The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 32

i. III 1 if Tampa Tribune, Saturday, January 21 1 989 8-C BOWL XXIII BENGALS VS. 49ERS 10 most watched TV programs Enberg, Olsen back at their old haunt 1988 BETTORS LOVE BUCS The Cincinnati Benaals. Chicago Bears. New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the darlings of those who bet their money against the advance line.

The Benaals 12-4 and Bears (12-4) were 11-5 against tne line while the Bucs (5-11) and Pats (9-7) were 10-6. That means if you bet the Bucs against the odds, you won 10 of 16 times, or, it meant the Bucs played the games closer than the betting line said tney wouia. Ernest Hooper, Worst bets: Miami and Washington. RICE GOES THROUGH PRACTICE San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice said his right ankle was "still a little sore," but he participated in Friday's practice. "He looked OK." 49ers coach Bill Walsh said.

"Again, ne nasn 1 Program Date Network Total Vlewert 1. Super Bowl XX Jan, 26, 1986 NBC 127,000,000 2. Super Bowl XXI Jan. 25, 1987 CBS 122,640,000 3. M'A'S'H' (Special) Feb, 28, 1983 CBS 121,624,000 4.

Super Bowl XIX Jan. 20, 1985 ABC 115,936,000 5. Super Bowl XXII Jan. 31, 1988 ABC 115,000,000 6. Super Bowl XVI Jan.

24, 1982 CBS 110,230,000 7. Super Bowl XVII Jan. 30, 1983 NBC 109,040,000 8. Super Bowl XII Jan. 15, 1978 CBS 102,010,000 9.

Roots, Part 8 Jan. 30, 1977 ABC 98,706,000 10. Super Bowl XIV Jan. 20, 1980 CBS 97,600,000 Watched some portion of the broadcast. Source: A.C.

Nielsen Top 1 0 TV sports events Event Date Network Share Rating 1. Super Bowl XVI Jan. 24, 1982 CBS 73.0 49.1 2. Super Bowl XVII Jan. 30, 1983 NBC 69.0 48.6 3.

Super Bowl XX Jan. 26, 1986 NBC 70.0 48.3 4. Super Bowl XII Jan. 15, 1978 CBS 67.0 47.2 5. Super Bowl XXIII Jan.

21,1979 NBC 74.0 47.1 6. Super Bowl XVIII Jan. 22, 1984 CBS 71.0 46.4 (tie) Super Bowl XIX Jan. 20, 1985 ABC 63.0 46.4 8. Super Bowl XIV Jan.

20, 1980 CBS 67.0 46.3 9. Super Bowl XXI Jan. 25, 1987 NBC 66.0 45.8 10. Super Bowl XI Jan. 9, 1977 NBC 73.0 44.4 (tie) Super Bowl XV Jan.

25, 1981 NBC 63.0 44.4 had to do anything quick and lateral, but he ran straight ahead fine." Linebacker Sam Kennedy, termed an "important special teamer" by Walsh, experienced back spasms and Is listed as probable. Walsh said the 49ers will have three captains on bunaay job Montana on offense, Ronnie Lott on defense and Harry Sydney on special teams. The 49ers will visit Joe Robbie Stadium today, Put proDaDiy iusi to walk around the locker room and field. "I just want to have them do something besides sit around all day," Walsh said. (Based on AA Ratings) Source: A.C.

Nielsen Where Super Bowl XXII was seen All Super Bowl viewers Xt la -this, their fourth Super Bowl together, Dick Enberg and Merlin Olseirare hoping to avoid the pitfalls that have haunted them in prior; championship games. In 1983, it was a shrieking, ear-shattering sound that almost turned Super Bowl XVII into a super disaster for the NBC duo. Enberg was preparing to announce the starting lineups for Washington and Miami, but when his mike was opened up for the Rose Bowl audience a "debilitating" tone of feedback reverberated through Enberg and 01-sefr's" headphones. The result: instant headaches and inoperative audio gear. "It was like someone was inside your tread with a chisel and a hammer," Olsen said.

