NHL returns to the ice pond
On the first day of the New Year, the NHL returns to its ice pond roots when the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins play in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park at 10 a.m. on Channel 4.
Hockey on a baseball field -- slap shots off the Green Monster, center ice near second base, the Zamboni machine in the outfield. Will the Bruins wear red socks?
It will be the NHL’s third game played outdoors in the United States. Last year the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings met in Wrigley Field, and it was the most-viewed regular-season contest in 34 years, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Bob Costas will host NBC’s coverage from Boston, and analyst Mike Milbury will join him. Mike “Doc” Emrick will call the game along with commentator Eddie Olczyk and inside-the-glass reporters Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang.
Milbury, a former Bruins defenseman and Beantown native, said, “It’s the toughest ticket to get that I have seen in all my years in Boston.” He added that playing outside “brings a sense of joy,” to the players, “a pure freedom without any restrictions.”
Costas recalled the first Winter Classic, which was played in Buffalo. “It turned out better than we thought. It snowed and there was that snow globe effect on the camera.”
Cable spat
If the squabble between Fox and Time Warner Cable wasn’t settled by a midnight deadline, thousands of customers will not be able to watch sports events on KTTV Channel 11, FS West and Prime. These programs include NFL, NBA, NHL, and college football and basketball games.
Fox spokesman Chris Bellitti said Wednesday, “We are negotiating, but we’re not optimistic we’ll reach an agreement by January 1. Local sports fans who are Time Warner customers should begin making other plans to see games.”
Tonight’s and Sunday’s Lakers games against the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, respectively, are among many games that could be affected. Others include the L.A. Kings games Saturday and Monday against the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks.
Rose Bowl colors
The Ohio State Buckeyes will wear their traditional road uniforms -- white jerseys, gray pants with scarlet and black trim -- in today’s Rose Bowl game against the Oregon Ducks. Oregon, which often wears a different uniform ensemble every game, hadn’t announced as of Thursday what wild mix-and-match wardrobe they’ll wear on the field.
Brent Musberger, who will call the play-by-play on Channel 7 with analyst Kirk Herbstreit, said the Ducks’ darker jerseys are hard on the eyes. “I worked the USC-Oregon game and I couldn’t see the numbers,” Musberger said during a conference call this week. Fortunately for Musberger, his spotter bailed him out. “He deserved a raise after that game. The numbers are clearer on the television camera.”
Herbstreit added, “It doesn’t matter what we think about their uniforms because the recruits and the players love them.”
Add Rose Bowl: USC Coach Pete Carroll has been added as an analyst for ESPN’s BCS Championship pregame coverage. Carroll will offer his thoughts and perspective on evening editions of SportsCenter next Wednesday and on the telecast of College GameDay on Thursday.
Leach vs. James
It’s rare when a member of the media becomes the news, but that’s what happened to Craig James, ESPN’s college football analyst, during the drama that played out over the firing of Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach this week.
James had asked university officials to intervene after he learned of Leach’s alleged mistreatment of his son, Adam, a Red Raiders wide receiver.
Craig James was interviewed by ESPN colleagues Tuesday and again Wednesday night as he did the color commentary at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
James’ high public profile, as both a commentator and former NFL player, gave him an access to school administrators that most parents don’t have. There are reports now that “other issues” may have had a hand in Leach’s firing, but if the mistreatment was a factor in the dismissal, Leach made a serious miscalculation by picking on Adam James.
Good today
Among the five bowl games scheduled to be televised today, two of the better matchups are the Capital One Bowl featuring Louisiana State against Penn State at 10 a.m. on Channel 7, and the Sugar Bowl, with the unbeaten Cincinnati Bearcats facing the Florida Gators, who will be coached, perhaps for the last time, by Urban Meyer, at 5:30 on Channel 11.
The Lakers are certainly a holiday team. They played on Christmas Day and they will kick off the New Year with a game against the Sacramento Kings at 7:30 p.m. on FS West.
Good Saturday
UCLA’s basketball team has a Pacific 10 late breakfast date with Arizona at 10 a.m. on Channel 2. USC plays host to Arizona State on FS West at 7:30 p.m.
In hockey, the Kings have a 1 p.m. faceoff at Staples Center against the Washington Capitals on FS West.
Good Sunday
The NFL has moved the Cincinnati Bengals-New York Jets game to a 5:15 p.m. start on Channel 4 as part of its flexible scheduling. The Jets need a victory to clinch a wild-card playoff berth. Earlier, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will meet in an NFC East showdown at 1:15 on Channel 11.
The Ducks visit the Chicago Blackhawks at 4 p.m. on Channel 56.