Veteran Bay area sports anchor Al Keck will not have his contract renewed by WFTS-Ch. 28 when it expires later this summer. Keck said his last day will be sometime around Sept. 1.
"And now I'll look at other opportunities,'' Keck said. "I've got some exciting possibilities.''
Keck said he is mulling over possibilities both locally and outside the area both in broadcasting and outside of broadcasting. He added he has one intriguing possibility, but wasn't prepared to talk about it because it's in the early stages.
Rich Pegram, Ch. 28's general manager, said, "As we all are in this industry during these times, we are re-examining the best way to cover all the stories that we need to cover. Sports is still an integral part of what we do and we know people care about sports. But we are re-examining our future and we felt it was best to let Al know as early as possible about this. He is the consummate professional and we wish him nothing but the best.''
Pegram said no decision has been made about a replacement or even if the station would replace Keck. With Keck's departure, Tom Korun would be the only full-time on-air sports anchor.
"We're still deciding how best to go forward,'' Pegram said. "Right now, any and all options are possible.''
Keck, 54, was an anchor at WTSP-Ch. 10 for more than 12 years when his contract was not renewed in 2001. He joined Ch. 28 later that year.
Photo: ABC Action News
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Sorry to hear when anyone loses their job but I gotta say, I thought Al was such a caricture of a sports reporter...such a pukey delivery.
Posted by: Will | July 14, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Al Keck - the best of the best in sports broadcasting. Maybe you can be the play by play announcer for our Tampa Bay Rays! Good luck Al and God speed!
Posted by: Mike Burton | July 14, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Hang in there Al, it ain't nothing but a thang.
Posted by: Herb | July 14, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Mike, what's wrong with who the Rays have now? Dewayne Staats is awesome and very enjoyable. As I remember Keck, he's very biased. Remember his "Marlins" highlights on 10 years back? That was garbage for journalism.
But his departure leaves the clown at 13 as the longest tenured sports anchor in the market. Yikes. Where is Dick Crippen when you need him? He was the last of the best.
Posted by: GatorSphere | July 14, 2009 at 03:33 PM
One of the nicest men you would ever want to meet . Just a regular " Joe " .. You will land on your feet , Al . Good luck in your future .
Posted by: Tim | July 14, 2009 at 03:34 PM
They should can the weather guy with the suspenders too. Never seen anybody so in love with themself.
Posted by: Fred Wilson | July 14, 2009 at 03:34 PM
I couldn't stand this guy. He wasn't very good on TV.
Posted by: Ryan | July 14, 2009 at 03:36 PM
I sit here and watch Al Keck on tv and I think to myself he don't know sports all that good. They need to replace him with the sports guy from NBC that they fired not long ago. He was a cute little black man but I can't remember his name.
Posted by: Shakeela | July 14, 2009 at 03:42 PM
The sports guy ( to use your words ) the "cute little black man" who was at NBC was nowhere near the professional that Al Keck is and was. He was a novice who is not ready for primetime. Al Keck is one great sports guy. Sad to see him go.
Posted by: demetrius | July 14, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Well, Shakeela, I have read many of your comments attached to a variety of subjects. You are very racist.
Posted by: Bull | July 14, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Bull you crazy. I am not racist.
Posted by: Shakeela | July 14, 2009 at 04:06 PM
Al rocks! I used to work with him. The coolest guy! Good luck Al, you'll do great at anything!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 14, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Shakella yes you are RACIST.
Posted by: J | July 14, 2009 at 04:12 PM
I have never watched a sports guy on television say so much who actually said so little.
He was a guy that talked really loud, but brought nothing to the table. He had zero opinions and would never say anything negative about the local teams. A brutal guy to watch.
I do wish him luck. I hope he finds a job where he actually makes some solid contributions.
Posted by: Billy | July 14, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Is Shakeela even a real person?
Posted by: mark e | July 14, 2009 at 04:16 PM
An absolute Gentleman, a fine Gentleman, Al you know that God has great plans for you.
Posted by: Tony | July 14, 2009 at 04:29 PM
I am not a racist and I can prove it. One of my baby has a white father.
Posted by: Shakeela | July 14, 2009 at 04:32 PM
Shakeela--My neighbor is Chinese so I'm not racist.
Posted by: Bull | July 14, 2009 at 05:11 PM
I am white. Please tell me if I am racist? If so, can Al Keck help me? Do I need a Chinese neighbor? Please...please I am begging someone tell me.
