The following comment was written by Phil Mushnick in the New York Post:

“CBS’s Billy Packer has drifted from what made him a valued analyst. He used to speak only to tell us something worth our attention; he seemed to understand that live TV didn’t need that much extra help.

But he now seems compelled to say something - anything - on every possession, and you know where that takes him and us. For example, Saturday, Memphis had the ball, up 24-23 over UCLA, when Packer said, “An opportunity, here, for Memphis to increase the margin.” That’s not analysis, that’s filler.”

Leave Billy Packer alone. Such a nit-picky criticism wouldn’t have even been written had not rumors surfaced that this might be Packer’s last Final Four. Packer has lost nothing off his fastball and remains the most insightful, perceptive and succinct basketball analyst in the business.

Packer has lost nothing off his fastball. Even if he had, viewers don’t want to see him leave anymore than Dodger fans want Vin Scully to exit.

Leave Packer alone.

In addition to my responsibilities with STAA, I also teach a sportscasting class at San Diego’s Palomar College. Here are some of the suggestions I give to them in response to some of their most common mistakes:

* Give the time and score frequently. Listeners who are just tuning in don’t want to have to wait more than a minute or so to know who is winning.

* Be clear about which team has the ball. There are so many changes of possession in basketball that it is especially important to say which team has the ball, which team grabs the rebound and which team makes the steal. Many fans don’t know which team has the ball based only upon the names of the players.

* Where on the court is the ball? You are good at telling me which player has the ball but you frequently forget to mention where they are on the court. Instead of Kobe to Walton, say Kobe at the top of the key, right wing to Walton.

* We talk frequently about varying your vocabulary. When a player’s shot is missed, a common habit is to say “misses” or “no good.” Instead of always saying that, tell me if it is too long, off to the left, clanks off the front iron,” etc. By the same token, on made baskets, don’t always say that the shot is “good.”

* Provide me with some description of things other than the action. Every so often, tell me about what you are seeing on the sidelines and in the stands. Also describe more emotions for me. Are guys smiling, frowning, happy, frustrated, disbelieving?

* Remember that a proper lockout has the time, score and station call letters.

* Describe the emotions and non-action related things you see. For example: Phil Jackson screaming at the ref; The fans chanting d-fense; The fans are on their feet; Walton bends down to tie his shoe. Periodically describing the atmosphere and emotions inside the arena adds considerable life to a broadcast.

When a job ad asks for your salary requirements, the last thing you
want to do is to give a concrete answer. It could lead to you
getting low-balled by the employer.

My suggestion is to simply write, “Salary requirement based upon
entire compensation package.”

For any given job, the entire compensation package could include
vacation or personal time accruals, base salary, insurance
benefits, employee benefits, SSA plans, bonus plans, etc. There can
be great value in these and would offset a lower base salary.

Greg Sharpe is the new voice of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. As it turns out, the man he’s replacing didn’t want to leave.

Jim Rose resigned with three games left in the football season, he said, due to physical and emotional fatigue. However, sometime between then and now, and after the decision had already been made to hire Sharpe, Rose changed his mind and began lobbying to try to get his job back.

I don’t blame Rose for his buyer’s remorse. Most everyone has experienced it at one time or another. However, once Rose resigned he should have stepped aside gracefully and kept his second thoughts to himself. By not doing so, he has created a messy, uncomfortable situation for Sharpe. Rose is still employed in sales by the network. Now Sharpe gets to work with the man he is replacing — and a man who wants his job back.

Sharpe deseves better from Rose. Rose deserves better from himself.

The day after major league baseball’s all-star game is widely considered to be the most boring period on the sports radio calendar. The game is over, the season doesn’t resume for another day and there aren’t any other college or pro sports going on.

However, the day after the all-star game isn’t the most boring period on the sports radio calendar. It is Super Bowl week.

Specifically, the most boring sports radio of the year is any show originating live from Radio Row at the Super Bowl. The endless parade of former players guffawing, reminiscing and pitching products and causes from beer to prostate cancer is as exciting as a good root canal.

I turn on my local morning show and I hear Joe Theisman discussing prostate cancer. Then I turn on the Jim Rome and Dan Patrick shows and I hear Joe Theisman talking about prostate cancer. Later, I hear Terrel Davis talking about flying with the Blue Angels. Then I hear Joe Theisman on Fox Sports Radio talking about prostate cancer. Enough!

The Memphis Tigers are undefeated, the Celtics are chasing their first title since the Reagan administration and Johan Santana has just been traded to the Mets, yet I have to listen to Barry Sanders go on and on about how someone is bidding $12,000 to have Barry over for a Super Bowl party.

I can’t stomach any more Super Bowl coverage live from Glendale. I have turned off my radio. I’m going to have my prostate examined.

In his nearly three decades as Boston Celtics television play-by-play man, Mike Gorman has seen more rebuilding projects than the folks from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” This season, the Green is off to one of the best starts in team history, and once again, Gorman is front and center.

“I have never seen excitement like this so early,” says Gorman, a Dorchester, MA native who calls Celtics action regionally on Comcast SportsNet. “Did you see Gilbert Arenas’s blog after the opening game of the season? He said it was as incredible a building as he has ever been in, and that he was not ready for that type of atmosphere.”

A veteran of the New England media scene since his early days at WPRO in Providence, Gorman believes that the current Celtics are taking a cue from their successful local brethren. He states, “They have picked up the ball from the Pats and Sox and they are running with it. They are capitalizing on the success of those two teams and the organization is very conscious of that.