"It destroyed our communication with the truck, and couldn't hear each other." "Here I was trying to talk to 45 million people, and I couldn't hear myself," Enberg said. "I went home angry thinking it was our worst telecast ever." In reality, however, few viewers detected the technical snafu. Olsen, unsurfe of what replays the director would' run, guessed correctly to give the? impression of a smooth-running telecast. This year the broadcasters say they're lucky to have the two best teams, playing for the title. Enberg is hoping Cincinnati and San Francisco can produce one of those high-scoring, exciting game where the announcers always "do a tremen-dousjbb." "That wasn't the case in 1986, however, when Chicago beat New England 46-10.

The Bears jumped out-such a big early lead that it was'easy to tell Super Bowl XX would be a super blowout 'think the best work we've ever done was that Super Bowl," Enberg said. "The ratings for the first half were a 46, and for the second half It was a 43. I would like to think part of the reason the audience stayed tuned in because we haaStione our homework and we were prepared." jSlot only do close games make the "announcers seem better, but they also boost ratings. The last Bowls have all been annihilation displays by the NFC 75 Friend home 325 75 50 25 0 Bar, Club Restaurant 5 iri-m-J teams, and the ratings have gone down each year from 48.3 in 1986 to 41.9 in 1988. A three-dimensional halftime show, the "NFL Talent Challenge," and 23 cameras are expected to help NBC bring the ratings back up.

In particular, NBC executive producer Michael Weismann wants to insure that the two-hour pre-game show (3 p.m.) recaptures some of its lost luster and lost ratings. That's where the Talent Challenge comes in. Hosted by actor John Candy and Ahmad Rashad, the show will feature seven semifinalist that have been selected from a field of 20 NFL players to compete for $50,000 in charity monies in a contest of non-athletic skills. The players: Philadelphia's Reggie White (impersonator), Phoenix' E.J. Junior (pianist, singer), Houston's Spencer Tillman (impersonator), Cincinnati's Mike Martin (pianist, singer), Atlanta's John Scully, Detroit's Karl Bernard (singer) and the Rams' Michael Young (singer).

Weismann also is incorporating items such as an NFL version of the "Albert Achievement Awards" and a yet-to-be-disclosed "Son of the Silent Minute." The regular "NFL Live!" crew of Rashad, Bob Costas, Paul Maguire, Gayle Gardner and Frank Deford will appear before and after the game. They will be joined by Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. "I promise our Super Bowl pre-game show won't be predictable," Weismann said. "We're trying to stop the trend (in downward ratings)." Weismann also has promised that the show will not include tailgate party features, cameras in crowded sports bars in Cincinnati and San Francisco, interviews with the mayors from each city or a choreograph of the Ickey Shuffle. Despite the network's extra effort, Enberg and Olsen both real- By sex Men Women 75-72 23 80 50 25 0 7 4 ized that a close game can be just as effective as any 3-D gimmick.

"We're all hopeful, as are all of you in America, that we'll finally get a decent game," Enberg said. "Probably the last good game, not a great game, was the one we did in Pasadena (six years ago), when John Riggins scored late in the fourth quarter and the Redskins beat Miami (27-17)." Super Bowl notes. Although NBC has televised Cincinnati in its last two games, the Bengals may pose problems for the network with their no-huddle offense. The uncertainty of Boomer Eslason's actions make it difficult to determine how many replays can be shown. NBC's Bob Trumpy will act as a production assistant, noting tendencies and suggesting players for isolation Marv Albert will do his "Albert Achievement Awards" live after doing two west coast Knicks game for the Madison Square Garden Network and the N.C.

State-North Carolina college basketball game Saturday. After the Super Bowl, he will handle post-game locker room duties before flying back west to cover the Knicks-Lak--ers game Tuesday. Ernest Hooper covers Radio and TV sports. By age Under 0 35 and 35 over 83 75 50 25 15 29 7 4 By Income under $30,000 $30,000 and over 71 75 i 6 5 Sources: NFL Report, R.H. Bruskln Assoc.

