Presenting the last sports media notes of the year, with the reminder that, though one size is supposed to fit all, you can try to exchange the column if you have saved your receipt:
So the NFL has gone from dipping its toe into the waters of taking over game telecasts to trying to wade in deeper. Fortunately for all of us, the water was still too cold.
Or, more accurately, too hot.
No one got too worked up last year when the NFL Network started carrying regular-season games, but the rumbles of discontent grew louder this season because of a marquee matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys and tomorrow's New England Patriots-New York Giants game. With the backlash having led to a multi-network, simulcast solution that includes CBS and NBC, let's score one for the little guy with the big foam finger.
We can only hope that the water continues to stay uncomfortable for the NFL, because if things start to go swimmingly (as I stretch the aquatic metaphor to the breaking point), we could expect more games to find their way to the NFL Network at some point when broadcast network contracts permit.
And let us ever be vigilant that we never reach the day when the NFL violates our God-given right to view the Super Bowl on free television.
On the other hand, Cris Collinsworth, who will call tomorrow night's Patriots-Giants game along with Bryant Gumbel, offered a more benign view of the NFL's decision to make New England's shot at 16-0 widely available.
"I have to tell you honestly, it really surprises me, and I'm proud of the NFL that they stepped up and made this game available to everybody," Collinsworth said, according to a transcript of a conference call this week. "I really thought that they would continue to use this as a major sort of power negotiating chip with what was going on in these negotiations [with cable companies]. And the fact that they are allowing everybody to watch it in one form or another is pretty impressive."
Fox has lined up "special pre-game analysts" for each of its college bowl telecasts - Sugar Bowl (Georgia vs. Hawaii), Fran Tarkenton; Fiesta Bowl (Oklahoma vs. West Virginia), Barry Switzer; Orange Bowl (Kansas vs. Virginia Tech), John Riggins; Bowl Championship Series title game (Ohio State vs. Louisiana State), Eddie George and Urban Meyer.
