Courtesy the North County Times

(October 8, 2010) Dick Enberg will be back in the play-by-play chair, and there is a strong likelihood that Mark Grant will return as the main analyst as he works with Cox Communications officials on a new deal -- a deal both sides would like to complete.

The fate of Mark Neely, however, is less sure.

Neely is at the end of a two-year contract. While he did a great job his first year, calling all 145 games, he was bumped to a backup role this season with the addition of Enberg.

Neely has moved his family to San Diego and wants to remain here. Cox officials want him back, The problem is money.

Neely is being paid as a No. 1 announcer, but with Enberg in the saddle, Neely takes a back seat. So Cox officials and Neely are trying to work out a deal that would keep him in town.

Neely, who recently had to give up a freelance gig with the Big Ten Network, said he's working some college football games for ESPN and hopes to get a lot of college basketball games.

Hopefully, a deal can be worked out to keep him in town. While Enberg is one of the legendary voices in sports broadcasting, Neely is a top-flight broadcaster and a class act.

Despite being bumped to No. 2 by Enberg, Neely never complained. Even off the record, he refused to complain.

He deserves a better fate than to go job hunting.

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