“On The Air”
by Laura Nachman
[email protected]

December 14, 2001

“Run, Orest, Run”

“The Little O,” Orest Kindrachuck of the Flyers’ championship teams of the 70’s is providing color commentary for this season’s eleven CN8 telecasts of Philadelphia Phantoms games.  Kindrachuck, who also played for Pittsburgh and Washington in his NHL career, has remained in South Jersey working as insurance agent since his playing days ended in 1982.  More than two decades after the Stanley Cup days, Kindrachuck still gets recognized, because “the name kind of jumps out at you.”  As for his part-time vocation as a Phantoms announcer he said, “It’s been one heck of a good time.”(Yes, he’s Canadian).  Kindrachuck and his wife, Lynn have two sons – Zak, 22, a student at the University of Massachusetts, and Jake, 19, a student at Wake Forest.

 “Award Thrilling for Schilling”

Curt Schilling, along with his Arizona Diamondbacks teammate Randy Johnson will be honored as the 2001 “Sports Illustrated Sportsmen of the Year” during the “Sports Illustrated’s Night of Champions” on NBC Saturday at 8 p.m. Bob Costas hosts the special from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.  Magic Johnson, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Jennifer Capriatti will be honored. 

“Forget E.R. – Viewers want E-A-G-L-E-S”

The Eagles continue to be the hottest show in town.  Sunday’s San Diego/Eagles game was the number one show of the week with a 28.0 rating/52 share.  “CSI” was a distant second with a 20.8 rating/28 share, and “Friends” was third with a 15.7 rating/22 share.  Each rating point equals 28,010 homes.

 “Tolley is Tops”

In a surprise, the top rated Sunday sports show in town isn’t on the top rated newscast – Channel 6, but on Fox-Philadelphia.  According to the November Nielsen ratings, “Sports Sunday” with Don Tollefson and Bill Vargus leads with a 3.8 rating.  “Sports Final” with Vai Sikahema and Howard Eskin on NBC 10 follows with a 3.5 rating, and “Total Access with Gary Papa” is third with a 3.1 rating.  KYW-3’s “Sports Rap” with Steve Bucci and Garry Cobb has a 2.9 rating. “Sports Extra” with Mike Missanelli and Jenna Wolfe on WB17 trails with a 1.3 rating.  Each rating point equals 28,010 homes.  The high ratings for Fox-Philadelphia can be attributed to that Fox uses their number one anchor team on Sunday because it is the strongest night of the week for Fox with “NFL Football,” “The Simpsons,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” and the “X-Files.”  Plus, it airs at 10:30 p.m. Many people don’t stay up until 11:30 p.m. to watch the shows on 3, 6, and 10.

“NFL is Wild About Carey”

Mariah Carey will sing the “National Anthem” at the Super Bowl on February 3.  U2 will perform at halftime.

“Where Have You Gone Marc Iavaroni?”

Yes, that was former Sixers’ center Tim McCormick providing color commentary for the Temple/Villanova game on ESPN Saturday night.

“Guess Deacon is off the Moss Christmas Card List”

 Fox Sports Net’s “NFL This Morning’s” Deacon Jones on Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss: "I wouldn't play one down with this guy. I'd try to break his legs because he is an idiot. Randy Moss is a bonafide jerk. He's not a team player. He doesn't care about anybody except Randy Moss."