Resumption of Series a Matter of Money

Let’s be realistic. Out of deference to the disaster that struck the Bay Area, if the World Series hadn’t been resumed, baseball probably would have been required to return something like $75 million to the network. That’s a load of deference.

Meanwhile, each Series game generates about $12 million in profit, as the network attempts to cover losses accrued with regular-season coverage, so guess who’s praying it goes seven games.

Joe Morgan might have a slight problem picking up a fan following next year when he becomes one of the main analysts for ESPN.

The ex-second baseman on the relative merits of the contending leagues: “The National League is definitely the harder league, no question. The teams play better. How many American League teams do you see manufacture runs like they do in the National? How many?”

Ho-hum, it’s an age-old dodge of National Leaguers. Pay no attention.

Dream Season concludes Sunday night on ESPN with ’72 Dolphins taking on ’78 Steelers. Steve Sabol, the originator from NFL Films, says no more because old friends, players and coaches have called up and wept when their teams were beaten. To paraphrase, it’s a kid’s game played by kids.

Even by boxing standards, which are all but non-existent, it was bush. There was promoter Bob Arum on the tube the other night snipping and snapping how Brit Tom Collins shouldn’t get his purse after quitting in a bout against WBC light-heavyweight champ Jeff Harding. Arum, of course, makes millions promoting fights, a lot of them stinkers, and he hasn’t been hit yet.

Honest now, broadcaster Jon Miller, did you actually say of Bert Blyleven during the season that “he was originally born in Holland”? If you did, I accuse you of plagiarism. Curt Gowdy used to make that faux pas all the time.

Herb Brooks did about two periods of an Edmonton hockey game on SportsChannel referring to Kevin Lowe as Rob Lowe. Hmm, Kevin probably wishes he were Rob.

A guy who analyzes a pro football game as well as anyone is Paul Maguire. Now if his presentation wasn’t so street-cornerish.

Oh, Giff, Giff, Giff. When Webster Slaughter set the Cleveland record with a 97-yard reception the other night, Frank Gifford said he broke the mark of Mike Moran. Who just so happens to be Milt Morin, a titan at tight end and a Pro Bowler many times.

This oops from Brent Gushburger, presently making the transition from football to baseball as CBS moved into to cover the Grand Old Game next season: “... and Mark McGwire bobbled that grounder out of bounds.” Psst, Brent, it’s called foul territory over here.

Runners, triathletes, take note: NBC SportsWorld Saturday has the Western States 100 from Squaw Valley.

Before the collegians began kicking the ball around this season, ESPN asked the Ivy League to play some of its games on Thursday night or (get this) Saturday morning to ease scheduling problems. It extolled the virtue of appearing in the prime as though the Ivies give a hoot about ratings. Smoooooth.

Latest estimates are that about 22 million people watch wrassling weekly over 300 stations coast-to-coast, so don’t go knocking Hulkamania too loudly.

It is believed Southern Cal and Cal-Berkeley set an all-time record for changed starting times recently when they scheduled 1 p.m., 7:30 and 12:30 before landing on 3:30.