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).