Despite losing the NFL, MLB, and the NBA, NBC has managed to hold on to its top sportscaster, Bob Costas, who is said to have signed a deal worth more than $1 million a year.

Though Costas received overtures from ABC, he decided to remain with NBC Sports, where he'll host the Olympics, but in the four years between games do the second-tier sports of horse racing, tennis and golf.

So why would Costas stay at NBC?

The main reason probably is he has a long-term relationship with NBC, where he's been the top sportscaster for more than 20 years. Besides, Costas can get his football fix by doing "Inside the NFL" on HBO, where he'll also do his interview show, "On the Record," and boxing.

Plus, there really wasn't much choice for Costas because Jim Nantz is entrenched at CBS, Joe Buck recently became the "it" guy for Fox, and John Madden is the new star at ABC.

Sixers stuff

Game 5 between the Sixers and the Celtics Friday night pulled a 5.8 rating/9 share on Comcast SportsNet and a 3.1 rating/5 share for TNT. ...

I'm glad Sixers' "Post Game Live" analyst John Nash ditched the slicked-back look, making Pat Riley the last man left on the planet with that hairstyle. ...

Allen Iverson may not be popular with his head coach these days, but he was the first choice of music sensation Ashanti for her next video, "Happy." Ashanti, who has the top two Billboard pop singles in the country, wanted Iverson to play her boyfriend in the video, but the playoff series with the Celtics was the same time as the video shoot, so she had to settle for rap star Ja Rule. Now, Iverson has all summer to appear in music videos. ...

After starring in their own daytime drama this week, the Larry Brown-Allen Iverson saga will be dissected again at 9 tonight on CSN. ...

Meanwhile, former Sixers president Pat Croce will be in Dallas tomorrow and Charlotte Sunday covering the NBA playoffs for NBC. Wouldn't it be great if the Sixers and Croce admit this year was a lose-lose situation for both parties and have him come back?

Ratings up

Nationwide, ratings for the first-round games of the NBA Playoffs on TNT/TBS are averaging a 2.2 rating, a 10-percent improvement from last year. Each national rating point is equivalent to about one million homes.

Hall of an honor

Former Miami Dolphin Dan Marino was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. Marino, a star quarterback for the University of Pittsburgh before his illustrious NFL career, will continue as an analyst for "Inside the NFL" on HBO and begin duties for "The NFL Today" on CBS this season.

Cowboys in spolight

"Dallas" returns to television this summer. Not J.R. and the Ewings, but the second installment of the HBO series "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys." The reality series followed the second-most annoying NFL team last season, the Baltimore Ravens. Dave Campo, Emmitt Smith and Jerry Jones star. Shouldn't Jones be on "A Makeover Story?"

Be my guest

Before the Phillies game and throughout baseball stadiums Sunday on Mothers Day, Major League Baseball will launch the "Boys Against Breast Cancer" program. WCAU reporter LuAnn Cahn, a breast cancer survivor, will be the guest public address announcer for the Phils' game, replacing Dan Baker.

OK, LuAnn, if you want to sound like Dan, repeat after me: "Now batting for the Phil-lays ..."

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write her in care of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 215-949-4177 or e-mail bradyresident@aol.com.

Friday, May 10, 2002