Almost 70 aspiring broadcasters attended the first "Sports Broadcasting Camp" sponsored by Comcast SportsNet and the Scholastic Play by Play Network last week at Bryn Mawr College.

Almost 70 aspiring broadcasters attended the first "Sports Broadcasting Camp" sponsored by Comcast SportsNet and the Scholastic Play by Play Network last week at Bryn Mawr College.

Campers were given the opportunity to make their own audition tapes, tour the Comcast SportsNet facilities and get tips and advice from the pros, including play-by-play announcers Jim Jackson of the Flyers, Scott Graham of the Phillies and Dan Loney of the Trenton Thunder.

CSN's Neil Hartman, St. Joseph's University basketball coach Phil Martelli and WTXF's Bill Vargus were some of the other "counselors" for the three-day camp.

Adam Marcus, 18, of Newtown, who will be majoring in communications at the University of Hartford in the fall, said he really enjoyed the camp.

"Since I'm going into that field (broadcasting)," he said, "I thought it was very beneficial."

Marcus said he especially enjoyed the presentation given by Graham.

"He showed us outlines he makes of lineups on his computer," Marcus said. "It really showed how much preparation goes into doing a game."

Camp director Jeremy Treatman of The Scholastic Play by Play Network said the camp will return next summer. Call 215-668-1501 to register.

BACHELOR PARTY
The easiest job in show business - making fun of Tom Arnold - happens at the roast/bachelor party for the co-host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" at 11 tonight on Comcast SportsNet.

It was difficult, but Fox Sports Net found entertainers to appear whose careers are in worse shape than Arnold's: ABC exile Bill Maher, Carrot Top, Mo'Nique, Dr. Drew of "Loveline," and Joanie Laurer, who recently got beat up by Joey Buttafuoco in "Celebrity Boxing."

Arnold's co-hosts from the show, including former Phillie John Kruk will also be on hand.

BYE, VAI
One of the fringe benefits of being sports director for WCAU's Vai Sikahema is getting weekends off in the summer. Sikahema gets a break from "Sports Final," which airs at 11:30 p.m. Sundays, until September. Howard Eskin and John Clark will hold down the fort until then.

WANTED: SPORTS ANCHOR
WPHL has yet to hire a new weekend sports anchor to replace Jenna Wolfe, who joined the Madison Square Garden Network in April.

Let's get someone quick, so Mike Missanelli can stop inviting his WIP colleague, Anthony Gargano, onto "Sports Extra."

This will be the first major hire for news director Chuck Carter who began in March.

OUT OF THIS WORLD
Last week's U.S.-Germany World Cup match kicked butt in the ratings for ESPN with almost four million people tuning in at the unusual time of 7:30 a.m.

It was the highest-rated soccer match in ESPN's history, beating the 1999 women's World Cup semifinal match.

MOHR, MOHR
Now is your chance to catch the funny "Mohr Sports."

The show changed its time slot from 12:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays on ESPN. At least tune in for the monologue, which is usually the best part of the show.

TATUM TALKS
If hosting "The Chair" wasn't bad enough for John McEnroe, his ex-wife Tatum O'Neal tells all on "20/20" with Barbara Walters at 10 tonight on ABC.

FREDERICKS RECOVERING
WIP evening host Steve Fredericks, 63, has been out of commission for more than a week due to heart bypass surgery. He is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Big Daddy Graham has been filling in for Fredericks. A new voice on the station is radio veteran Steve Martarano, who has been heard on weekends.

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 .

June 28, 2002