SI's Gary Van Sickle wrote it was "nice to see CBS finally embrace" comedian Bill Murray during coverage of the PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Murray for years "has been ignored and given tee times away from the camera while CBS focused on its sitcom stars." Murray teamed with golfer D.A. Points to win the Pro-Am tournament, which is "great vindication for Murray and the best thing to happen to this tourney in a long time." Murray has been "The Man among the celebrities there since he started playing in the early '90s," and even CBS' Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo said that they "wanted to see Murray finish on 18" (GOLF.com, 2/13). GOLF WORLD's John Antonini writes Murray's win with Points "may have enticed viewers to stay tuned to the end of the CBS telecast Sunday, after many who watched the Friday and Saturday telecasts on Golf Channel and CBS complained about the networks' incessant showing of CEOs and celebrities" (GOLF WORLD MONDAY, 2/14 issue).
PLAYING IT SAFE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Bruce Dowbiggin reports the CBC's "Hockey Day in Canada" Saturday did not touch on the "current debate about using public funds for a new hockey arena in Quebec City." The CBC's Don Cherry "understood how divisive the issue is, steering clear of political fights with Quebec on Saturday." Other analysts also "avoided the tetchy topic of whether political expediency will trump the expressed desire of Canadians to keep their national sport and tax revenue separate." The CBC's "reluctance to air the topic in the midst of its annual feel-good marathon is understandable," as it is "best to leave the bucks-for-pucks argument in the lap" of Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/14).
NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE: In St. Petersburg, Tom Jones wrote the "worst part about this time of year in sports" is that NBC's NHL coverage and ABC's NBA coverage "are on at the same time, forcing viewers to pick one or flip between the two." The production and direction of the two are "first rate, but it's the announcers who set them above all else on television in February and March." ABC's first game of Sunday doubleheaders is "usually called by Mike Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, who just might be the best analyst in any sport on television." Van Gundy is "so entertaining" because he "says whatever is on his mind." Meanwhile, NBC's Ed Olczyk is "hockey's version of Van Gundy." After a bad penalty call during yesterday's Bruins-Red Wings game, Olczyk said, "If you're not sure (about a call), put the whistle in your pocket!" (TAMPABAY.com, 2/13).
WELL PLAYED: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes, "Strong stuff from ESPN on Friday night, cutting from Lakers-Knicks (Lakers were up 16 in the third) to Clippers-Cavaliers for the last play of regulation." The Clippers "did not score, forcing the game to overtime, when the Cavs snapped their record losing streak" (N.Y. POST, 2/14).
