NESN and Rodgers part ways

NESN parted ways with studio host Bob Rodgers yesterday.

Rodgers, who joined the network as an associate producer for the morning "SportsDesk" show in 1987, had been an on-camera personality since June 1993. He was the voice of "SportsDesk" until 1996 when he became in-studio host of Red Sox baseball telecasts.

For the past two seasons, he had been the host of "The Boston Globe Pregame Report" and "W.B. Mason Extra Innings," finally graduating from "SportsDesk" to be a full-time host of the station's shows. He also did play-by-play for NESN's Pawtucket Red Sox games and this winter became host of the "Red Sox Inside Out" offseason show.

Rodgers, reached at home last night, declined comment on the events that precipitated yesterday's parting.

"I'm very disappointed at the outcome, and it's unfortunate that such long service comes to an end this way," was his lone comment. "I really don't want to say anything until I consult an attorney."

Rodgers had said over Christmas that he signed a two-year contract extension and was thrilled to be staying at NESN after receiving an offer to move elsewhere.

NESN president/general manager Sean McGrail confirmed the move but said only, "Bob has left to pursue other opportunities. I'd rather leave it at that."

It is known that Rodgers left Fort Myers, Fla., last week to coach the Whitman-Hanson boys' basketball team in the MIAA Tournament, leaving a recorded segment for the next morning's "SportsDesk." He had been coach of the team for four years, and this was the first season since 1979 the team made the playoffs.

His action -- not seeking his bosses' permission to leave -- clearly did not play well with management, either at the Red Sox or NESN. It also sent a message to a basketball team about a coach's loyalty to his players and passed along the lesson, "Always ask for permission to leave."

Still, with longtime Sox public relations man Kevin Shea departing Fenway Park this winter and now Rodgers, the new Sox ownership has sent a message that there are new sheriffs in town.

And media coverage is important to this ownership. In a week when normally reluctant interviewees Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez wound up making the rounds on the Sunday night shows, it bespoke management's encouragement.

The events of the past week also left one talented studio host with top-level experience and lots of energy looking for work.

Spreading it out

The Bruins and Red Sox go head to head for the first time this season Thursday night, but NESN dodged a conflict.

The Bruins-Rangers game will be on ESPN at 7:30 p.m., with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement handling the broadcast. And Channel 38 has the Sox-Twins opener at 7 p.m., with NESN carrying it outside the Boston market.

Three additional spring training games -- March 9 vs. Cincinnati, March 13 vs. Toronto, and April 3 vs. Atlanta -- will be on Channel 38 in the Boston area but not carried elsewhere in New England on NESN because of Bruins commitments.

On April 4, NESN will have the Bruins' regular-season finale at New Jersey at 1 p.m., then continue with Bruins postgame and Sox pregame before the Sox-Orioles season opener at Baltimore at 8.

WEEI will broadcast Thursday night's Sox exhibition opener against Minnesota at 7, plus Curt Schilling's spring debut (vs Northeastern) Friday at 7 p.m., and Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Yankees.

Play ball

ESPN is diving into baseball season this week and will have the first national TV appearance of Alex Rodriguez as a Yankee Friday. The ESPN schedule: Mets-Dodgers tomorrow at 1 p.m.; Giants-Cubs Thursday at 2; and Phillies-Yankees Friday at 1 . . . NESN's Don Orsillo hosts tonight's "Red Sox Inside Out" show (following Bruins-Leafs at 7:30 p.m.). Garciaparra, Pokey Reese, Martinez and Schilling will be the headliners . . . The Globe's Bob Ryan and Gordon Edes join Bob Lobel on NESN for "Sportsplus" following Thursday's Sox-Twins telecast. Edes has a one-on-one interview with catcher Jason Varitek . . . Sox manager Terry Francona will be a frequent participant on Channel 7's "Sports Xtra" show in a segment called "Xtra Time with Tito." . . . Channel 38, which has been doing expanded spring training reports at 10:45 nightly, will resume "Red Sox This Week" Sunday at 10:30 p.m.

Zoned in

News from WWZN.:

Rico Petrocelli will co-host "The Sportsline" from noon-2 p.m. on Saturdays with Wayne Soares, formerly of ESPN.

Mo Vaughn will be grand marshal of the 15th Hot Dog Safari May 16 at Suffolk Downs. The irrepressible Anthony Pepe calls it "The Hit Dog and the Hot Dog."

The Thursday night "New England Ringside Boxing Radio Show," hosted by Pepe and local boxing magazine guys Joe Bills, Rick Brutti, Jerry Coltan, and Ted Bodenrader, has been expanded an hour and runs from 7-9 p.m. That show will be followed by "The Sports Section" from 9-midnight with producer Rob Touzet going in front of the mike along with Chuck Morrison, Jay Harlow, and John Gottlieb.

Perfect ending?

The Saint Joseph's men's basketball team is out to complete its undefeated regular season run in tonight's finale against St. Bonaventure, on ESPN2 at 9 . . . Injured Patriots linebacker Rosevelt Colvin makes a rare media appearance this evening on FSN's "New England Sports Tonight" at 6:30 . . . Congratulations to Dighton-Rehoboth High School graduate Jon Cole, named North Dakota sportscaster of the year for the third time. He's sports director at KUMV-TV in Williston.

Bill Griffith's e-mail address is griffith@globe.com