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Wednesday, May 17, 2000
Everett leaving
islands for job
with ESPN
KGMB-TV's sports director
By Paul Arnett
is offered a four-year package
worth $400,000
Star-BulletinNeil Everett will join ESPN-TV in July, the KGMB-TV sports director said yesterday.
Everett was contacted by his agent to say he had been offered a four-year package worth about $400,000.
"I interviewed for the job in April of 1999 and was all set to go then," Everett said.
"When I didn't hear anything, I kind of put it on a back burner.
"I'm excited, but it's going to be tough leaving Hawaii. I'm going to start on ESPN News as a sports anchor. If you do well, you rise through the organization. If you don't, then you wish you had gotten your master's degree."
Everett has been part of the local sports scene since coming to Hawaii in 1986. He broke in as sports information director at Hawaii Pacific University.
The University of Oregon graduate, who turns 38 tomorrow, replaced Russ Francis as sports director at KGMB in 1996. He also worked at KITV and KHNL.
"Channel 9 gave me my first job before I left for Channel 4," Everett said. "It's been a great learning experience for me that I wouldn't trade for anything.
"I've got to take care of a lot of business before I go. I'll probably be living in Bristol, Conn. (where the cable network is based), which is going to be a big change from here. My first day is July 10."
Everett said he believed KGMB sports reporter Dave Vinton would be considered for the vacant sports director position. Former KHON (Channel 2) sports director Bob Hogue could be in the mix as well.
Everett will join former KGMB-TV sports director Larry Beil at ESPN. Beil has been at the national network since 1995.
