THE GAME: BUSINESS AS USUAL AT ABC

It will truly be a “Wide Wide World of Sports” telecast Sunday for ABC. Nothing in the sporting world compares with the Super Bowl and the attention it generates.

ABC has flooded the media with the usual pounds and pounds of press releases covering every conceivable aspect of the telecast.

The essentials, in case you somehow missed ‘em: The San Francisco 49ers (17-1) and Miami Dolphins (16-2) kick off shortly after 3 p.m. over Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42. Frank Gifford and Don Meredith will be joined by Joe Theismann in the broadcast booth.

If you care to get a running start at Super XIX at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, ABC’s “SportsBeat,” with Howard Cosell--and this is as close as he’ll get to the game--will analyze the 49ers-Dolphins game with the equally recalcitrant Al Davis.

At 1 p.m. is the “Pre-Game Special,” with Al Michaels and Jim Lampley hosting. O. J. Simpson and Tom Landry are booked as the commentators (they’ll also return at half time and after the game). That leads up to the 3 p.m. start.

Producer Bob Goodrich gives a succinct report about ABC’s planned coverage. Responding to the query, is this going to be super coverage too, he replied:

“From the game standpoint, it’s sort of business as usual. You can only use so many cameras to cover the game. We have a number of cameras for additional isolation, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to put more replays on the air.

“We’re not going to razzle-dazzle everybody with gimmickry, electronic wizardry. We plan to do a class job of covering the game.

“Do we have a few little things that are different? Yes, we do . . . high and low cameras in the end zones to give you a clear shot of sideline plays . . . and also high and low reverse angle cameras to capture spectacular plays.”

That brings to mind a comment by Commissioner Pete Rozelle, when pushed to respond to pleas to have the referees take a moment to look at replays of disputed calls. “We looked into that five years ago and passed on it; takes too long,” he scoffed. Five years ago! In TV electronic talk, that’s a century ago! The progress that’s been made in tapes, close-ups, speed, clarity in slow motion, and so forth, has been phenomenal. Doesn’t Rozelle know we’re in the space age?

The sky-cam that NBC used so marvelously in the Orange Bowl, providing those spectacular in-motion close-ups and wide shots of action from ground level and on up right behind the Huskies and Sooners, was also nixed by Rozelle. Goodrich says the commissioner hinted he might look at this handy accessory during next season’s preseason games.

ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday corralled three announcers, including two who worked the first Super Bowl here 18 years ago. Frank Gifford was joined by Ray Scott and Curt Gowdy, who laughed in recalling how both CBS and NBC covered the game at the same time . . . and how they literally elbowed each other out of the way to get interviews.

When David Hartman asked the big question: who’s going to win? Gifford diplomatically said it would be a great game, period. But Scott not only predicted the 49ers would win by seven--and maybe more--but also overlooked everybody’s picks for hero, Joe Montana or Dan Marino. “I think Keena Turner, the Niners linebacker, will be the most important player. I’ve seen him all season long. He’s quick, he’s fast, can cover close up to the line of scrimmage, or drop back for intermediate passes. Marino will be so rushed he’ll have to toss off short passes--right in Turner’s area.” Gowdy leans towards the 49ers too.

ROUNDUP: Today, Basketball, Memphis State vs. Louisville, 10 a.m. (4) (36) (39) . . . Basketball, St. John’s vs. Boston College, 10:30 a.m. (2) (8) . . . Basketball, UCLA vs. Arizona, noon (5) (51) . . . Basketball, Maryland vs. Nevada-Las Vegas, noon (4) (36) (39) . . . Golf, Phoenix Open, 12:30 p.m. (2) (8) . . . CBS Sports Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (2) (8) . . . Basketball, San Jose State vs. Utah State, 2 p.m. (4) . . . Basketball, Oregon vs. Washington, 2 p.m. (5) . . . Boxing, Las Vegas, J.B. Williamson vs. Chris Schwenke, 2 p.m. ON . . . Pro Bowlers Tour, 3 p.m. (7) (3) (10) . . . Wide World of Sports, 4:30 p.m. (7) (3) . . . NHL Hockey, Islanders vs. Kings, 7:30 p.m. ON . . . NBA Basketball, Lakers vs. Warriors, 7:50 p.m. (9).

SUNDAY: NBA Basketball, 76ers vs. Celtics, 10 a.m. (2) (8) . . . Basketball, DePaul vs. Notre Dame, (4) (36) (39) . . . Wide World of Sports, 11 a.m. (7) (3) (10) . . . Track and Field, Paris World Games, noon (4) (36) (39) . . . Golf, Phoenix Open, 12:30 p.m. (2) (8).