THIS BUD'S FOR YOU: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes on
"Nagano '98 Olympics: Bud Greenspan's Stories of Honor and
Glory" which airs Sunday on Showtime at 8:00pm: "There are
no disquieting words -- unless you count references to the
awful, event-delaying weather -- just tales of triumph."
Greenspan: "I don't do controversy well. ... I like to spend
100% of my time on the 90% that's good" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/18).
The TIMES' Steve McKee added, "He doesn't sanitize the
Games; he idealizes them ... His are the Games without all
blah-blah - commercial, nationalistic, and otherwise. ...
Thirty years after [his first film] and Mr. Greenspan can
still deliver the thrill factor" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/18).
NAMES: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick puts Kenny Albert, ex-
Yankee catcher Rick Cerone, and WNYW-Fox sports anchor Curt
Menefee as "frontrunners" for WNYW's Yankees coverage. The
station is expected to rotate three men in a two-man booth
(N.Y. POST, 12/18)....In L.A., Larry Stewart writes on the
speculation that Roy Firestone may return as host of ESPN's
"Up Close." Firestone's contract expires December 31 and
"the topic figures to come up during negotiations. ESPN's
decision on a permanent host "is expected to be made next
month" (L.A. TIMES, 12/18)....In N.Y., Celia McGee reports
that Spike Lee "is close to signing a deal for his own
imprint with the Crown Publishing Group." Crown published
Lee's "Best Seat in the House," and the books would "likely"
take a sports angle (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/18).
