Not long ago, all the local network affiliates had Sunday nightsports shows following their 10 o'clock newscasts that were must-seeTV for any sports fans interested in the day's action.
But now, of the three traditional network affiliates, only WMAQ-Channel 5 has a Sunday night sports show. WGN-Channel 9 and Fox-32have solid Sunday night shows, but ESPN has become the destinationfor more and more fans looking for comprehensive coverage.
Fox Sports Net, though, is hoping to change that, at least duringthe baseball season. The all-sports network debuted 'Chicago BaseballXtra' two weeks ago with hopes that it will become appointmentviewing for Cubs and White Sox fans.
'We feel like it's a good opportunity,' said Don Graham, the vicepresident of programming and production for FSN. 'With what's goingon with local news, this is a very good alternative to that. If youwant to know what's going on with each team and what's coming up,this is the place to be.'
The half-hour show, which will run every Sunday at 10 p.m.throughout the baseball season, will recap the past week and lookahead to the upcoming week for the Cubs and Sox. Game analysts SteveStone and Darrin Jackson will provide reports on their respectiveteams, but most of the analysis on the show will be provided instudio by Joe Girardi and Ron Kittle.
For Girardi, this is his first year of retirement, and he sayshe's excited about starting a broadcasting career. Besides his workwith 'Chicago Baseball Xtra,' Girardi will do analysis on 25 gamesand make up to 15 studio appearances for the Yankees' YES Network.
'I like doing games because you're more involved,' said Girardi,who still lives in the Chicago area. 'But I like being involved withthe [FSN] show because it gives me an excuse to watch both the Cubsand the Sox.'
Kittle, who won't manage the Schaumburg Flyers this season, viewshis role on the show as a way to stay in the game.
'I'm looking to get back into baseball next season as a manager ora coach,' he said.
'Chicago Baseball Xtra' is fast-paced and crams a lot into 30minutes. There's little doubt the show will have a big impact ifeither (or both) the Cubs or Sox are involved in a pennant race laterin the season.
'I think the show is going to be a destination for Chicagobaseball fans,' Graham said. 'You'll get more information than anyother place.'
FULL ACCESS: Viewers who watched ESPN's 'Sunday Night Baseball'between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres last weeknoticed a significant change this season for national telecasts.During the game, the ESPN broadcast team of Jon Miller and Joe Morganhad a brief conversation with Giants manager Felipe Alou, andreporter Sam Ryan also interviewed each starting pitcher shortlyafter they left the game.
'Baseball has worked with its broadcast partners lately to enhancethe broadcasts,' Fox Sports president Ed Goren said. 'The new thingis making players available. If a pitcher throws seven innings andallows just one run, it's a nice element ... to have an interviewwith him before the game ends.'
Said Fox Sports chairman David Hill: 'I firmly expect we'll seemore of that in the coming years. As we move forward, I think theplayers will make themselves available. I see the wall coming downgreatly.'
It didn't seem that long ago that Goren and Hill were ticked atcommissioner Bud Selig for blowing off an interview with Fox afterthe 2002 All-Star Game, but both credit Selig with innovativethinking to make the broadcasts more attractive for fans.
BIG DEAL: The timing of Barry Bonds' 660th home run Monday wasuncanny. On 'Pardon the Interruption,' Tony Kornheiser and MichaelWilbon said the mark wasn't that significant and that ESPN -- thenetwork their show is on -- was making too much of it.
Minutes later, ESPN interrupted PTI to show a Bonds at-bat live.Bonds went deep to tie Willie Mays for third on the all-time list. Itwas a dramatic moment, and I'm sure viewers around the country werehappy ESPN showed it live.
When PTI resumed, Kornheiser and Wilbon still weren't impressedand didn't change their positions.
I love PTI, but they both missed the boat on this one. The momentwas significant for this reason: For 30 years, the top three on theall-time homer list were Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. Nowyou have to add Bonds to that list.
FINE TUNING: The ratings for the final round of the Masters onSunday were a prime example of why the system used to determinesports TV ratings is drastically flawed. I don't know many sportsfans who didn't watch Phil Mickelson's dramatic victory, but theratings were significantly lower. Why? It was Easter Sunday, and alot of people were watching in places other than their homes. ...Actor/comedian Bernie Mac will be the guest on 'Chicago PublicSchools Edition' on WFBT-Channel 23 Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Mac, agraduate of Chicago Vocational, will be interviewed by KennyMcReynolds about his high school days and growing up in Chicago. ...WMVP-AM (1000) has hired former Cub great Ryne Sandberg as ananalyst. Sandberg will make regular appearances on a host of ESPN1000 shows.
