Conference hbahba::cam_sports

I heard an interview last night on WFAN with Dick Vitale.
The subject of Jim Valvano came up,and Vitale said that Valvano really
enjoyed and was touched by all the cards and letters he's received.


If anyone is interested in writing to Jim Valvano, you can write
to the following address:


		Jim Valvano
		c/o ESPN
		935 Middle St.
		Bristol, CT 06010

    
    
    There's only two good sportscasters:
    
    Pat Summerall
    Frank Gifford
    
    No coincidence that they are both ex-Giants.. ;-)
    
    Turk

    After school the other day, the ABC trucks pulled up to the Activity 
    Center and Dick Vitale was out there.  Of course, his mouth never stopped 
    running the whole time.

I like Pat Summerall doing play-by-play, and I love John Madden's
color commentary.

I enjoy Frank Gifford too.   I like Keith Jackson doing college football.


For golf, I like the CBS team -- Summerall, Ben Wright, et al, especially
Gary McCord.


I like Fred Kusack doing hockey with Derek 8^)


'Saw

Likes: Marv Albert since his days doing mostly Knicks and Rangers broadcasts.
       Tim McCarver most of the time
       Summerall, Madden, Jackson

Dislikes: Not to speak ill of the dead but Johnny Most tops my all time list

The Crazy Met

    re: -1
    
    Why am I not suprized??
    
    My two favorites are the late Johnny Most and Myron Cope.
    
    
    Bill

>    My two favorites are the late Johnny Most and Myron Cope.
    

I liked Most.  I've only heard Cope in excerpts on sports shows.


The late Red Barber was something else, and Mel Allen wasn't bad either.


'Saw

  In football:

    John Madden and Pat Summerall are far and away the best
   football broadcasting duo. Bob Trumpy is the most annoy-
   ing analyst and OJ must have pictures of some NBC exec-
   utive in a compromising position with a farm animal to
   still have a job.

        
  In baseball:

    McCarver is knowledgeable but sometimes lapses into pure
   hokum. Harry Caray sounds like the spokesman for 'Whiners
   R Us' and if I ever see Vin Scully on the street I'll kick
   his wrinkled old ace.

  In basketball:

    Marv Albert has the right combination of voice, knowledge 
   and ethusiasm. Hubie Brown knows the game and explains it
   well. Tommy Heinsohn and Bob Cousy sound like the personn-
   ifiaction of that big bulldog and his little puny doggy pal 
   in the old Warner Brothers cartoons.
    

    

>   Tommy Heinsohn and Bob Cousy sound like the personn-
>   ifiaction of that big bulldog and his little puny doggy pal 
>   in the old Warner Brothers cartoons.


Yeah, and if you were at the Bull when Bob Hunt was there, when Kevin
Farley was sitting next to him, that old cartoon was what a lot of the
folks thought of.....8^)


'Saw
    

    

Oops, make that the OPP.....

LIkes:

Marv Albert.  Summeral.  Madden.  Used to like Curt Gowdy.  Marty Glickman.

Dislikes:

Costas.  Johnny Most.  Costas.  Namath.  OJ.  Dierdorf.  The"Oh MY" guy
on NBC.  Trumphy.  Costas.  Most.  Bob Montgomery.  Phil Rizzuto.  And the
all time worst:  Howard Cosell.

JD

    
    
    Likes:
    
      Like most people, Summeral and Madden top the list for football.
      
      I know he was annoying but Joe Garargiola (sp) was good but now
      I quess I would have to Sean Mac for baseball.  Tim Mccarver is
      just to dry.
    
      Fred and Derek rule in hockey.  But the quy that does the 'guins 
      is a riot.  
    
      Basketball is to boring.
    
    Dislikes
    
      Dierdorf, Namath, and Simpson have to be the worst for football.
    
      I can't stand Phil Rizzuto and Tom Seaver doing baseball.  Seaver
      was great but not so in the booth.
    
      Has anyone heard Sean Mac do the hockey games on Espn. Pleeeeease.
    
    But the greatest sportscaster I ever heard no matter what the sport
    has got to be Keith Jackson.
    
    Jerry  
     

    go ahead TcM,
    
    I'm sure he won't be hurt by what you say.
    
    ;^)
    
    I remain,
    positive he cain't hear ya!
    Kev
    

    Likes:
    Curt Gowdy/Paul Christanson for their AFL games; Gowdy when he did
    the Red Sox,
    Jim Woods-RedSox
    Chris Schenkel-NY Jints football
    Ray Scott-Packers football
    Lindsey Nelson-Notre Dame football
    Sean McDonough
    Lloyd Pettit- Chicago Blackhawk hockey in the 60's and 70's
    Bob Wilson - Broon hockey
    Dan Kelly- hockey on NBC
    Joe Morgan-ESPN baseball
    Johnny Most
    Jesse the Body Ventura
    Jon Miller- Oriole baseball
    
    Dislikes: Cooney Weiland/Pat Egan- oldtime Broon hockey
              Oscar Robertson- NBA BBall in 70's
              Vince MCmahon
              Paul Maguire/Bob Trumpy NBC football
              Dave Zinkoff- Sixer PA announcer
              Don Earle- Broon hockey
              Joe garagiola
    
    
                   
    

Enjoy:	Pro Football-		Pat Summerall, John Madden, Frank Gifford,
				Ray Scott
	College Football-	Keith Jackson, Larry Munson, Lindsey Nelson
	Pro Basketball -	Johnny Most
	Pro Hockey -		Dan Kelly, Marv Albert
	MLB -			Curt Gowdy, Ned Martin, Ken Coleman,
				Jack Buck (when on radio)
	Boxing -		Howard Cosell (not necessarily other sports)
	Olympics -		McKay (drew a blank on first name)

Don't
Enjoy:	Pro Basketball-		Tommy Heinson
	Almost Anything -	Brent Musberger
	Figure Skating -	Dick Button

RE: -1
	
Yea, I forgot about Gowdy and Christman - they were great.

I like:
	Jon Miller
	Sumerall and Madden
	Beasley Reece
	Sean McDonough (the best right now in baseball)
	Jack Buck - especially on radio football
	Bud Collins
	Yea, Ray Scott - forgot about him too.

Don't like:
	PHIL RIZZUTO (this man has to be the WORST sports anouncer 
	              I've ever heard)
	Johhny Most - rip
	Harry Carey
	Skip Carey
	Hugh Carey
	Rick Barry
	Derek Sanderson (c'mon, people really like this guy)
	Fred Cusick when he is with Derek Sanderson
	Phil Rizzuto (did I tell you that he's the WORST I've ever heard)

>	Derek Sanderson (c'mon, people really like this guy)


I do.  He's a bit of a homer, but his insight is pretty much right
on.

