Kalas, Wheeler peacefully share broadcast both

Phillies broadcasting legend Harry Kalas must be second-guessing his decision to make public his dislike of announcing partner Chris Wheeler during the off-season.

Viewers who watched the season opener Monday on KYW (Channel 3) never would have known of their animosity. While watching them at the top of the broadcast, instead of listening to their points about the players, I was concentrating on how they were interacting and what they were really thinking.

When Kalas asked Wheeler about outfielder Pat Burrell, I was wondering if Kalas was really thinking, "I can't believe I'm stuck with you again." It's a shame for Hall of Famer Kalas, because his almost perfect image to the fans has been tarnished.

The game earned a 7.8 rating/14 share for KYW. Each rating point equals 28,743 households.

Baby, she looks good

For the first exhibition game at Citizens Bank Park last Saturday, Comcast SportsNet anchor Leslie Gudel returned to the screen for the first time since having her baby a couple of months ago. It looked like Gudel lost all of her pregnancy weight. I'm still working on mine. The problem is my "baby" is 4.

CSN will air 13 Phillies games in April. Temple alumnus John Marzano will return as the analyst for "Phillies Post Game Live."

Plus, "Inside Edition" will take a tour of the new ballpark at 3:30 p.m. today on KYW (Channel 3).

Outdated commercials

Aren't those Toyota commercials with Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal and Flyers star Jeremy Roenick, filmed before Roenick broke his jaw, a little uncomfortable with Roenick extolling the virtues of his tough sport of hockey?

CSN double-header

It's "busy season" for Comcast SportsNet. On Monday, the Phillies will play the Cincinnati Reds at 1 p.m., then the Flyers will play the New Jersey Devils in a playoff game at 7 p.m. Game 2 of the Flyers-Devils series will air at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Fredericks retiring

Veteran broadcaster Steve Fredericks of WIP 610-AM will be retiring as of April 16, a week shy of his 65th birthday. Fredericks, who has emphysema and had heart surgery two summers ago, has worked part-time since. Besides his years at WIP, most fans remember Fredericks from his sports talk show days at 1210-AM and play-by-play work for Villanova basketball and Sixers basketball. Also, let's not forget "Sportsline 17!"

Ladies rock

The NCAA women's basketball championship between Connecticut and Tennessee was ESPN's most-watched basketball game ever - men's or women's. Almost four million households tuned into the game on Tuesday night.

When is somebody going to give Tennessee head coach Pat Summit her own reality show? She puts the "tense" into intense.

The men's championship game between Georgia Tech and Connecticut scored a 10.6 rating/15 share for KYW (Channel 3) on Monday night. Each local rating point equals 28,743 households.

Two-sport star

Pam Oliver, best known as the sideline reporter for the NFL games on Fox, will be working as a sideline reporter for TNT's first-round coverage of the NBA playoffs.

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. She can be reached at lauranachman@aol.com.

April 9, 2004 6:57 AM