NBC should have been serving waffles at its pregame meal Sunday in Buffalo.
No sooner had former Giants coach Bill Parcells made up his mind-we assume for the last time-not to return to the sidelines than former 49ers coach Bill Walsh began pondering an offer to return to his old team as a consultant.
Walsh, who retired after winning a third Super Bowl, was hired in 1989 by NBC. Executive producer Terry O`Neil wanted someone more aggressive than then- No. 1 analyst Merlin Olsen.
Instead, Walsh never really developed a TV persona, filling telecasts with dull technical chatter about ”pushes” and ”support” rather than those loud ”booms” and ”whaps” of CBS` larger-than-life analyst, John Madden.
Sometimes, Walsh`s expertise paid off, as in Sunday`s AFC title game when he pointed out how the Buffalo defense adapted to the Broncos` screen pass that led to the game`s only TD by linebacker Carlton Bailey.
But the contrast with Madden also was made plain Sunday. Even though the NFC championship became a Redskins rout, Madden kept the CBS telecast entertaining through the sheer force of his personality, talking about how some coaches have to write upside down and using his Telestrator to locate a camera in the Washington Monument and discussing the strategy of bucket-dumping.
Walsh, who lacks that kind of quirky humor, has a season left on his NBC contract, which pays a lucrative $500,000 a year. With Parcells already having opted to stay at the network (as of Sunday, that is), NBC officials now must wait for Walsh to make a decision.
If Walsh chooses to return to the 49ers, Parcells likely would replace him in the booth as the No. 1 analyst. If Walsh decides to stay at NBC, Parcells would remain a studio fixture.
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Parcells` contract is written in such a way that it`s the network`s prerogative as to where he works.
”We`d planned to attend to any news (on Walsh) during the day,” said an NBC spokesman Sunday, ”but there`s nothing to report.”
NBC`s Bob Costas kidded Parcells at the opening of ”NFL Live,”
comparing the ex-coach`s Hamlet-like stance to that of New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.
”I don`t know anything about that,” replied Parcells, ”but I`m glad it`s over with.”
The waffle is now on Walsh`s plate.
– NBC almost had egg on its face in the second quarter of the AFC title game when usually reliable play-by-play man Dick Enberg joined the officials in confusion over the sideline markers after a Buffalo interception was overruled. Enberg initially said it was a third-down play instead of first down. . . . Enberg, who also covers Wimbledon for NBC, later got off a good line when play was stopped for a tennis ball thrown on the field: ”They`ll play a let.”
– Weekend wanderings: With all the melodrama surrounding defending champion Tonya Harding, ABC made a wise choice in moving the U.S. Figure Skating Championship`s ladies final to prime time Saturday. From the ”Dream” opening to Harding`s tearful interview, the telecast was as riveting as any made-for- TV movie the network could have shown. Not to say there weren`t flubs-Peggy Fleming babbling about Harding`s ”more complicated life,” Jack Whitaker`s mangling of Kristi Yamaguchi`s name, Al Michaels` confused ”Are we finished?” ending. But Dick Button, as usual, lifted the telecast with his tart commentary, as did producer Joel Feld and director Doug Wilson with their pictures. . . . Best ending: NBC`s musical conclusion of the AFC season Sunday. . . . Ooops award to CBS for showing an obscenity-worded protest sign at the opening of Sunday`s ”NFL Today” and then having a tape machine stick at the end of the NFC title game telecast. . . . Ex-Northwestern star Shon Morris made a likable debut as an analyst on Raycom`s telecast of the NU-Ohio State basketball game. . . . Best shots: Minnesota`s Voshon Lenard yapping in the face of Michigan`s Juwan Howard, and Redskins coach Joe Gibbs smiling after a bucket-dousing from his players. . . . Question: Does CBS` Bill Raftery get a one-game suspension by the Big 10 for criticizing the officials at the end of the Illinois-Michigan State game?
– In a sweet touch of irony, WLUP-AM Radio has been designated the ”shadow” station for the White Sox whenever WMAQ has a conflict with the Bulls (April 7, 10, 17, 19 and playoff dates). Just last season, there would have been no conflicts because ”the Loop” aired Bulls contests. . . . All Sox games will be televised on either SportsChannel (107, including the season opener April 7 at California), WGN (48, including the home opener April 13), ESPN (3) and CBS (2). Two other dates will be divvied up by SportsChannel or WGN later. . . . Approximately 55 White Sox games will be carried on WIND Radio in Spanish next season, with Chico Carrasquel returning to handle the color. . . . ”The Loop” also will carry ”The NBA Game of the Week,” starting with the All-Star Game Feb. 9. . . . ”The SportsChannel Report” now has a 6 a.m. edition with updated scoreboards from the night before. Also, the National Hockey League`s ”All-Star Friday,” featuring the annual old-timers game and skills competition, this week will air live on SportsChannel-Plus at 6:30 p.m. and on tape on regular SportsChannel at 10:30 p.m.