Between The Turk and Gerry Cheevers (on SC) I've learned a lot about
hockey.....


8^)


'Saw

    
    Likes:  The late Bob "Gunner" Prince, who used to do the Pirates games
    with Jim "Possum" Woods when I was a kid.  Mike Lange, does Penguin's
    hockey, best hockey announcer I've EVER heard.  
    
    Dislikes:  Harry Carey, sometimes makes ya wanna kick him in the rectum
    cause he just cain't get the words out faster than 3 words per minute
    in his old age, plus his speech has deteriorated to the point where
    most of the time he sounds inebriated.
    Also dislike Joe Namath, Trumpy, Christianson.
    
    JaKe
    

    Sheesh,  how could I forget about the "Gunner"?  Another great one!
    
    Bill

Oh, I forgot.

I like Randy Cross' color-commentary.  He tells it like it is.....


'Saw

    	Speaking of announcers I met Steve Burton (of NESN fame) at
    the Broons� game against the Flyers last Saturday night.  Seems
    like a nice guy unencumbered with the ego most in that business
    have.
    
    				/Don

>    	Speaking of announcers I met Steve Burton (of NESN fame) at
>    the Broons� game against the Flyers last Saturday night.  Seems
>    like a nice guy unencumbered with the ego most in that business
>    have.
    
Did you make him buy you a beer by telling him a bogus story about
losing your job and putting a pencil stand up in front of his house?


'Saw

 Sports Announcer's Hall of Fame:

   Pro football		Pat Summerall, John Madden, Frank Gifford(nobody
				else is even close to these giants)
   College football	Keith Jackson 
   Olympics		McKay
   Local Sports
	Baseball	Bob Prince(Pittsburgh, easily, the best baseball 
				announcer I've ever heard)
	Football	Dave Logan(Denver, He knows more about sports than
				99% of the national announcers)
   Tennis		Pat Summerall
   Honorable mention	Howard Cosell because his commentary was always 
				entertaining if nothing else.


	Keith

    
    Brydie,
    
    You'd kick Scully's butt ? You're a gnat in stature compared to Vin,
    IMHO. He's a genuine HOF'er, apprenticed with Barber.
    
    We should start a SPORTS Dork HOF, Brydie gets in on the 1st ballot.
    
    - acp

    re: .24
    
    Whether Scully or any other announcer is or will be a HOF'er is
    irrelevant in the context of this note. Then again few notes ever
    stick to the subject so why should this be any different :-)
    
    The Crazy Met
    

I'd take Tommy a minute into the first round.....;^)

    
      re .24
     
      Parraco,
    
      As near as I can tell you've entered exactly 2 notes in this
      conference, 9.46 and that last one. Neither of them add any-
      thing to the discussion. In the future, unless you have some-
      thing of substance to say, keep your mouth shut. And if you
      want to insult me, don't do it in a notes conference from a
      safe distance of 2,000 miles, do it to my face. If you have
      the stones.
    
    

    Like:
    Even though he does ND football, I really like Tony Roberts on the
    radio - he's a classic.
    
    Curt Gowdy - every time I hear his voice, I think of the Miami-Oakland
    playoff game in '74.
    
    Summerall/Madden.
    
    Ron Franklin on ESPN's college football (I'm surprised nobody's
    mentioned him yet).
    
    Jim Nantz.
    
    Jack Buck/Hank Stram - too bad they don't get more notariaty being on
    the radio.
    
    Dick Vitale - I don't think the guy will ever cease to make me crack
    up.  His love and excitement for the game is truly genuine.
    
    
    Dislike:
    ABC's Monday Night team.  I don't really mind Gifford, but Dierdorf is
    the bad apple that ruins the whole bunch IMO.  However, I think the
    biggest problem with the Monday night crew is 3 people is too many. 
    It's like ABC wants them to be an entertaining trio and not just an
    announcing team.
    
    Charlie Jones - can't stand his voice.
    
    Tim McCarver - Never really did like him doing baseball, then the
    so-called "Olympic studio host" role really did it for me.
    
    Terry Bradshaw.
    
    
    
    Joe

    
    Tommy,
    
    	Maybe you should have put a smiley on your note where you said
    	you'd kick ole Vin's glutius maximus.  I know you abhor them,
    	but not everybody picks up on sarcasm (if you were joking).
    
    Claybroon

    Scully scucks! I can' stand him as an announcer...
    
    REK

    Anyone that does games for a California-based team has to suck. 
    Besides, every decent BoSox fan detested his biased commentating in
    '86.

    
   >> Besides, every decent BoSox fan detested his biased commentating in
   >> '86.
    
      That's what did it fo me. 

    .2
    
    How does Beasley Reece fit into that equation?

>    How does Beasley Reece fit into that equation?


Well, I get to see more of Beasley Reece than most of you do, because
in addition to his duties for NBC, he's also the Sports Director at
WVIT-TV30 in Hartford/New Britain.

He's excellent in that forum. 

I have not had much of a chance to see him for NBC however....


'Saw

    
    second the Hank Stram/Jack Buck duo.
    

Funny I thought Scully was biased against the Mets in 1986. 

The Crazy Met

      Likes:
    
      Dave Logan
    
      Madden about %50 of time.
    
      Frank Gifford %50 of time
    
    
      Dislikes:
    
      All the rest,  at least the ones I've heard/seen.
    
       Tim

    No way TCM, he bleeds Dodger Blue and the NL.

Seems like in all big games fans think that the announcers are biased 
towards the other team.

The Crazy Met

    Like:  Jack Brickhouse, Harry Carey, Steve Stone, Dick Butkis, Red
    Kerr, the ESPN boys (Dan Patrick EKU Alumni, Len Berman, whatshername).
    
    O.K. fer now:  Al Michaels, Frank Gifford
    
    Nope: Dan Dierdorf, most of the rest

    
    >>Kerr, the ESPN boys (Dan Patrick EKU Alumni, Len Berman, whatshername).
    
      Shouldn't that be CHRIS Berman????  Len work(s)(ed) fer NBC.
    
    JaKe
    

Good ol' Chris Berman, who for a long time worked on a little radio
station in Waterbury CT.....


I love to hear him go "back,back,backbackback...outta here"


8^)

    Yep, Chris Berman!  Thats my man.  Saw him at JFK once, the guy is like
    6'6"!   And he's a big man to boot!
    
    (I go 6'4" and felt like one of the Lolly-pop Guild!)

    Thumbs up:
    Baseball (TV): McDonough
             (Radio): Ernie Harwell.  Best in his era.  Period. John Miller
    Football (TV): Al Michaels, Madden 
             (Radio): Jack Buck (Stram says "I'm talking about #25, Jim
    		      Smith over and over again... analysis is good though). 
    Anchor: Chris Berman,  Robin Roberts,  Fred Hickman,        
    Hockey (TV): Gary Thorn, John Pierson, Jiggs McDonald/Ed Westfall
    Hoops: Marv Albert
    
    Thumbs down:
    Ray Knight, Joe Namath, Bob Montgomery, Fran Healy, Tim McCarver (tries
    too hard), Derek (unless you need a laugh), Summerall (starting to
    slip), Bob Lobel... 

