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Media
Notes By George Stahl NEW YORK (AQB)--Despite the first program not airing for another 15 months, Bob Costas knows the time is right to start an issues-oriented weekly show on HBO. "I'm 47 years old, and as you move to that stage of your career, it's important to do only the things that you really want to do and that you're best-suited to do, as oppose to everything that you are capable of doing." "I think it's right that I do this because people associate me with this type of programming and maybe additionally they associate me with baseball and the Olympics." Much about the show hasn't been decided, or at least revealed, other than Costas is going to be the host and that it is going to be more like Nightline rather than 60 Minutes or Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. HBO executive producer Ross Greenburg said he doesn't see a conflict between Costas' show and Real Sports. "Real Sports will maintain its current magazine format, diving into four stories per episode. We will be able to differentiate these shows because of their format and what kinds of issues they're attacking. We don't tend to attack issues on Real Sports; we look for good, sound journalistic stories. On this show with Bob, this is going to be a very different setting and will attack much different issues. "Both symbolize our commitment to sports journalism but yet are totally different personalities as programs," he said, referring to them as "twin sisters." Costas agreed, "There're all different ways to come at it without duplication." The NBC announcer, who said the move "dovetailed perfectly with Marv Albert's return" as the No. 1 voice on NBC's NBA games next season, doesn't expect any problems from speaking out on this show on issues that may conflict with his NBC responsibilities. "As you may have noticed, this hasn't deterred me very much on NBC's air, so it's certainly not going to deter me on HBO's air," Costas said. "It's pretty obvious that I've spoken my mind over the years and have tried to be an independent voice." "Well, my style - no matter how strongly I feel about an issue - is not to ambush or shred or attack. I hope I'm about more light than heat. I think that any topic can be addressed in a reasonable and evenhanded way that doesn't have to involve personal attack and that reasonable people can respect. So I think anything that's topical, anything that would be of interest to the audience is fair game." The show doesn't start until February 2001, but the announcement follows ESPN's disclosure that it will start a weekly, half-hour Outside The Lines program, beginning in April. Host Bob Ley said the new Sunday morning show also would be modeled after Nightline. In imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Nightline officials should loving life.
With Carolina hosting San Francisco in a nationally televised game at 4 p.m. Saturday, it will be interesting to see how the different pregame shows handle the arrest of Panther receiver Rae Carruth, who's accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend. All the pregame shows are expected to report on the story either Saturday or Sunday but, given their history of weak reporting on anything that could be deemed negative to the league's image, I ain't expecting much. Carolina on Thursday waived Carruth, who was the first active football player charged with murder, and the NFL suspended him indefinitely. He could face the death penalty. Click here for a complete look at this week's pregame shows, announcing lineups and games.
We've already ranted about Sports Illustrated's selection of the women's soccer team as Sportswomen of the Year. (Click here to read that) Now, it's time to lay the lumber on The Sporting News and ESPN The Magazine. TSN this week named Fox's trio of Rupert Murdoch, Chase Carey and David Hill as No. 1 ranking on its list of the 100 most powerful people in sports list. It certainly is hard to argue with them, although I thought a good argument could have been made for No. 2 David Stern, who may have changed how labor negotiations are done in sports with his handling of the NBA lockout last year. As for media members, how can you say that talk-show goof Jim Rome (No. 78) is more powerful than Bob Costas (No. 90). Nobody takes Rome seriously - and they shouldn't. He's all schtick. And then, to include NBC's Jim Gray at No. 100, is just downright silly. ESPN The Magazine named Toronto Raptor Vince Carter as its "NEXT 2000 Athlete," which is the athlete expected to define the coming sports year through his talent and style. Editor in Chief John Papanek said in a statement this week, "We selected him not only for his skills and his success, but also for the fact that he's someone we just can't take our eyes off." Whatever. While Carter certainly has the talent, it's hard to imagine any athlete in Toronto having a tremendous affect on the U.S. Sports culture. By the way, does anyone remember who was the magazine's "next athlete" last year? Didn't think so.
