Muhammad Ali is 65 years old. That’s it. I’m officially ancient.
I’m old enough to have seen the charismatic former heavyweight champion in the days when bouts were shown on closed-circuit screens in movie theaters. He reaches retirement age next Wednesday and is the subject of a week-long birthday tribute from ESPN Classic, beginning Saturday.
The three-time champ who once proclaimed, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong” and got a three-year career hiatus for his stand, will be revealed in 52 hours of Ali programming, including some of his fights, interviews with experts, including Bert Sugar, and “Ali Rap,” hosted by Chuck D of Public Enemy.
On his actual birthday, ESPN Classic will air Ali fights against Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo, George Foreman and Chuck Wepner from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Go fish
ESPN2 promising us 11 1/2 hours – yes, 11 1/2 hours – of bass fishing from the Bassmaster Classic in late February.
The network is increasing its fishing and hunting coverage for 2007. Saturdays are home to the Bassmaster Elite Series, “Beat Charlie Moore,” “Driven to Hunt” and “Mad Fin Shark Series.” New in the outdoors lineup is “The World’s Greatest Fishing Show” with Mark Zona.
On the downside, this is the last season for “The Fishin’ Hole” with Jerry McKinnis because he’s retiring. To go fishing.
Channel 9 goes western
KUSA-Channel 9 doing its daily coverage from the National Western Stock Show, leading up to the main event, the Junior Livestock Auction on Jan. 19.
Kathy Sabine, a known horse lover, and Gregg Moss, who, given time, can tell which end of the horse points forward, co-host the auction, a festival of prize-winning animals and tearful young owners who must part with them.
While you’re at the grounds, stop at KUSA’s booth and have your photo taken in front of some cactus.
Around the dial
NBC launches its coverage of the NHL with a game pitting Pittsburgh and Philadelphia (noon Saturday, KUSA-Channel 9). Our chance to view Penguins sensation Sidney Crosby and the Flyers’ Peter Forsberg, if he isn’t injured … NFL Network to re-play 10 Super Bowls, starting tonight with Pittsburgh-Seattle in SB XL. Avert your eyes – Broncos-Redskins from XXII airs at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Don’t look for Super Bowl I; no known network footage exists … Hoop of the Week: USC meets UCLA (12:30 p.m. Saturday, FSNRM) … ESPN has extended its contract to carry the Little League World Series through 2014 … Quotable: “There’s no such thing as stock-show weather.” – Bill Saul
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
