No doubt the sports world has been waiting for this innovation: HatCam.
I am not, as Dave Barry would have said were he still writing a column, making this up.
It’s a techno-innovation for the College World Series, beginning at noon Friday in Omaha, Neb., when Tennessee takes on Florida on ESPN2. A teeny-tiny camera is mounted on the cap of the infield umpire. Presumably, he won’t have the shakes.
ESPN is also wiring umpires for sound to catch all those fascinating conversations on the mound.
ESPN and ESPN2 will cover all 17 CWS games, including the best-of-three finals, through June 27.
The missing links
Marcia Neville and her award-winning “Colorado Sportswoman” (6:30 p.m. Saturday, KCNC-Channel 4) go deep into the U.S. Women’s Open, coming up at Cherry Hills Country Club June 23-26.
Neville’s guests include Meg Mallon, whom Annika Sorenstam defeated 10 years ago at the 1995 Open in Colorado Springs; teaching pro Mike McGetrick; and Jill McGill, former Cherry Creek High School state champion who has qualified for this year’s open.
Mellow Anthony
He almost got squeezed out by the frenzy over Phil Jackson’s re-hiring by the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony was his charming old self on “Best Damned Sports Show Period” Tuesday night.
His best line: “I’m tired about hearing about Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. Let’s talk about Michael Jackson.”
Looking relaxed in his trademark baggy baby-blue shirt and ball cap, Anthony, who had his moments with George Karl, praised his coach, who, he said, “put confidence back in me.”
He also made sure to get in a plug for Meloweekend, his charity poker, golf and softball tournament coming in Las Vegas Sept. 9-10.
Get back to work
That didn’t take long. Less than a week after he and Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain split, Marc Soicher is the new lead sports anchor/sports director at KWGN-Channel 2. Soicher begins his Channel 2 assignment, announced Wednesday, on July 18.
Around the dial
The NBA finals are being broadcast around in the world in 45 languages … The Colorado-Colorado State season-opening football game at Folsom Field on Sept. 3 will be carried live on TBS … Put ’em up: Light-heavyweight Glen Johnson, coming off wins against Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver, takes on Tarver in a 12-round rematch (8 p.m. Saturday, HBO) … ESPN covering Wimbledon wall-to-wall, starting Monday, including 80 hours of coverage on the network’s Spanish-language outlet, ESPN Deportes … Quotable: “Looks like Tarzan. Runs like Jane.” – Baseball scouting report.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