“This is as good an ownership as I’ve been around. They have shown a willingness to spend money and when Danny (Ainge) has come to them saying he needed something, they have never said no. They also never gave any indication that Danny’s or Doc’s (Rivers) job was in jeopardy.”

Indeed, C’s owner Wyc Grousbeck and company have been patient almost to a fault with Ainge and Rivers. The fruits of this heretofore-questionable support now taste pretty sweet. “The ownership has given Danny a chance to do his thing,” says Gorman, whose “Gorman Points” blog and mailbag can be seen at www.comcastsportsnet.com.

“He told me three or four years ago that he was going to collect some chips. Either those young players would develop, or he would trade them for established talent.

“If they had gotten the first or second draft pick, I think they would have taken Kevin Durant or Greg Oden and blended them in with Al Jefferson and the other young players. When that did not happen, Danny did a good job of putting another plan into effect. He had players that were desirable to other teams. He was never backed into a corner. Danny would have preferred to get Oden or Durant, but this option turned out even better.”

Playing the lead in this Celtic revival is Kevin Garnett. Gorman is as impressed with KG’s presence as he is with his performance. “After getting Ray Allen on draft night, Danny went back to Garnett and asked, ‘How do we look now?’

“Garnett is an old soul. I didn’t know what to expect personality-wise. A lot of people have said that it would have been better to get Garnett when he was younger. I think we got him at the perfect time. He is motivated to win a title and Danny knew that.”

The versatility and leadership of Garnett conjures up visions of past Celtic stars. Says Gorman, “I was fascinated talking to Garnett. He is inclusive. It is we, not I. He is extremely sensitive as well. He told me that in his entire career, he has never felt so appreciated. He wants to give back.

“We have a 7’1” guy who is our best rebounder, best passer, best defender and a great scorer. Only Larry Bird and Dave Cowens come to mind in that way. In college basketball, the coach’s personality dominates the team. In the NBA, your best player’s personality dominates the team.”

The Celtics’ fast start has fans licking their chops in anticipation of a playoff bonanza, but Gorman says that the journey might be as fun as the ultimate destination. “These guys are into the process of getting to where they want to be. There are in no hurry to get to May and June. They want to enjoy every practice and game. This is probably the best team that Ray Allen, Garnett and Paul Pierce have been on and they are going to make the Garden a tough place to play again.”

Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen are powerful offensive forces, but Gorman focuses more on their defense and team philosophy. “The goal of really good players is to make the other guys around them better. With KG and Ray, guys like (Brian) Scalabrine and (Kendrick) Perkins can focus on their strengths.

“This team is so much better defensively. (Assistant coach) Tom Thibodeau has a reputation for coaching defense. I asked Tommy (Heinsohn) about the defense and he said that it is so much easier when the best player (Garnett) buys in.

“The top 8 players on this team can all play defense and they have all bought into this. I spoke to (WEEI midday host) Dale Arnold and he said, ‘Let’s see how things are 30 games into the season.’ I told him that he has not been around Kevin Garnett too much.”

One guy who is benefiting from being around Kevin Garnett is Paul Pierce. In the past, Gorman has stated that Pierce is not built to be a vocal leader. With Garnett’s arrival, the Celtics captain can focus on playing, not public speaking.

“Sometimes, you love your job, but there is one part of it that you don’t like,” Gorman relates. “That’s how I see Pierce. With Garnett, Paul does not have to do that anymore. Paul tried to be the vocal leader, but it is not in his nature to stand up and speak in the locker room. Ray Allen is a great leader, but he is not very demonstrative. Garnett would give me a glare if he heard me say this, but ultimately, he will be the defining guy on this team.”

With success, comes pressure. Gorman recognizes that the great start has raised the bar for this team as the season progresses. “Doc welcomes the expectations. It’s great to develop players, but you look up and you’re 100 games under .500. Doc would rather hear people say that the Celtics should reach the Conference Finals as opposed to saying they might be an 8th seed and get knocked out in the first round.”

“If this team loses a few games, they are not going to question themselves and turn it into a long losing streak. That’s what happened with the young players last year. People have asked how many games I think this team will win this season. I tell them that the number for me is 72. If Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen and Rondo can play 72 games, they will be great.”

History shows that past Celtics teams put a strong emphasis on the point guard, whether it was Bob Cousy feeding Bill Russell inside, Jo Jo White whipping down the court to start the fastbreak or the late Dennis Johnson firing a laser to Larry Bird for an easy layup. This year’s quarterback is Rajon Rondo, a veritable babe among the seasoned vets.

“Rondo is going to be fine,” says Gorman. “He is scoring, but that’s not even an issue. He is a strong defender and very smart with the ball. People ask if he can make shots. This team has three Hall of Famers. With KG and Ray, the Celtics are pushing the ball up the floor. If they get an early shot, they take it, but if not, these great players can get their touches and make teams defend.

“Doc wants to play 8 guys, 9 at the most in key games. One of the Big 3 (Pierce, Allen, Garnett) will always be on the floor, maybe even two of them. Rondo can tape his fingers together and the team will be fine.”

Fine would be an understatement in describing the talent, class and consistency of Gorman’s work. The man whose career began at WNBH in New Bedford, MA has won five Emmy Awards and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.

Gorman perfectly balances his role as narrator, pace setter and straight man for the explosive personality of Heinsohn, his longtime partner. Gorman and Heinsohn are recognized as the longest running broadcast team in television sports history.

“I try be non-intrusive, hopefully adding to the viewing experience without interrupting it,” says Gorman, who has also called Connecticut Sun WNBA hoops. “A little humor every now and then helps, and knowing when to be quiet is all important. Play-by-play announcers who think they are the show are all too common these days.

