With ESPN today announcing a deal to wrap up the Bowl Championship Series games, including the national title game, starting in a couple of years, sports TV takes a big step, though one it has been inching toward for years.

As has been pointed out elsewhere, the BCS title game will become the first major American sports championship to be available only via cable or satellite or some other pay service -- the game apparently will be on ESPN, not on Disney's ABC.

Neil Best of Newsday -- who has an excellent sports media blog -- weighs in on the cost of such a deal to all consumers. Here's another thought: As of now, less than 15 percent -- maybe it's closer to 10 -- of the country doesn't receive ESPN and other non-broadcast channels. Different households have different reasons for not plugging in. But consider how some people have decided it's an expense they can't afford. And if the economy stays sluggish, could the number of ESPN-less households grow? That leaves more people without access to college football's biggest game.

Now, I'm not saying that viewing important sports events is a God-given right, but I don't think it's overstating the case to say that sports can serve as a uniting factor across ethnic, economic and regional lines. To the extent we might be losing that "Did you see the game?" conversation, I think we'll all be the poorer for it.

Posted by Ray Frager at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Before we get into the highlights from the network NFL studio shows (as provided by those nice network folks), let's note one line from the ever-quotable Al Michaels of NBC, referencing a show on another network in speaking about the Cowboys: "The only desperation on Sunday night is on Wisteria Lane."

NBC's Dan Patrick, on what he is doing to help the environment as part of the company's "green" initiative: "I've been recycling lines I used at ESPN."

Patrick on the Eagles' Donovan McNabb saying he didn't realize the game could end in a tie: "Did he think there was going to be a shootout?"

ESPN's Chris Berman on the Ravens' Joe Flacco: "Talking to John Harbaugh, coach of the Ravens, he said that Cam Cameron told him that he has put more in in eight weeks with Flacco than he’s ever put in eight weeks with anyone else.  That’s saying something.  And that Flacco has the skin of an armadillo ... stuff just rolls off.”

ESPN's Tom Jackson, on the billboard he'd put up in Detroit, featuring a picture of fired GM Matt Millen: “Change we don’t believe in.  0-9."

CBS' Shannon Sharpe on the Jets' Brett Favre: "How often can you say Brett Favre, during the course of a game, is not going to put the ball in harm's way at least once?  Do we expect Brett Favre over the next six-seven weeks to play that flawless like he did Thursday night? I don't believe he can."

Fox's Howie Long on the Vikings' Adrian Peterson: “The most physically gifted player that I saw or played against was Bo Jackson.  That was 17 years ago, his career ended vs. the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs.  I’ve been waiting 17 years to say this, Adrian Peterson is close to Bo Jackson.”  

NFL Network's Warren Sapp on Giants coach Tom Coughlin: “When I was a free agent in Tampa Bay, there was no way I wanted to play for him, but he has really changed his perception in the league.  He definitely looks like a guy I would want to play for.”

NFL Network's Bob Papa on the Ravens' Le'Ron McClain: "He is a poor man's Jerome Bettis."

Posted by Ray Frager at 5:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

A note that didn't make it into today's column: ESPN has reached a deal for exclusive coverage of the British Open starting in 2010. Earlier yesterday, Turner had dropped out, saying the deal was too rich for its blood to keep early rounds on TNT. ESPN will be carrying all four rounds, with highlights on ABC.

Posted by Ray Frager at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

For some reason, Kenny Mayne always has cracked me up. His debut Mayne Street, a Web-only production available at ESPN.com, is just a short bit based on the slight premise of his messing up tennis star Rafael Nadal’s name and forcing co-anchor Scott Van Pelt and a whole production crew to stay late. But it still made me laugh.

Posted by Ray Frager at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Bruce Cunningham was quite polite about it, but I was glad to hear his response to one of many callers on local sports talk yesterday sounding the theme about how the Ravens just aren't getting their due despite their record. When they win, somehow it's downgraded, and you don't ever hear that about other teams ... yadda, yadda, yadda.

During his afternoon yakfest on 105.7, Cunningham pointed out how, when he has traveled to other NFL cities, he has heard fans in those towns say much the same thing about their teams.

So all across the country -- not just Baltimore -- nobody seems to get enough respect. It's enough to make you want to yank on your tie.

Posted by Ray Frager at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
                    

Highlights of the comments from the NFL studio shows, as provided by the networks (and, please note, this week we're a Cowboys-free zone):

NBC's Jerome Bettis on the Ravens: "With that tough defense they have and their running game, anything is possible. They won a championship the same way."

NBC's Dan Patrick on the Panthers-Raiders game: "You really, really had to love football to watch this game."

CBS' Bill Cowher on the volatile situation in Jacksonville with coach Jack Del Rio: "I certainly would never condone insubordination and question the coach in front of the team. I have more of a problem with what took place off the field. When you look at the situation, he [Mike Peterson] did some celebration; that's how he plays the game of football. Now, in terms of taking away some of these privileges: taking away music, taking away playing dominoes.  If it was OK when you're winning, now all of a sudden take it away when you're losing -- be careful what kind of message you're sending. You want your team to be loose and confident, not uptight and play cautious.  I think I'd be concerned about the message you're sending to your team."

