Snyder's Biggest Move?

[SmootSmack]

It's not a player or coach, but this would seem to be a pretty major acquisition. Mark Shapiro is one of the most influential people in sports television.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

ESPN may be about to lose head of programming Mark Shapiro to a big job with Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins.

Shapiro, exec VP of programming and production for ESPN, hasn't signed a contract yet with Snyder, but the New York gossip mills were churning with the news that Shapiro is serious about ankling the network.

It was unclear late Wednesday exactly what role Shapiro may play in the Snyder empire. In addition to owning the Redskins, the billionaire has a 9% stake in Six Flags, which controls 31 amusement parks.

Back in April 2004, Shapiro was on the short list to take over as president of entertainment for ESPN sister net ABC. But the nod went instead to Steve McPherson, then head of ABC sibling Touchstone TV.

Shapiro is one of the architects of ESPN and ESPN2's attempts to broaden the two networks by commissioning entertainment programming, such as made-formade-for-cable movies and two scripted dramatic series, "Playmakers" and "Tilt," neither of which lasted beyond its rookie season.