“There are too many guys who are just trying to get on “SportsCenter.” Play-by-play is supposed to be spontaneous, not planned. With the possible exception of Keith Jackson on college football, I can’t think of ever tuning into a game just to hear the play-by-play guy.”

In addition to his legendary status as Celtics announcer, Gorman has also worked the Olympics for NBC. The 1992 Summer Games hold special meaning. “I got to spend a month in Barcelona with my wife Teri and our daughter Kristen (age 7 at the time). That was the year of the original basketball Dream Team with whom we spent a lot of time. As a family we still retell stories and adventures we had that month.”

With those memories safely tucked away, Gorman, in his 27th season of Celtics play-by-play, is now experiencing a new dream. “I was spoiled to walk right in with the 1980s Celtics. Those teams were very rare and now to have it happen again, I am ecstatic. People say that Allen and Garnett are old, but come on, we are not talking about Roger Clemens here. These guys have all come together at the perfect time.”

Rising Stars

Troy Aikman, Fox: Kudos to Aikman for giving credit to Bill Parcells for his role in revitalizing the Dallas Cowboys. Most of the mainstream media ignores the Tuna factor in Dallas because Parcells never bowed down to the press. Aikman’s assertion that Parcells’ keen eye for talent stacked this roster was long overdue.

Frank Deford, HBO: If you haven’t seen Deford’s latest “Real Sports” story about an organ recipient and the family of a young donor who committed suicide, you might have missed the most heart wrenching feature story of the year. It is worth seeing, and seeing again.

Andrea Kremer, NBC: Kremer continues to set the pace in sideline reporting on “Sunday Night Football.” She made the impossible a reality, actually getting detailed information on injuries to Patriots players during the game vs. the Eagles. Al Michaels should have brought back his old “Do you believe in miracles?” call.

Falling Stars

Cris Carter, HBO: Carter is one of the most entertaining studio analysts on “Inside the NFL,” but he did a mild flip-flop recently. Earlier in the season, Carter said that the Patriots could go undefeated. Recently, he stated that the Steelers would be the AFC’s representative in the Super Bowl. So, which one is it, Cris?

USA Today: Tuesday’s sports headline at USAToday.com read, “After close call vs. Eagles, Patriots are imperfect 11-0.” Huh? I had no idea that a three-point win relegated a team to imperfection. I guess we better revisit the 1972 Dolphins supposed perfect season. On October 22, 1972, they beat the lowly Bills (4-8-1 season record) by only one point in Miami. Cancel that champagne order, boys.

Roger Goodell: The NFL commissioner has proven himself to be a heavy-handed despot when it comes to players toting guns or coaches taping opponents’ signals, but his inaction in getting the NFL Network on basic cable packages is embarrassing. Goodell wields enough power to get the greedy cable companies (Hello, Comcast and your $7.95 a month fee) to surrender a few bucks and allow fans to see his product without sacrificing college for their children.

He has been panned for defending African American sports personalities and criticizing African American sports personalities. He has been chastised for being too outspoken and too reticent. Television maestro Bryant Gumbel spent 15 years (1982-97) as the cohost of NBC’s “Today” show, but his today centers around sports.

Since 1995, he has been the host of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” The Emmy-winning machine continues to set the pace in intelligent and enlightening sports talk and features.

Part of the fascination with “Real Sports” is Gumbel himself, who is as inscrutable as he is talented. Since bursting onto the national scene in 1975 as host of NBC’s NFL, MLB and NCAA basketball coverage, Gumbel has been a lightning rod for everyone from David Letterman to Dave Chappelle. Through all the public furor, Gumbel remains an intensely private man, eschewing personal interviews and the show biz spotlight.

On Thanksgiving night, Gumbel begins his second season as play-by-play man for the NFL Network. Last week, Gumbel, who rarely agrees to one-on-one interviews, spoke candidly to Media Blitz about his life, career and sports in general.

“People who know me know that I rarely talk about what I do,” says the 59 year-old Gumbel. “I was raised that way. My dad (the late Richard Gumbel) was a judge. He was smarter that I am and a better person than I am. I’m just a guy on TV. I prefer to be a quiet person. I have friends who enjoy the limelight. I’d rather play golf everyday.”

Gumbel’s resistance to delve into his personal life is in stark contrast to his open discussion of his latest television chef-d’oeuvre. “I have never enjoyed or been more proud of a show ever.” The show he speaks of is “Real Sports,” Gumbel’s media Nirvana if you will. The HBO program combines the sobering reality of news with the gleeful escape of sports. Gumbel appears to be every bit the proud parent when his correspondents join him in studio after another groundbreaking feature.

“Sports are games, but they have a serious side, says Gumbel. “I laugh because for the reporters, the most intense thing we do is the interview after the story. They have no idea what I am going to ask them. I am just as curious as the viewer. We never rehearse the interview. On the rare occasion that we have to do a second take, I’ll change my questions. “Real Sports” is more of a dream job than “Today” ever was. I interviewed a zillion authors and ingénues. After a while it becomes the same.”

So, after a career that began at KNBC in Los Angeles in 1972, what attracts Gumbel to a potential subject? “There is a common thread in stories that interest me,” he states. “There is no massive principle, but what it comes down to is whether that story makes someone say, ‘Hmm, I didn’t know that.’ Television at its finest shows viewers something that they have not seen, tells them something they did not know, and takes them somewhere they have not been.”