CBS' Boomer Esiason on protecting quarterbacks: "Today's game is faster and bigger than it was when we played. ... No. 1, protect yourself as a quarterback -- know where the blitz is coming from; stop holding on to the football. We sit up here every week and talk about Ben Roethlisberger. Ben is probably as guilty as any quarterback in the league. He holds on to the football looking for big plays down the field. And therefore he's going to get hurt."

Posted by Ray Frager at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

So how quickly and quietly did the new 105.7 The Fan come together? One of its new hosts, Bruce Cunningham, said he wasn't even aware he was going to be on FM until the format launched yesterday.

"I didn't know until [Monday] morning it was 105.7," Cunningham said. "I thought it was 1300."

Cunningham, Channel 45's longtime sports anchor, said not to expect many voices on his 1-to-3 p.m. show except his and yours.

"I'm not somebody who gets extended guests. I'd rather just open up the phones for the most part. I'd rather just interact," he said.

(Well, there goes my chance to indulge in a long-form discussion on the air about the epistemology behind Lee Corso's habit of donning mascot regalia during College GameDay.)

"I'm not an X's and O's guy. I'm more a conversationalist," Cunningham said.

Cunningham had a Saturday show on WNST (1570 AM) for seven years and said he thoroughly enjoyed it and walked away from WNST with no hard feelings from either party.

Posted by Ray Frager at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
                    

It didn't take long. On his first show with Anita Marks Monday on the newly configured 105.7 The Fan, Scott Garceau illustrated how he will help make the program better. Marks was talking about the Ravens' offense and its move to being more run-oriented. She said the Ravens were more of a passing offense under Brian Billick. Garceau pointed out how the Ravens were very much run-oriented under Billick when Jamal Lewis was having his best seasons. (In fact, as recently as 2004, the Ravens finished the season with more rushes than passing attempts.)

Adding Garceau is perhaps the best move station management has made with its format change for 105.7. He has worked in Baltimore for nearly 30 years and has the respect of fans and those within the sporting scene. Maybe he's not flashy, but Garceau knows what he's talking about. Marks has worked with a series of microphone-sharers, but this is set up as a full-time co-hosting situation. It's worth hearing how this partnership works.

Posted by Ray Frager at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (43)
                    

Just got done speaking with Bob Philips, senior vice president of CBS Radio Baltimore. Here is some more on the changes at 105.7 FM and 1300 AM:

*The simulcast will continue today, then tomorrow 1300 will switch to its all-ESPN Radio lineup.

*The call letters of the stations are changing: 105.7 officially becomes WJZ-FM and 1300 officially is WJZ-AM, establishing a link wth Channel 13, which is a CBS affiliate. However, 105.7 will call itself Sports Radio 105.7 The Fan.

*Ed Norris' show won't change just because he's now on a sports station. "I think Ed will talk about sports when there is sports to talk about," Philips said.

*In their roles as co-hosts, Scott Garceau and Anita Marks will both be on during 105.7's Ravens players shows. Speaking of the Garceau-Marks pairing, Philips said: "I think Scott has been around and they'll make a great team. It's not so much Anita losing [her own show] -- she's gaining a partner. I think they offer great balance."

*On the large amount of sports talk now on the air in Baltimore, Philips said: "We did some research that shows there is a lot of upside to sports. Baltimore is a big sports town, and it can support this."

The city now has four sports radio stations: 105.7, 1300, Fox Sports 1370 and WNST (1570 AM). Plus, WBAL (1090 AM) has weeknight sports talk and weekend sports programming.

Seems to me we need some more teams to match all of the talk.

Posted by Ray Frager at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)
                    

So now Baltimore has another sports radio station.

This morning, changes hit 105.7 FM, which is now calling itself "The Fan." According to a news release from the station, here is the schedule:

Ed Norris: 5:30-10:30 a.m.  (who had been on later in the day and doesn't do a sports show)

Mark Viviano and The Bulldog: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bruce Cunningham: 1-3 p.m.

Scott Garceau and Anita Marks 3-6 p.m.

Ravens player shows: 6-8 p.m.

Players with Ken Weinman: 8-11 p.m.

Some of this is programming moving over from ESPN 1300 (Viviano's show was still being simulcast there this morning). But 1300 will be going entirely to an ESPN Radio schedule:

Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic: 6-10 a.m. (this is no change)

Colin Cowherd: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt: 1-3 p.m. (no change)

Van Pelt: 3-4 p.m.

Sports Nation with John Seibel and Orestes Destrade: 4-7 p.m.

Gamenight: 7 p.m.-6 a.m.

Good to see Garceau is making a regular return to the airwaves after his retirement from Channel 2.

Still waiting to reach someone in management at CBS Radio Baltimore.

Credit to the on-the-ball dcrtv.com for alerting us to the changes earlier today.

Posted by Ray Frager at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)