Tafoya Takes Over Guerrero’s Spot

Lisa Guerrero, a target of media critics during her single season as a sideline reporter on ABC’s “Monday Night Football,” was replaced Monday by the more experienced Michele Tafoya.

Critics had complained that Guerrero was hired mainly for her looks, the network hoping to attract young males who might be only casual football fans.

Some believed that was also the case with Guerrero’s predecessor, Melissa Stark, although her work was better received than Guerrrero’s.

“Neither I nor my predecessor said we were bringing in Melissa or Lisa to get casual male viewers,” Fred Gaudelli, the program’s producer, said during a conference call with reporters. “We were trying to put people in the role that we thought best fit the entire team.”

As for why Guerrero was being replaced, Gaudelli said, “I am a believer in her talent; I just didn’t think that her talent in the role matched up. The sideline reporter role is an incredibly hectic environment.... I just don’t think that Lisa’s talent matched up with what that role calls for.”

Gaudelli said media criticism was not a factor in the decision to replace Guerrero.

Tafoya, more experienced than Stark, Guerrero and their predecessor, Eric Dickerson, said she hoped to “enhance the broadcast in a way that can’t be done from the booth.”

Tafoya, from Manhattan Beach, has a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of California and an MBA from USC. She has 10 years’ experience in network sports television.

She is probably best known for her reporting roles. She was ESPN’s on-site reporter for “Monday Night Football” last season, and ABC, ESPN’s sister network, has used Tafoya as a sideline reporter on the NBA the last two seasons.

“She has done a terrific job on our NBA telecasts,” Mike Pearl, senior vice president and executive producer for ABC Sports, said.

Guerrero is in the second year of a three-year contract with ABC. This year was guaranteed, so she will receive her salary, believed to be $350,000. The third year was an option year.

Gaudelli said Monday that Guerrero might be used on other ABC events.

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ESPN is expected to announce today that it has hired Rick Majerus to work on its college basketball coverage, beginning next season.

It is anticipated that the former Utah coach will be involved in both studio work and game commentating. Majerus is on leave from coaching because of health problems.