The first kickoff hasn’t been kicked and the networks are already in a goal-line defense mode.
Hard to believe, but the NFL preseason begins on Sunday with the Hall of Fame Game matching Oakland and Philadelphia (6 p.m., KUSA-Channel 9).
Of course, it’s just for show. The real action is in the hall itself in Canton, Ohio. Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden, Warren Moon and Reggie White, Rayfield Wright will enter the hall in ceremonies streamed live at 11 a.m on Profootballhof.com and NFL.com and broadcast nationally on ESPN and NFL Network.
ESPN and NBC are throwing thousands of dollars and hours touting their upcoming pro football coverage.
After 36 years on ABC, “Monday Night Football” moves to ESPN this fall, starting with a celebratory doubleheader of Minnesota at Washington and San Diego at Oakland on Sept. 11. Look for ESPN’s “Is It Monday Yet?” drum beating to start airing next week.
Meantime, “Sunday Night Football” will turn up on NBC, back in the game after an eight-year absence. The first regular-season game on Sept. 7 features Pittsburgh and Miami.
“One of the reasons we got back into football was to add a sense of energy to our prime-time lineup,” John Miller, chief marketing officer at NBC Universal Television Group told The Wall Street Journal.
Translation: Look for plenty of promotional spots about NBC shows during the telecasts.
85 years ago
Saturday marks a milestone in baseball history.
It was on Aug. 5, 1921, that Harold Arlin of KDKA in Pittsburgh did the first radio broadcast of a baseball game, between the Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. Arlin called the game from a seat behind home plate at Forbes Field.
That fall, Arlin worked the first football broadcast, a college game between Pitt and West Virginia. He died in 1986.
Around the dial
The USA Basketball team, featuring NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, makes its first appearance with an exhibition game against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas (9 tonight, ESPN2). … Watch everything but the end: As part of a nine-hour NFL Network marathon, the Denver Broncos’ 2005 highlights air at 8 p.m. Sunday. … ABC starts its first season of “Saturday Night Football” with Notre Dame at Georgia Tech on Sept. 2. The new series runs 12 weeks. The downside: Brent Musberger is doing the play-by-play (6 p.m., KMGH-Channel 7). … Get up early, watch qualifying for NASCAR’s Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday (8 a.m., TNT). Race coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on Channel 9. … Quotable: “Self-praise is for losers. Be a winner. Stand for something. Always have class, and be humble.” John Madden.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
