NBC announced this week that Marv Albert will return to
lead the network's NBA coverage starting with the 2000-01
season, 27 months after being dropped by NBC following a
misdemeanor assault conviction, and in DC, Leonard Shapiro
writes, "We live in a country where most people do get
second chances. ... Albert, arguably is the finest
basketball announcer of this or any other generation.
That's why he's back, like it (I do) or not" (WASHINGTON
POST, 12/17). In Boston, Howard Manly: "Albert is one of
the boys, and his return was predictable. But the real
reason Albert is back is not that [former NBA lead announcer
Bob] Costas was gracious, but that Costas just wasn't that
good as a basketball announcer" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/17). In
N.Y., Richard Sandomir notes that Albert's return "to this
role means that his comeback is now complete. Two years
ago, his career was described in the past tense" (N.Y.
TIMES, 12/17). But in Baltimore, Milton Kent questions NBC
"being lauded" for the move, as it "hardly qualifies for a
profile in courage." Kent: "After all, the network let MSG
and Turner do the heavy lifting of letting Albert
rehabilitate his reputation on their respective airwaves
before deciding that he was NBC-worthy." Kent adds
"preventing Fox" from getting Albert "was another factor" in
NBC's decision to rehire him (Baltimore SUN, 12/17).
ALL ABOUT AL: ABC "MNF" announcer Al Michaels was a
guest on "Up Close" last night and talked about the
effectiveness of the instant replay system this year in the
NFL. Michaels, who was critical of the replay process
during Monday's Broncos-Jaguars game (see THE DAILY, 12/14),
said, "I don't think of ourselves on `Monday Night Football'
as being official bashers. [But] the other night they
screwed up royally. That was a royal screw up and we have
to talk about what they did. . Clearly there are some
imperfections but they'll work on it and I think by 2050
they'll get it right." Michaels, on partner Boomer Esiason:
"I think he's done a tremendous job, there's no question
about it. He's brought a freshness to the show and a
different perspective" ("Up Close," ESPN, 12/16). In
Chicago, John Jackson calls for Mike Ditka to join "MNF"
next season, as ABC "can use his fiery personality in the
booth," as Esiason, "candid and insightful as a player, is
neither as an analyst" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/17).