Unlike most of today’s derivative media personalities and programs, for Gumbel, it comes down to originality. “You have to think about how much the viewer can learn from a story. Does it have a good central character? Some stories are better in video than in print. Others are great stories, but just not good for TV.”

“Real Sports” has made good TV a habit. The program has garnered 15 Sports Emmy Awards and the 2006 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism, the first such award for a sports program. Like the sports it covers, “Real Sports” comes down to teamwork.

Says Gumbel, “We have excellent production assistants on the show. They scour the small type in various periodicals looking for stories. There is also a great camaraderie among the correspondents and producers. It is not uncommon for one of our producers to show a story to his or her peers to get feedback. This is quite rare, but a regular part of our program. We want to look good in the eyes of our peers.”

“Real Sports” features such gifted correspondents as Frank Deford, Bernard Goldberg, James Brown, Andrea Kremer, Jon Frankel and Mary Carillo, all of whom seem perfect for their various assignments. Does the program develop stories to fit the reporter?

“It’s a great question,” says Gumbel, who also hits the field to cover various stories. “When a story comes up, we see who is available. Maybe Frank (Deford) or Bernie (Goldberg) is around, but maybe not. It would be nice to have the luxury of tailoring a story to a correspondent, but we don’t have that.”

One of the most remarkable dichotomies of Gumbel is his stance on television. This is a man who has lived in the medium since his early 20s, yet remains somewhat distanced from it. He explains, “I’ve never seen “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” “CSI,” or “American Idol.” I don’t watch TV. I watch sports because it has the things I like, drama and human interaction.”

Much of the criticism that Gumbel has engendered is due to his utter fearlessness and honesty. Today’s media is far too concerned with being liked by rich and powerful athletes. As silent as Gumbel may be in life, he shows no such reserve in his work.

In 1989, a memo criticizing some of his “Today” show colleagues was leaked to the public. While hosting the CBS “Early Show,” Gumbel’s disgust with a guest mistakenly went out over the airwaves. Gumbel again courted controversy in February of 2006 when, in his “Real Sports” commentary, he said of the Winter Olympics, “Count me among those who don’t care about them and won’t watch them … So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world’s greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the winter games look like a GOP convention.”

In August of 2006, Gumbel, directing his comments to new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, offered these stinging words about NFL Players Union president and former Raiders’ lineman Gene Upshaw.

“Before he cleans out his office, have Paul Tagliabue show you where he keeps Gene Upshaw’s leash. By making the docile head of the players union his personal pet, your predecessor has kept the peace without giving players the kind of guarantees other pros take for granted. Try to make sure no one competent ever replaces Upshaw on your watch.”

At the time, then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue stated, “What Gumbel said about Gene Upshaw and our owners is about as irresponsible as anything I’ve heard in a long time.”

The fact is that Gumbel was correct in his assessment of Upshaw. More than a year later, he stands by his words. “I know Gene to only say hello,” says Gumbel. “It was not a personal stab and I was not out to get him. There was no sabotage here. I just think he is a bad choice for the job he is doing.

“He gets a pass, but he is doing a bad job for his constituents. I have no personal vendetta against Gene. You would have been shocked at the number of calls of support I got from players. They thanked me. The problems of the NFL Players’ Association were hidden. Now, they are on the front burner. I hope that one day, the Players Association realizes that they can easily do better without Gene Upshaw.”

Despite an openness to take on sports’ giants, Gumbel does not tread casually into such dangerous territory. “I agonized over saying what I said about Gene, and whether I was saying more than I should. I don’t want to say something that can hurt someone personally. That is not proper.”

On a recent edition of “Real Sports,” correspondent James Brown interviewed Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb. In the interview, McNabb stated that he feels that African-American quarterbacks are judged differently than their white counterparts. The statement incurred the wrath of media types everywhere.

Fox’s Terry Bradshaw dismissed McNabb’s feelings saying that McNabb needed some love. Barry Switzer, also a Fox analyst, implied that McNabb was degrading black quarterbacks who struggled before him. Gumbel’s response to the criticism is pointed.

“That bothers the hell out of me,” he states. “Look, we are all free to criticize the play of Donovan McNabb or how he deals with the media. We are not qualified to say what he feels about prejudice. I don’t care for George Bush and I am free to say that I don’t like his politics. I am not free to say what George Bush feels. You cannot go there. People like to sit there and judge.

“After McNabb’s comments, people said that a guy like Rex Grossman has gotten more criticism. ‘McNabb played the race card,’ they said. Well, there are many people who feel victimized by race a thousand times and say nothing. It is silly to think that you are in a position to critique someone’s feelings. It would be like me criticizing a woman who was raped. Do I in any way know what she felt?”

Gumbel has been the subject of parody by African American comedians, mostly for his professorial look and fastidious nature, but the outward conservatism belies the racial activist within. Gumbel has been honored by the United Negro College Fund, the Congress of Racial Equality, the NAACP and the African-American Institute. He has been a champion for racial equality and has never hidden behind his cushy and lucrative broadcast gigs. He recognizes that race is a factor in sports and embraces discourse on it.

“Race comes up a lot and money exacerbates things,” says Gumbel, who was born in New Orleans, raised in Chicago and graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, ME. “People see a black athlete making a lot of money and say, ‘I’m making $25.00 an hour at the plant. I don’t want to hear you bitch.’ The divide has grown.

“Many people are jealous, and many rich athletes are completely out of touch. I got a lot of flack for saying that I don’t watch the Winter Olympics because there are few black athletes. McNabb addressed the controversy. Most people are afraid to say the word race.”