Like it did with the All-Madden team a few years ago, CBS will create its own all-star team molded in the likeness of its lead NFL game analyst. Phil Simms and his partner Greg Gumbel will announce the first 1999 Phil Simms All-Iron Team at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 25 from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Fifteen players and one coach will be selected to represent the inaugural team. The Iron Men Awards honor players who meet or exceed the following qualifications: the player must be a starter or significant contributor to his team, the player must be a tough guy and team leader, and the player must be an asset to his community. All 31 NFL teams nominated two Iron Men players and an alternate. "There are so many excellent players that fans don't know about," Simms said in a statement this week. "We spend too much time glorifying people with the football - quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. The Iron Men Team takes it a step farther and finds some of the hidden gems in the NFL." Also on the show, Armen Keteyian visits with Walter Payton's brother, Eddie; CBS News correspondent Bill Geist will look at what makes an Iron Men Team member; and David Letterman will provide a Top Ten List on "Why you are not going to win a Phil Simms Iron Man Award." (On the list: You sustained a season-ending injury during the coin toss.)
On Louisville-Kentucky, Packer said in a statement this week, "This is one of the great traditional rivalries in college basketball. The history of the two teams and the significance of their outstanding play, coupled with the fact that they are less than 100 miles apart, makes the game very special. "This year both teams are dangerous ball clubs even though they're not highly ranked, which makes this contest even more interesting. Just two years ago people were saying Denny Crum had seen better days and it was time for him to move on and then Louisville in Lexington beats Kentucky in one of the most emotional games I've ever covered."
On Stanford, Johnson said, "Everybody thought the loss of Mark Madsen would have a negative effect on Stanford, but they have so much depth inside, losing Madsen hasn't slowed them down at all." On the California vs. Gonzaga match-up, he said, "This game will be a contrast in styles. Cal likes to play an up-tempo game, while Gonzaga is one of the sharpest teams in the country in terms of executing their offense, which will be a tough test for Cal's defense."
Bob Costas, of course, will host NBC's prime-time shows. By putting more stuff on NBC's sister stations, the network said, it will be able to show the U.S. women's soccer and softball games from start to finish, as well as more boxing. Warning: All coverage will be tape-delayed because of the 15-hour time difference.
The games, selected by a poll of ESPN.com users and the show's producers, include the U.S. Women's National Team win over China in the women's World Cup; UConn's 77-74 upset over Duke in the NCAA title game; Alabama's 40-39 overtime upset over Florida, ending the Gators' 30 home-game winning streak; Dallas Stars' three-overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres; games five and six of the National League Championship Series between the Braves and Mets; and the Jazz/Kings NBA playoff series, including the Kings overtime win in Game 3, Stockton's last minute shot to seal Utah's win in Game 4 and Utah's overtime series-clinching victory in Game 5.
Other media notes from around the country Friday.
Martzke writes, "The Panthers host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Fox, as well as pregame shows on CBS, ESPN and CNN, plan to devote time to the impact of the Carruth story." Click here to read more of Martzke's column.
"NBC addressed a huge criticism of its 1996 Atlanta Olympics coverage yesterday by disclosing that a record 334 hours of Sydney Games tape-delayed coverage from Australia next September will include 172 on CNBC and MSNBC in the first Summer Olympics on basic cable.'' Click here to read more of Baker's column.
Kent writes, "With one week of Christmas shopping left, gifts for the hard-to-please sports fan can be difficult to come by, particularly if you don't know where to look. "That's why we offer the sixth "Media Watch Holiday Gift Giving Guide," a peek at some of the more notable books, videos and multimedia items that could make solid stocking stuffers." Click here to read more of Kent's column.
Shapiro writes, "We live in a country where most people do get second chances to get it right or make amends for serious transgressions. In sports, it's often six or seven chances, especially for those truly gifted at what they do. We want to see the best player on the field, we want to hear the finest NBA voice in the land. They sell tickets, they boost ratings, they make money for their employers. Albert arguably is the finest basketball announcer of this or any other generation. That's why he's back, like it (I do) or not." Click here to read more of Shapiro's column.
Mushnick writes, "Even the post-scandal IOC under the 79-year-old Samaranch -- the new dawn era when every institutional wrong was supposed to have been righted -- carries the pervasive stench of scandal on behalf of maintaining the power of the Samaranch Gang, the same sports-minded folks who created the problem." Click here to read more of Mushnick's column. For more details and a complete list of televised sporting events for this weekend, check out ArmchairQB.com's Today's Lineup. |
College
football's bowl season begins Saturday on ESPN2 with the Las Vegas
Bowl between Utah and Fresno at 6 p.m. Dave Barnett, Bill Curry
and Dave Ryan have the call.
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