There were a couple of big surprises in the talent categories at the 23rd annual "Sports Emmy Awards," which were presented Tuesday night in New York City.

The biggest shock was that Ernie Johnson, Jr. of "Inside the NBA" on TNT/TBS beat the late Dick Schaap of ESPN for Outstanding Sports Personality-Studio Host. Johnson tied Bob Costas for his work on HBO.

It looks like Costas is making the right move by increasing his role at HBO, as the pay channel won three Emmys, while his other network (for now), NBC, was shut out.

Johnson should give his Emmy to Charles Barkley, who is the main reason people watch "Inside the NBA," which was also named best Studio Show, Daily. Barkley should have been selected for Sports Personality-Studio Analyst, for which inexplicably he wasn't even nominated. Long distance shill Terry Bradshaw of Fox got the Emmy.

In another upset, "Young Buck" Joe Buck beat out veterans Dick Enberg and Al Michaels among others for Sports Personality Play-by-play. And his partner Tim McCarver, who got his broadcasting start doing Phillies games, was named best Sports Personality - Event Analyst.

Fox led with 11 Emmys, followed by ESPN with seven, and HBO with three. ABC, CBS, TNT and TBS each won two.

South Jersey's NFL Films won Emmys for "NFL Films Presents" and "NFL Under the Helmet." Another show honored was "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO.

Kobe in spotlight

Fox Sports Net literally went to the other side of the world to get the story for "Kobe Bryant: Beyond the Glory" on Comcast SportsNet at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Many of Bryant's teammates from his days living in Italy are interviewed in the special, but once again we don't hear much from his father Joe Bryant, who continues to stay out of the spotlight. The former Sixer rarely does interviews about his son.

The special covers Kobe's life in Italy, his days at Lower Merion High School, culminating with his prom appearance with Brandy, his up and down relationship with Shaquille O'Neal, his marriage, and many highlights from his short but spectacular NBA career.

Jerry West, Phil Jackson, Rick Fox, Eddie Jones, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, Lower Merion basketball coach Greg Downer and others speak about Bryant.

Here come da Judge

Marie-Reine Le Gougne, the French figure-skating judge at the center of the Olympic figure-skating scandal speaks to Ed Bradley in her first U.S. television interview on "60 Minutes" at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS.

Snap, crackle, pop

The crack of the bat sounds more like the crackle of the bat to listeners of Phillies games on WPEN 950-AM. According to a fan in the western suburbs, "it sounds like an out of town broadcast." Efforts to reach Phillies director of broadcast and video services Rory McNeil and WPEN 950-AM general manager Rick Feinblatt were unsuccessful.

Change of scenery

Former ESPN anchor Robin Roberts has officially been named the permanent news anchor for "Good Morning, America" with Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer. Where have you gone, Gayle Gardner?

Bum rap

Ken Rudolph of FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period" said: "In a first-round playoff game loss to the Boston Celtics on Sunday, the Sixers Allen Iverson struggled from the floor, missing his last nine shots. According to NBA analysts, it was Iverson's worst performance outside of a recording studio."

Fight Club

Comcast SportsNet wants us to talk about its special series about NHL enforcers, "The Fight Club," airing at 6:30 p.m. this week on "SportsNite." However, because "the first rule of Fight Club is don't talk about Fight Club," I'll have to stop there.

Laura Nachman writes about television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write to her in care of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 215-949-4177 or email [email protected].

Friday, April 26, 2002