Nix answers ESPN's call
Wendi Nix says she's ready to move on after having spent nine years covering sports in Boston, the last 3 1/2 years as sports anchor for Channel 7.
This week she made it official. She's headed to ESPN later this summer.
``I'm very excited, but it all happened so fast," said Nix by telephone. ``I will be at [Channel] 7 until the end of July, then take a few weeks off, and start probably in late August."
She said her title will be reporter, but she won't be doing sideline reporting.
Nix, who is married to Red Sox vice president of player personnel Ben Cherington, said she'll still live in the Boston area, but expects to be on the road a lot.
``I think I'm going to get used to the frequent flier miles, but it gives me the opportunity to still live in Boston, which I really wanted to do," she said. ``So I think it's a good fit."
Nix had only positive things to say about Channel 7, but it's no secret that sports time on local newscasts has been steadily shrinking. So the ESPN job should give Nix a chance to cover stories in more depth.
``Also I wanted to be challenged, to learn about teams from other parts of the country," she said. ``I love Boston, but I've been doing this for nine years, so I thought it was time."
Nix, a South Carolina native, had previously worked for Fox Sports New England and NESN.
``It definitely is bittersweet, and I hate to leave Joe [Amorosino] and Dave [Briggs], and I worked with Gary Gillis," Nix said. ``I can't say enough about the experience I had there. And I really appreciate the opportunity they gave me, because this wouldn't have been possible without that."
Sports director Amorosino was equally effusive about his soon-to-be-former colleague.
``Wendi is a star, forget a star in the making, she is a star," he said. ``People who work in the business realize that, more and more viewers are realizing that, and they're also going to see it now on a national level. She loves to report from a game, or out in the field, so this is really her dream job."
Nix, 31, had done some work for the NFL Network, but was never offered a job, she said.
``I just sort of tested the waters, but then this came through, and it was the right situation," said Nix. The contract with ESPN is for two years.
Channel 7 has yet to name a replacement, but no doubt the station will be flooded with résumés, especially from women looking to replace Nix and fill the gender gap on local stations.
