Chargers swing into brick wall
First the Chargers took out Norm Chow. Then Peyton Manning. This is the weekend the New England Patriots say enough is enough. . . .
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots (Sunday, noon, Channel 2): According to the NFL, an average of 32.7 million fans watched divisional playoff games last weekend. That number is significant in that it a) represents the biggest television audience for the divisional round since January 1996, and b) means 32.7 million people still cannot believe what they saw.
For two weeks, the Chargers have rumbled through the playoffs like an out-of-control wrecking ball. They beat Tennessee in the first round, 17-6, and Titans offensive coordinator Chow gets fired. Their second stringers patch together a 28-24 victory over Indianapolis, and Peyton becomes the Manning brother with nothing to do but sit idly and root for his sibling to conquer long odds in a conference championship game.
Sunday, the wrecking ball hits the immovable object known as the Patriots, undefeated in 17 games this season, playing at home and favored by two touchdowns. This marks the first time the Chargers have played the Patriots in a championship game since the 1963 season, when San Diego recorded a 51-10 victory in the American Football League final. That year, NBC paid $926,000 for the rights to televise the AFL title game. Billy Volek’s base salary for the 2007 season, according to USA Today, is $1.25 million.
Meanwhile, the Packers and the Giants meet in a championship game for the first time since 1962. Bart Starr, not Brett Favre, was the Packers’ starting quarterback in that one. . . .
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 3:30 p.m., Channel 11): Already looking ahead to Feb. 3, Fox has announced that it will begin Super Sunday with a three-hour preview of Super Tuesday -- one hour of “Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace” at 9 a.m. (EST), followed by two hours of political and sports coverage.
In a release, Marty Ryan, Fox News executive producer of political programming, said, “We are thrilled to be providing unprecedented political coverage on Super Bowl Sunday during one of the most highly anticipated election seasons in recent history. . . . Fox will bring together America’s two greatest passions -- politics and football.”
In an attempt to provide a seamless Sunday on Fox, the Patriots will then run every slant to the right.
Bracing for their own very big game Saturday, USC basketball fans text-message Chargers fans with “know how U feel”. . . .
USC at UCLA (Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 2): The anticipated first meeting between touted freshmen Kevin Love of UCLA and O.J. Mayo of USC was much more anticipated before the Trojans lost their first three conference games. UCLA (16-1) is No. 4 in the nation. USC (10-6) is No. 8 in the Pacific 10. Regardless, this is the most important L.A. basketball game this weekend. The Lakers are idle and the Clippers are not.
What was the greatest L.A. sports moment of 2007? Probably nothing that happened to the Dodgers after July 31. . . .
L.A. Sports Awards (Sunday, 8:30 p.m., Prime): The Los Angeles Sports Council honors the top achievements in L.A.-Orange County sports in 2007. This 75-minute show, broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, will feature a countdown of the year’s top 10 moments, as chosen by fans’ votes. Each area team had three nominations -- and, yes, the Dodgers did have one that occurred after July 31: Russell Martin winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards Nov. 6 and 9.
Ducks have a real chance at No. 1. Much to the chagrin of the Kings. . . .
Ducks at Dallas Stars (Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 56) and Kings at Vancouver Canucks (Saturday, 7 p.m., FSNW): How could anything top the Ducks winning the Stanley Cup? The Kings, who would rather forget 2007, had three nominations nonetheless. One was beating the Ducks in London. Another was rallying for five unanswered goals in an overtime victory over Dallas. And? And? Luc Robitaille’s jersey being retired gets the Kings to three.
Professional tennis picks up where it left off. . . .
Australian Open (live coverage includes Tennis Channel telecasts today through Sunday at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 telecasts today and Saturday at 7 p.m.): Vowing to turn over a new leaf after too many sensational headlines in 2007, professional tennis gathers for its first major of 2008 in Melbourne. Two headlines from the first week of competition: “Bettors Target Women’s Tennis” and “Tennis Crowd Is Pepper Sprayed.”
Long on delays, short on stars. . . .
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (today, noon and 6 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday and Sunday, 1 and 7 p.m., Golf Channel): It began Wednesday, the first of five very long rounds, with 384 amateurs turned loose alongside 128 pros to clog up desert courses. Which is one reason why you won’t find any of the world’s top 20 players on any of those courses.
Punt. . . .
Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU): Eastern Illinois is 2-15. Tennessee State is 6-10. USC-UCLA just ended. The AFC and NFC championship games are nearing. You need to pace yourself.
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