While many media pundits make judgments based on race, others judge athletes based on their media friendliness. “That is 1000% right,” says Gumbel. “We define people as good or bad based on how they treat us. If an athlete is mean, we assume he goes home and beats his wife. Unless we stay with these guys in a number of different environments, we really don’t know. If an athlete is approachable, he’s great. If an athlete does not speak to the media, he’s an a—ole.”

A good example of one current athlete who has been judged and misjudged by the media is Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss. Gumbel profiled Moss in his rookie season with Minnesota and again when he joined the Raiders two years ago. Between mooning fans in Green Bay and publicly stating that he used marijuana, Moss became an easy target for critics.

In a recent “Real Sports” commentary, Gumbel said of Moss, “He’s happy. He’s productive. He’s professional and despite reports of his premature burial, he’s suddenly seen as a good guy.

“The Randy turnaround says a lot about the man. But the public’s view of him says even more about the perspective of fans and media people alike. In a world where every and anybody wants to have a say, and pretend they’re an image-maker, it’s a reminder of a plain and simple football truth that applies to both players and coaches. That if you lose, fans and media types can’t help you…and if you win, they can’t hurt you.”

Gumbel further expounds on the fickle nature of critics. “We complain about guys giving cookie cutter answers to questions, and then there is outrage when someone speaks his mind. Vijay Singh took a lot of heat when (in 2003) he said that Annika Sorenstam should have to qualify to play in men’s competitions. A guy like Derek Jeter says nothing, so we’ll never know how he feels.”

While Gumbel recognizes that PGA superstar Tiger Woods makes himself available to the media, he wishes that the substance of this availability would be a bit more substantial. “I do find it sad that in an era where athletes are our most recognizable and admired role models, we come upon a presidential election and we have no idea whom they support.

“Kurt Warner spoke publicly about a religious issue (stem cell research) in Missouri. I may not agree with him, but at least he is involved. It’s hard to find a single athlete who’ll say one word about who should be president. I admire people who show that they are part of the world in which they live as opposed to those who don’t realize and don’t care about the influence they wield.”

Speaking of issues, Gumbel’s views on the celebrated Spygate scandal and the Patriots supposed running up the score are pointed. He states, “I compare Spygate to Watergate. With Watergate, a lot of people said, ‘Oh well, every president probably did it. Nixon was the one who got caught.’ Belichick got caught and this will stay with him forever.

“Belichick is not friendly to the media. If he were more approachable, he might be given a pass. I’m surprised that Roger Goodell stopped investigating. It is not consistent with what he has been doing with other rules violations. As for running up the score, I am not sure if there is any truth to that or if it even matters. I do have concern that in retaliation, someone might beat the crap out of Tom Brady on the field.”

A recent “Real Sports” featured a gruesomely graphic story on the abuse and violence inherent in dog fighting rings similar to the one that has put Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick in prison. While Gumbel believes that Vick should be punished, he also believes that there is some overkill.

“I was going to do a commentary about this,” he states. “I think people are now piling on Michael Vick. He lost millions of dollars, his reputation and his livelihood. He has to piss in a cup with regularity and was in home confinement. He is paying the price for what he did. No one loves dogs more than I do. My dogs Archie and Cujo hate Michael Vick and would like to see him punished, but there is a limit.”

Gumbel continues to blaze an important and unique trail in his work. Those who persist in criticizing his personal and professional life are missing the larger picture. In a media lot littered with wannabes and boot lickers, Gumbel stands, all to often alone, as an example of defiant, yet refined, passion. He angers a lot of people and is conversely riled by the unaware.

“I guess ignorance in action gets me angry,” says Gumbel. “People who say stupid things on the air and then wonder why they catch flack for it. Talk radio is the worst thing to happen to sports. I get aggravated at people who use horrible grammar and terrible English. They seem proud of not knowing what a word means. Why be proud of something you don’t know?

“There is an inherent ignorance in their approach and response. It’s all about being louder than the next guy. I was raised by a conservative dad. He always said that the loudest guy is the weakest guy.”

“Frank TV” the new TBS late night program featuring the immense talents of comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo has been cut from eight episodes to five due to the ongoing television writers’ strike.

“I was supposed to Letterman and Conan in the next couple of weeks, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen with all of that because of the strike” says Caliendo, who will continue his always terrific picks segments on Fox’s “NFL Sunday” pregame show.

“The strike did cut our episodes down to five instead of the eight that (TBS) ordered, so we have been greatly affected.” Last Monday, about 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike largely over issues related to new media fees.

Despite the strike, “Frank TV” promises to be a huge success, mainly because of the incredible talents of its star. Says Caliendo, “The show is a sketch show based on my standup.

“I’ll be setting up sketches with some background for the audience and sometimes making an observation about an actor, and then showing how that observation can be applied in a situation. For example, Al Pacino always yells in movies, so it would be great to see what he would do if he had to play a librarian.”

“Frank TV” premieres Tuesday, November 20, at 11:00 p.m. on TBS. On Friday, November 16 at 10:00 p.m., TBS will air a one-hour stand-up special “Frank Caliendo: All Over The Place” from Las Vegas.

A veteran standup comic, Caliendo joined the cast of Fox’s “MADtv” in 2001 and has appeared on Comedy Central, “The View” and a host of late night talk shows. Still, it is his work on Fox’s NFL pregame fare that has catapulted the 33 year-old comedian to comedic fame. His John Madden impression, among others, has become a classic. Caliendo will continue his Fox work through the 2008 season.

“Fox has brought me to another level in the entertainment industry” explains Caliendo. “Just being associated with guys like Terry (Bradshaw), Howie (Long) and Jimmy (Johnson) has made my name grow.”

