The first hint that EyeVision wouldn't be a big hit at the FinalFour came Thursday when CBS director Bob Fishman was asked about theexperimental replay system first used at the Super Bowl in January.
"I enjoyed it immensely in football," Fishman said. "I don't knowwhat the appeal will be in basketball. I don't even know ifbasketball lends itself to using it.
"It will be used and, hopefully, I will be greatly surprised bythings I don't see in my head at the moment."
Fishman's worst fears materialized. EyeVision-which allows thereplay angle to spin around the field of play-didn't add much to thetelecast of the semifinal games. Unlike football, EyeVision didn'toffer any angles not available from the numerous conventional camerasin use at the Metrodome.
In fact, the EyeVision replays offered less, mainly because thecameras-located on the facade of the stadium-were farther away thanthe other cameras. The resulting EyeVision replays were a bit blurry,and that made it difficult for the network analysts to explain theirpoints.
The best decision Fishman and coordinating producer Bob Dekas madewas using EyeVision sparingly. I'm sure that game plan will continue during tonight's title game (8:18, Ch. 2, 670-AM).
Still, I don't think EyeVision should be dismissed in basketballcoverage just yet.
Remember, the Metrodome is a football stadium. Perhaps the systemwill work better in a traditional basketball arena because thecameras will be closer to the court.
FINE TUNING: Dick Enberg's feature on Al McGuire on CBS' FinalFour pregame show Saturday was first-rate, giving viewers greatinsight into the unique philosophy of the former Marquette coach whodied earlier this year. Unfortunately, the most memorable quote inthe piece was from Billy Packer, who seemingly can't help soundinglike a crusty old coach. On his numerous differences of opinion whenhe and McGuire worked together as NBC analysts, Packer said: "Theproblem was, he not only didn't like basketball, he didn't know muchabout basketball, so it wasn't hard to get in an argument with him.". . . How bad was the officiating during the Duke-Maryland game inthe Final Four on Sunday? The CBS analysts couldn't help but mentionthe bad calls-which no announcer likes to do-throughout the game.Some of the calls were a joke, and I'd like to see the network do apiece on why college officiating is so poor. . . . Joe Carter makeshis regular-season debut today as the WGN Cubs analyst during thehome opener against Montreal at 1:20 p.m., while the White Sox openerat Cleveland (with Ken Harrelson and Darrin Jackson) starts at 12:05p.m. on Fox Sports Net. . . . I know it's nitpicking, but someoneshould tell Packer to simply say Duke, not Duke University.
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