really hope they say, 'Hey, we'd like to have you back for another 15 years.' I'd like to set a record with the contract."
(Greenstein)