Here comes Mighty Michaels - Remote Patrol - television sportscaster Al Michaels on ABC - Column

So, ABC persuaded Al Michaels to be Voice of the NBA. This ensures a successful makeover--nay, mulligan--with billions of fans flocking back, resurrecting Nielsens from NBC's halcyon days of Michael Jordan. Do you believe in miracles?

I'm glad Michaels answered the Bat Phone. He's an upgrade, the generation's premier play-by-play guy/host. Still, I am skeptical that handing him the headset cures the leprosy ABC contracted from its inaugural season of basketball, including The Lowest-Rated Finals Ever.

For one, this truth is self-evident: No contemporary sportscaster can spike ratings, any more than Billy Crystal generates bonus points for the Academy Awards. John Madden hasn't increased Monday Night Football ratings. Neither has Albeeno. If he possessed such magic, they'd assign him Bonnie Hunt's show.

Michaels adroitly has voiced over Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cup finals, golf, figure skating and the Olympics, in which his enduring signature line was uttered. Hoops? Um, regional college games and, before that, UCLA and Bill Walton on local TV, plus an internship as Chick Hearn's first Lakers sidekick.

"I am very excited about his," Michaels says. Actually, he was content being paid $4 million for MNF with 30 weeks of vacation. Ultimately Michaels, whose father was an agent, negotiated to work The Finals, weekend playoffs and "some" regular-season games (Brad Nessler, last year's play-by-play lead, gets to call leftovers and continue as ESPN's No. 1.) For this, Al will bank $2 mil more per annum. ABC better be excited.

It is. The street said ABC's NBA package was hapless last season, and hot free-agent analysts Doug Collins and Steve Kerr went to TNT. Enter Mike Pearl, the producer who "invented" Charles Barkley, summoned from Turner to make repairs. He's distancing ABC from ESPN's coolio presentation, mulling over analysts--Walton and/or Tom Tolbert? Grant Hill? George Karl?--and praying for matchups with star power. Listing Michaels on the roster--that's a quick fix, good for morale.

Michaels is generating positive buzz, three months before his debut. This year, when ABC knocks on doors at Coors and Odor-Eaters, it's not selling Brad Who? but a 17-year star of the network's top prime-time series. In Al we trust.

E-mail: fquindt@sportingnews.com

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