Tiger, Rocco pull huge ratings here

By Ron Kantowski

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 | 11:09 p.m.

NOW

NBC's broadcast of Monday's U.S. Open playoff pitting Tiger Woods against Rocco Mediate produced a 7.6 overnight rating and 20 share -- the best Monday golf rating in 30 years.

Las Vegas, with an 11.1 overnight, was the fifth-highest market for the playoff, trailing only golf-mad Florida markets West Palm Beach (14.0), Ft. Myers (13.0) and Tampa (12.5) and the host city of San Diego (11.5). Pittsburgh, Mediate's home market, was seventh with a 10.7.

The previous overnight record for Monday golf was the 7.7 generated by the Phoenix Open in 1978. I think that was the one where Morganna "The Kissing Bandit" ran across the 17th fairway to plant a wet one on Johnny Miller.

Actually, Morganna didn't do golf. Miller Barber won the Phoenix Open that year, topping Jerry Pate and the popular Lee Trevino. Equally popular Arnold Palmer, who finished fifth, also was in the hunt, which might explain why Monday golf was able to beat "All My Children" in the overnights.

----- Former UNLV basketball player Curtis Terry will introduce Rebels golfer Seung-su Han during a segment of the NCAA television show "On Campus," premiering Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. on ESPN Classic. The episode also will also air Friday on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. and on June 27 at 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. During the piece, Han will explain his decision to remain at UNLV instead of turning pro. (Hint: It had nothing to do with Terry's 3-over-par hairdo.)

----- Blame it on Dan Gurney. In Monday's blog, I mentioned how the tradition of spraying champagne on spectators originated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race in 1967 when Gurney spontaneously doused racing fans with the bubbly stuff after he and A.J. Foyt won the famous sports car race. According to published reports, Javon Walker, the NFL wide receiver beaten in an apparent robbery early Monday morning, was seen spraying champagne into the crowd at the Body English nightclub at the Hard Rock earlier that evening. He apparently did the same thing at another nightclub the night before. I guess if a guy can afford to spray champagne at an upscale nightclub, it follows that he also might be wearing an expensive watch.

----- Former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian used to call Arizona colleague Lute Olson "Midnight Lute" -- a nickname stemming from Olson recruiting future NBAer Tom Tolbert away from Tark at the last minute. So I wonder if Olson is going to dub current Rebels coach Lon Kruger "8 A.M. Lon" after 6-foot-6 Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper chose UNLV over Arizona this week.

THEN

Speaking of Morganna, you didn't have to be a big league star like Nolan Ryan or George Brett to become the object of her affection. You could be a minor league utility man or head of security operations. During the 1990 PCL All-Stare Game at Cashman Field, the Stars' Eddie Williams and Nick Fitzenreider received smooches from baseball's now retired and reticent Kissing Bandit who no longer does interviews.