Wow, I never realized that Chris Berman was that big.  I've never
seen him in person (although I sure would like to meet him).

Probably my all-time favorite things I've ever heard is his "Three Fastest
Minutes in Sports".


Summerall has had a lot of "off-air" problems of late, and I hope he's
back on the right track.  To me, he's the perfect foil for Madden....



'Saw

    Baseball likes:  Herb Carneal, Ernie Harwell, Jim Kaat (best analyst in
    the game today) Jack Buck (on radio) Marty Brennaman, Royals announcer,
    Phil Rizzuto & Frank Messer in the 60's/70's, Joe Morgan.
    
    Dislikes:  Vin Scully (I'll turn the sound off even if I can't get it
    on radio) Harry Carey, John Rooney, Johnny Bench, Joe Castiglione, Tim
    McCarver
    
    Football likes:  Jack Buck and Hank Stram.  Ray Scott (before the final
    years)
    
    Dislikes:  Virtually everyone on TV.  Especially the analysts.  I've
    never seen a more incompetant group of people in a sport.
    
    Hockey:  Dan Kelly, who did the Blues.  What a voice and rythem.
    
    Basketball Likes:  Quinn Buckner (great analyst.  Listening to him
    doing Woofie games you notice rather quickly that he'll be a coach or
    GM someday)
    
    Dislikes:  Dickie V.  I understand his enthusiasm, but Gawd, would he 
    just shaddup for 10 seconds?
    
    
    Spud
    

    Likes:
    	Costas, Marv Albert, Madden, Berman, Sean Mcdonough, Vitale,
    	Valvano, Keith Jackson, I'm sure there are more
    Dislikes: 
    	I don't dislike too many announcers because I find I either
    	listen to them or just filter them out.  Except for Brent
    	he's filled Howard's niche quite nicely for me.
    
    RE: Walt
    	I don't know about Robin Roberts.  While I don't dislike her she
    seems to make more mistakes on the air than the average anchor and
    doesn't seem to have the Sportscenter kind of wit.  I have
    seen her on a talk show and she was very funny and had a very quick
    wit.  I think she should use it more......
    
    
    Jimbo

    BTW, did anyone catch Sportcenter the other night when they had a clip
    of Carl Lewis singing the national anthem ?  I forget the name of the
    bearded fellow on Sportscenter but he was in absolute hystrics.  He was
    laughing so hard that he could not continue with the show...  I mus
    admit that I started laughing just watching him lose control.
    
    John "D Cowboys" R.

    
    
    CHARLIE STEINER
    
    Chappy

>>                   <<< Note 81.49 by AKOCOA::J_RODOPOULOS >>>
>>
>>    BTW, did anyone catch Sportcenter the other night when they had a clip
>>    of Carl Lewis singing the national anthem ?  I forget the name of the

Did he sing it in world record time, or just jump over parts of it?

Jerry

>Did he sing it in world record time, or just jump over parts of it?

I dunno, but man, I've never heard "And the Rockets Red Glare" sung
in quite that way before.....


'Saw

    He did jump over parts of it.  As his voice cracked like a
    pre-pubescent male he got so flustered he completely skipped a line or
    two.

re: .28

Karen,

You like Rizzuto, on top of your brothers liking the Cowboys?? uh-oh.

The Crazy Met

    Re: Lewis
    
    With a voice like that, it's good thing he's a fast runner!
    
>    And here's Heiser defending BoSox fans ! Hardy har har ... !
    
    I am one you puke!

    The University of _Spoiled__ _Children__ 
    
    hope this helps,
    Mike

    ...and the Fakers are 0-3 vs. the NBA's best so far this year.

    
    Let's face it, Vin Scully is great on the radio when half the point is
    to produce background noise to fall asleep to on the beach, but on TV
    he comes off as an overblown elitist romantic windbag.  Unless of
    course you're more interested in hearing Vin describe the color of 
    the sky than watching the game...
    
    Can't believe all the yes votes for Hank Stram.  One of the most
    grating voices ever.  Excessive ex-coach technobabble, too.  Amongst
    ex-coaches only John Madden seems to have figured it out.
    
    For baseball Jim Woods and Ned Martin were the best team I've been 
    exposed to in my limited experience.  Ken Coleman never did as much 
    for me as for many Sox fans.  When he was with the Pirates I also
    preferred Woods' straight man to Bob Prince's shill.  Prince was a good
    one but just a little too cornball for my tastes.
    
    glenn
    

    
    After Carl finished singing, was he tested for 'roids?
    

    I had heard that Carl at one time had wanted to release an album; I
    guess that went down the tubes...
    
    John "D Cowboys" R.

    
    re: .64
    
    Vin Scully is one of baseball's most cogent lyricists, capable of
    embellishing the most mundane baseball moment with intelligent and
    lucid descriptions of moments long forgotten. He is without a doubt
    one of baseball's most learned scholars/historians.
    
    Hey MODS ! What happened to .62 ? No mail, no nothing, just gone.
    
    - acp

I believe .62  was moved to the junk note. When notes are moved there is
usually no notice, mail is sent for hidden or deleted notes.

The Crazy Met - who is not a moderator but knows a little bit about
moderators policies in this notesfile.

I would agree with TCM.  The note was most likely moved, and no notice
is given when a note is moved.


frank

    'Saw, TCM and Needle,
    
    Thanks for the clarification. Jeff responded via mail, with veiled
    threats of my not to reply, since he was busy with his 'real' job.
    
    I guess those of us who put in 50+ hours of customer support in non-
    standard hours (weekends) should not note in primetime DEC hours.
    
    Junk, that 'bout sums it up. And I'll freakin' well note wherever and
    whenever I want to.
    
    - acp

>    
>    Thanks for the clarification. Jeff responded via mail, with veiled
>    threats of my not to reply, since he was busy with his 'real' job.


Because of my job function, I happen to know that Jeff puts in a
rather large amount of time on his job, and is very often super busy.
    
>    I guess those of us who put in 50+ hours of customer support in non-
>    standard hours (weekends) should not note in primetime DEC hours.

Hey, you're not the only one.


    
>    Junk, that 'bout sums it up. And I'll freakin' well note wherever and
>    whenever I want to.
>    
>    - acp

No problem with that.


'Saw

    Re: the Carl Lewis album

>                   -< probably not enough running interest >-
>
>    Re: the Carl Lewis album


And it wouldn't have been a world record either, I'm sure.....

