"Alanna Rizzo, during her five seasons covering the Rockies, regularly confronted the "eye candy" label.

"I"m aware that looks are important for a woman on sports television," Rizzo said during an interview after joining Fox Sports Net (now Root Sports) in the summer of 2007.

"But I'm prepared to do more than just smile."

And she succeeded — often with a smile.

Obviously, Rizzo's attractive, on-camera demeanor was a major reason the fast-growing MLB Network last week signed her to a two-year-deal beginning this spring."