Hamilton Becomes the Issue

The topic on the table was Lee Hamilton.

It was the day after the news broke that Hamilton had resigned as the radio play-by-play announcer of the Minnesota Vikings amid charges that he is a racist.

The Sporting News network’s Jay Mariotti, who lives and works in Chicago, blasted Hamilton on KMPC (1540). He also cut off a listener who, coming to Hamilton’s defense, accused Mariotti of not being a credible journalist because he hadn’t talked to Hamilton.

Jim Rome, although traditionally a severe critic of his former XTRA colleague, said Hamilton is not a racist.

“Stupid, yes; a racist, no,” Rome said on the air. “There is no hood in his closet. He’s old school and says stupid things. But he doesn’t hate people.”

Hamilton was big news everywhere except on his own station and his own show. Everyone at XTRA tried to avoid the subject Thursday, including Hamilton.

Other media outlets attempted to interview Hamilton, but he said he was turning down most requests. However, he did talk to The Times before his show.

“I’m just sick about the whole thing,” he said. “My reputation has been smeared nationally.

“I work so hard, I’m so loyal and I feel I’m good at what I do, and now I have to deal with all these negatives.

“The thing that has made me a great talk show host is my ability to talk about the issues, express an opinion and invite reaction. That goes for everyone from Allen Iverson to Latrell Sprewell to Charlie Ward, but it also includes John Rocker, Pete Rose and Ryan Leaf.”

The anti-Hamilton sentiment in Minnesota began in mid-July after a weekly newspaper, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, ran an e-mail from a Southern California woman accusing Hamilton of being a racist.

Getting into the act two weeks later was Larry Fitzgerald, the newspaper’s sports editor who is also a freelance radio talk show host and a former employee of KFAN, which now has the Vikings’ radio rights.

Fitzgerald wrote an anti-Hamilton column without calling Hamilton--and didn’t return Hamilton’s calls afterward. Fitzgerald told The Times on Thursday that he didn’t feel any need to call Hamilton.

Hamilton’s worst mistake was in April 2000. Responding to a caller who wanted to know why XTRA had no African American hosts, he said: “I think it’s real hard to find an African American who can come in and do sports talk across the board and be able to talk about a lot of different things. “I’ve tried very hard to hand-deliver blacks, and when they come into the process, they can talk basketball, but they can’t talk NHL or they don’t want to talk baseball or they’re not interested in a wider variety of other things.”

Hamilton later said those comments were about three candidates he had recommended XTRA hire, not about all black talk show hosts.

“I’m being smeared by this piece of misinformation,” he said.

“Sure, I’ve made mistakes. And I’ve apologized for them.”

*

Kevin McCarthy, XTRA vice president and general manager, said, “The issues involved pertain to Lee’s outside work. They are historical in nature and were dealt with by us appropriately when they occurred.”

Health Problem

CBS commentator Sam Wyche, who missed most of last season after his vocal chord was accidentally cut during throat surgery, is being eased back in this season. He’ll join the team of Gus Johnson and Brent Jones as a third member.

Wyche also has a heart problem, which is unrelated to his throat surgery. His friend Boomer Esiason says Wyche needs a heart transplant.

“Yeah, Boomer is on me pretty good about that, but I’m trying to avoid a heart transplant,” Wyche said.

Short Waves

Former Dodger general manager Kevin Malone may be headed for a job in sports talk radio. As a guest of Joe McDonnell and Doug Krikorian on KSPN (1110) this week, he sounded as though he was interviewing for a job. . . . Longtime Los Angeles sportscaster Mike Walden has been in Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys for a week because of a broken neck. He said from his hospital bed he is feeling OK and is expected to be released this weekend, although he faces a long recovery. He’d like to be able to say he suffered the injury while playing tennis but the truth is he fell out of bed.

The Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sunday at 2 p.m. is part of ESPN’s “The Road to the World Thoroughbred Championship.” And on Saturday at 1 p.m., ESPN will televise the Arlington Million and the Beverly D. from Arlington Park in Chicago. . . . ESPN Classic will show highlights from past Arlington Million races on “Thoroughbred Classics” today at 2:30 p.m.

Beginning Sept. 6, Bill Parcells, along with Will McDonough of the Boston Globe, will have a weekly one-hour show Thursdays at 2 p.m. on the Sporting News network and KMPC. . . . Brent Musburger, Gary Danielson and Lynn Swann will work ABC’s coverage of the Arena Bowl Saturday at noon. The Nashville Kats and Grand Rapids Rampage will meet for the title at Grand Rapids, Mich. The Arena Football League is in its 15th season. . . . ABC also has an NFL exhibition Monday at 5 p.m., Denver at Green Bay.

Although most WNBA playoff games are on ESPN and ESPN2, the Sparks’ first game at Houston Saturday at 1 p.m. will be on NBC. . . . ESPN’s Nancy Lieberman, “On paper, L.A. is certainly the team to beat. They’re good, they’re deep and Michael Cooper is a heck of a coach.” . . . ESPN has hired Chris Spielman, formerly of Fox Sports Net, as a college football commentator. . . . Suzy Kolber will work the sidelines on ESPN’s NFL telecasts this fall. She replaces Solomon Wilcots. . . . CBS’ Craig James goes from “The NFL Today” to a game commentating role. He’ll be paired with Kevin Harlan.

