The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 17

THE CAPITAL TIMES, Madison, Friday, Feb. 8, 198517' Sportsvues demise can be blamed on many factors TVRadio Sports with Phil Rosenthal WHAT WAS originally billed as the best seat in the house has been moved behind a post. Sportsvue, the state-wide pay-cable sports network, was pronounced dead last Friday less than 10 months after its first cable-cast And in its wake, the Milwaukee Bucks were put up for sale on Tuesday. Once envisioned as a home turnstile and extended box office for the Bucks and the Milwaukee Brewers, co-investors in the network, Sportsvues demise proves that people wont buy what people dont want Actually, Sportsvue failed for a number of reasons. The Brewers last-place American League East finish in 1984 didnt help.

Though the number of subscribers peaked at 18,000 during the baseball season, it never reached the anticipated 35,000 to 50,000. When it went under, Sportsvue had just 16,000 subscribers. Milwaukees sluggish move into cable television was lethaL Wamer-Amex cable, which owns the citys franchise, just recently began hooking up the city. Even if Sportsvue had survived 1985, it was estimated that only 56 percent of the city would be wired for cable by the end of the year. So the network was effectively cut off from what would have to be considered its prime subscriber pooL The programming was lousy.

In addition to a handful of Bucks games, Sportsvue was planning to feature this month such wonderful offerings as Virginia Slims tennis, Milwaukee Admirals minor league hockey, University of Wisconsin womens basketball and gymnastics. And that was when it was on. Most of the time it was dead air, which made it a difficult sell at $10 a month. The pay-cable network was ill-prepared to start when it debuted. Originally, Sportsvue was to be part of a three-system combine, uniting sports pay-services in Chicago and Detroit But in the fall of 1983, Group which was to oversee the project withdrew its backing leaving Sportsvue with a lot less programming.

Sportsvue decided to go ahead with its plans to begin operations in April of 1984 anyway a fatal mistake. ball and basketball. When you are in business for yourself there are two key One is selling advertising and the other is getting station clearances. In basketball, the Big Ten hasnt had problems with either because all it has done is pick up the package that already had been established. The network consists of 35 stations including Madisons WISC-TV, Channel 3.

The idea of a conference producing its own TV isnt new. The Metro and Sun Belt conferences have tried independent production and have been successful Both endeavors were on a smaller scale, however. What we would be doing is eliminating the middleman," Elliott said. I truly do think, and this is just my personal opinion, this might be what well do next year. We could be doing football and basketball out of -our own office.

I IRONY, PART TWO The Pac-10 Conference wasnt paid $500,000 of its $3 million deal with TCS-Metrosports for televised football games this season and may not get another $1 million owed by the company for basketball coverage. more local sports. In addition, for the privilege of seeing more sports on TV, hes willing to pay for it." According to Bucks president Jim Fitzgerald, the National Basketball Association club lost between $3 million and $4 million on Sportsvue. The Brewers must have lost a similar amount So much for research and the best seat in the house. IRONY, PART ONE Complete Channel TV subscribers now receive Video Hits One, an Adult Contemporary and Soul video music channel, in place of Sportsvue.

Video Hits One is produced by the same company that gave us MTV, Warner Communications a partner with American Express in Wamer-Amex cable. BIG TEN TV Now that the Big Ten has severed its ties with television syndicator TCS-Metrosports and is producing its own basketball telecasts, don't be surprised if the conference gets into the TV business for good. This could be the testing ground just to see how well we can do it," said Jeff Elliott, director of the Big Ten Service Bureau and the guy who deals with syndicators in foot It wasnt even available in Madison or Dane County, the states second largest market, for a full month into operations. And when it got here, it was received poorly. Just 1,080 of Complete Channel TVs 61,000 subscribers had the service when it went out of business.

The marketing folks at Sportsvue seemed to lack foresight They either didnt anticipate these problems or refused to see them. Shortly before Sportsvue premiered, an executive with the company told The Capital Times: Our research really shoWed us two things. First, that the sports fan in Wisconsin wanted to see more sports on TV, but its Johnson kept the faith, bounced back from adversity because our backup power forward and backup center are young and a little bit inexperienced. Were a little bit inexperienced. But as far as ability, they have a lot" Johnsons team goals are to finish with a .500 season.

