* Who cares what the umpires say? The overhead camera checking how bad some of these guys are calling the inside and outside strikes has to stay. We all know they don't know the strike zone up and down.
* Let's hear it for Matt Millen, aspiring pro football commentator on CBS. Concerning his former team, the suddenly inept Washington Redskins, the ex-linebacker says, "If you don't have the players, you're going to stink." No beating around the bush with this guy.
** Grazing: The PGA Tour stop this week is a 90-hole tourney in Las Vegas, ESPN the carrier today, tomorrow and Sunday (5 p.m.). The incentive for the players is they're looking to make it into the top 30 on the money list so they get invited to the Tour Championship next weekend.
Felix Trinidad (21-0) defends one of the welterweight titles on Showtime tomorrow night (10), taking on Anthony Stephens (19-5). Better not blink, Trinidad's a blaster, winning the title from Maurice Blocker with a second-round KO, then leveling Luis Garcia in one round in August.
The hockey game tonight (7:30) on ESPN is Penguins vs. Sabres. No, Mario's still on the shelf. . . . The DC International out of Laurel shows up on ESPN tomorrow at 4 p.m. . . . As soon as that's done, amateur boxing pitting a U.S. squad against a gang from Russia on TNT (5 p.m.) might be worth a peek. . . . We continue to get inundated with Big Ten games hereabouts, ESPN sending along the Iowa-Michigan State game at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow before the Michigan-Illinois debacle at 3:30 on ABC. That's the drawback of the ACC and Big East working up season-long packages early.
NFL COVERAGE
How the NFL's decision on expansion will be covered by Baltimore TV and radio. Reports from Chicago begin Monday on newscasts (listings based on a Tuesday announcement):
Television
Channel 2: Scott Garceau and Jamie Costello in Chicago. One special: "Bombers or Bust: The Final Decision," Monday, 8 p.m. Plans to break into programming when decision is made. Expanded newscast at 11 p.m. likely if Baltimore gets team.
Channel 11: Gerry Sandusky and Frank Graff in Chicago. Three specials: All called "Decision Day," tonight, 7:30; Tuesday, 11:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m. Plans to break into programming.
Channel 13: Denise Koch and Alex Demetrick in Chicago. Plans to break into programming. One special: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Channel 45: Bruce Cunningham in Chicago. Plans to break into programming.
CNN: Mark Morgan in Chicago. Plans to break into programming.
ESPN: Andrea Kremer and Fred Edelstein in Chicago. Probably will report during 7 p.m. "SportsCenter."
...Radio
WBAL (1090 AM): Jeff Rimer and John Patti in Chicago. Plans to break into programming. "Sports Line" will emanate from Chicago on Monday and Tuesday.
WCBM (680 AM): Stan "The Fan" Charles and Art Sinclair in Chicago. Plans to break into programming. "Sports Exchange" will emanate from Chicago on Monday.
