RADIO/TELEVISION: Tennis on radio netted niche for Midlothian man
JERRY LINDQUIST POINT OF VIEW
May 23, 2005
Contact Jerry Lindquist at (804) 649-6323 or jlindquist@timesdispatch.com
We should have known. In fact, we were sure someone would challenge the possibility Greg Bicouvaris was unique in doing tennis play-by-play on radio. The Newport News resident will call a match next month from Hampton on a Williamsburg station.
There is precedent. Internationally known media personality Richard Evans writes: "I won't deny that Greg Bicouvaris has guts, but as for being the only person to do play-by-play commentary on tennis - well, perhaps he has heard of a station called BBCRadio Five Live? They have been doing live commentary on Wimbledon since World War II. The art was perfected by Max Robertson, recognized as the fastest talker ever to work for the BBC and, if I may add with some modesty, was continued by myself through the '80s and '90s."
Evans especially is well-known abroad as a tennis writer for the London Times, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph for more than 25 years. He and his wife left England last fall to call Midlothian home. She is an American, and her brother lives here.
"I wish Mr. Bicouvaris well. Radio commentary is a lot more difficult than television, and there is simply no substitute for knowing your stuff and having a bucketful of information in your head," Evans continued.
He's off to Paris for the French Open and will work for Radio Wimbledon later this summer.
"It's great fun being someone's eyes as well as filling their ears," Evans wrote. "Describe the scene; pick up on details; position yourself so that the listener can sit with you and see the court as you see it."
Over the past 10 years HBO's "Real Sports" has collected 15 sports Emmys including a couple in the most recent awards ceremony. It can be a very good show, entertaining as well as informative. It also can be overblown, windy and a waste of time.
The 98th edition, with host Bryant Gumbel, airs for the first time tonight (9-10). Most disturbing is a segment on kids being hooked on gambling as the result of the Texas Hold 'Em card-playing phenomenon.
In "Poker Craze," reporter Armen Keteyian calls it "a cultural royal flush." A 22-year-old Princeton senior says his goal is to win a half-million dollars in three years. Parents tell Keteyian they encourage their young son and his friends to play poker at their house as a social, interactive happening that beats doing drugs, getting in trouble, etc.
On the lighter side is a keeper piece "Out to Stud" in which correspondent Bernard Goldberg chronicles the life and times of retired Thoroughbred Storm Cat "who eats, sleeps and has sex." This was tailor-made for tongue-in-cheek and double entendre as we learn the descendant of Secretariat commands a fee of $500,000 for every live foal. His offspring have earned upward of $92 million at the track. Goldberg reports the 22-year-old Storm Cat, who has an armed sentry on duty around the clock, will earn about $25 million in breeding fees for his owners annually. "That makes him the third-highest-paid athlete behind Shaquille O'Neal . . . $27 million . . . and Alex Rodriguez . . . $26 million," Goldberg says.
Brent Musburger was on ABC's Indianapolis 500 qualifying coverage yesterday. Say it isn't so.
Sorry, it is. He will be the host for Sunday's coverage starting at noon. According to ABC Sports Executive Producer Mike Pearl, "Brent helps to accelerate the excitement of the event."
In other words, it isn't exciting enough already - exotic machines going upward of 227 mph with potential disaster at every turn - and that's why ratings continue to bottom out. Last year they plunged to an all-time low of 4.1 following a previous worst of 4.6. Meanwhile, NASCAR's Daytona 500 more than doubles the interest in Indy.
His Musness will change all that. Sure he will.
TNT won't be tearing down its old "Inside the NBA" studio set, reducing it to rubble and just letting the trashman take it away. No, TNT is auctioning off such things as parts from "Kenny's Court," the round scoreboard above the desk and a lighted poster box. Everything will be signed by host Ernie Johnson Jr., and analysts Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. Proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Bidding started Tuesday on www.Ebay.com/NBAonTNT
and will run through May 31. As of late yesterday afternoon, the high bid for the scoreboard was $15,301.00. The lighted poster box had fetched a top bid of $6,800.In his 21st year with CBS, good guy Jim Nantz received a seven-year contract extension last week. He is easily one of sports television's best and most versatile announcers.