How many sportscasters does it take to cover the NFL draft?
At least 20. ESPN is throwing its considerable weight behind coverage of the annual NFL pick-and-choose, taking place April 27 and 28.
Don’t know how they’re going to have enough air time, or air, for Chris Berman, Mel Kiper Jr., Chris Mortensen, Steve Young and Keyshawn Johnson, all lined up on the main set at Radio City Music Hall in New York. More anchors and analysts will be at other venues.
There should be enough time. ESPN is offering 18 hours of TV coverage, and that doesn’t include its other outlets – radio, Internet and “ESPN News,” to name three. Suzy Kolber gets stuck on the sidelines, again.
Robinson’s legacy
Jackie Robinson and the 60th anniversary of his breaking major-league baseball’s color barrier is the focus of “SportsCenter Special: Jackie Robinson” (6 tonight, ESPN).
A roundtable discussion looks at his career and the paucity of black players in the game today. “It’s not going anywhere good fast, a big drop especially when you look at the struggle it took for us just to get into baseball,” says Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
There’s also the first half of a two-part interview by Robin Roberts with Robinson’s widow, Rachel.
Jarrett turns right
Gentlemen, start your microphones.
Veteran stock-car racer Dale Jarrett, 50, takes his first tentative steps into the broadcasting booth this weekend.
He joins Marty Reid and Andy Petree for the Busch race from Texas Motor Speedway (1 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2).
He’ll be part of 10 Busch telecasts but will continue to race full time in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series.
Soccer, my foot
Reader Justin Odum doesn’t share my enthusiasm over the opening of the Major League Soccer season in Denver:
“The eyes of the soccer world will be where they usually are – England, Italy, Spain, Germany and a few other countries, but certainly not the U.S. The day the ‘soccer world’ (is) all excited by MLS opening day is the day MLS will be able to claim it is the most watched sports league on Earth. I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
That’s the enthusiasm I’m talkin’ about!
Around the dial
New CU basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik interviews with host Bill Land on “Big 12 Showcase” (2:30 p.m. Friday, FSN Rocky Mountain). … They’re holding the NHL playoffs without us. Those lacking VS still can watch the Pittsburgh-Ottawa first-round match (1 p.m. Saturday, KUSA-Channel 9). … Quotable: “Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamp post: for support, not illumination.” Vin Scully
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, CU coach Jeff Bzdelik’s first name was incorrect.
