On The Air
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
www.bradyresidence.com/channelsurfing.html
June 2, 2006

CN8 weeknight sports anchor Gregg Murphy, 34, has made the improbable trip from part-time sports editor to one of the main faces of the network.

“Murph” will co-host the Philadelphia portion of “The Children’s Miracle Network Celebration” this weekend on CN8.

Growing up in Mount Laurel, N.J., Murphy attended Saint Joseph’s University with the intention of becoming a lawyer after graduating from Holy Cross High School.

However, he got into broadcasting after doing play-by-play for the Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team on the university radio station.

After graduating from Saint Joseph’s with an English degree in 1993, Murphy got his first break selling sports memorabilia on the old Sportschannel and QVC. He also gained on-air experience at Allentown’s WFMZ and on the “High School Sports Show” on Channel 3.

While working at Comcast SportsNet as an editor, he met CN8’s Bruce Casella, who suggested Murphy call CN8’s Lou Tilley, then host of “The Sports Connection” and sports anchor for the CN8 weeknight news.

Though Murphy was hired as a behind-the-scenes person, Tilley gave him the chance to go on the air. Eventually, Murphy moved up to senior producer and fill-in host of “The Sports Connection.”

Last year, when Tilley’s show morphed into “Out of Bounds,” Murphy was asked to join the CN8 evening news.

“I’m doing everything I’ve always wanted to do,” Murphy said. “I grew up watching Ron Jaworski, and now he’ll pass me in the hall somewhere and say hi to me.”

Murphy and his wife, Denise, live in South Jersey with their children Quinn, 7, Matthew, 4, and Colin, 2.

Cheap thrill   

A hilarious spoof of a spelling bee fan highlights the season debut of “Cheap Seats” on ESPN Classic at 11:30 p.m. Monday.

The show, a sports version of “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” features twins Jason and Randy Sklar riffing on “sports” events such as the 1996 “National Spelling Bee.” (The word I missed in my sixth grade spelling bee was “parallel,” not that I’m still harboring resentment over it or anything, P-AR-A-L-L-E-L, parallel.)

ESPN should move this show from “Classic” to its other channels, which are seen in more homes.

Going to bat   

For your chance to take batting practice at Citizen’s Bank Park, sign up for “Richie Ashburn’s Home Runs for Heart” today. Proceeds go the American Heart Association.