Left in hypnotic state
Thoughts while pondering the hypnotic effect of the CBS "Cable Cam" running across the TV screen:
Difference of opinion: CBS analyst Phil Simms agreed with the "tough decision" made by Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher to settle for a field goal on a fourth-and-goal situation from the Patriots' 2 early in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 31-20. Patriots radio analyst Gino Cappelletti took the other road: "My call is to go for the TD if you want to win. I take the gamble to make it a 7-point game. If you kick the field goal, you still need to score twice." He proved prophetic as the Patriots came back and went back ahead by 14 on Adam Vinatieri's 31-yard field goal.
Revealing quote I: Patriots coach Bill Belichick rarely offers much in a sideline interview; in fact, he says so little, he's rarely interviewed anymore. Armen Keteyian is one sideline reporter who provides some nuggets. Belichick told Keteyian before the game: "I've got a lot of confidence in these guys. They've played their best in the two biggest games of the year."
Revealing quote II: Cowher, on the other hand, told Bonnie Bernstein that "We're 0-0. We don't know we're 16-1."
Cold water theory: Before the game, WBCN's Tim Fox noted that he thought Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had a thumb problem, something agreed on by CBS studio analyst Boomer Esiason at halftime with a camera shot of cold water being poured on Roethlisberger's hand.
Cowher told Bernstein at the start of the third quarter that he'd switch to backup Tommy Maddox if Roethlisberger continued to struggle and that part of halftime was spent "calming Ben down, telling him not to force the ball into coverage and to rely on his ability."
Bernstein said Jerome Bettis told her that this likely was his final season. Bernstein made the comments with the Steelers trailing, 34-20.
Word of wisdom: Let's hope NFL Films got the audio of whatever Belichick told linebacker Ted Johnson on the play before the Patriots forced Bettis to fumble on a first-half fourth down.
Scrambling QB: Esiason had to run from the radio booth to studio and vice versa, working the CBS "The NFL Today" pregame, halftime, and postgame show and doing analysis with Marv Albert on the
On gloves: "Tom Brady told us the reason he's not wearing the glove on his throwing hand is because he loses touch on his shorter passes," revealed Simms.
No surprise: Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal was the longest at Heinz Field. "We saw them kicking longer than 50 yards before the game," said Jim Nantz. Added Simms, "But those are the practice balls. They go farther than the new game balls."
On the money
The answer to the question: "Can boxers hear what ringside commentators are saying?" came during Saturday night's HBO telecast of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Henry Bruseles junior welterweight bout in Miami.
The ring is a place where you'd normally worry more about rabbit punches than rabbit ears.
In the seventh round, play-by-play commentator Jim Lampley asked broadcast partner Roy Jones Jr. who would win the AFC Championship game between New England and Pittsburgh.
Before Jones could respond, showing his quips aren't quite as fast as his fists, the answer came from Mayweather, who was on his way to scoring an eight-round TKO victory.
"Patriots," said Mayweather.
Which had to show Bruseles wasn't demanding his full attention.
Desperate choice
ABC's first choice for the infamous "Monday Night Football" dropped towel episode wasn't Terrell Owens -- it was announcer John Madden.
For reasons that are unclear, Madden couldn't find the time to perform for the skit. Owens, the Philadelphia Eagles receiver, filled in for him in the steamy sketch that drew viewer protests and a network apology, ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson said yesterday.
In the spoof that preceded the Nov. 15 game, "Desperate Housewives" actress Nicollette Sheridan persuaded Owens to skip the game by dropping the towel wrapped around her and jumping into his arms.
ABC initially thought it would be funny to have Madden as the subject of Sheridan's ardor, McPherson said.
The towel-dropping was another last-minute addition to the script that plainly backfired, said Marc Cherry, executive producer of "Desperate Housewives," who helped write it.
Cherry said it was all a mistake. But he and McPherson both said they were surprised at the reaction.
"I feel really bad about it," Cherry said. "I didn't want to upset people. I didn't realize that `Monday Night Football' was such a family viewing experience. I wouldn't let my 5-year-old watch beer commercials with big-busted cheerleaders, but that's just me."
Sheridan, appearing before TV writers yesterday, said the purpose was simply to amuse people.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
