BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The two most frequent complaints about last week's list of the Top 25 Cincinnati TV sports moments were the omission of Henry Aaron's 714th home run and Tom Browning's perfect game.
Browning's perfect game was not on the list because it wasn't on TV. If it had been, it would have been in the top 10. The video you see of it was shot for the JumbroTron broadcast to the stadium.
As for Aaron's record-tying home run, it was considered. But it didn't make the cut because it merely happened in Cincinnati; it really didn't have much to do with Cincinnati sports history. One that probably should have been on the list was the Reds'arrival in Cincinnati after winning the 1961 National League pennant. The team was greeted by thousands of fans. It was on live TV, a big deal in '61.
Corey Dillon breaking Jim Brown's rookie single-game rushing record is another one that was considered. It wasn't included because it was blacked out in Cincinnati.
BASEBALL DAVE:
The best bit of sports TV I saw last week was Dave Letterman chatting with Buck O'Neil, a former Negro Leaguer. O'Neil was a delight, telling funny, but poignant, stories of his playing days.
The best bit of sports radio I heard last week was a Cris Collinsworth story about former Bengals punter Pat McInally showing up at a team meeting in game socks and helmet only, with a sign that said "I'm Proud to be Bengal." Coach Forrest Gregg, who was about to drop the hammer for some late-night pranks, broke up and forgot about punishing the team.
"That's the moment I saw the value of a Harvard education," Collinsworth said.
LANCE AWARD:
WBOB's Lance McAlister was given the James H. Ellery Award for outstanding radio coverage of American Hockey League.
Which begs the question: Is Tim Lewis in line for a similar award from the International Hockey League? McAlister, BOB's morning guy, is an AHL man. Lewis, BOB's afternoon guy, is an IHL man.
DUCKS ON WVXU:
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks signed a multiyear deal to continue to air their games on WVXU-FM (91.7). The Ducks were on WVXU last year, their first year.
The Ducks buy the time from the station, Xavier University's public radio outlet. The team then sells "liners" from sponsors. As part of the deal, the pre-game show will expand to 30 minutes from 10. The team is looking for a studio host. John Walton returns to do play-by-play.
HALL OF FAME GEORGE:
Reds TV play-by-play man George Grande took the weekend off to do his annual gig as the emcee of the Hall of Fame inductions Cooperstown, N.Y. This is the eighth year Grande, who knows everyone from GMs to batboys in baseball, has done the ceremony.
John Sanders, who does the Cleveland Indians game for Fox Sports Ohio, filled in for Grande.
BOB NUMBERS:
WLW's return to the top of radio ratings didn't move WBOB's numbers much. WBOB was tied for 19th with an 0.7 rating in the last Arbitron book.
The BOB people were pleased with the numbers (radio people always put a positive spin on numbers).
"I think it reinforces that we've carved a niche," BOB General Manager John Rohm said. "A lot of people looked at what we did last time as a fluke. The question where do we go from here."
One change BOB will make beginning Aug. 3: the Two Angry Guys (Tom Gamble and Richard Skinner) will be on Monday through Friday in a time slot to be determined.
SET YOUR TV
HBO's Real Sports will air a Pete Rose piece Tuesday night. Frank Deford interviewed Rose and investigator John Dowd.
John Fay covers TV - radio for The Enquirer. He can be reached at 768-8445