    The way I heard it, ther was a false start.....
    

    ...but the musicians jumped off the blocks clean.

I think Lewis' albumn would spike to the top of the charts in a dash.  Yes, I
know how difficult it is to make a long jump like that, so I'll just have to
keep track.

=Bob=

    Yabbut can we discus a possible medley?  We could relay information and
    hurdle obstacles too.
    
    ;^)
    

    
     There's a little snippet in today's Globe about Dan Shaugnessy being
    voted the Mass. Sportswriter of the Year for 1992. Apparently, it's
    the third year in a row that Dan has won it. Sorry Dan fans, but if I 
    were to rate sportswriters, Shaugnessy would be way down on the list. 
    Down there with the likes of Nick Manzello of the T&G, quite possibly 
    the worst sportswriter in the history of the profession and George 
    Kimball who only writes for the Herald because the the National Enquirer 
    doesn't have a sports page.

    	Agreed Tom, Jackie Macmullin and Peter Gammons are far superior
    to Dan "Whatever Way The Wind Blows" Shaugnessy.
    
    				/Don

    Looks like time is running out for Jimmy V...  Too sick to work the
    NCAA hoopshow the other night.  He's been looking pretty bad for a
    while now, also...
    
    SI had a great story about the guy and how he is dealing with his
    cancer.  I hope I'm wrong, I hope he coaches another NCAA champ...
    
    Chip_GSH_Bach

Article 16614 of clari.sports.baseball:

	Spirit, laughter, courage.
    	Those three words are the legacy of Jim Valvano to his friends and
    peers.
    	"He was a great guy," said Cincinnati Coach Bob Huggins.  "The last
    time I saw him, in December, he said, 'I'm going to give you a picture
    of me you can carry around.  You're one of those guys who thinks the
    world is coming to an end whenever you lose.  The next time you feel
    that way, take my picture out and look at it.  Then you'll know you
    have it pretty good.'
    	"The neat thing about Jim was he was always so full of life, always
    so upbeat.  And he seemed to know about everything, politics, history,
    art.  He was so well-rounded and so good to be around.  He made people
    feel better just being around him."
    	Valvano personally touched the lives of Sidney Lowe and Thurl
    Bailey, two of the players who played on the North Carolina State
    championship team of 1983.
    	"The man meant a lot to me," said Lowe, now the coach of the
    Minnesota Timberwolves.  "He taught me the importance of getting along
    with people and planners.  Valvano always allowed players to be free. 
    He will be missed because he touched so many lives."
    	Bailey, now a player for the Timberwolves, said Valvano's spirit
    would be long remembered.
    	"It is definitely a sad day," said Bailey.  "He will be remembered
    by the fact he touched so many people's lives, not only because he had
    cancer but years before he instilled in us as players never to give up.
    Then in life you have to strive for the best.  He will be remembered as
    man with unmatched spirit and love for others."
    	Dean Smith, coach of NCAA champion North Carolina and a long-time
    rival of Valvano's, spoke of Valvano's courage during his ordeal with
    cancer.
    	"Even though we felt this would probably be coming, the finality is
    still a shock," said Smith.  "We may have been rivals on the basketball
    court, but we always considered Jim and Pam great friends.  Not only
    did Jim have a great coaching career, speaking career, family and
    friends, but in this last year he was a role model of courage to the
    countless thousands afflicted with life-threatening diseases.
    	"His memory will be one of laughter, determination and courage
    during this suffering.  The Jimmy V Foundation can be a tremendous help
    to future generations as we continue to fight cancer."
    	Ohio State Coach Randy Ayers remembered Valvano's enthusiasm for
    basketball and life in general.
    	"I really respected Jim Valvano a lot.  He was a good basketball
    man. The first time I met him was back in the late 70s.  He was head
    coach at Bucknell and was speaking at a basketball camp," said Ayers. 
    "He went on to Iona and then on to North Carolina State.  For me, it
    was the first opportunity to see somebody go up the ladder.  We just
    kind of hit it off over the years.  He was with Nike and I was with
    Nike, so we got to see each other on occasion.  He had such enthusiasm.
    	"He loved working with kids and always had a kind word for young
    coaches.  You always appreciated that.  You had a lot of fun with him. 
    He was always the life of the party and I think that's how he would
    like being remembered.  I really enjoyed our relationship.
    	Todd Turner, N.C. State Athletic Director, said he would remember
    Valvano's love for people.
    	"We have all been touched in some positive way by Jim
    Valvano....his wit, his passion for life, his love for people," said
    Turner.
    	"The N.C. State Athletics family has been deeply saddened and have
    suffered a great loss.  We not only lost an important figure from N.C.
    State basketball history, but a friend to us all and a loving, loyal
    Wolfpacker.  We remember him as the one who thrilled us with that
    amazing run to our second NCAA basketball championship 10 years ago. 
    He will forever be a part of the N.C. State basketball legend, but we
    will also remember him for his many other accomplishments.  He was a
    great coach, broadcaster, entertainer and motivator.
    	Les Robinson, who succeeded Valvano as coach of North Carolina
    State, said Valvano will never be forgotten at the school.
    	"I am personally extremely saddened to hear the news of Jim's
    death. I consider him a great friend and thoroughly enjoyed the
    opportunities we had to talk basketball," said Robinson.  "He was a
    tremendous help to me during my transition here in what would be
    considered less than normal circumstances.  Whenever N.C. State comes
    up those stairs to the Reynolds Coliseum floor, and the fight song
    rings out, Jimmy V will be there.
    	"His positive impact on this program will always be remembered and
    will play a role in our future successes.
    	"The Wolfpack basketball program is forever in debt to the man who
    gave so much love and dedication to N.C. State.  I'm proud to be part
    of the legacy here at N.C. State that includes Jim Valvano.
    	"But he was much more than just a basketball coach.  We will miss
    him for other attributes -- the intelligence, the ability to make other
    people smile, the ability to entertain.  He suffered through this tough
    time with dignity and class.  He was also a loving husband and father
    and our thoughts are with Pam and his three beautiful children.  He may
    have said it best on that wonderful day in February when he said, 'If
    the Lord wants me, he'll get the best basketball coach and broadcaster
    in heaven.'"

    With CBS losing the MLB contract, I wonder if Sean McDonough will be
    picked up by NBC.

>    With CBS losing the MLB contract, I wonder if Sean McDonough will be
>    picked up by NBC.


 Why? They already have Dick Enberg....

    Don't forget Bob Costas.  I think Sean will stay put.
    
    Will McCarver go back to ABC?
    Mike

    
    Yabbut I'm suprised that nobody beat me to it yet so I guess y'all are
    gonna read about it here first!!!!!
    
