Fight Proved Popular Yawner

While Fox’s “Saturday Night Fights” debut, featuring the Mike Tyson-Buster Mathis Jr. waltz, was a ratings success, it wasn’t exciting to watch. And it wasn’t very pretty.

Like Mathis’ rather dubious tactics, Fox’s first foray into prime-time boxing just kind of staggered around for a while.

From the occasional slipups by announcer Kevin Harlan (calling Tyson’s victory a “technical knockout” when it was a KO) to an unnecessary interview with a Fox sitcom star to promote the series’ time change, the debut of “Saturday Night Fights” was a yawner.

About the only high spots were the commentary of analysts Bobby Czyz and Sean O’Grady, and John Madden’s taped interview with Tyson. “It’s a struggle to be humble,” the ex-champ said.

Czyz got off the best line of the night during the Terry Norris-Paul Varden undercard: “Body punches stay with you like a bad meal.”

While not exactly leaving a bad taste in your mouth, the Fox fight package wasn’t a tasty treat either. But it was free.

Which might account for the 16.9 Nielsen overnight rating and 29 share reported Sunday, making it the highest-rated night in Fox’s brief history as a network.

In the weekend’s other fight telecast Friday, HBO used the between-bouts time to shamelessly promote the Feb. 29 George Foreman-Michael Moorer heavyweight title bout. Unusually tacky.

Hoop dreams

When ESPN announced its college basketball schedule, one event was special - the first Jimmy V Classic doubleheader Friday night at the Meadowlands Arena, featuring Kansas vs. Temple and Massachusetts vs. Georgia Tech. Proceeds will benefit The V Foundation, founded by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano.

“It seemed like a natural,” said ESPN program manager Dave Brown. Valvano was from New York, went to college in the area and coached in the area.

One coach, in particular, loved the idea. Georgia Tech’s Bobby Cremins was Valvano’s last ACC opponent.

“After he left college coaching,” said Cremins, Valvano “always wanted to clear up his name. He felt a bad legacy. Then he got sick. And he left an incredible legacy with regard to fighting cancer. I’m glad we continue to do his work.”

Taste of honey

When NBC decided to announce its $2.3 billion Olympics deal last week, among the first people Dick Ebersol tried to contact were Bob Costas, Greg Gumbel and Marv Albert. The talent.

“The Games are like honey to most of the talent today,” said Ebersol, the president of NBC Sports. “It’s somewhat of a career achievement to take part in an Olympics. There are many people, who, because of this deal, won’t get that opportunity. It’s not lost on us that it will be helpful as a magnet toward attracting and keeping talent.”

Honor roll

ESPN captured five CableACE awards, two for its NFL coverage, at recent ceremonies in Los Angeles. In addition to “NFL GameDay” (Sports News Series) and “Sunday Night NFL” (Sports Event Coverage Series), ESPN’s Keith Olbermann (Sports Host), Dick Schaap (Sports Commentary/Analyst) and Doug Holmes (Directing Live Sports Events Coverage Special or Series) were honored.

Other sports-related winners: TBS’ “Discover Card Stars on Ice” (Sports Events Coverage Special), Madison Square Garden Network’s Marv Albert (Sports Play-By-Play Announcer), “MTV Sports” (Sports Information Series), HBO’s “Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion” (Sports Information Special) and HBO’s Frank Deford for “Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World” (Writing a Documentary Special).

Random thoughts

Jimmy Johnson won’t let it go. Fox reporter Pam Oliver interviewed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones tap-danced Sunday around several subjects - except for favorably comparing current coach Barry Switzer to former Cowboys coach Johnson. Afterward, Johnson said Jones “has a bad case of selective amnesia; he remembers what he wants to remember.” … Best comment: Offensive lineman Nate Newton telling ESPN’s Chris Mortensen the Cowboys still have “a swagger, but it’s in a cast.” … Strongest opinion: NBC’s Mike Ditka, in Cleveland and talking about Browns owner Art Modell, offered Bears owner Mike McCaskey advice on moving: “Don’t make the same mistake; fans don’t forget.”