Whether it’s a pro like Caliendo or your buddy at the local tavern, the ability to do impressions continues to amuse and amaze audiences. So, is it a natural gift, the result of a good ear, or a product of endless practice?

Caliendo responds, “Some of it is natural and there’s a lot of practice that goes into it as well. There’s no set process. For me, it’s lots of observation and just reacting and mimicking. When I look at someone, it’s almost like I’m looking in a mirror and doing the same thing the other person is doing. I hear things and see things that the average person might miss. My brain just breaks people down.”

The process of breaking down a voice may or may not lead to success. “It’s always different” says Caliendo, who was born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee. “The keys are the pitch of the voice, cadence and the person’s dialect. If you get one of those, people probably might start to recognize it. If you get two, lots of people will probably get it, and if you hit all three, that’s when you have a dead on impression.”

Caliendo learned from an impressive host of comedic influences. “I loved Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman” he relates. “I’m a huge Jim Carrey fan, but I loved Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters the most as a kid. I love the tangents they went on. That was my style of humor, and I just used the impressions the same way they did kooky characters.”

Caliendo’s most “dead on” impression is John Madden, the famed NBC “Sunday Night Football” broadcaster. It is right up there in the pantheon of great impressions with Billy Crystal’s Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dana Carvey’s George Bush, Sr.

A friend of mine, Phil Tag, told me that I should do it years and years ago. I stupidly said, ‘Where will that get me?’ I did work on it and got it. I try to do it less on TV nowadays, but people in TV, like David Letterman, ask me to do it more and more. It’s still fun for me and people recognize me because of it, so I think that’s pretty cool.”

The best part of Caliendo’s Madden impression is his relentless references to a certain Packers’ quarterback with whom the real Madden is enamored. “Brett Favre is the most fun to say. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s because he says it so much in real life, but it’s just the perfect sounding name for Madden to say.”

TBS promoted the heck out of “Frank TV” during its MLB postseason with quick promos and a tour de force of impressions. It is clear that John Madden is not the lone horse in Caliendo’s sports stable. He states, “I do Bill Walton, Marv Albert, Charles Barkley and Jim Rome. Sports has always been a big part of my life.

“My dad was a minor league infielder with the White Sox in the 1960s and I loved playing sports as a kid. We won the AAU National 14 and under Baseball Championships in 1988. I just never had the arm to go on to the next level. I was going to play in college (at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), but decided that it would be better for me to study instead. ”

Late night shows like “MADtv” allow Caliendo to push the comedic envelope. His work on Fox is a bit more limited. “It’s fairly strict” says Caliendo, who grew up a Brewers, Packers and Bears fan.

“We’re on Sunday mornings, so we have to be careful. We can make fun of the studio guys pretty much any way we want. We just don’t like to mess with their families, other than Terry’s ex-wives. It’s silly humor, not meant in a mean way at all.”

Like it or not, we live in a society of racial tension. One of Caliendo’s latest impressions is of ex-NBA star and TNT analyst Charles Barkley. Given these seemingly sensitive times in which we live, is Caliendo afraid of backlash from doing an impression of someone from a different ethnic or racial background?

“I’m scared to death” he replies. “But I don’t do it to be negative. I did Barkley on the show, and I did JB (ex-Fox and current CBS NFL studio host James Brown). Some people get mad, but JB liked it and even gave me the permission to do it.

“I think of people as being equal, even though I understand there’s history that limits what I would ever do. I’m very careful. It’s not a race thing when I do a character who isn’t white. It’s about that specific person. They do Jesse Jackson with Darrell Hammond over at SNL (NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”) and nobody says anything. It’s really about being respectful.”

When “Frank TV” premieres on November 20 at 11:00 p.m. on TBS, viewers can look forward to hilarious impressions and comedic takes on some of Caliendo’s favorite characters including Pacino, Robin Williams, President Bush and Barkley. TBS will continue to pump up the program using show segments. Check out clips at frankcaliendo.com and TBS.com.

Says Caliendo, “They’ll probably use some stuff from the show because there is no new stuff being shot for promos. They’re going to do some sneak peaks pretty soon, which should be cool. I’ll be all over the radio in the next couple weeks.”

For as critical as I’ve been to ESPN on just about everything, I have to praise them for something this week.

During the second quarter of the Monday Night Football game on November 5, Terry Bradshaw joined Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Tony Kornheiser in the booth of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 38-7 rout of
Baltimore.

While I’m sure Ravens fans had just about all they could handle of the celebration of the Steelers’ franchise to that point, Bradshaw was the perfect in-booth guest. The Steelers were celebrating their 75^th Anniversary with a host of former greats and Bradshaw was not just their Hall of Fame, four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, but the most charismatic personality in a group of legendary former players that included a professional motivational speaker (Rocky Bleier) and Pennsylvania’s most recent Republican Gubernatorial candidate (Lynn Swann).

And if ESPN had continued the pattern set by ABC five years ago, it never would have happened.

Bradshaw is the face of “The NFL on FOX’s” pre-game show. A visible member of another network is rarely given any airtime, let alone the spotlight, on a football broadcast.

This was apparent five years ago when Bradshaw, who had once had a falling out with Pittsburgh and the Steelers, returned to the city that made him famous for memorable and emotional halftime and pre-game ceremonies in his honor during a Monday Night Football Game against the Indianapolis Colts.

But ABC ignored it, despite the wave of emotion going on at Heinz Field at the time. Al Michaels simply made halftime announcements as his figure blocked out on-screen images of what was going on the field.

