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IN THE BOOTH: VERMEIL WISHES HE HAD CHANCE FOR "MNF"

          Former Rams coach Dick Vermeil said on ESPN's "Up
     Close" he "would have liked to have a shot" at landing the
     analyst role on ABC's "MNF."  Vermeil: "I think I have some
     credibility and I can add something to it. ... But, I don't
     fit."  Vermeil added, "I don't know if people in responsible
     positions appreciate what it takes to do that job right. ...
     I don't think the guys in the booth have anything to do with
     ratings. ... If the game is good, then the listeners and the
     fans like it. ... I don't think I ever made a difference in
     the ratings of a college football game."  Vermeil did not
     take ABC's offer to return to handle college football games:
     "I have another opportunity with a large venture capital
     firm called Safeguard Scientific Corporation. ... They're
     putting my name on approximately a $200 million venture
     capital ... allotment that will be used for minorities and
     women-run [businesses] in high-tech fields. ... I didn't
     think I could do that and college broadcasting at the same
     time and still enjoy being retired" ("Up Close," 5/22). 
          QUITE A RUSH: Talk show radio host Rush Limbaugh said
     that he auditioned with "MNF" play-by-play announcer Al
     Michaels recently in L.A.  Limbaugh: "I surprised myself. 
     It was even more fun than I thought it would be.  This would
     really be a hoot."  In DC, Frank Ahrens writes that the
     "potential coupling of Limbaugh and 'Monday Night Football'
     is an intriguing one."  Limbaugh has an audience of "about"
     14.5 million radio listeners per week.  His show is
     "strongest among male-listeners ages 25-54" but has "a
     sizable female audience as well" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/23). 
          THE PEOPLE SPEAK: ESPN.com's poll question last night
     was, "Who should be the next analyst for ABC's 'MNF'?"  The
     results were: Tom Jackson (22.7%), Steve Young (19.0%),
     Sterling Sharpe (16.9%), Rush Limbaugh (14.8%), Jesse
     Ventura (9.9%), Mike Golic (8.6%), Announcerless (7.8%). 
     There were 91,599 total votes ("SportsCenter," 5/22). A
     total of 9,599 readers responded to a DALLAS MORNING NEWS
     survey asking, "Who is your pick to team with Al Michaels in
     the ['MNF'] booth this fall?"  The results: Don Meredith --
     32.0%; Limbaugh -- 28.9%; Other -- 17.9%; Jim Rome -- 15.6%;
     and Bill Cosby -- 5.5% (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/23).
          KARL'S CANDID? In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley writes that
     Bucks coach George Karl "was good" during his stint Sunday
     on NBC's "NBA Showtime."  Wolfley, on Karl: "He is a good
     observer and can be candid" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/23).  

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