Posted by: birdman | July 14, 2009 at 05:29 PM
As a sportscaster and man, Al Keck is top shelf! Hopefully the Bay Area will not lose him. Keck is a consummate professional to the nth degree.
Sadly Keck sounds like another victim of the economy. Ch. 13 seems like the only station to have seasoned veterans? Soon I imagine we'll just be seeing PDF files broadcast in the place of humans!
Grrr. Ch. 28 I have a big eye-roll for you. Al Keck, I wish you the very best!
Posted by: Leenda | July 14, 2009 at 05:37 PM
Hey Guys,
If you think Shaleela is really black, don't be an idiots.
IGNORE HER/HIM/IT
Posted by: Paul | July 14, 2009 at 06:01 PM
Keck is an outstanding sportscaster with extensive knowledge of Tampa Bay sports teams. I am sad to see him leave.
As for the "weatherman in suspenders", the way Denis Phillips delivers the forecast is enthusiastic and educational. Pegram would be a fool to let such a recognizable meteorologist go!
Posted by: Jason | July 14, 2009 at 07:29 PM
Al seems like a nice guy, but he is pretty much a "Saturday Night Live" version of a sports reporter.
Funny though, even if it's not the way he means to be.
Posted by: Dave | July 14, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Good to see you go!
Posted by: and that's me in a minute... | July 14, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Folks,I'm from New York so I know the deal. I don't know Al Keck personally but the guy was a cartoon character of a TV sports guy, the kind of fella you would see lampooned by Ted Knight on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. His delivery was over the top and phony and the guy used a tad too much gel and anti-gray lotion.
Posted by: Eduardo | July 14, 2009 at 07:48 PM
If one reaps what one sows, then Al has a bright future. He is a regular at Lifestyles gym where he always takes a minute of his time to listen to blah blah blah from guys who want to opine about Bucs, Rays, Bolts, etc., etc. Al listens and comments with a smile. Must get old but you'd never know it from his upbeat reaction. He's a man who appears to be be genuinely devoted to reporting about our teams and cares about his community. Good Luck Al Keck and Godspeed.
Posted by: bob | July 14, 2009 at 07:48 PM
I don't know if Shakeela is a fake...I just searched her on Facebook and sure enough there is a Shakeela in St. Pete.
Posted by: Robbie | July 14, 2009 at 07:49 PM
Wow ....Fred Wilson...jealous much??
I think Denis Phillips is very informative, animated..which, let's face it, is pretty impressive when talking about the weather. He MAKES the ratings during hurricane season. Can you say the same?? Stop hating on the suspenders!!!
As for Al...he's going to be a great assett wherever he goes!!Goodluck Al!!!
Posted by: J. | July 14, 2009 at 08:15 PM
??? talk about getting off point here. if the guy is little, and he is black, and Shakeela with multiple baby daddy can't remember his name then so be it. would she have been racist if her name were Christi or Debbie and she said the cute little white guy? no. maybe the rest of you guys are racist and you're just nervous about the way Shakeela described a person.
On that note, there is not one decent commenter, reporter, weather person or out in the field reporter on Ch 28. yes, please, get with of the white dude with the suspenders. I'm sorry tall white dude with the suspenders.
Posted by: Joey | July 14, 2009 at 08:17 PM
Newscasters are there to report the NEWS. Simple as that. What is with all the negativity?? These guys are professionals who do their jobs very well. If you don't like watching them, then change the channel...and quit
complaining. It's easy to be a keyboard
warrior and talk trash....I dare any one of you guys talking trash to do their jobs just one day, and take criticism for not being "perfect"....
Posted by: J. | July 14, 2009 at 08:28 PM
Well, since we are in hurricane season, I will have to say that I would only trust Denis Phillips and his forecast. The Accu-Weather Hurricane forecasts have been "dead on" in the past, even better than the NHC. I have been watching him since Hurrican Charley in 2004 and have never watched another channel since. Denis is the most earnest, accurate tropical storm analyst there is. If he were to go, the ratings would go down, for sure.
As for Al, he will be missed.
Posted by: A | July 14, 2009 at 08:50 PM
I worked with al...once upon a time...ripped his scripts....he wrote like this...for the teleprompter...no sentences... ever...tough to read and... tougher to follow...never understood the writing...but it had style....if that's what you call it... good luck al...in all you do.
Posted by: Super Scribbler | July 14, 2009 at 08:56 PM
I like Al and I wish him luck in this tough economy. I have heard from people I trust that he is a decent guy. Same with Denis Philips.