By playing network politics, ABC failed to capture what was actually going on the field. Doesn’t an image of Bradshaw greeting Peyton Manning on the field qualify for a great generational “meeting of the minds” camera shot?

Nobody is saying ABC had to invite Bradshaw in the booth or televise the entire halftime show. But to fail to acknowledge the most memorable images of an otherwise lackluster 28-10 Steelers triumph is to fail to give the entire story of what was going on in the stadium on that day.

ESPN not only played up the emotion felt in the stadium, they built off it when the game was lopsided. And if it meant some air time for a revered sports figure that happened to work on another network- so be it.

Nobody saw Terry Bradshaw as a FOX sportscaster when he was in the booth. He was, perhaps for the last time, the Steelers quarterback, which Bradshaw himself pointed out when he mentioned how long ago his on-field triumphs seemed during his in-game interview.

It was good reporting, something that shouldn’t be influenced by network politics or sponsorships.

BUT SPEAKING OF POLITICS-

The opening of the game featured a fictitious “Welcome to
Pittsburgh” sign with a smaller sign beneath it reading “Mayor Luke Ravenstahl- 2007.”

Though nobody outside of
Pittsburgh would have caught this, an argument can be made that ESPN was campaigning for Ravenstahl.

Election Day in
Pittsburgh was the day after the game. Ravenstahl was running for re-election, and it is considered a breach of ethics in political coverage to feature a particular candidate in a local election the day before the vote.

Ravenstahl’s mention on the sign was not pertinent to the broadcast. Certainly Ravenstahl’s opponent, Mark DeSantis, would have done just about anything for such attention on a national stage.

Ravenstahl got a free “Don’t Forget to Vote For Me Tomorrow” reminder to the thousands watching the game in the City of
Pittsburgh from a supposedly objective source in ESPN.

We expect more journalistic integrity from ESPN.

Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game on CBS received as much hype as any regular season game in history. It did not disappoint on any front. The two teams slugged it out, while CBS did justice to the game with outstanding coverage.

Jim Nantz was adept at setting up partner Phil Simms, while also asserting his own views. Simms was right on, and expressed appropriate disagreement with several bad calls from the officials. Those were the voices of the game, but what of the pregame?

In the days leading up to the battle of the undefeateds, there were quotes aplenty. In the aftermath of New England’s 24-20 win, let’s use a little hindsight to analyze a few of them.

“We got a good break with the two teams being undefeated going in and I can’t remember anyone at CBS Sports being more pumped up for a regular season football game.” - Sean McManus, CBS Sports and News President.

Amen Sean! The Patriots and Colts gave the 94% of the nation that could watch the game a real treat. It wasn’t ballet. The game was, at times, ugly with the Patriots logging enough penalties to make Terry O’Reilly and Dave Semenko blush, but it was a classic heavyweight bout.

“History has showed us that (the Patriots and Colts) are both willing to do something different. So I can’t wait to find out and can’t wait to watch on Sunday.” - Phil Simms, CBS game analyst

Once again, Simms was on the mark. Pats QB Tom Brady admitted in his postgame press conference that the Colts did things that the Patriots were not expecting. One example: Joseph Addai was the main guy running and receiving, while Dallas Clark, a notorious Patriots killer, was somewhat invisible.

“I think these two teams are a little bit different from the standpoint of how the teams were built. Indianapolis built their team through the draft, and New England, a lot of their skill positions were filled through free agency.” - Bill Cowher, CBS “NFL Today” studio analyst

You have to give the erstwhile Pittsburgh Chin Boy credit. For Indianapolis, draftees Peyton Manning and Addai were huge. As for New England, how incredibly large was the play of free agent signees Wes Welker, Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth?

“Dungy and Manning have the mental edge. They’ve been the underdog to these guys last three times they played them and they beat them. I don’t care if they have their whole contingent or not. I really believe somewhere along the way, it is going to come down to good versus evil.” – Mike Ditka, ESPN “NFL Countdown” studio analyst

It is clear that Ditka is sitting way too close to those big screen TV’s he’s been hawking. Good versus evil? When Ditka traded his entire draft for Ricky Williams a few years ago, he must have thrown in his cerebellum as an extra in the deal.

“It is hard to believe that the Colts have an advantage when they walk in as almost a touchdown underdog in their own building. But I think that might be the edge. They are used to being in this position when they play this football team. A lot of talk about respect and admiration, if the Patriots could beat you 60-0 today, that would happen.” – Tom Jackson, ESPN “NFL Countdown” studio analyst

So much for Tom Jackson, pigskin psychologist. A few years back, Jackson stated that the Patriots players hated Bill Belichick. Let me make a more accurate statement. Jackson hates Bill Belichick. His disdain for the New England coach is so apparent.

Jackson puts Colts’ coach Tony Dungy on some exalted pedestal, while Belichick is Simon Bar- Sinister. His gushing over Dungy is embarrassing. It’s almost to the point where Jackson should excuse himself from any discussion of the Patriots.

“I don’t care if you run the ball or pass the ball, if you don’t have an offensive line you can’t do either. It starts right there with the offensive line.”- Cowher

Both lines were keys to the game. When Brady and Manning were hurried or pressured, they looked amazingly average and, at times, downright bad. You can throw Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas or John Elway back there. Without the big honchos up front, they will awkwardly morph into Steve Bono, Gary Hogeboom and Norris Weese.

