Columnist Tim Graham: McCann trades UNLV football, basketball, for BYU

TIM GRAHAM is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. His media column appears Wednesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at [email protected]

Some decisions are easy to make.

For reasons both personal and professional, Dave McCann is leaving the UNLV football broadcast booth to work for the Blue & White Network, which syndicates Brigham Young football and basketball to 44 states.

UNLV broadcast manager Tony Cordasco is expected to replace McCann at least on radio broadcasts.

McCann's desire to call BYU games is natural. He grew up in Provo, Utah, and his recently deceased father worked in the school's athletic department.

"It was a dream of my dad's for me to do it," said McCann, who will keep working as sports director of KLAS Channel 8. "Certainly, being as involved with BYU as our family is, it's the right thing to do."

Dale McCann, who served as director of BYU's booster club for 24 years, died on March 31 after a bout with pancreatic cancer.

"When my dad was diagnosed, it was just about when we started talking with BYU," McCann said. "The doctors thought he'd live through the fall, and right about then I decided if we were ever going to do this I wanted him to be able to enjoy it.

"When he passed away (working for Blue & White) seemed like a rallying thing for our family. We pushed for it hard.

"It's been a down year for our family, but this is a way for us to have fun. Cougar Stadium has been like the backyard for my family. There's a million reasons for me to do it."

McCann's deal calls for him to work 10 football and at least 13 basketball games. Blue & White's football games are scheduled to be shown in Las Vegas on KFBT Channel 33, which happens to be UNLV's new home.

McCann would have worked only two television games for UNLV.

"At this stage of my career, I feel I need games to get better, just like a hitter needs swings at the plate," he said. "Aside from all the personal stuff, it also seemed like a smart business decision for me."

Once the football season starts, McCann will anchor KLAS sports segments Monday through Thursday, fly out on Friday for his Saturday game and return to Las Vegas on Sunday.

The BYU grad also wants to retain his duties as host of UNLV's football and basketball coaches' shows. UNLV is not sure if it will let him, citing a possible conflict of interest.

"Las Vegas shouldn't see a difference," he said, "but I'll have jet lag 'til May."

Or will he? Rumors have been circulating McCann is a frontrunner for the opening at Salt Lake City's NBC television affiliate, KSL. Blue & White is controlled by KSL.

McCann's KLAS contract expires in late February.

Oh, no

Nationally syndicated sports smacker Jim Rome was not impressed by former UNLV golfer Ted Oh's stellar performance early in the first round of the U.S. Open.

"If Ted Oh wins the Open, I'll come to work on Monday naked," said Rome, heard locally on KBAD 920-AM. "You're not going to win, Ted. Go back to the clubhouse."

Minutes after Rome's remarks, Oh toppled from 3-under-par and a tie for first place to 4-over for the day. He didn't make the cut for the final two rounds, and Rome dressed for work.

Wha?

SportsFan Radio Network has made a concerted effort to alter its programming from sports talk to guy talk.

One perfect example was J.T. the Brick's Thursday night show. The Brick asked listeners to call in and vote for the world's "Hottest Black African Queen." Such a topic is questionable not only in relevancy, but also in taste.

But maybe such a topic befitted the ignorant listeners, who routinely voted for Mariah Carey. For future reference, the pop singer is of Venezuelan-Irish descent.

The Brick is heard overnight in Las Vegas on SFRN's flagship station, KSFN 1140-AM.

Static

UNLV's football program lost out on a great promotional opportunity when ESPN refused to allow "SportsCenter" anchor Kenny Mayne to take part. Mayne, a former Rebel quarterback, was asked to star in a series of commercials. ESPN reportedly felt a conflict of interest could be presented in future UNLV coverage. But if that's so, how can the network allow Stuart Scott to ooze over his alma mater, North Carolina, while he's on the air? ... Former ESPN reporter Bonnie Bernstein, who got her sportscasting start in Reno, switched to CBS, where she will cover NFL football. ... Memo to Fox Sports: Fire Van Earl Wright before an annoyed viewer uses his trigger finger on something other than the remote. ... FX makes its boxing debut Saturday at 5 p.m. with two title fights featuring Shane Mosely in one and David Reid in the other. ... TNT airs the NBA Draft today at 4:30 p.m.

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