In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote Dodgers announcer Vin Scully returned to the broadcast booth yesterday “after being out all week with a cold so severe he was told it was ‘one click from pneumonia.’” Scully had missed “five consecutive games.” He might have returned “earlier, but said with the cold weather doctors were concerned he could have a relapse, or in a weakened condition, pick up something else” (LATIMES.com, 4/15). In L.A., J.P. Hoornstra notes per “his pre-determined schedule, Scully will not accompany the team on its six-game road trip to Milwaukee and Houston this week” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/16).
ON HIS SOAP BOX: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes ESPN’s Jeff Van Gundy yesterday “went on another classic rant" during yesterday's Heat-Knicks game, ripping the league for "allowing players to flop to draw fouls.” Van Gundy: "It just ruins the game. I can’t believe with all the brilliance we have in the NBA office that we can't find a way to eliminate this part of the game. … I'm just sick of it, and I can't believe the NBA office isn't sick of it, too. They're obviously condoning it.'' ESPN’s Mike Breen “tried to stop Van Gundy, but the former coach plowed ahead and went on to rant for another two minutes.” Jones writes Van Gundy's best line was, "We're paying the commissioner like $25 million; he can come up with a solution" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/16).
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Carolyn Giardina reported the London Games’ Opening and Closing Ceremony as well as “portions of events including track and field, swimming and basketball will be captured in 8K resolution, which is 16 times that of HD.” Japan’s NHK has been “developing an Ultra-HDTV system called Super High Vision (SHV), and through a joint project between NHK, BBC, and Olympic Broadcast Services (OBS), this system will be tested” at the Olympics this summer (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/15).
PLAY BALL: AT&T U-Verse has signed a deal with Fox Sports Midwest to carry 18 MLB Cardinals games “that were initially slated to be blacked out,” including yesterday's game against the Cubs (CABLEFAX DAILY, 4/16).
