|
|
|
Humpty Dumpty and the Dodger radio network |
|
October 27, 2006 |
 Microphone |
 Morrison |
 NCAA trophy |
Los Angeles, October 27, 2006 – Opportunity knocking: with the implosion of local radio station 1540 The Ticket – which fired all of its employees last week and now runs only Sporting News radio network programs – and this week’s signal that KFWB News 980 will not be renewing its Dodger radio deal after it expires next season, who will put the pieces together?
We spoke with a Los Angeles radio insider who told us that 1540 will likely sell for $20-25 million, either on its own or packaged with two other Sporting News local stations in Boston and New York, that to get the 1540 signal problems resolved would take about another $5 million and that the Dodger radio network rights would cost from $5-8 million per season.
So, have Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt considered acquiring the station and making it the base for an all-Dodgers, all-the-time programming concept? Consider the possibilities not only for in-season Dodger talk, but also using the off-season to replay famous games from the Dodger past? To be able to hear Red Barber and Vin Scully once again make the calls from Ebbets Field, or the Coliseum, or to hear once again the go-go Dodgers of Maury Wills, Sandy Koufax, Tommy Davis and many others?
Follow-up: Dodger owners should take note that the closest owner of another major league baseball team, Arte Moreno, already owns KPLS AM 830 and has now broadcasts the Anaheim Ducks hockey games, with the Angels probably joining in the longer term. Is this a chance for the McCourts to get ahead of the curve?
>> College football update: Miami gets 12 players back from suspension for a big game at Georgia Tech this week. The Yellow Jackets are favored by five, but after being clubbed last week by Clemson, Miami may not be much of an underdog. If the ‘Canes can win this game, they may have the inside track to the ACC title game as Coastal Division champions!
>> Thug-ball update: although Miami wide receiver Ryan Moore is facing criminal charges for mischief and battery, he was reinstated this week, but Miami coach Larry Coker has decided not to take Moore on the trip to play at Georgia Tech this week. He will, however, be in uniform for Miami’s big one against Virginia Tech at the Orange Bowl on November 4.
>> Momentary lapse: did you see ESPN’s broadcast of the surprising Virginia Tech win over Clemson last night? If you missed the start of the third quarter, you missed sideline reporter Erin Andrews telling viewers that she’d just spoken to Clemson coach Bobby Bowden. Bobby Bowden! Tommy Bowden is the Clemson coach and he told Andrews that the Tigers needed more production from the passing game to win, but they didn’t get it and lost, 24-7.
>> A critical game in the coaching career of UCLA’s Karl Dorrell will come tomorrow against Washington State at the Rose Bowl. The Cougars started the week a two-point favorite, but heavy money has come in on the Bruins and Coach Karl and they’re now favored by a point with the over-and-under at 43; translation: oddsmakers expect the Bruins to win, 22-21.
>> More odds: Notre Dame is trying to win its 43rd consecutive game against Navy this week. The “Flailing Irish” have covered only once in their past ten games, but Navy lost its quarterback last week in a 34-0 loss to Rutgers.
>> Dynasty report: do you know what college football team has averaged the most wins per season over the past 40 years? The leader is Nebraska with an average of 9.8 wins per season, followed by Alabama, Michigan and Penn State at 8.8 with Oklahoma and Ohio State fifth at 8.7 and USC only at no. 10 at 8.3.
>> NFL update: big clashes this week include the 4-2 Falcons at the 4-2 Bengals and Cincinnati is 9-1 in its last 10 against the NFC. Our man Bruce the Moose thinks they’ll be 10-1 after Sunday. Also, 4-2 Carolina hosts the 3-3 “Tony Romos” and the Panthers should be able to shut down the “T.R. to T.O.” connection long enough to win the game.
>> AFC championship preview: Indianapolis, Denver and New England will know just where they stand in another nine days as the 6-0 Colts visit 5-1 Denver on Sunday and then Indy travels to 5-1 New England a week from Sunday night.
>> NBA international report: can you say Bargnani? The Toronto Raptors are 7-0 in this pre-season, led by Andrea Bargnani, the NBA’s no. 1 draft pick, forward Chris Bosh and 6-8 small forward Jorge Garbajosa. He’s 29 years old and played for Benetton in the Italian league along with Bargnani. The point is that the Raptors aren’t exactly playing in a tough division, with the Nets, the Knicks, Boston and Philadelphia, so Toronto might end up better than anyone thinks.
>> More pre-season projections: early favorite for Rookie of the Year, based on his pre-season play, is Adam Morrison of Charlotte, but scouts report that it could also be Memphis swingman Rudy Gay from Connecticut; he’s had no trouble scoring so far in the pre-season.
>> College basketball kings: defending NCAA champion Florida opened its practices with a celebration of its 2006 national title. Before 8,000 fans at Midnight Madness in Gainesville, coach Billy Donovan raised the trophy . . . . and then dropped it, shattering it on the floor! Donovan told the crowd the trophy was only a copy. “It’s only a joke. Happy Friday the 13th!”
Florida is ranked no. 1 in the pre-season polls with North Carolina, Kansas, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and UCLA among the top choices.
>> Add college hoops: new Kansas State coach Bob Huggins scored a major recruiting coup by getting 6-6 Cincinnati-area star Billy Walker to come play for the Wildcats. Walker won two Ohio State Division III championships playing alongside superstar point-guard O.J. Mayo, who hasn’t signed on anywhere yet. So, Kansas State fans are asking Huggins: where the Mayo?
>> Attention pro wrestling fans: it’s not on the Trinity Broadcasting Network yet, but the Ultimate Christian Wrestling Federation is sweeping the South. The circuit is led by former WCW star Rob Adonis, who is actually Rob Fields, a high school English teacher. Fields founded the UCW as a ministry in 2003 and delivers sermons after his matches. He points out that wrestling is as old as the Bible and one of the first champions was Jacob, who wrestled an angel to a draw: Genesis, chapter 32.
Some of the other UCW stars include Brian “The Prince” Lawler, Billy “God’s Property” Jackson and Dave “Big Dog” Bowser. The matches are held at churches and in high school gyms throughout the South.
~ Rich Perelman
Have an opinion? You can send it using the “Comment” button below!
Don’t forget to register for our drawing for free sports memorabilia! Just click on the “Register & Win” tab at left; enter today!
|
|
