Fox, the network that brought us "Celebrity Boxing" has made Joe Buck, a lifetime baseball announcer who has only done a handful of football games in his career, the play-by-play announcer for the Fox lead NFL broadcasts this season.

Here's a crazy question: Why didn't Fox hire someone who actually has extensive football experience to do the games?

At least Danny Bonaduce wasn't hired to do color. That job was given to Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth. I have no problem with Collinsworth, but with former Cowboy Aikman in the booth, we have to put up with him, and fellow obnoxious ex-Cowboys Deion Sanders, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Irvin and Daryl "Moose" Johnston on TV.

So, the top three announcers slots go to Joe Buck, the son of announcer Jack Buck, and to Aikman and Collinsworth, former NFL players. If you are going to school to become an announcer, change your major.

Dan-O booked

Dan Fouts escapes from Dennis Miller into the arms of Keith Jackson. The "Monday Night Football" refugee will be the color commentator for college football. I'm sure Fouts is doing a jig right now.

Bol-ed over

Learn the shocking story of former Sixer Manute Bol on "Outside the Lines" Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on ESPN. After his NBA career, Bol returned to Africa, and was a victim of political and religious persecution and a prisoner and refugee in Egypt. It took five years for him to return to the U.S., where he lives off the charity of friends in West Hartford, Conn.

Run for the Roses

NBC's Tom Hammond said in a conference call that tomorrow's Kentucky Derby promises to be "wild and wooly." (Like your hair, Tom?) Hammond and probable departing NBC star Bob Costas host the 128th running of the Derby from Churchill Downs from 5-6:30 p.m. Charlsie Cantey returns to provide commentary for her 17th Triple Crown race.

This is the second year in a row that "The Kentucky Derby" airs on NBC, which doesn't broadcast many sports involving only humans these days. NBC airs the other Triple-Crown races - the Preakness Stakes on May 18 and the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

Clearing the air

Though Phillies director of broadcast and video services Rory McNeil says the team is happy with new flagship station WPEN 950-AM, I don't know how the team can be pleased with a signal that can barely be heard a few miles outside the city. Yes, maybe we were spoiled with the 50,000-watt clear channel signal of WPHT 1210-AM, but the signal of 5,000-watt WPEN doesn't compare to other AM stations WIP, KYW, WFIL and WZZD.

Superstars returns

One of my favorite sports shows from the '70s is returning. "The Superstars" airs on CBS at 4 p.m. tomorrow and 5 p.m. Sunday. But this isn't the '70s anymore, so the show is called "The Met-Rx Superstars."

Jim Shea, Bode Miller and Jonny Moseley represent the Olympics. Curtis Martin, Jeff Garcia, LaVar Arrington, Ahman Green, Tony Gonzalez and Troy Brown represent the NFL. Along with boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley, they'll participate in kayaking, swimming, basketball shoot-out, weightlifting, cycling, half-mile run, climbing wall, Sea-Doo racing, the 100-yard dash and, of course, the obstacle course. Gus Johnson, Lesley Visser and Marcus Allen cover the event from Montego Bay, Jamaica.

All we need now is a return of "Battle of the Network Stars" and my life will be complete.

Enberg honored

CBS sportscaster Dick Enberg will receive an honorary degree and deliver the 2002 commencement address to the graduating class of Indiana University tomorrow. Enberg earned a master's degree in 1958 and a doctorate in 1962 from Indiana University. In 1957, he became the first play-by-play voice of the Indiana University Sports Network. After spending 25 years at NBC, Enberg joined CBS two years ago.

Mama Mia

Mother's Day comes early to ESPN as "Apple Pie," a special about star athletes and their mothers airs at noon tomorrow. Shaquille O'Neal, Grant Hill, Mia Hamm, Drew Bledsoe, Rulon Gardner and Tony and Cammi Granato appear with their moms.

Local flavor

Levittown's Alan Berkes' sports advertising agency, "The Ballpark" of Los Angeles, created this season's Anaheim Angels' advertising campaign called "The Halos are Back." No word if the follow-up will star former Angels pitcher Chuck Finley's estranged wife Tawny Kitaen and be called "We're No Angels."

Laura Nachman writes about 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 [email protected].

Friday, May 3, 2002