Myers Shows 'Wright' Stuff At Fox Sports News By George Stahl Like riding a bike, Chris Myers easily slid back into the highlight show saddle Wednesday night, when he hosted his first Fox Sports News show at 10 p.m. EST. Unfortunately for Myers, Fox has teamed the former host of ESPN's "Up Close" with the loud and irritating Van Earl Wright, whose screaming welcome to Myers and the audience at the beginning of the show appeared to make Myers uncomfortable. Wright labeled the arrival of Myers "a brand new era in Fox sports history"; meanwhile, Myers downplayed the event, saying simply "It's nice to be 'up close' in the Fox family." Myers then segued into the Florida-Duke highlights (Duke won, 116-86), which he handled with surprising smoothness considering he hasn't done highlights in a while. Granted, the game ended figuratively and literally early enough in the night for Myers to get comfortable with the highlights, but he actually handled all his chores Wednesday as if he had never left the studio. Now, if he can just do something about his partner. As for others on the show, Fox college basketball analyst Marques Johnson told Myers, "It'll be fun to work 'up close' with you over the next few weeks." Later, Fox NFL analyst Bill Maas asked Wright when he was going to make Myers sing his college fight song. It appears Maas is as funny in the studio as he is in the football broadcast booth. Myers did return to his "Up Close" ways, as he interviewed Jazz forward Karl Malone. Myers, though, has to realize that he doesn't have a half-hour with his guests anymore because he had to end the interview before getting to ask Malone about his future with Utah. Myers only said that they would talk again - next time about Malone's future - after the lockout is settled. At the show's halfway point, Wright asked Myers how he felt so far. "I like it," Myers said. "I think I'm going to stay for a while." Throughout the show, Myers resurrected many of his signature lines. Before the first break, he said, "Stay with us on Fox Sports News Primetime. I know you will." Later, he said to Wright "You did not know that" after mentioning that it was the 30th anniversary of the computer mouse. Finally, Myers used "I kid because I care," after making a couple jokes about President Clinton, who lit the national Christmas tree Wednesday with help from Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa. Myers, who also will host Fox's sports magazine show, "Goin' Deep," looked sharp overall in his first studio show and should easily improve the quality of Fox Sports News. I knew he would. Back to the top To read more about Keith Olbermann, Myers joining Fox sports, click here. What do you think? Let everyone know on the Speak Out page. To e-mail your opinion to George, click here.

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