Thoughts while wondering why I wasn’t invited to the Planet Hollywood opening:
– WSCR radio officials say the latest Federal Communications Commission ruling on their application for a 24-hour license was slowed by a “technicality” and not rejected.
“It’s really minor stuff,” says station manager Harvey Wells. “It’s something only engineers understand. The license application goes to various (FCC) departments for their approval. The engineering department said there was a conflict with a station in Canada and that we would have to rework some of the details.”
Which, says Wells, the station’s owners have done. “Right now, we’re still on schedule,” he adds. “I don’t expect one iota of a delay.”
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Any iota of a delay might hamper the Score’s new contract to broadcast Illinois football and basketball games, which start in September. The package also includes weekly shows from football coach Lou Tepper and basketball coach Lou Henson.
The station has made plans to “shadow” the Illini broadcasts if there are further FCC complications, says Well, adding, “We should be up and running (at night) by the time the basketball seasons starts.”
– White Sox vice chairman Eddie Einhorn says his recent surgery hasn’t slowed baseball’s TV committee from negotiating a new cable deal with ESPN. “The boys will just have to carry on without me,” he said. “The boys” are Padres owner Tom Werner and Phillies President Bill Giles. A new cable contract, for less than half of the $100 million a year baseball receives under its current agreement, is reportedly near completion. Einhorn, meanwhile, still is faced with more surgery next month. “My doctors tell me everything will be OK after that,” he said.
– Kenny McReynolds, who may have flaws as a TV personality but hard work is not one of them, has signed a new multi-year contract with WFLD-Ch. 32 that will allow him to do a radio show as well continue his analyst work for SportsChannel. “There are exciting changes coming up (at Channel 32) in September,” McReynolds said. “I’m happy to be a part of that. (But) going back to SportsChannel was the key. It was crucial to have that happening.”
– Chet Coppock wasn’t the only recent sportscasting change at WLUP radio. Les Grobstein moved from Eddie Schwartz’s late-night talk show to mornings on the Loop FM with Steve Dahl and Garry Meier, allowing Dahl and Meier to take shots at their favorite punching bag again. Bruce Wolf, meanwhile, has added a couple of sportscasts on the Kevin Matthews Loop AM mid-day show (those not done by Jim Shorts) while maintaining a similar role on Jonathon Brandmeier’s afternoon program.
– Gossip time: Word has it NBC has requested tapes from Norm Van Lier as a possible replacement for Quinn Buckner as “NBA Showtime” studio analyst. Van Lier was an impact player on SportsChannel’s Bulls playoff team. . . . Is the radio version of “The Sports Writers” looking for a new home? Word is the longtime WGN Sunday afternoon staple is being shopped around, with the Score and WLUP-AM probable landing spots.
– New and used programming notes: SportsChannel plans live coverage of the Bulls’ press conference at the Berto Center in Deerfield with newest acquisition Toni Kukoc at 11 a.m. Monday. . . . Host Pete Pistone has returned for a ninth season of “WGN Motorsports Report” at 8:50 a.m. Saturdays during the Roy Leonard show. . . . SportsChannel again is carrying up to 25 regular-season Canadian Football League telecasts, plus playoffs and the Grey Cup. . . . “Best of the Blackhawks” has returned to SportsChannel at noon Thursdays through September, while “Best of the Bulls” is back at 1 p.m. Fridays through October.
– The Chicago-based “Sports Business Report,” hosted by Bears broadcaster Gary Fencik, debuts Aug. 27 during the Kickoff Classic on Mutual Broadcasting. SBR, slated for broadcast during such other Mutual events as the NFL Game of the Week and Notre Dame football, was created by Alan Friedman, editor and publisher of the monthly newsletter, Team Marketing Report. . . . Knocked off NBC, the World Track and Field Championships have found a new home at ABC, which will carry six hours of mostly taped coverage from the Stuttgart, Germany, meet over two weekends in August through a time-buy agreement with the International Amateur Athletic Federation, track’s governing body. . . . CBS will have final-day coverage of the Tour de France at 3:30 p.m. next Sunday on WBBM-Ch. 2. CBS previously carried the cycling race from 1983 to 1988.
– Random thoughts: Through the hard work of golf producer Terry Jastrow (how about those vintage film shots of Willie Parks Jr. and Harry Vardon?) and the crisp analysis of Peter Jacobsen, ABC was able to overcome the boring BBC visual coverage of the British Open. Commentator Peter Alliss’ constant chattering didn’t help, though, making the usually verbose Brent Musburger seem sparse by comparison. Nor did some minor technical glitches. . . . Toughest decision: TBS analyst Neil Bonnett working Sunday’s NASCAR race just days after witnessing the death of close friend Davey Allison. TBS bookended its coverage with tributes to Allison, adding the touching sight of crew member Dave Smith leading a prayer for Allison around Pocono 500 winner Dale Earnhardt’s car after the race. . . . CBS’ Tim McCarver scolded Rickey Henderson after the A’s outfielder lost a fly ball in the sun: “Some players would rather look good than get the job done.” . . . The highlights of CBS’ Sunday’s coverage of the Ameritech Senior Open rain delay? Watching Tom Wargo play darts and listening to Ben Wright interview Arnold Palmer.