The flu bug bit NBC with a vengeance in Denver, first sending ”NFL Live” host Bob Costas to the hospital early Sunday morning and then sidelining reporter Ralph Wiley at halftime.
Fortunately for the network, play-by-play man Jim Donovan, a Cleveland broadcaster when he isn`t working for NBC, was on hand. Donovan was sent to the Browns locker room for postgame interviews.
All the casualties left play-by-play man Dick Enberg burdened with extra duties in what should have been one of the network`s showcase events. Fortunately again, Enberg displayed the cool professionalism for which he`s known, going from interviews with Jerry Glanville and Al Davis to calling a flawless game. And Bill Walsh was at his best, blaming Cleveland cornerback Frank Minniefield for one Denver score (”A chancey play . . . almost contempt for Mike Young.”) and planning the attack for struggling Cleveland quarterback Bernie Kosar (”Go straight down the field and you`ve got it.”).
– At least we get one more game with the indefatigable John Madden. The CBS analyst always seems to be ready for the big games. And although Sunday`s NFC title contest was less than advertised, Madden saved the day. Early in the contest, Madden said, ”This game`s gonna be about linemen. This game`s gonna be about dirt. This game`s gonna be about championships. This game`s gonna be about mud.” OK, he was psyched.
But he also brought out the big words: ”You can`t turn from being perpendicular to parallel on this field today.”
And he was critical of the officiating: ”Did you ever notice the closer it gets to the Super Bowl, the fewer penalties there are?”
– Unfortunately for viewers, the two network pregame shows got into a little game of liar`s poker over what teams Alabama junior linebacker Keith McCants would play for-if he decides to make himself eligible for this year`s draft. NBC`s Wiley first reported McCants wouldn`t play for any team in the South because of ”family troubles.” CBS` Brent Musburger said McCants denied the NBC story and added McCants told him he`d ”play wherever I`m drafted.”
– Most intriguing statement: Raiders boss Al Davis telling Enberg ”We make fans from all walks of life regardless of race, color, sex or religion.” When asked about the Hall of Fame, Davis said, ”We should have been in five years ago.”
– WLS-Ch. 7`s Tim Weigel deserves a medal (or his head examined) for interviewing Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight and former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon on the same show (Sunday`s ”Eyewitness Sports Final”). Knight argued with Weigel over which one coined the term ”cosmetic legislation” concerning the recent NCAA changes. And McMahon took great delight in blaming coach Mike Ditka for the Bears` woes. ”He`s lost control of himself,” McMahon said. ”He never really bothered me because we`d have it out. But some guys let it fester. . . . I talked to some of the guys during the season and it was tough to go to work every day (for them).”
– CBS basketball analyst Bill Raftery sounds just like comedian Mort Sahl, down to the way he laughs at his own jokes.
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– Raycom has a problem with getting quality play-by-play guys for their telecasts. For every pro like Wayne Larrivee or John Rooney who works for the syndication network, there`s a Chuck Marlowe and a Dick Martin who fail to do their homework. Granted, the latter two follow only one team, but give us a break. Marlowe`s insights during Saturday night`s Indiana-Purdue game included: ”It`s hard for them to play at this level without being good students.” Martin told viewers Northwestern had only one player from Illinois on its squad, Lucis Reese from Cairo. Uh, Dick, what about Oak Lawn`s Larry Gorman and Palatine`s Todd Leslie?
Also Raycom`s production staff needs better instructions, like never go to a commercial with six seconds left in a tie game, as producer Marika Kalyvas did in the Indiana-Purdue telecast. Kalyvas nearly missed Purdue`s last-second shot in regulation and never did show a replay. Bad decision.
– CBS` Billy Packer was his usual no-nonsense self trying to help James Brown through Duke`s rout of Maryland. He pointed out early that the pressing Terrapins were worn out early in the second half, which meant Maryland`s hopes of an upset were nil.
Al McGuire, in comparison, was his usual outrageous self as Nevada-Las Vegas held off Temple. ”You better beat them and never let them up-that`s the American way,” he said to a stunned partner, Marv Albert. McGuire also backtracked after confusing Georgetown coach John Thompson with a former player of his, George Thompson, talking about the latter`s work since school: ”All my players got degrees before it became fashionable.” Huh?
Raftery was at his best poking fun at himself and at others. After telling of a lunch between Thompson and Boston Celtics boss Red Auerbach: ”I wonder who picked up that tab; they`re both a little slow.” On using large players: ”The big guys I had (at Seton Hall) were great at bringing in the luggage.” On Ray Meyer`s penchant for keeping his watch on Chicago time on trips: ”Joey says he misses the bus more than Rod Strickland did.”
– And aren`t those Georgetown players proud to be running around with shoe company logos plastered to their uniforms? What`s next? Golden arches?
It`s a shame Thompson can`t raise money other ways.
– Best shots: Vance Johnson leading the Denver Broncos on a victory lap after the AFC Championship. . . . San Francisco 49ers tackle Steve Wallace wallowing in the sideline mud as the NFC title game neared its end. . . . De Paul coach Joey Meyer literally leaping out of his chair at a foul call. . . . Temple coach John Chaney kicking the air over a foul call.
. . . Illinois coach Lou Henson facietiously applauding the officials after a foul call. . . . Purdue coach Gene Keady screaming at the officials while his opposite number at Indiana, one Robert Montgomery Knight, was the model of decorum. Of course, Knight already has gotten his message across.