    Friday afternoon, renounded AM sprots radion announcer Jimmy Meyers
    was sacked and fired from his job at double-ewe Eeee Eeee Eye radion
    when he showed up at the station to pick up his paycheck.
    
    Allegedly, Jimmy Meyers was some sort of a controversial dude with a
    propensity (allegedly) to urinate people off, usually around
    (allegedly) racial lines.
    
    Sooo, I guess there's a job opening for sprots-caster wannabees!
    
    I remain,
    yer occasional sprots reporter!
    Kev
    

Too bad.  I liked Meyers - he knew more that Boston sprots.

I guess the Reggie Lewis eulogy did him in...

    Wow, sacked and fired on the same day.

    
    Yabbut what really boils my rice is more than likely, *MY* tax dollars
    will be given to him in da form of Unemployment Insurance!!!
    
    Once again, at the public trough.....
    
    ;^)
    
    I remain,
    saving for a new pair of shoes,
    Kev
    

    Too bad... but you knew if he was causing problems with the Celts and
    WEEI owning it, it was a matter of time...
    

Meyers was the only guy on EEI who knew his basketball, and not
just the Celtics either.  Now we're stuck with apologists for the 
Celts who whine about the salary cap as if Boston is the only
team in the league that has to deal with it.

Ken

           
    Too bad nothing... you can't continue to make the scurrilous
    unsubstantiated claims that Myers did against his own employer and
    expect to remain so employed, regardless of what your knowledge or
    talent may be.  That holds in any line of work.  Myers' ultimate 
    downfall came when he more than subtly blamed the Celtics for Reggie 
    Lewis' death, but offered no compelling evidence to back up such a 
    claim.  That's serious business, not some debate over the salary cap or
    something.  In another time or place it might be grounds for a libel
    suit...  
    
    glenn
    

    Meyers may be reasonably knowledgable, but there is no excuse for
    continually attacking your employer and being unrepentent about it.
    It's one thing to be controversial; it's another to be blatantly
    racist.  It's not acceptable in a white guy, and a black guy should
    have to live up to the same standards.
    
    I was at Reggie's funeral; his address there was completely out of
    line.  He had no sense of propriety.  It was there he sealed his own
    fate.  It has nothing to do with knowledge; it has everything to do 
    with attitude.
    
    NAZZ

Re.

>    Myers' ultimate 
>    downfall came when he more than subtly blamed the Celtics for Reggie 
>    Lewis' death, but offered no compelling evidence to back up such a 
>    claim.  That's serious business, not some debate over the salary cap or
>    something.  In another time or place it might be grounds for a libel
>    suit...  

It wouldn't be fair to blame the Celts for Lewis' death, but I think it's
absolutely appropriate to criticize them for the way they conducted
themselves after Reggie left New England Baptist Hospital and signed up
with Dr. Mudge.  From that point on, it sure looks like the Celts were
more interested in covering their asses from a legal standpoint than in
Reggie's health.  That's exactly what the Globe reported two weeks ago
in their big investigative piece about the case.

Ken

    
    >        -< You'll be happier with another house man on board? >-
    
    Yawn...
    
    glenn
    

re: .97

Even accepting the Globe's report, Meyer's statements went well beyond that.

The Crazy Met

    Myers won't be unemployed long.  He did have some ability to put some
    ratings numbers on the board - in weeimus' case getting over the lobel
    line into integers on ratings.
    
    Joe Fitzgerald in the boston post (okay herald - how many of you know
    there was a bp (or read it?) "eulogized" myers but in a 100% positive
    article (sat. herald) still had to refer to myers seeing all thru a
    "racial prism" (think I got it right - neat metaphor).  I agree, it was
    tiresome.
    
    Myers was also an unabashed name dropper but that is not a fault (it
    couldn't be, no more than beer drinking could be for football coaches) 
    for media wannabees.
    
    I think celtics would've put up with anything (viz imus,andleman) if
    myers put up real numbers but why a house crank.
    
    but despite everything I felt I could like the guy personally as he
    didn't do the enberg thing - by that (if you didn't hear him on last
    superbowl) is to assay everything in terms of preplanned cliches.
    
    Celtics major sin was going public with confidential info on medical
    status of reggie and a poor bedside manner with mrs l.  but the trajedy
    itself makes discussions of blame very petty and I should delete this
    sentence but won't out of a petty stubborness which will be my tribute
    to jimmy - (some kind of wierd grin here)
    
    b

    I have the Boston Globe special report at my desk, does any one want
    it?
    
    REK

    I remember after the funeral when Myers kept saying there was more to
    the story and the way the Celtics treated the Lewis family but he
    couldn't say on the air.  Did he crack?  Did the Celts find out what
    it was and get rid of him for that?
    
    I think he was too close to the Lewis' to be objective and that's what
    got him in trouble in the long run.

    	I liked Myers talk show on WEEI, but you can't make the
    accusations he did about the Celtics' complicity in Lewis' death
    without some serious proof.  I wouldn't worry about Jimmy collecting
    unemployment there Kev, he's headed out to the west coast and will
    probably be working soon.
    
    				/Don
                 

    First Fox25 canned him, now WEEI.  You really think he'll work in this
    town again?

    Don't the Celts own both?  Does this surprise you?    
    
    >First Fox25 canned him, now WEEI.  You really think he'll work in this
    >town again?
     

�    Don't the Celts own both?  Does this surprise you?    
    
    Yes and No.
    
    The Celts essentially gave him 2 chances.  He apparently wasn't paying
    attention when the removed him from Fox25.

    More people see Fox25 I'm guessing...
    

    
    Phoenix got its all sports radio station a few weeks ago.  They stole
    the top two shows from S.E.N. - The Sports Nuts and Arnie
    Sumfinorother.  The Nuts are on morning drive time and are pretty
    entertaining, and Arnie is radio's version of MrT on in the PM.  The guy 
    is a UA alum, which makes for good radio in Phoenix.  They've been
    filling the night time with the baseball from the pennant contenders,
    and on weekends have college and NFL football.  It's been pretty good
    so far.
    
    brews 

    Brews, where does one find that station on the dial?

    >Brews, where does one find that station on the dial?
    Turning on the radio, and turning the knob or hitting the scan button?
    (smiley goes here)
    

    
    1360 AM.  You'll go into cardiac arrest if you kisten to the guy in the
    2-6 timeslot though.  Big Knicks fan and dishes it out against the Suns
    pretty good.
    
    brews

    I take it that this is a national network.  The 620 Sportsline is the
    only game in town, imho.
    
    After listening to Mike Francesa back in the spring, Peter Vecsey
    last night, and Tommy's proof, I'm convinced New Yorkers don't know 
    hoops from a hole-in-the-ground.

    
 >> After listening to Mike Francesa back in the spring, Peter Vecsey
 >> last night, and Tommy's proof, I'm convinced New Yorkers don't know 
 >> hoops from a hole-in-the-ground.