Recommended Viewing

USC strength coach Chris Carlisle, interviewed by Suzy Shuster, discusses his battle to overcome Hodgkin’s disease on tonight’s edition of the “Southern California Sports Report” on Fox Sports Net at 10. . . . . And on Saturday night’s show will be an encore showing of an excellent feature on Charlie Sifford, the first minority member of the PGA Tour. It was first shown Wednesday night.

In Closing

CBS’ David Feherty this week was talking about last year’s PGA Championship, in which Tiger Woods beat Bob May in a three-hole playoff.

“I forgot I was at work.” he said. “It was absolutely spellbinding and riveting and totally absorbing to watch. I don’t remember ever seeing anything like that, and I doubt I ever will again.”

Apparently not this year, not after Woods shot a 73 Thursday.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for Aug. 11-12.

SATURDAY

*--*

Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Pro football: NFL exhibition, Oakland at Arizona 2 3.1 6 Gymnastics: U.S. Championships 4 3.0 6 Baseball: Dodgers at Philadelphia 11 2.6 8 Track and field: IAAF World Championships 7 2.3 7 Auto racing: NASCAR Busch North Series 4 1.8 5 Golf: PGA Buick Open 2 1.7 5 Pro basketball: WNBA, Houston at Sparks 4 1.7 5 Arena football: Playoffs, San Jose at Nashville 7 1.0 3

*--*

*

*--*

Cable Network Rating Share Pro football: NFL exhibition, Minnesota at New Orleans ESPN 2.9 7 Pro football: NFL exhibition, San Francisco at San Diego FSN2 1.3 3 Baseball: Toronto at Angels FSN 1.0 2 Horse racing: Sword Dancer Handicap ESPN 0.6 2 Tennis: ATP Masters Series, first semifinal ESPN 0.6 2 Tennis: ATP Masters Series, second semifinal ESPN2 0.6 1 Baseball: Cleveland at Texas FX 0.4 1 Golf: USGA Walker Cup ESPN 0.3 1 Golf: Senior PGA 3M Championship CNBC 0.3 1 Soccer: WUSA, New York at Washington TNT 0.3 1

*--*

*

SUNDAY

*--*

Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Gymnastics: U.S. Championships 4 5.1 10 Pro football: NFL exhibition, St. Louis at Buffalo 5 4.5 10 Auto racing: NASCAR Global Crossing at the Glen 4 3.8 10 Baseball: Dodgers at Philadelphia 5 3.4 9 Track and field: IAAF World Championships 7 2.5 6 Golf: PGA Buick Open 2 2.3 6 Auto racing: IRL Belterra Resort 300 7 1.3 3 Tennis: WTA estyle.com Classic, final 4 2.5 6 Tennis: ATP Masters Series, final 2 1.2 3

*--*

*

*--*

Cable Network Rating Share Baseball: Chicago White Sox at Seattle ESPN 1.2 3 Baseball: San Francisco at Chicago Cubs WGN 1.0 3 Horse racing: 2Day at the Races ESPN2 0.6 1 Golf: Senior PGA 3M Championship CNBC 0.5 1 Arena football: Playoffs, Indiana at Grand Rapids ESPN2 0.3 1

*--*

Weekday ratings: MONDAY--NFL exhibition, Tampa Bay-Miami, ESPN, 3.6/7.

Note: Each rating point represents 53,542 L.A. households. Cable ratings reflect the entire market, even though cable is in only 63% of L.A. households.

Look Who’s Talking

Sports figures to be featured on TV and radio, today through Thursday:

Jackie Stiles-- “Up Close,” today, 2:30 p.m., ESPN; 11:30 p.m., ESPN2

USC strength coach Chris Carlisle--” Southern California Sports Report,” tonight, 10, Fox Sport s Net

David Tua-- “Rich Marotta’s Neutral Corner,” tonight, following postgame Dodger talk, KXTA (1150)

USTA president Merv Heller, swimmer Misty Hyman--” Irv Kaze , “ Saturday, 6 -7 p.m., KRLA (870)

Charlie Sifford, Lee Trevino, Gary Player, Walter Morgan--” Southern California Sports Report,” Saturday

Aaron Brooks-- “NFL Preview,” Sunday, 7 a.m., CNN

Robby Gordon-- “NASCAR This Morning,” Sunday, 7:30 a.m., Fox Sports Net

Jesus Pimentel, Johnny Tapia, Carlos Bojorquez-- “Ringside With Johnny Ortiz,” Sunday, 8-11 p.m., KSPN (1110)

Chad Kreuter, Paul Lo Duca, Dodger pitching coach Jim Colborn-- “Southern California Sports Report,” Sunday

Bryan Cox-- “Up Close,” Monday

Pete Rose-- “SportsCentury,” Monday, 5 and 8 p.m., ESPN Classic

Shane Battier-- “Up Close,” Tuesday

Hank Aaron-- “SportsCentury,” Wednesday