Media Notes

In Chicago, Toni Ginnetti reports Cubs radio broadcaster Ron Santo has "signed a three-year contract that continues his 20-year career in the booth and gives him leeway to take time off if his health requires it." Santo and play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes have "teamed for the last 14 years and remain extremely popular." Hughes' contract expires after next season (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/15). In Illinois, Bruce Miles notes Santo, who will turn 70 in February, has "battled diabetes for all of his adult life and numerous health problems in recent years" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 12/15).

CINDERELLA'S BALL: TCU and Boise State are playing in the January 4 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Fox, and in Ft. Worth, Ray Buck noted the four games in BCS history with teams from non-automatic qualifying conferences have produced "four of the nine least-watched BCS bowl games." But Fox Sports President Ed Goren said of the matchup: "I don't have a problem with that. To me, short of the national championship game, this is the sexiest bowl matchup in the BCS." Goren did not "offer up a 'realistic expectation' in Nielsen ratings for this game to be a TV success." However, he did predict "there will be plenty of buzz" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/13).

IN THE PENALTY BOX: CBC "HNIC" analyst Don Cherry dismissed allegations from neurologist Charles Tator that Cherry is a "negative influence" in the fight against head injuries with a "series of profane remarks." Cherry, when asked about Tator, twice repeated the phrase, "I don't give a (expletive) about him." Tator in part blames Cherry's "embrace of rock 'em, sock 'em hockey" for the increase in head-related on-ice injuries. "HNIC" Exec Producer Sherali Najak: "Don Cherry's record of safety and respect in hockey speaks for itself" (GLOBESPORTS.com, 12/15).

GET WELL SOON: In Detroit, Tom Gage reports Tigers radio analyst Jim Price recently had surgery to remove "cancer in his left kidney." A separate cancerous spot on his lung "was diagnosed to be benign." Price: "It really does feel like a new lease on life. Like I can work another 20 years" (DETROIT NEWS, 12/15).