Erin Andrews re-ups with ESPN

Like the Yankees - and unlike, say, a certain Ohio-based NBA franchise - ESPN usually keeps and/or gets its man (or woman) when it comes to free agency.

The Bristol Stompers entered 2010 with the contracts of three big names due to expire, and now it has kept all three, with Erin Andrews joining Chris Berman and Bill Simmons.

Here is a USA Today story on this matter, including the news that Andrews will get a hosting role in a newly expanded "College GameDay" and also will make non-sports contributions to "Good Morning America" on ABC, ESPN's sister network.

There had been speculation Andrews might bolt for a new gig, perhaps outside the sports world, in the wake of her successful run on "Dancing With the Stars."

But she always insisted she preferred to remain at ESPN and mostly was happy with her existing role as a sideline reporter.

The trick for ESPN was figuring out a proper salary level for a sideline reporter whose fame has grown far beyond that of most people in that generally thankless job.

Evidently the two sides hammered out a mutually satisfactory deal. Carry on, America.