We’ve reported about the recent ratings win for WPIX. But the Tribune flagship also has a victory in the legal world.

A jury Wednesday, in its second day of deliberations, ruled against former Channel 11 news director Karen Scott. She had claimed that her 2009 firing was age-related. Scott, who turned 60 before being let go, worked 16 years at WPIX.

The station argued that Scott was dismissed due to weak ratings and declining ad revenues.

Scott sought $4.5 million in her lawsuit. Scott’s lawyer, Kenneth Rubenstein, says no decision has been made on whether his client will appeal, Newsday reports.

WPIX weekend anchor Kaity Tong, who turned 65 last month, and veteran reporter Marvin Scott, 74, were among the witnesses who testified in Manhattan Federal Court.

WPIX is not out of the woods yet. Channel 11 and former station general manager (and current WLNY GM) Betty Ellen Berlamino face similar age-discrimination lawsuits from former sports anchor Sal Marchiano and one-time features reporter Larry Hoff, the New York Post writes.

Whether it was smacking a clutch hit down the line, throwing out a runner at second base, or simply that endearing smile, Gary Carter was a gift to baseball fans for more than two decades. But to New York Mets fans, his legendary career took on a heroic note. Carter died yesterday after a long battle with brain cancer. He was 57.

“I choose to celebrate a life that touched and brightened so many other lives through his works both on and off the field,” Longtime WABC sports anchor Scott Clark tells FishbowlNY. “Baseball players respected and admired his skills and his grit. Members of the media craved for more like him, always available, win or lose.”

A blockbuster trade after the 1984 season sent Carter to Shea Stadium, and the New York media. Less than two years later, Carter helped the Mets win one of the “amazing” comebacks in World Series history.

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Start of "Trilogy of the Century," Frazier (left) knocks down Ali in 1971/boxingmemories.com

He may not have been “The Greatest,” but Joe Frazier was recognized as a great fighter in his own right. He famously took Muhammed Ali to the limit in three epic battles.

Frazier died last night following a short battle with liver cancer. He was 67.

“He wasn’t so much a boxer as he was a fighter,” Former Yankees broadcaster Charley Steiner tells FishbowlNY. “A tough S.O.B. who left it all in the ring every time he fought.”

In 1971, Frazier outslugged his nemesis in a 15-round decision, a fight at Madison Square Garden aptly hyped as the “Fight of the Century.”

“Smokin’ Joe” and Ali would battle in two more classic bouts, concluding in 1975 with The Thrilla in Manila.

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While we await the resolution of Jim Watkins‘ fate at WPIX, Lolita Lopez takes matters into her own hands!

The versatile Channel 11 air talent bolted for KNBC in Los Angeles where she starts on Monday as a general assignment reporter.

Lopez began at WPIX in 2001 in that same role. But she added weekend sports anchor to her resume. Eventually, when top sportscaster Sal Marchiano was dumped in 2008, Lopez was promoted.

However, when news director Bill Carey (who joined WPIX in 2009), dropped sports from the newscasts earlier this year to make his station stand out, Lopez’s trip at Channel 11 went full circle to street reporter.

Lopez, the highly visible sports anchor at the time of the unprecedented move, isn’t sure how it will affect viewers in the long term.

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It appears to be the end of an era in New York TV News. Tribune-owned WPIX/Channel 11 is poised to dump its sports department. With it, the New York Post reports Lolita Lopez (left), the station’s sports director, is getting reassigned.

The paper said it wasn’t certain if sports coverage would fall into the laps of the news anchors or if it would be outsourced.

“I hope it’s not the start of a trend, but I’ve heard of other stations around the country doing the same,” former longtime WNBC sports anchor Len Berman (below) says. ”I’m a firm believer in local sports and I don’t believe local sports is diminished by ESPN. But I know there are many in management who don’t agree.”

This would mark the first New York City TV station to forgo a sports department.

Of course, Channel 11 has a long history attached to sports. First, for decades of Yankee baseball, and more recently WPIX has been the home for Mets games.

This is the latest change for news director Bill Carey, hired in November 2009. His biggest splash, to this point, was the overhaul of the 10 p.m. newscast in October 2010. Anchor Jodi Applegate, formerly from News 12 Long Island, was brought in.

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Longtime sportscaster Sal Marchiano filed a multimillion-dollar age discrimination lawsuit against the former head of WPIX/Channel 11.

Marchiano, who left WPIX in December 2008 when the station decided not to re-sign him, is seeking unspecified damages. The Daily News reports that the figure could hit $10 million.

When Marchiano, 69, originally exited station officials called it a retirement, although the sportscaster said otherwise.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, names Betty Ellen Berlamino, the former general manager of Tribune-owned Channel 11. The station itself was not named.

The article says Marchiano’s legal proceedings took place in large part because of former news director Karen Scott filing her own suit in June. In it, Scott maintains that she was pushed out due to age discrimination.

Scott, according to the Daily News, alleges that the station, led by Berlamino, demoted Marvin Scott and tried to force out Kaity Tong. (This week, WPIX reassigned anchors Tong and Jim Watkins in favor of Jodi Applegate.)

He just ‘doesn’t look good on the air,’ Berlamino allegedly said of Marchiano, according to Scott’s suit.

FishbowlNY attempted to reach Berlamino. Messages were not returned.

Channel 11 had no comment.