Welcome to the annual Sports Collision Week, when over-the-wall shots, jump shots and chip shots all demand our TV attention.
And such a collision is more intense than usual this year.
The Rockies, favored by nearly all the experts (even ESPN’s talking heads) to win the National League West, open at noon today against the Brewers in Milwaukee on FSN Rocky Mountain and KOA Radio.
Seven hours later, David plays Goliath for the men’s NCAA basketball championship on CBS. (However, discount rumors that Gene Hackman and the rest of the cast of “Hoosiers” have flown into Indianapolis for the game.)
Also a guy named Woods will hold a news conference today in Augusta, Ga.
Talk about high sports drama.
Beginning Thursday, familiar sports species such as Cardinals, Cubs, Orioles and Tigers will be of secondary importance as a single Tiger starts what he hopes will be a four-day journey on a prestigious golf trail.
How important on the national scene is Tiger Woods’ return?
ESPN, which airs the Thursday and Friday rounds of the Masters (2-5:30 p.m.), will cut into regular programming earlier in the day to cover Woods’ first tee shot if his start time is not within the 3 1/2-hour regular coverage.
However, today’s news conference is not scheduled live, as was the Feb. 19 media event, when seemingly every TV outlet but the Food Network covered his confession.
Still, look for TV reports throughout the day.
One other event of note: The amazing UConn women’s basketball team plays for the NCAA championship at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.
Locally, the Rockies are the Big Event.
As it did last year, FSN Rocky Mountain has a 150-game schedule, all in HD.
Today’s opening-day coverage spans 12 hours, beginning at 11 a.m. with an hour-long pregame report and ending at 11 p.m. after the 30-minute “Rockies Double Play” highlight show.
And if you miss the live telecast and don’t care about the Duke-Butler game, FSN will repeat the Rockies game tonight at 7 p.m.
Friday’s home opener against the Padres (2 p.m.) will be preceded at 12:30 p.m. with a 90-minute pregame report.
The cast of TV characters remains the same — Drew Goodman, George Frazier, Jeff Huson, Tracy Ringolsby, Tom Helmer and Alanna Rizzo.
Rockies devotees and baseball fans in general never hesitate to e-mail their feelings about broadcasting talent.
It was pro and con for the five men last season.
Rizzo? Lots of praise with nary a complaint.
KOA 850 AM, the radio voice of the Rockies since the first season, features Jack Corrigan and his new partner, Jerry Schemmel, who has replaced the retired Jeff Kingery.
Schemmel, noted for his fast- paced basketball play-by-play, shouldn’t have any trouble in the booth, since his varied background includes baseball announcing.
Broadcasting names.
Curt Schilling has joined ESPN as a baseball studio analyst. Also new at the network this season: Nomar Garciaparra, Aaron Boone and Doug Glanville.
• Bill Walton, missing from the NBA broadcasting scene this season because of severe back problems, will analyze tonight’s NCAA final on Westwood One radio.
• Rockies outfielder Ryan Spilborghs is the latest athlete to join “The Sports Insiders” on KEPN 1600 AM. He can be heard every Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Ratings roulette.
Audience ratings for Saturday night’s Final Four semifinals on CBS were the highest in five years. Overall, the NCAA Tournament ratings are up 2 percent over 2009.
Longtime Denver journalist Dusty Saunders writes about sports media each Monday in The Denver Post. Reach him at tvtime@comcast.net.
Buffs-Rams gridiron showdown moves to The Mtn.
The Sept. 4 Colorado-Colorado State game will air on The Mtn. rather than on FSN Rocky Mountain, meaning fewer home viewers will have access to the annual grid event.
According to The Mtn. spokesman Hayne Ellis, the showcase game is technically billed as a CSU “home game” under a contract The Mtn. has with Mountain West Conference schools.
Promoted annually as the “Rocky Mountain Showdown,” the game has been aired for the last 10 years on FSN Rocky Mountain as part of Comcast’s basic cable package.
The Mtn. is on Comcast’s sports tier (Channel 411), available at extra cost.
DirecTV subscribers will be able to see the game. Dish Network viewers will not.
The Saturday kickoff from Invesco field at Mile High is scheduled for noon.
Dusty Saunders
