Good Calls Enhance USC-UCLA Game

Fox Sports Net did two good things this week. First, it found a hole on Fox Sports Net 2 so that Saturday’s USC-UCLA game at the Rose Bowl could be televised live at 3:30 p.m., meaning Channel 7 wouldn’t have to preempt the 12:30 Oregon-Oregon State game.

And then instead of simply assigning its UCLA announcing team of Bill Macdonald, Mike Sherrard and sideline reporter Suzy Shuster to work the telecast, Fox Sports Net vice president of production Gary Garcia decided to use USC commentator Craig Fertig in the booth as well.

“I was thrilled when Gary called,� Fertig said. “The only thing is, it’s going to be a little strange working alongside Bill and Mike instead of Tom.�

Fertig and Tom Kelly have been doing USC telecasts for nine seasons.

Before Fertig got Saturday’s assignment, he was planning to go to Corvallis, Ore., for the big game there. Fertig, after a stint as an assistant at USC, coached the Beavers from 1976-79.

“I think I could have gotten a pass,� he said. “They don’t have any buildings named after me, but there may be a locker somewhere with my name on it.�

That’s Fertig. Always quick with the quip. That’s one reason he may make more Trojan Club speaking engagements than anyone else.

Another is that he was involved in one of the biggest plays in USC history. His pass to Rod Sherman in 1964 beat Notre Dame, which featured Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte.

One other thing: Fertig may be the most popular Trojan of them all. The turnout at a Fertig roast in August was proof of that.

The Trojan band was there. So was Traveler, and about 600 Trojans, plus one Bruin--Terry Donahue--and Huarte.

Fertig and Donahue have had a kinship since both went after the Oregon State coaching job. It was Donahue’s good fortune he didn’t get it. He became UCLA’s coach the next season.

“This is certainly an out-of-body experience,� Donahue told the gathering at the Fertig roast. Others on the dais were John and J.K. McKay, Sherman, Huarte, Mike Garrett, and former assistant coaches Wayne Fontes, Dave Levy and Marv Goux.

“I’ll tell you what,� Donahue said this week, “everyone there couldn’t have been more gracious.�

There were lots of laughs that night.

From John McKay: “We never timed Craig in the 40. We started one time. It was on a Tuesday. The results weren’t in by Friday.�

From Sherman: “Everyone who ever played with Craig, or was associated with him in any capacity, please stand up. Now anyone who ever saw him throw a tight spiral on time and on target remain standing.� Most in the crowd sat down.

There were so many laughs that former USC sports information director Don Andersen is marketing a 90-minute video of the evening, with proceeds to go to charity. One warning: The video is uncensored. Details: (714) 838-1053.

PAYBACK FOR DUCKS

Viewers probably will miss a pretty good chunk of the start of the USC-UCLA telecast because of a King game on Fox Sports Net 2 that starts at 1 p.m. Hockey fans will miss an even bigger chunk of the start of a Mighty Duck game that starts at 6 p.m. To compensate the Ducks, an extra game--one at St. Louis on Dec. 5--has been added to the Fox Sports Net 2 schedule.

THE GOVERNOR IS ON BOARD

NBC, seeking to steal some thunder from college football’s rivalry weekend, picked Thursday to announce that Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura would be the network’s XFL commentator. The league begins play Feb. 3, and NBC will carry Saturday games at

5 p.m., concluding with the XFL championship game April 21.

NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol said the decision to go with Ventura was made several weeks ago and that the announcement was held for the most opportune time. He said the play-by-play man will be announced later.

Fred Roggin and Mike Adamle will serve as NBC’s sideline reporters. Wonder which one gets to interview the cheerleaders?

TURKEY AND GOLF

Making plans for Thanksgiving? There are two NFL games and one college game on television Thursday, plus a made-for-TV golf event.

On Fox at about 4 p.m., after a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, will be the third Sun Microsystems Par 3 Challenge, taped Nov. 7 at the Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad. Last year, this tournament ranked second behind the Skins Game among made-for-TV golf attractions.

The field consists of PGA players, Senior PGA players, LPGA players and three celebrities. Only the celebrities play with handicaps. Jack Nicklaus was to play until he suffered a back injury and pulled out two days before the taping. The field includes Lee Trevino, Gary McCord, Ben Crenshaw, Craig Stadler, Dottie Pepper, Nancy Lopez and Grace Park.

SHORT WAVES

Wonder what has happened to Clipper commentator Bill Walton? He’s still on vacation in Australia. He’s expected back soon. With Mike Smith filling in on TV, John Ireland has been doing a solid job of radio play by play. . . . The Clippers and KXTA (1150) have extended their agreement. One thing new this season: When the Clippers are preempted by UCLA, their games are farmed out to KLAC (570). The new KMPC (1540) wanted the full Clipper package, not only a handful of games.

After 20 years in the sport, ESPN will televise its 262nd and final NASCAR race Sunday, the NAPA 500 from Atlanta. . . . HBO has hired Lesley Visser as a correspondent for “Real Sports,� beginning next year. . . . HBO will show a tape of last weekend’s Lennox Lewis-David Tua pay-per-view fight tonight at 10:30 and again Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The fight drew 420,000 buys, a solid number but 30,000 fewer than Mike Tyson-Andrew Golota on Oct. 20.

IN CLOSING

“Monday Night Football� producer Don Ohlmeyer told Bloomberg News this week that he expects Dennis Miller to return next season. “I can’t imagine a scenario where Dennis wouldn’t come back,� Ohlmeyer said. We can think of a few.

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What Los Angeles Is Watching

A sampling of L.A. Nielsen ratings for Nov. 11-12.

SATURDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share College football: UCLA at Washington 7 4.4 8 Golf: American Express Championship 7 3.0 7 College football: Washington State at USC 9 2.7 5 College football: South Carolina at Florida 2 2.5 6 College football: Boston College at Notre Dame 4 1.7 4 Auto racing: NASCAR Busch Grand National race 4 1.1 3

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Cable Network Rating Share College football: Penn State at Michigan ESPN 2.0 5 College football: Ohio State at Illinois ESPN 1.5 4 College football: Nebraska at Kansas State FSN 1.5 3 College football: Oregon State at Arizona FSN 1.2 2 Drag racing: NHRA Auto Club Finals qualifying ESPN2 0.7 1 College football: Georgia at Auburn FSN 0.6 1 Hockey: Detroit at Kings FSN2 0.5 1

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SUNDAY

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Over-the-air Channel Rating Share Pro football: St. Louis at New York Giants 11 10.3 23 Pro football: Baltimore at Tennessee 2 5.6 14 Pro football: Arizona at Minnesota 11 4.6 12 Golf: American Express Championship 7 3.1 7 Auto racing: NASCAR Winston Cup Pennzoil 400 4 1.2 3 Hockey: Detroit at Mighty Ducks 9 0.4 1

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Cable Network Rating Share Pro football: New York Jets at Indianapolis ESPN 7.7 12 Pro basketball: Houston at Lakers FSN 3.1 5 Tennis: Advanta Championships final ESPN 1.0 3 Drag racing: NHRA Auto Club Finals (final round) ESPN2 0.7 1 Horse racing: Hollywood Park Today FSN2 0.5 1

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WEEKDAY RATINGS: MONDAY: NFL, Oakland at Denver, Ch. 7, 19.3/28.

Note: Each rating point represents 51,350 L.A. households. Cable ratings reflect the entire market, even though cable is in only 63% of L.A. households.