Thats a major concern for her at this point She doesnt want to discuss personal goals. I wouldnt want to say something and fall short. If I fall short I want to be the only one who knows. Two of Johnson's more memorable games came in her freshman year, in games against La Crosse and played pretty well those two games. I came off the bench and scored 23 and 26 points apiece, said Johnson.

Thats when I made Fresh man Big Ten Player of the Week. From a playing standpoint those are the two most memorable. Also, I think the Iowa game (Jan. 27) was the best team game. It was the most exciting and I had a lot of fun.

When things are tough, as they were last year, Johnson doesnt quit She doesnt give up, she just hangs in there. I may say or feel like I want to quit and I may at times have tried to quit but I havent she said In life situations, you may have problems and want to give up, quit and gb back home. I'm not a quitter. I just hang in there, and hopefully the bad will pass. I wasnt thinking in terms of, Well, I only need 21 points to hit the 1,000 mark, Johnson said.

I was aware of it before I went on the road trip that I only needed 31 points. I got 10 against Michigan State and then I had 18 points and she took me out of the game (Michigan). I didnt think I was going to get back in. Once I got back in, I thought about it Gee whiz, I only need three points. I was aware of it the last two minutes and the last free throw I knew I only needed one point I felt kind of frustrated that I didnt get it but there are other games and its only a point" I was pretty excited about it Johnson said.

Being a point guard, I wasnt really a designated scorer when I got here. It says a lot and it is an amazing feat This years team is young and talented, Johnson said, but simply got off to a bad start as evidenced by their 7-12 overall record. I think that were young as far as the backup power forward and backup center position, Johnson said. I think we have a lot of talent Some of the freshmen could be as equal to or better than a Theresa Huff or a Janet Huff or a Chris Pruitt" I like this team, said Johnson. We just had a hard time getting it together in the beginning.

I think that part has to do with our inside game, sity High School in Minneapolis. Tonight, when she scores her first point in a game against Indiana at Bloomington, she will become one of five women in UW history to score 1,000 points. Talking to Coach Qualls helped me out a lot," Johnson said. She didnt give up on me and say Hey, you messed up, no more chances for you. Although I only had one more year of eligibility left, she still had faith in me." Johnson was a bit frustrated after last Sundays game against Michigan, coming up a point short of 1,000.

She also is a little amazed with the feat she is about to accomplish. By PRISCILLA BROWN Special to The Capital Timet Turning a negative experience into a positive one can be a hard thing to do. It helps if you have some inner strength faith, some call it It also helps a great deal if others have some faith in you. That was the case with Faith Johnson, a senior on the Wisconsin womens basketball team who had faith in herself and found that her coach, Edwina Qualls, had faith in her after Johnson became academically ineligible for a semester last year. The faith paid off for Johnson, a 5-6 senior guard from Marshall Univer OMalley sets Big Eight scoring mark CURLSDASKETBAU.1 UV HOCKEY PrjIZW Wisconsin vs.

Mlnncsota-Duluth Tama: Wisconsin (19-13 overall, 16-12 in WCHA). Minn.sota-Duluth (23-7-2, 19-7-2). Dates: Tonight and Saturday at 7:35 p.m. Site: Dans County Coliseum. Broadcast: Radio, WIBA, WTSO.

TV, WHA (21), taped delay at 10:30. Coaches: Wisconsin, Jett Sauer (73-40-5, third season). Minnesota-Duluth, Mike Sertich (80-35-5, third season). Wisconsin update: The major story out of the Badger camp thierweetT57 has involved freshman winger Scott Both Sauer and Mellanby' parents have received a letter from DaveJQpg, the coach of Cana the nadian National team. 'IT 51-48.

Lake Mills had trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter. In other conference games Thursday, Kris Nelson scored 20 points to lead Palymra-Eagle past Deerfield, 68-20; and Pam Kane scored 14 points and Jo Anne Zimmerman added 11 as Marshall defeated Hustisford, 3824. MCFARLAND 42, VERONA 33 -McFarland took an 186 first-quarter lead and held on. Karen Nelson led all with 15 points for McFarland. Carren Corcoran led Verona with 10.

