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Fox Sports steps to the plate and gets World Series games to start a few ticks on the clock sooner so that kids can stay up and watch, then it turns around and hires Ozzie Guillen as a studio analyst.
Talk about your mixed messages.Guillen is known for his candor as the Chicago White Sox manager, which ranges anywhere from R-rated to where’s the mute button? Now he’s miked up for the Fox pre- and postgame shows during this Phillies-Yankees World Series. Studio host Chris Rose opened Wednesday night’s Game 1 coverage by warning viewers: "You may actually have to adjust the volume on your TV set. ... We’ve added some serious verbal firepower to this show."Guillen had the guts to pick "Phillies in six" while seated at field level at Yankee Stadium. Co-analysts Eric Karros and Mark Grace went with the Yankees. From a technical standpoint, Guillen could stand to slow down a bit with his rapid-fire commentary and maybe quiet his left hand, but I like him on TV. So does the camera. And, trust me, he won’t get out-talked. When asked about any concerns over things getting a little salty on the air, Fox Sports president Ed Goren deadpanned: "I’m trying to control myself in the World Series this year." Guillen can speak for himself, of course. He simply believes that this opportunity is good for himself and good for the network."I’m very honored ... it’s a privilege," Guillen said. "Besides that, all the ratings will be up because all Venezuelan, Dominican and Puerto Rican [viewers] will be watching to see what I’m going to say. You can believe that or not."Personally, I believe it.Guillen is still one of the most interesting/colorful/polarizing figures in a sport that tries very, very hard to suppress personalities and discourage "baseball characters" inside the clubhouse."I’m just trying to be myself and do what I do best," Guillen explained. "Hopefully, everything comes out all right."So far, so good, Ozzie. Big Red Machine Jr.: As the Phillies try to become the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series since the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds, Fox game analyst Tim McCarver debunks any comparison between this Phillies team and the Big Red Machine."I think it may be premature," McCarver said.No duh."I’m not sure the Phillies have four [future] Hall of Famers in their lineup," added McCarver, referring to Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez and — something a lot of us have known for a long time — "Davey Concepcion should be in the Hall of Fame, too." Pete Rose, of course, has Hall of Fame numbers, but remains a Hall of Fame pariah. But that’s another column for another day. Hull’s 30 minutes: Fox Sports Southwest will air a 30-minute "Spotlight" edition on Brett Hull, who helped the Dallas Stars to their 1999 Stanley Cup title. It premieres Wednesday (7 p.m., repeated 11:30 p.m.), and will chronicle the 19-year NHL player’s Hall of Fame career. Super Bowl for kids: Children ages 6-13 are eligible to enter NFL Play 60 Super Bowl on the league’s "official Web site for kids" — www.nflrush.com — and win a chance to hand the game ball to an official before Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.No surprise here that the NFL has every demographic covered. P.S. — The Cartoon Network will profile the winner.Ray Buck, 817-390-7760
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