Wednesday, June 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
There is something special about the Olympics that makes Al Bernstein want to stand up and sing.
So much so, in fact, that NBC's boxing commentator for the Atlanta Games went into the studio to cut his very own CD. "Let the Games Begin," an impressive six-song compilation, is expected to hit nationwide racks later this week.
"You can't get much higher on the totem pole than the Olympics," said Bernstein, a Las Vegas resident. "There is a special feeling when you're there. I don't want to be maudlin about it, but there is something to doing that. The Olympics are the Olympics."
The feelings surrounding the Games led Bernstein and Tony Rome -- who also collaborate on the "Al Bernstein's Sports Party" talk show and a lounge act by the same name -- to put their heads together.
"Six or seven months ago, we were talking about the upcoming Olympics and my role with it," said the ESPN boxing guru, who also called the Barcelona Games in 1992. "We said 'It's crazy not to tie something into it.'
"So we agreed to have Tony take a crack at writing something about the Olympics. Even though there are a lot of great Olympic songs out there, like 'One Moment in Time,' they don't really talk about the Olympics. When I heard 'Let the Games Begin,' my reaction was really strong. I love the lyrics."
According to Bernstein, feedback has been positive. NBC plans to use the title track for a video feature.
"One nice thing about 'Let the Games Begin' is that melody sticks in people's minds," he said. "They hear it and they're humming it for three or four days."
Bernstein received similar reactions to "Wonderful Time to Remember," another song on the CD.
"We were supposed to use 'Wonderful Time to Remember' at the end of the boxing competition (in Barcelona), but nobody won any medals," he said. "There was one gold medal, but you couldn't possibly use that song because it wasn't a wonderful time to remember for U.S. boxers."
Other songs on the CD written and produced by Rome include the humorous "ESPN Blues," "Legends," the biographic "My Very own Songs" and a tribute to former boxing greats called "Big Ring in the Sky."
"This (CD) is the one we would hang our hat on," Bernstein said. "I'm perfectly happy for people to hear this and make a judgment on what we've been doing in entertainment.
"The one thing I can definitely say is that this is a unique concept of combining the genres of music and sports. I like that. It's fun and it goes down easy with people."
Bernstein also sees this year's boxing competition going down a little easier than in years past, as scoring kinks and bribery scandals are addressed.
"There are some problems to that sport and you can't be blind to that," said Bernstein, who predicts five to seven U.S. boxing medals. "Nevertheless, the principal of it is compelling. You can feel the tension and the interest is palpable."
To order "Let the Games Begin," call 1-800-854-8233. Cassettes are $9.99 and CDs are $11.99, with a portion of the proceeds going to USA Boxing.
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* OVERNIGHT ADDITION: There's a new overnight sports voice in the valley. Working out of SportsFan Radio Network's Las Vegas studios, nationally syndicated call-in host John Tournour can be heard locally on KENO 1460-AM from midnight-5 a.m. "I've got a lot of energy," said Tournour, who has been in the business only 10 months. The self-described, call-in talk show addict got his break after winning a caller competition conducted by another syndicated host, Jim Rome, who can be heard on KVEG 840-AM.
* X MARKS ITS START: The X Games begin on ESPN Monday, kicking off nearly 35 hours of coverage from Newport and Providence, R.I. Suzy Kolber and Chris Fowler will co-host. Each night of these alternative Olympics, which run through June 30, either ESPN or ESPN2 will show a 90-minute highlight special at 9:30 p.m. ESPN International will bounce the X Games off satellite dishes in 150 countries.
* WORLD BOWL: The World League of American Football championship game is Sunday, and Fox (KVVU Channel 5) will carry it from Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fox will pull out all the stops, using its best NFL talent in preparation for its first Super Bowl this January. "NFL on Fox" announcers Kevin Harlan and Matt Millen will be in the booth, while John Madden, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and James Brown will man the studio. Because of the time change between Europe and the U.S., the game will be broadcast on tape-delay at 1 p.m. The World Bowl has been broadcast only twice before: by USA Network in 1992 and by ABC in '91.
* AROUND THE DIAL: CBS (KLAS Channel 8) has flag-to-flag coverage of the NASCAR Miller 400 Sunday starting at 10 a.m. The broadcast team is almost as large as the field: Ken Squier, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, Mike Joy, David Hobbs and Dick Berggren. Daytona 500 winner Dale Jarrett, Darell Waltrip and Mark Martin will ride with Race Cams. ... Coverage of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Atlanta continues on ESPN and ESPN2 through Friday. NBC picks up the final days Saturday and Sunday. ... Despite the absence of a U.S.-based franchise, ESPN and ESPN2 have committed to Canadian Football League games. The networks will show 11 regular-season and three postseason games, including the Grey Cup live, as part of a two-year agreement.
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