Bee Sports Editor/Opinion
Now that the American League and National League Championship Series are set, you can bet there is a lot of hand-wringing going on at Fox.
The network will televise the NLCS beginning this week while TBS stays in the game with the ALCS. Fox has the World Series when it begins Oct. 22, and it is pretty obvious who it wants playing that day.
The suits from Rupert Murdoch's TV network are praying to the church of baseball – you know, the one Annie Savoy talks about in "Bull Durham" – for a Dodgers-Red Sox matchup.
It's easy if you do the math: Los Angeles is the No. 2 TV market in the country, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising. Philadelphia is No. 4, Boston No. 7 and Tampa-St. Petersburg No. 13.
It doesn't matter how good the story lines are. The Phillies, who made the playoffs on the last weekend, seem like a spunky team, and the Rays have been a surprise this year.
Yet no matchup could bring in the TV ratings a Dodgers-Red Sox World Series would deliver. The national story lines start with Manny Ramírez and the Red Sox Nation, which rivals the Yankees' fan base these days.
Besides, that Series on Fox would prevent a re-enactment of another Tim Robbins movie, "The Hudsucker Proxy."
What to watch
Inside the NFL, 8 p.m., Showtime. With a light viewing night, catch up with the classic NFL highlights show, which switched networks.
What to do
Tennis: Swanston Challenger at Sutter Lawn Tennis Club, 10 a.m. Sacramento's biggest pro tennis tournament has one session today. The last match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
What to surf
www.usta.com The Swanston Challenger is under the umbrella of tennis' national governing body.
Tuesday's results
NBA exhibition • Portland 110, KINGS 81
Today's poll
Which World Series matchup do you want to see? • Dodgers vs. Red Sox. • Dodgers vs. Rays. • Phillies vs. Red Sox. • Phillies vs. Rays. To vote, go to www.sacbee.com/sports.
Tuesday's poll results
Which team will win the World Series first? • Giants. 32% • Cubs. 28% • Indians. 17% • Expansion team. 23% Total votes: 110
The last word
What you're saying on the sacbee.com comments: • "This is the 4th year that our team has succumbed to 'technical errors' that other teams seem to get worked out in preseason." – Absurdesne on "49ers blame slide on technical errors"
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