Soak Up Those Witty Scott Van Pelt Commercials While You Can

Kelly McBride of the Poynter Review Project analyzes ESPN's new policy on talent endorsements that essentially eliminates the opportunity for reporters and play-by-play folks while allowing analysts to continue to have conflicts.

Three current endorsement contracts are in violation, under the new guidelines, and will be grandfathered. NASCAR reporter Jamie Little's Oakley endorsement, as well as Andrews' Reebok contract and Van Pelt's Titleist contract will be allowed, but must expire at the earliest opportunity. Anchor Chris Fowler recently had a speaking engagement deal with Nike, but that's already over.

And regarding the exception...

Except there's one whopping exception to that last clause: analysts. These are the men and women who typically played or coached a sport, and they make up more than half of the 1,000-plus public-facing individuals ESPN refers to as "talent." That means most of the talent it employs can enter into the very type of contract that prompted the outcry in the first place.

As part of the new guidelines, the network has listed "all relevant, approved talent endorsements" on ESPN.com. That list includes 51 analysts who have endorsements that could be perceived as conflicting, based on the above criteria. Other analysts, and some reporters, have endorsement contracts that are not noted because executives have decided that they do not present a perception problem (think food or restaurant endorsements, not athletic equipment).

Here are the golf related names and their endorsements released by ESPN as reported by Awful Announcing.

Paul Azinger: Adams Golf
Olin Browne: Callaway, Razor Hawk, Odyssey
Jane Crafter: Footjoy, Titleist, Feel Golf, Callaway
Trent Dilfer: Nike, Callaway
Bill Kratzert: Ashworth, Adidas, TaylorMade
Rocco Mediate: Chervo, Par West, Titleist, V1, Vharness Clubs, Adams Golf, Club Fourteen, TAGGART, Audemars Piguet, InBalance
Andy North: F2, Fairway and Greens
Judy Rankin: Adidas
Curtis Strange: Nike, Administaff
Scott Van Pelt: Titleist