High Hopes for Comcast-NBC Merger

While the prospective merger of Comcast and NBC-Universal is causing consternation in some circles, sports fans, potentially, have a lot to look forward to, assuming the deal passes regulatory muster.

If Richard Sandomir of the New York Times is right, the merger could lead to a serious contender to ESPN as a national cable presence, and that's a good thing for all parties concerned, ESPN included.

Through its expansion into areas such as magazine and book publishing, dramatic entertainment and restaurants, to name a few, the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader in Sports has lost its way, and could use a full-fledged competitor, rather than the piece-meal approach Fox attempted a few years ago.

The Comcast-NBC venture will reportedly take about a year to clear regulatory hurdles. That should give NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, who possesses the most fertile mind in sports television, more than enough time to devise a game plan to go after ESPN.

It's not like NBC doesn't already have recognizable talent. A channel with Bob Costas, Al Michaels and Dan Patrick as its signature presences would start the battle with a leg up.

And Comcast's status as the nation's largest cable provider, as well as its ownership of Versus, means a new NBC-operated national sports cable channel would start with impressive distribution.

Granted, Comcast and NBC would have to be prepared to pony up serious dough to get their hands on serious properties to attract viewership. But each of them already has a piece of the NHL, and there are enough college conferences around to give the new venture a starting point.

Plus, if the NFL can be convinced to create, say, a Saturday night package of games, and if a slate of Major League Baseball games can be launched, the new channel should be in business.

One piece of advice to Ebersol: Keep the name Versus. It's an easily recognizable nom de plume that sports fans can get their heads around, provided they know it's there. And if NBC has proven anything over the years, it's that it knows how to promote itself.

Black Eye for CBS

Call this a naïve view, but CBS didn't do itself proud in the way it handled Florida quarterback Tim Tebow near the end of Saturday's SEC championship game telecast.

It was uncomfortable enough for the camera to linger on the image of a weeping Tebow in the closing moments of the Gators' 32-13 loss to Alabama.

But when Tebow paused for a moment after sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked him a question and the camera zoomed in tight on his face -- the director, no doubt, wishing for the senior to start bawling -- it felt like exploitation.

Thompson Fails to Deliver

John Thompson is a man who can wear many hats, among them Hall of Fame basketball coach, Washington D.C. area radio talk show host and occasional CBS Radio and TNT basketball analyst.

One hat that he doesn't wear well, however, is that of interviewer. His "chat" with Allen Iverson, who played for him in college at Georgetown, is as close to a love-in as you're likely to see from a questioner to his subject.

Thompson essentially allows Iverson, who returns Monday from a two-week retirement, a free forum to declare himself a victim without challenging any of Iverson's notions.

You'd have to believe that seasoned pros like David Aldridge and Craig Sager would at least have asked Iverson why every team he has played for has shown improvement since he left.

Perhaps that's why Iverson agreed to talk to Thompson in the first place.

CBS Trips

In theory, it shouldn't be too difficult to get from Lexington, Ky. to Miami, right?

If so, then shouldn't CBS have had its lead college basketball play-by-play man Jim Nantz at Rupp Arena for the Kentucky-North Carolina season premiere Saturday afternoon? After all, college basketball is arguably the network's No.2 property and the game, pitting two of the sport's most regal schools, was of March quality.

It's not as if Nantz, who did Sunday's New England-Miami NFL game, couldn't have hopped a flight from Kentucky to South Florida after the basketball game. Heck, ESPN/ABC flew Kirk Herbstreit from Atlanta to Dallas to do "College Game Day" in the morning and the Big 12 championship game, all in the same day Saturday.

To his credit, Ian Eagle drew double duty, taking the short hop from Lexington Saturday to Indianapolis for Sunday's Titans-Colts game. They must really be pinching pennies at the Tiffany network.