However, according to the ABC and ESPN schedules released this week, the Sept. 13 game against California is set for ESPN or ESPN2 and Nov. 6 against Virginia Tech is a Thursday night telecast on ESPN.
*Live, from New York, it's ... the Beijing Olympics?
NBC plans to do broadcasts of 10 sports with announcers calling the action from a studio in New York rather than on site in China, the Chicago Tribune reported recently. The affected sports will be archery, badminton, baseball, equestrian, fencing, handball, shooting, soccer, softball and tennis. (Some basketball also will be announced the same way.)
An NBC spokesman told the Tribune the move is being made at the behest of the International Olympic Committee, which hopes to cut down on the number of people descending on Beijing.
"This is part of a mandate from the IOC to reduce strain on the host city by bringing fewer people," Brian Walker said.
Here's hoping that when the commentators are addressing dressage via monitors, NBC at least orders out for Chinese food.
* Sunday's Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony airs on ESPN Classic at 1:30 p.m., featuring Rich Gossage, Dick Williams and Tim Kurkjian. The first two are getting plaques hung up in the Hall, but Timmy deserves one, too, for all those years when he had to put up with working with me.
* ESPN has moved its coronation of "TitleTown USA" from Sunday to Monday at 6 p.m. That gives you all plenty of time to adjust your schedules. I stopped watching when Trenton, N.J., didn't make the cut for the finalists.
* Jay Leno, perhaps with an eye out for a new gig after his Tonight Show job ends, will appear on the Speed Channel's 101 Cars You Must Drive on Monday at 9 p.m. Leno and host Alonzo Bodden will drive and talk about several cars on the 101 list. I wonder if that 1995 Saturn I used to have is on there.
ray.frager@baltsun.com