I don't know if Shakella is a racist, but I know from her posts that she is illiterate. I am worried about what that means for the kids future.
Posted by: Michael | July 14, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Joey, "Shakeela" or who ever she/he really
is is a frequent poster of numerous stories not just this one.Particularly stories that fuel racial comments. I would not question her authenticity based on a sole comment of a single story. After what I read her say THIS TIME I began to wonder if Shakeela is just a character. I would have thought that had her name been Debbie or Tequila or Bacardi or Shanequa.
Posted by: mark e | July 14, 2009 at 09:45 PM
Al, You stayed here alot longer than you did in San Diego!!BEST OF LUCK TO YA!!
Posted by: mark e | July 14, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Hey Guys, (and Shakeela??) to survive in the same TV market for almost 20 years is like, really an accomplishment. Those TV stations are even more popularity-pole whores than President Obama.
Posted by: Karl | July 14, 2009 at 10:17 PM
What a shame, great loss for the Tampa bay area! Those will certainly be hard shoes to fill!
Posted by: unreal | July 14, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Al Keck is good, but Jerry Johnson was the best. Where is he?
Posted by: Bets | July 14, 2009 at 11:28 PM
I saw Jerry Johnson at Home Depot the other day .. Just bad timing I guess . If I had known you were looking for him , Bets , I would have given him the 411 ..
Posted by: Tim | July 14, 2009 at 11:54 PM
they are getting rid of the hair and the suntan... now can they get rid of Wendy Ryan? her one day tanned, one day not tanned look has got to go.
Posted by: Joe | July 15, 2009 at 12:10 AM
You folks do realize that "Shakeela" is a fat, middle-aged white guy sitting in his basement right? Probably hasn't seen his feet in years...
Posted by: john.raley@att.net | July 15, 2009 at 12:17 AM
I understand that Jerry Johnson retired and is now teaching TV production at the Seminole campus of St. Pete College.
Posted by: Lynn Smithler | July 15, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Sorry to hear about this Al. You took me under your wing and guided me into sports broadcasting and helped me to be a success. You are a great guy and awesome mentor. Good luck with all you do. I hope you get to stick around and continue to work in this area. Thanks for all you've done for me.
Posted by: B Lewis | July 15, 2009 at 12:20 AM
I thought he was already gone. I guess that's why they are going to do what the Tampa Trib has done and TRIM the sports coverage. Who really turns to the local news for sports anyway? All the local tv sports is awww shucks attitude instead of honest opinions like The Big Dogs'
Posted by: Alternajock33 | July 15, 2009 at 12:44 AM
Good sports anchors left this market when Dick Crippen, Andy Hardy and Salty Sol were gone! Keck was horrible!!!! Hopefully he'll take an opportunity outside broadcasting, for EVERYONE's sake!
Posted by: Matt | July 15, 2009 at 12:51 AM
i am friends with Shakeela why you all gotta be hatin on her like tat its a shame
Posted by: chanel | July 15, 2009 at 12:58 AM
What exactly did Al Keck bring to the table? The guy is leaving local news broadcasting and honestly, who the heck cares? Rah rah rah for the home team. Blah blah blah. Did he ever say anything of note, ever?
Posted by: tampa tv | July 15, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Al is a really nice guy away from the TV and those of you who nit pick and are mean spirited should be ashamed. These are real people with real families. They do not deserve this ridicule. If you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all!!! Good luck Al
Posted by: David | July 15, 2009 at 05:40 PM
I am sorry, but I think just about every one of the reporters on ABC are like cartoon characters. ALL of them have fake orange tans and each have a 5 gallon bucket of makeup on. They probably use a putty knife to scrape it off every night. Then there's Al with his greased back hair. They really need to do something to make these people look more "real" and not like clowns. As some others have said, I think he did a lot of talking with not much coming out. He personality kinda gets a little annoying after a while.
Posted by: Scott | July 15, 2009 at 09:55 PM
They need to bring back that "hottie" 2diffrent colored eyed Jay Crawford ya'll remember him?
Posted by: Nena | July 15, 2009 at 10:35 PM
As I remember Keck, he's very biased. Remember his "Marlins" highlights on 10 years back? That was garbage for journalism. Who really turns to the local news for sports anyway?
Posted by: steroids | July 18, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Never wish anyone to lose his job, but he was a hack.
Posted by: Bob Miller | July 18, 2009 at 11:33 PM