Random thoughts while wondering if the possibility of a Bulgaria-Cameroon first-round World Cup 1994 meeting will attract viewers to Sunday's televised soccer draw:
Actually, all of the wondering is over. Unless we've taken too many balls to the head, we know that the announcement of the pairings doesn't have a soccer ball's chance in you-know-where of gaining an audience.And why should it? Because Barry Manilow will appear on the show singing, "Could It Be Magic?" Are you kidding?
The sports question for the new year will be whether ABC and ESPN know something that we don't. We know that soccer is an orphan child in the United States and not even an appearance on American soil by the Bolivians is going to drum up interest.
Nevertheless, ESPN will take 90 minutes beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday to detail the pairings; give a venue-by-venue breakdown of which countries will play where; announce the FIFA Player of the Year (come on, name just one contender); repeat World Cup "Great Moments;" and give us Manilow, Elton John, Jim Belushi and the cast of "Melrose Place."
Inexplicably, ESPN and ABC will televise the entire 52-game World Cup Final. ESPN's schedule will include 41 games, including a U.S. first-round match, both semifinal matches July 13, and the third-place match July 16. ABC gets the other 11 games, including the final July 17.
All contests will be shown without in-game commercials. Sure, the one time we want them to break up the boredom with a Sears commercial and they boot the chance . . .
No one has to tell us that this season's NFL "action" has been lacking. But the numbers say that while everyone might be whining, we're still watching. The ratings are surprisingly close to what they were a year ago, and until they ban legal and illegal gambling on the games - which will likely come the day we warmly receive the World Cup - the eyes are going to remain glued to sets.
If the league is so bad, why is it almost a religious experience when a city receives an NFL franchise? Plus, Madison Avenue hasn't been seared off by the results this year - 30-second commercials for the Super Bowl in late January will go for a record 900,000 per spot.
Don't forget George Bush was in an NFL television booth last week, Who can remember a more exciting time had by all?