Saunders: Racing carries television's weekend

Monday, February 19, 2007

It was a big weekend for racing.

Kevin Harvick won the Daytona 500 and Sir Charles Barkley won the Huff-and-Puff Classic during an NBA All-Star event.

While no one disputed Harvick's close victory over Mark Martin, sources say Barkley's slipping-and-sliding basketball court sprint win over 67-year-old official Dick Bavetta might lead to a protest by NBA referees.

They'll claim the contest should have been a marathon rather than a sprint.

Regardless, the Saturday night "race" provided a special fun-and-games aspect to the NBA All-Star weekend events.

I'll never qualify as a gearhead since I have trouble navigating Denver streets even when they're not covered with snow and ice and hardly any cars are around.

So there was much to admire Sunday as the talented drivers showed off their competitive - and survival - abilities at Daytona.

Fox's coverage was spectacular, with a variety of camera angles, including blimp coverage and replays providing an edge-of-the-chair, you-are-there scenario.

I still wonder: Do viewers watch these races to admire drivers' skills or to see crashes?

AROUND THE GLOBE: The NBA, which likes to boast that its basketball coverage keeps gaining popularity in all corners of the world, produced All-Star Game broadcasting figures to support the claim.

Sunday's contest reached 215 countries in 43 languages through a record 110 broadcast partners.

Fifty-two international TV and radio networks and Web sites were on site.

Among the broadcasters in Las Vegas was a notable figure from another sport.

Six-time Grand Slam tennis champion Boris Becker, who recently started a second career as a broadcaster, represented Premiere, an NBA broadcasting partner in Germany.

IS FIVE A CROWD?: The NFL continues to make broadcasting headlines even though the season is over.

CBS Sports has signed former Steelers coach Bill Cowher for the NFL Today, the network's pregame and halftime show.

Your first reaction might be: Who is Cowher replacing?

Nobody.

James Brown will return as anchorman along with commentators Dan Marino, Boomer Esiason and Shannon Sharpe.

Three in a sportscasting booth is often a crowd.

Five in a studio?

That could produce more ear-shattering noise than an out-of-tune string quintet.

Does Cowher know how difficult it is to outtalk or outshout Sharpe?

CBS Sports seemingly feels it must have a coach to compete with Fox (Jimmy Johnson), NBC (John Madden) and ESPN (Mike Ditka).

Last season, the NFL Today was the closest in audience ratings to the Fox pregame show since CBS rejoined NFL coverage in 1998.

Will Cowher help to close that gap?

Cowher signed for "a minimum of two years," adding "if this is something I enjoy doing, it might be longer."

While the CBS announcement arrived with predictable pride and praise, it was subdued compared with the bells-and-whistles ceremony when NBC told the world that retired Giants running back Tiki Barber had signed with the TV family.

Barber's contract goes beyond football.

In addition to his analyst job on Sunday's Football Night in America, Barber will, starting in April, become a correspondent for Today. And he'll also be involved in NBC's 2008 Summer Olympics coverage in Beijing.

Several other national outlets pursued Barber, including ESPN and Fox.

The latter was considered to have the inside track on Barber's services since he had been moonlighting as a correspondent on Fox & Friends, the Fox News Channel's morning show.

CHANGING CHANNELS: HBO Sports is producing The UCLA Dynasty, a documentary about the incredible success of the UCLA men's basketball program that produced 10 national titles during a 12-year run. The hour, which features an interview with 96-year-old John Wooden, premieres March 26.

• FSN Rocky Mountain will showcase the finals of last week's Colorado State High School Wrestling Tournament during an hourlong taped show, airing at 9:30 p.m. March 3.

The coverage is part of FSN's contract with the Colorado High School Activities Association, which includes coverage of the upcoming boys and girls basketball tournaments.

QUOTABLE: "I have nothing against old people. I hope to become one some day." - 43-year-old Barkley after "beating" Bavetta in the basketball court race.

saundersd@RockyMountainNews.com