    Translation: they don't say what Mike Heiser wants to hear. I'm no fan of
    New Yorkers or their teams but I'd think it could be safely stated that
    the city has produced more NBA coaches than any other three cities or
    even states combined. Not to mention the plethora of playing talent
    the city produces. Let me guess, Mike: Vecsey and Francesa have both
    said negative things about the Suns.

    
    No, it's a local show, Mike.  620 is a local suck-up-to-the-Suns-and-Cards
    show.  Give it a try, it's pretty good.
    
    brews 

    Tommy, you know you're always right.  Why even ask?  BTW - I agree with
    your notions about talent and coaches from NY.  It's the media types I
    was mainly referring to.
    
>    the city produces. Let me guess, Mike: Vecsey and Francesa have both
>    said negative things about the Suns.
    
    Vecsey has had a running feud with Sir Charles for years so anything he 
    says about Phoenix is biased to begin with.  Last night was the icing
    on the cake though.  He called AC Green an "adequate rebounder and a
    poor defender."  He thinks good power forwards should average more than
    the 8 boards per game that AC averages.  That's a load of crock in any
    city.

    Rodman does...
    

 Ditto what Vescey said.....

 mike

>    Turning on the radio, and turning the knob or hitting the scan button?
    
    Walt, that's too risky.  I can't take the chance that some low-life
    station might be playing Axx Sxxxxx.

>>    Walt, that's too risky.  I can't take the chance that some low-life
>>    station might be playing Axx Sxxxxx.
    
    Mike, you wouldn't be referring to 
    
    
	AAAAAAAAA	AAAAAAAAA	AAAAAAAA
	AA     AA          AAA          AA     AA
	AA     AA          AAA 		AA     AA
   	AAAAAAAAA          AAA  	AAAAAAAA
	AA     AA	   AAA		AA   AA
	AA     AA	   AAA		AA    AA
	AA     AA   	AAAAAAAAA	AA     AA

 SSSSSSS   UU     UU	PPPPPPP	   PPPPPPP   LL		YY     YY
SS     SS  UU     UU	PP    PP   PP    PP  LL	 	 YY   YY
SS	   UU     UU	PP    PP   PP    PP  LL	  	  YY YY
 SSSSSSS   UU     UU	PPPPPPP	   PPPPPPP   LL	   	   YYY
       SS  UU     UU	PP	   PP	     LL	   	   YYY
SS     SS  UU     UU	PP	   PP        LL       	   YYY
 SSSSSSS    UUUUUUU	PP	   PP	     LLLLLLLLL	   YYY

now would ya????  Why ya not wanna take the chance, afraid ya may get
    caught up in the song, start crying in the car, and hit a tree er
    sumthin?????
    
    Inquiring mindless and all that
    
    JaKe
    


	

>    No, it's a local show, Mike.  620 is a local suck-up-to-the-Suns-and-Cards
>    show.  Give it a try, it's pretty good.
    
    brews, I listened to Arnie's Army on the way home last night.  I'm
    hopeful that not all Knicks' fans are that brain-dead.

    Glenn, remember that wager ACChris wanted to make with you regarding
    Sox/Braves coverage in Atlanta/Boston.  Based on what I saw last night,
    you win again.  The lead sports story on Channel 5 last night was about
    the Braves/Giants pennant race.  Channel 5 even sent someone down for a
    live broadcast from Fulton County Stadium.
    
    What did the Atlanta press have to say about the Sox yesterday, Chris?

I think that falls into the serves_no_useful_purpose column.

TTom

    Interesting that the television media has that coverage which enhances
    TBS.  Don't really see much local giants-braves heavy coverage other
    than larger than normal ap extracts.
    
    Years ago these pennant races would get heavy coverage; perhaps it's
    as well that this is the last pennant race in any sport we'll ever see.
    
    As Bill Parcells would agree, you can't go back

Was 'surfin' last night and came across one of Sports Channel's "Greatest Games
Ever" and it was the 1965 World Series, 7th game, Minnesota vs LA.

Kaat was on the mound for the Twins, Koufax for the Dodgers.

The thing that amazed me was the utter contrast in sportscasting style
from then and today.  The sportscasting gave facts, and interesting stuff,
but there was not the drama that we have today.

When the Dodger (forget his name) who hit what proved to be the game winning
homer in the 4th innning, the sportscaster goes something like this:


	Here's the pitch.   Oh-oh!  (silence as the ball goes and hits
	the left field foul pole)   

	That's one is gone  (very matter of fact).   And the Dodgers
	go up 1-0.


As opposed to today, when sportscasters would have apoplexy over it....


Interesting contrast.

'Saw


PS  They also didn't have instant replay, which I kept missing a lot....

    If a Dodger hit it, I guess it wasn't Scully.
    

>
>    If a Dodger hit it, I guess it wasn't Scully.
>    

You know, one of the voices did sound like Scully.  But I don't think it
was him.


The most amazing thing is that over the last 30 years, the graphics capability
has experience quantum leaps, and of course things are in color now too.
Info-bits now just appear on the screen, whereas in this broadcast they
scrolled horizontally across, kind of like weather bulletins do now....

What a contrast.....

'Saw

    I couldn't have been Scully.  He would have launched into a 
    monologue on the "Game within the game."

    I can take Vin when he is doing radio.  

    The guy I can't stand these days is Jim Lampley.  He tries to
    make every thing he says so momentous.  Tone it down, Jim.

    Mike

>    The guy I can't stand these days is Jim Lampley.  He tries to
>    make every thing he says so momentous.  Tone it down, Jim.

It's almost like some of these guys are trying to make each sportscast
an all-time great.

What they don't realize is that some of the BEST ones are just spontaneous,
like "The Giants win the pennant, The Giants win the pennant, The Giants win 
the pennant".....


'Saw

    I think it started with "Do you believe in miracles?"

    Another announcer who has annoyed me for years is Don Crique.  If you
    ever listen to his cadence to a football game it could make you sick.
    Next time you hear him do a game on TV listen close.  He'll be talking
    along normal and then and the teams line up for the play all of a
    sudden he gets real loud and starts talking real fast like it's
    absolutely THE pivitol play of the century.  
    
    Settle down Don, there can't be 90 fantastic plays in every game.
    
    
    Spud

I'll listen for that Spud.

I like Summerall and Madden about the best for football, but I do like
to listen to Beasley Reece do color.  He's pretty knowledgable, and he's
a local guy (does sports on WVIT-TV30).....


Say hi to MrT for me.....

'SAw

re: Beasley Reece

I really like this guy.  He's generally stuck on 
stinker games - AFC east, non-marquee games.  He has a
good sense of humor about it, and doesn't seem phony 
at all.  

Of course he usually workes with the aforementioned
Criquie.