49ers' Young not bitter about Buc days FULCHER BACK AT WORK Bengals safety David Fulcher, who bruised his knee during a practice collision Thursday, was back at work. The Bengals will have an early morning meeting today before heading to Joe Robbie Stadium for a walk-through. "We're ready to play right now," Bengals coach Sam Wyche said. "Our job from here on out is conserving energy for the game." ROUNDABOUT WAY TO MIAMI In the 1984 draft, the Cincinnati Bengals had their eyes on a left-handed quarterback out of Brigham Young Steve Young. They would have taken him in the first round.

But he took the $1 million offer Los Angeles of the old United States Football League offered him. Cincinnati traded down, acquired three first-round picks and then took Boomer Esiason in the second-round, with their 38th pick overall. Now Young is the backup Forty-Niner in Sunday's Super Bowl and hopes to contribute to a victory over the Bengals who once coveted him. REALLY BIG BENGALS The Bengals won't have their mascot tiger at the Super Bowl but they will have the biggest offensive line in the NFL there, bigger than the program actually will say. LT Anthony Munoz is 286, not 278 as listed.

LG Bruce Reimers is 295, not 280. Center Bruce Kozerski is 287, not 275. RG Max Montoya is 285, not 275. RT Brian Blados is 315, not 295. Cincinnati line coach Jim McNally said he doesn't even look at offensive linemen in the 250-260 category.

THE MEDIA ZOO The NFL issued 2,164 media credentials to Super Bowl XXIII, including 350 to NBC-TV for its broadcast production of the game. That's 185 fewer media credentials than issued last year. Also, there are 709 others who have credentials to work on the game. So the -total credential count is 2,873. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM Bengals coach Sam Wyche again used the "David vs.

Goliath" analogy in describing Sunday's game. "They'll be the guys in armor," Wyche said. "We'll be the guys in sandals and leather wrap." What does 49ers coach Bill Walsh think about those never-ending David vs. Goliath stories? "I think they've been used before," Walsh said. TAKE IT ALL OFF One of the 49ers' distractions was a welcome one this year.

At the team's Airport Hilton headquarters, a woman began an impromptu striptease dance in the fountain as the players watched poolside. "I wanted to get a closer look," 49ers running back Doug DuBose said. "But the doctors held me back." MY HOMETOWN Sam Wyche's hometown of Wyoming, Ohio, officially will be designated as "Wycheoming" on Sunday. WILLIAMS HAD OTHER PLANS Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams, a Cincinnati city councilman, has work back home. "I've been taking flak for missing a council meeting this week," he said.

"I'm not going to apologize. It's been a long time getting to another Super Bowl." TIME TO PARTY Pete Rozelle invited 3,500 of his intimate friends to Friday night's annual NFL party. It was held at the Stephen Muss Convention Center in Miami. "Salsa and Spice" was the theme. Meantime, there was another party for the public called the Miami Super Extravaganza.

Rozelle didn't make it to that one, but Spuds MacKenzie was on hand to oversee the proceedings. BIG GAME, SMALL COLLEGES There are more players on the teams' Super Bowl rosters from North Alabama (two) than there are from Notre Dame (one). Bengals cornerbacks Lewis Billups and Daryl Smith played at North Alabama. 49ers quarterback Joe Montana is from Notre Dame. BIG SISTERS OF SAMOA 49ers offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu revealed this week that the lightest of his three sisters weighs 230 pounds.

Sapolu, who was born in Samoa, outweighs her by 30 pounds. COST-EFFICIENT DEFENSE The average salary for the Bengals defense this season was $204,083. That pales in comparison to the average earnings of the 49ers offense they'll be trying to stop. San Francisco's movers and shakers averaged $386,583. THE NUMBERS GAME The average margin of victory In the past five Super Bowls was 28 points.

The South Florida economy will benefit by $144,009,600 because of the Super Bowl. Bengals defensive end Jason Buck has read "Lord of the Rings" 13 times. 10 miles of communications cable has been installed by GTE at Joe Robbie Stadium. the 49ers record during the season against teams with animal nicknames was 5-5 and the Bengals record against teams with red uniforms was 2-2. THE SHIRT OFF MONTANA'S BACK An autographed Joe Montana jersey was auctioned off Friday morning on WYNF-FM Radio, during the Ron BenningtonRon Diaz morning show from 6-10 a.m., to benefit the Tony Ippolito "Fight For Life" fund.