“(The Patriots) look forward to the battle and they’re willing to battle from start to finish. You’ve got to prove as the opposition that you are willing to fight that long. All of this really feeds into what they love. They like the turmoil. They like the action.” - Simms

Maybe Simms is pulling a Belichick and has been videotaping the Patriots. He has his finger firmly on the pulse of this team. Talk about a game that required 60 minutes of play. The Patriots never stopped from, as Simms stated, “start to finish.”

“All of us in the media took that opportunity to attach what happened in the “Spygate” episode and say that this stained their three championships. Maybe it is not verbalized in the sacred setting of the locker room, but I think they have all internalized it. I think they are inflicting that punishment on a weekly basis with that right at their very core.” - Jim Nantz, CBS game announcer

This is why Nantz is in the upper echelon of broadcasters. No play-by-play man mixes calls and commentary more seamlessly. I don’t believe that Bill Belichick harps on “spygate” at practice, but when Tom Jackson implies that sign stealing makes it tough for him to teach his child about right and wrong, that stings.

When HBO’s Cris Collinsworth questions a dynasty and pleas for stronger penalties against Belichick, that stings. We all saw how Belichick’s players rallied around him amid the controversy. There is some lingering anger and it shows on the field.

“Because you have two of the most potent offenses in the National Football League, their defenses are going to have to match that and slow each team’s offense down to some extent.” - Simms

There is no question that defense was the story in this game. The New England defense was not stellar early, but they did keep the Colts out of the end zone. If not, the game could have been over in the first quarter. The Colts defense, meanwhile, kept Brady on edge all game long. He did not have time to survey the field and had to get rid of the ball more quickly than he would have liked.

“Peyton Manning is going to have to play keep-away from Tom Brady. Usually teams play keep away from Peyton Manning, but they’re going to have to run the football, be good on third downs and keep that offense off the field.” - Dan Marino, CBS “NFL Today” and HBO “Inside the NFL” studio analyst

The Colts did just that for most of the game. In the first half, CBS caught more shots of Brady sighing on the sidelines that playing in the game. The Colts looked like the pre-Moss Patriots, running the ball and employing a short passing game to move the chains and keep the big play Pats off the field. Addai looked like a morph of Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig, catching the ball as well as running it.

“They (New England) are unstoppable. This is the best offense the NFL has ever seen.” - Boomer Esiason, CBS “NFL Today” studio analyst

New England earned this hyperbole with their offensive firepower in the first eight games of the season, but Esiason needs to reel it in a bit. The Colts showed what an angry and aggressive defense can do to the so-called “best offense the NFL has ever seen.” The Pats may yet earn that moniker, but no one gets that title in half a season.

“When they get the running game going with (Laurence) Maroney, they are going to be impossible to beat.” - Deion Sanders, NFL Network “Gameday” studio analyst

“Prime Time” was right on with that one. The Patriots had basically no ground game against the Colts, although they did try to get it going, almost to a fault. When Indy went up 20-10, New England had to go to the air to play catch up. Like Sanders said, if the Laurence Maroney show is still to come, it could get downright frightening.

“Moss is one of the best receivers in traffic because he focuses on the football.” - Sanders

Let’s just say it now. Most people were dead wrong about Randy Moss. If not for him, the Patriots would most definitely have lost against the Colts on Sunday. Moss went over the middle on numerous occasions. He took hits, held onto the ball and picked up the tough yards when the ground game proved futile.

He also turned a host of not so great Brady passes into receptions. Who knows what the future holds? Moss may still prove his critics right, but right now, he is the NFL’s leading receiver and, moreover, a receiver who leads.

“I think the only person that can stop New England’s offense is the guy whose game plan stopped the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ in Super Bowl XXXVI and also the guy whose game plan sits in Canton, Ohio for stopping the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV.

“That would be Bill Belichick. If this team goes on and wins another championship, I think you have to mention Belichick and Tom Brady in the conversation for best ever at what they do.” - Howie Long, Fox “NFL Sunday” studio analyst

Long is not one to dole out such superlatives, so it warrants attention. Having played on some unique Raider teams, Long can perhaps identify with what the Patriots are experiencing more than any other NFL studio analyst.

His Silver and Black clubs were despised by other teams and fans, had a maverick owner, a violently protective fan base, a stingy and punishing defense, a bevy of wily veterans, a vertical passing game and great offensive and defensive balance. Sound familiar?

“The reason they are the best is because Bill Belichick is an outstanding coach. He coaches new players, young players, rookies, free agents and then on top of that, he coaches his coaches. He lost Charlie Weis, he lost Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini. What does he do? He grooms young coaches to take their place.” - Jimmy Johnson, Fox “NFL Sunday” studio analyst

Enter Josh McDaniels et al. Johnson has tipped back more than a few offseason pina coladas with Belichick, so heed his words. Belichick’s supposed “running it up” is more accurately translated as playing a full 60 minutes of football regardless of the score. That, in the end, might be the greatest quality he has as a coach, and it showed in the Colts game.

“They’ve won with one star on the offense who was not as good as he is now in Tom Brady. Add Randy Moss to a team that has had one of the top three defenses as far as points allowed in football. The sky is the limit for this team. This is a team that I can sit here and say, ‘This is a team that can go undefeated’.” - Cris Carter, HBO “Inside the NFL” studio analyst

Carter’s effusive praise is a “time will tell” proposition, but Sunday’s tough win against Indianapolis might be even more ominous that the Patriots’ prior blowout wins.

Hanging fifty on an opponent is impressive, but to go into Indianapolis and take the Colts’ best shots for a full game and still have the strength to score two fourth quarter touchdowns and win is scary.

Factor in that that New England played its sloppiest game of the season and still took down a 7-0 club, and things get even more frightening. Let a whole set of new quotes begin.