=Bob=

    Criqui's great with a quick wit!!
    See what A_ND education will get ya!!
    
    MikeL
    

Dave Logan does KOA radio color for the Bronco's. He isn't your standard 
local yokal with the Bronco's  he has excellent field vison and calls the game
with a very open approach. Logan was the WR from Cleveland and I still haven't 
heard him bark once. 

Jeff 

    
    	Don Meredith roolz!  :*)
    
    Claybone

	

	Sam and Ida's boy from Mt. Vernon  bout forty miles from the
hood down in E. Texas.    Cowboys 2nd starting QB having followed the 
short one at 5 feet 6, Eddie Labaron. 

 Cadzilla2

 and as Claybone says   Shut up Howard!!!!!

    Chris Collinsworth doing color on broadcasts S U C K S !!!!!!
    
    The guy's a jerk.
    
    Myron Cope, on the other hand, is pretty damned good (he's the color
    commentator for the STEELERS).  He makes the most boring of games
    interesting.
    
    Santa_JaKe
    

>    Chris Collinsworth doing color on broadcasts S U C K S !!!!!!
    
I enjoy Collinsworth.  I always learn something from him.



I wonder what ever happened to Dan Jiggets.....    

    	I learned something from Collinsworth too 'Saw, that your P-Name is
    correct.
    
    				/Don

>    	I learned something from Collinsworth too 'Saw, that your P-Name is
>    correct.
    
You guys just can't appreciate an erudite sportscaster.....8^)

    Yo Slash!!
    
    Will the Patsies have to move to Foxwood??
    
    Halftime shoes could be ingenious... draft some drunken bozos
    outta the stands to pull some one-armed bandits.
    
    Hmmm. Pequot Patriots....will they change the name/mascot.
    
    MikeL
    

    	Hey MikeL if they do I'm making my reservations for season tickets
    now!  After the game you can go to the casino!
    
    				/Don

  Dave Logan is very good as a color commentator but where he is really 
  exceptional, is in his "Sports Talk" radio show. He can be also be amazing
  and funny on "Sports or Consequences".

  Logan is really quite a story. He was an honor student all through high 
  school and college. When he graduated from CU, he was drafted in 3 sports
  by the NBA, the NFL and MLB. Few people can claim such a distinction. He
  played for 9 years with the Browns and finished his playing career in Denver.

	Keith

    The only thing I ever learned from Collinsworth was that I have to be
    much faster at turning off the TV sound and turning up the radio
    broadcast of the game when he's working the TV side.
    
    JaKe
    

    Jiggets is still around in Chicago as a sports anchor.  He also has a
    show on one of the local sports radio station.
    
    
    Spud

>
>    Jiggets is still around in Chicago as a sports anchor.  He also has a
>    show on one of the local sports radio station.
>    

I think in one game I saw with him he set the record for using the
sentence "He was all over him like sweat"....


8^)

 >    Jiggets is still around in Chicago as a sports anchor.  He also has a   
 >   show on one of the local sports radio station.   
    
    Spud, do you know if Tom Shaer is still on the radion in Chicago?  He
    lived down the street from me (we shopped at his Dad's grocery store)
    and he had the hots for my sister at one time.
    
    brews

    That name sounds familiar.  I'll check around and let you know.
    
    
    Spud

    Brews,
    
    From what I understand, Tom Shaer is still doing local sports.  I was
    told he was still on Channel 5 (last this person saw) and also has a
    morning show on WSCR, one of the three sports stations.  (maybe the
    worst, too)
    
    HTH,
    
    
    Spud

    The two things sportscasters do that bug me the most:
    
    1) Praising a team for not quitting. The only instance in pro or
    college sports where I can imagine quitting is a  baseball team that is
    way behind swinging at first pitches.
    
    2) Lambasting a team's fans for not selling out an arena. With the
    outrageous prices being charged,I think fans should be given credit for
    showing the restraint to spend their money wisely. Remember,these
    sportscasters get into everything free.
    
    

    re #2
    
    yabbut it gives us plenty of chances to hear Pittsburgh being
    lambasted.
    
    The Crazy Met
    

	You'll go to any lengths to keep the heat off yourself, huh?


	billl

	Does anyone here in Colorado listen to KTLK and the "Sports Zoo" with
	Scott Hastings/Drew Goodman/Dave Logan?  I think they're hilarious,
	espically Scott Hastings.  I always get a chuckle driving home from
	work.  Especially when Antoine from someplace out east calls in.

	Kevin

Sorry Kev; The Zoo is over when I get off work. 

I usually listen to KOA and the commentator that slams the NEBRASKA cornhuskers
skills as a team . 

Jeff

    Anyone listen to the Fabulous Sports Babe?  I wish I knew who does her
    intro music.

    She's not on in the Boston market.  She's on in Albany, she's not bad.
    

We got her hear in the middle of the day. She seem to know about as much
as the next "guy".

TTom

    Have you seen her?  She weighs more than Jake!

    
    
     The Fabulous Sports Babe is on in Worcester on 1440.  The old EEI
    simulcast station.  I was off yesterday afternoon and heard part of
    her show....I thought it was terrible.  I can't belive she is
    syndicated.
    
    Jerry

    What time?
    
    Is she bigger than a Macrohunt?
    

I just ran some errands and she was on. While she may not be great she
aint that bad.

And unlike a lot of people who think they're good, she seems to have a
sense of humor. She had Ricky Watters on as a guest.

>    Is she bigger than a Macrohunt?

Is she bigger than Rush?

TTom

She's huge.  I mean huge.  And I don't think she's that great.  Personally,
I think the folks on the FAN are better....

She's ugly too.

You gotta understand what her local competition is. 

Every other sports radio type is a_employee, one way or another, of the
Charlotte Hornets.

Now da Babe aint no Shiek who is really funny. He's been here on his
comedy club tour.

TTom

>She's ugly too.

But Frank, now that I've finally met you, so are you

    We've only had our 24-hr sports talk station for a year now so anything
    new will be interesting for a while.

>
>But Frank, now that I've finally met you, so are you
>

Yep, I am.  Smile when you say that 8^)

On today's show, the Babe interviewed Fred Goldsmith, the head football
coach at Duke, and Dennis Ericson of Miami.

Also, today is nominate a Geek. So far, the Ohio State fans are neck and
neck with anything to do with baseball and Dennis Rodman.

TTom

I'm amazed at how poor the art of sportscasting has become.

Now, the other evening our local CBS affiliate carried the Whalers opening
night game against the Rangers, in cooperation with SportsChannel New England.

This is the first season for the Whalers new TV broadcast team.  For some
reason they got rid of Rick Peckham and Gerry Cheevers.  Now they have two new
guys. 