Ippolito, the former state wrestling champion at Brandon High and current coach at Armwood now taking a year's leave of absence is combating an arduous and expensive fight against cancer. Thus, the fund. After considerable response from listeners, Chris Doscher of Safety Harbor got the Montana jersey, after having the high bid of $1,700, according to morning show producer Bill Owens. FORECAST CALLS FOR RAIN Sunday's Super Bowl could be wet. The latest weather report calls for a 60 percent chance of rain throughout the day and a "good chance of rain" during the game.

The rain is expected to start Saturday, with a 50 percent chance during the day Increasing to 80 percent on Super Bowl Eve. While it has rained shortly before other Super Bowl games, It never has rained during the game, a spokesman for the NFL said. The temperature for the 5 p.m. klckoff for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals Is expected to be near 70 degrees and should stay In the mid to upper 60s during the game. TRIBUNE STAFF i X.

tl NVO jMj- fiii 1 1'tirrr 1 ByTOM McEWEN Tribune Sports Editor -MIAMI Quarterback Steve Young is the only: rostered player in Sunday's Super Bowl XXIII; that has enjoyedhad Tampa Bay Buccaneer experience. And despite the lumps he took, despite the losses he suffered, he says only good things about his Buc time. With the Bucs in 1985 and '86, Young was 3-16 as starter. With the 49ers these past two seasons, playing behind All-World quarterback Joe Montana, he is 7-1 as a starter. His only loss season at Phoenix, 24-23, after Young had; Jed his Niners to a 23-0 lead.

Only as the starter, of record was he the loser. His performances were fuel enough for some to cry. quarterback controversy. His coach, Bill Walsh, would have none of that A healthy Montana was his quarterback, Is his quarterback, with Young called by some the best back-up In "Tampa was a wonderful opportunity for me. I got to start.

I got to learn. JXwas different When you play here, you are on a tidal wave with so many great players around, you. You can't help but being better yourself. fut Tampa was good for me and I understood what happened. I said so at the time.

I say it CThe classy, scatterbug Young was signed by the; Bscs out of the dying United States Football League, for the 1985 season. He started the final fivf games for then Coach Leeman Bennett. Mafiy thought he should have started sooner, but Bennett stuck with Steve DeBerg until the Bucs were out of the race, with only one win. oung began with a bang at Tampa, winning his -first start, against Detroit. But, no more gamei were won In that 2-14 season.

Jit 1986, Bennett's second and last year, Young started 14 games. Two were wins, thus his 3-16 record at Tampa. Bennett's dismissal followed. Ray Perkins was hired as head coach, decided he would draft Miami's Helsman Trophy winner, Vinny Testaverde, thus making Young expendable. DeBerg would stay.

Young was traded San Francisco five days before the 1987 draft for second- and fourth-round picks. The trade suited him just fine. did then. It does now. He's in the Super Bowl, -though not likely to play unless Montana is hurt or plays poorly.

Neither circumstance is ex-peeled. JM safety Ronnie Lott said the other day, "Joe Montana may be the most courageous player at his position in history." Montana has been hurt, thus the chances Yoting has had so far with the 49ers. ln-1987, when Montana was hurt, he saw action! ifi a total of eight games. He started three and; them all, including a stirring win over the Chicago Bears. this past season Young saw action In all but five! regular-season games, starting three.

Two United PrM International photograph The 49ers' Steve Young says he wants to play Sunday, but will root for Joe Montana. eager player and an eager talker. "But when Joe's in there, I pull as hard as I can and I share his enthusiasm and his success. "I'm happy to be here. I don't want to go anywhere else.

But of course I want to start, too. "And I tell you again, playing In Tampa, getting the chance there, made me a much better player. Not only that It was a nice place to work and believe." were wins. Against Minnesota, he threw 73 yards to John Taylor for a touchdown and won the game with a 49-yard run with 1:58 left He was named National Conference player of the week. "Sure I fantasize about playing Sunday.

I hope I do. I'll be ready. I fantasize about Bill calling to me and sending me and me doing well. "The thing about relief is that you want to get something done on the first play," said Young, an ili nf ii -1i 1 ml An.