I don't know who the play-by-play guy is, but the color man is former Whalers
goaltenders (who pretty much split his time between Hartford and Binghampton)
Daryl Reaugh.

These guys suck, IMO.  Too much "jocular banter" going back and forth, and the
play by play guy tries to be too cute.  One player lost his stick, and this
guys comes out with "Messier's coming back on the play but he lost his twig"
and we were treated to other such witicisms as "Wesley shoots the pea down the
ice."

At one point we had Daryl Reaugh telling the play-by-play guy that if he was
wrong, he could whip him with a wet noodle.


I dunno, I think Red Barber could get away with little witty remarks about
"sittin' in the catbird seat" because they were a part of the fabric of Red
Barber, but these new guys just don't cut it.


What is wrong with solid play-by-play, and informative, no-nosense analysis
that contributes to the fans' knowledge of the game?  Is it me or what?


'Saw

    
     It's you Saw, you're getting older and crustier. Heck you're listening
     to music form the fifties for pete's sake.......
    
     ;^)

Well, not just that....8^)

But maybe you're right.  Maybe in this image over substance decade of the 90s I
am getting to old, and should learn to accept these glib, glitzy, sportscasters
who portray an image but give damned little credibility to what was once a fine
profession....


8^)

>                 -< Watch that - Blue Moon will never get old >-


Amen.

Blue Moon, Earth Angel, Little Darlin', Sha-Boom, Only You....

Hell, I even like Be-Bo-A-Lu-La by Gene Vincent....


Man, there are afternoons I leave here and I'm in the mood to fire up
some Little Richard ('specially "Long Tall Sally") and head on down the road.


'Saw

    

    
    	Chuck Berry ROOLZ!
    
    Claybone

    "Send more Chuck Berry"
    
    
    Spud

	Long tall Sally she built sweet she got
	everything that Uncle John need 
	Oh baby, Yeaaaahh oh baby, whoooooo
	Baby, gonna have some fun tonight...

    Lundquist saved Haden's life yesterday at lunch by performing the
    heimlich.  Haden was choking on broccoli.  Didn't seem to slow 
    Haden down a bit last night.
    
    Jimbo

ESPN commentator said "I take it Haden picked up the check..." :-)

    I didn't watch much of the game last night, and listened to even less of
    it (ah, the beauty of PIP), but the portions that I did catch left me
    unimpressed with the broadcasting crew.
    
    Oh, btw, the CHuck-n-Duck, Run-n-Gag sips bigtime.  And why does Jeff
    George always look so out of it?  Every time I saw him on the sideline
    the look in his eyes seemed to indicate that the elevator hadn't made
    it to the top floor yet. 
    
    UMDan

I do, for some reason, get a kick out of Pat Haden.  He brings the academic
image to the game, and while it is sometimes silly, I do get a kick out of it.


'Saw

>I do, for some reason, get a kick out of Pat Haden.  He brings the academic
>image to the game, and while it is sometimes silly, I do get a kick out of it.

His analysis is usually 'right on'.

                     
>>                 -< Watch that - Blue Moon will never get old >-
>
> Amen.
    
    And if'n you listen to the "right" covers it ain't even old to 
    start with.  I'm partial to the Cowboy Junkies' version, but
    dollars-to-donuts that wasn't what you had in mind, BB... ;-)
    
    glenn
    

Picked up the American Grafitti sound track over the weekend, as my old LP is
just plumb worn out.

Lots of great tunes.  Never expected to find it in this tiny little record
store but I did.....

   
   ESPNET SportsZone | Major League Baseball | All-Star Game
   
                     ZONE USER SAYS MORGAN FULL OF HOT AIR
                                       
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   
   ESPN baseball analyst Joe Morgan probably had no idea what he was
   getting himself into when he made a simple statement during the Home
   Run Derby competition Monday.
   
   [IMAGE] Morgan
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   Morgan asserted that hot weather does not make the ball travel
   farther.
   
   ESPNET SportsZone user Greg Bogert, who identifies himself as an
   attentive George Mason University meteorology student and big fan,
   took Morgan's statement and traveled a long way.
   
   We're not sure if Bogert's calculations are correct (hey, we were
   reading the box scores during physics class), but here's his
   entertaining letter to The Zone.
   
     Gentlemen,
     
     Joe Morgan commented during Monday's Home Run Derby that it was
     proven that the heat and humidity do not add flight to a baseball.
     He added that the players feel more comfortable and therefore may
     have a mental advantage.
     
     I beg to differ!
     
     The key element in the equation is the relative humidity (the amount
     of water vapor in a given volume of air). Air consists primarily of
     oxygen (21 percent) and nitrogen (78 percent). Oxygen (O2) has a
     molecular weight of 32, while nitrogen's (N2) molecular weight is
     28.

     O2 Wt. 16 x 2 (No. of atoms) = 32 x 21% (% by volume) = 7 N2 Wt. 14
     x 2 (No. of atoms) = 28 x 78% (% by volume) = 22 ----- Molecular
     weight of dry air = 29
     
     Water vapor is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of
     oxygen (H2O). Its molecular weight is as follows:

     H Wt. 1 x 2 (No. of atoms) = 2 O Wt. 16 x 1 (No. of atoms) = 16
     ------ Water vapor molecular weight = 18
     
   Dry air weighs appreciably more than water vapor!
   
   A given volume of completely dry air weighs more than the same amount
   of vater vapor (at the same temperature). If the dry air molecules
   were replaced at a one-to-one ratio with water vapor molecules the
   total number of molecules would remain the same, but the total weight
   of the air would decrease! Since density is mass (weight) per unit
   volume, hot and humid air at the surface (ground level) is less dense
   (lighter) than hot dry air. Therefore, a baseball will carry farther
   in less dense (lighter) air. Without the influence of wind, and all
   other factors constant, a ball should travel slightly farther on a
   hot, humid day versus a "dry" hot day. Is it a coincidence that in
   Atlanta the stadium is known as the "Launching Pad?" No, it's the hot,
   humid air!
   
   Please pass this along to Joe.
   
   -- Greg Bogert
   
   Greg, we'll pass it along to Joe, but remember the Hall of Fame second
   baseman hit 268 career homers, so he isn't just blowing hot air.
   

Why is George writing to SportsZone under an assumed name?  And is this
the "zone" he was talking about when we had no idea what he was saying?

Actually, it looks like this knowing "George" has missed out on a couple
of other issues.

For instance, a ball travelling through humid air will absorb some of
that water and make itself heavier.

Also, the water can cause collection of particulate matter that would
also be deposited on the ball making it even heavier.

I think we need a definition of "farther" :=]

TTom

    Also, Atlanta's launcing pad is probably due more to it's 1100 ft
    altitude versus most other parks being near sea level. Baltimore,
    Dallas, Philly are all more humid places than Atlanta.
    
    Chris