Eastern Suburban Conference Sheri Behling scored 19 points and Cheryl Galston added 18 to help Lake Mills rally to defeat Johnson Creek, i actybpt I actybpt Fond du Lac wins title Karen O'Malley of Madison Blast set a Big Eight Conference single season scoring record Thursday night, scoring 25 points in a 54-43 victory over host Janesville Craig. OMalley has 331 points this season, breaking the previous mark of 320 set last season by Beloits Lakita Coleman. OMalley sank nine of 11 shots from the field, as East outscored Craig, 21-10, in the third quarter to take a 40-28 lead. The victory improved Easts first-place record to 11-1. Craig dropped to 8-4.

LA FOLLETTE 45, MEMORIAL 32 Anne Cooley scored a game-high 15 points and Pam Frazier added 11 as the Lancers improved to 2-10 in conference. Amy Udelhoffen led Memorial (Ml) with 12 points, all in the first half. BELOIT CO, WEST 43 Laura Finnegan, returning to action after a shoulder injury forced her to miss the last game, scored 19 points to lead Beloit (10-2). Michelle Marshall of of West (6-6) led all scorers with 21 points. SUN PRAIRIE 50, PARKER 40 Kaia Brash! sank a basket and a free throw in the final minute to help Sun Prairie (5-7) defeat visiting Parker.

Brashi scored 17 points to lead the Cardinals. Parker (5-7) was led by Karla Luchterhand with 18 points. Badger Conference Sue Aspenson scored 17 points to lead Monona Grove to its 11th King wants Mellanby. Translated: If Mellanbys the offer, this would be his first and last season at Wisconsin. King is putting together a team for the 1988 Olympics.

While playing for King, Mellanby could continue his education at the University of Calgary. He would bis paid $12,000 per year, and what's left over after tuition and books, he can pocket Sauer is upset about this situation. And so are many other coaches in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Duluth could lose three players, and North Dakota as many as five to King. Tve talked to Scott about it Sauer said.

If it was an Olympic year, it would be completely different As a group of coaches, we're all concerned. I don't think any of us agree with the philosophy right now. I just told Scott, Let's get the season over with and then, make a decision. As far as the Duluth series goes, Sauer has widened his scope to include Northern I sis games have to do is stay where we are (fourth place). If we can win three, we'll end up in pretty good shape.

If we do worse than that there's still a possibility we could lose home ice for the playoffs." Minneeota-Duluth update: The Bulldogs are on a roll. In their last 13 games, they have a 9-2-2 record. While they have a 16-1-1 record at home, they have proved to be human on the road 7-6-1. Bill Watson (30 goals-33 assists), Matt Christensen (14-32) and Tom straight conference victory without a defeat, a 56-26 win over visiting Oregon. MIDDLETON 43, SAUK PRAIRIE 41 (OT) Michelle Schreier, who scored 20 points, sank the only basket of the overtime to lead Middleton (8 7) past visiting Sauk Prairie (1-9).

STOUGHTON 53, FORT ATKINSON 42 Melissa Kittleson and Carol Ripp each scored 15 points to lead visiting Stoughton (83) past Fort (3-7). Capitol Conference Renne Cook sank two free throws in the closing minutes to help DeFor-est defeat visiting Columbus, 30-27. The victory knocked Columbus out of a first-place tie with Waunakee. Columbus and DeForest both are 10-3, one game behind Waunakee. Jeanne Evarts led DeForest with 11 points and eight rebounds.

WAUNAKEE 65, WISCONSIN HEIGHTS 41 Karl Niesen scored 14 points for Waunakee to lead all scorers, and Diana Wietzel added 11. Pam Holzwarth led Heights with 11. MOUNT HOREB 54, LODI 45 Julie Herger scored 15 points to lead overcome a six-point third-quarter deficit Lodi was led by Cathy Day and Audra Mahoney with 11 points each. open net goals. Rick Wedderspoon scored three goals for West (1-4-1).

MONONA GROVE 1, WAUPUN Scott Jenkins scored the games only goal with 3:52 remaining as Monona Grove (83) edged host Wau-pun 1-6) in a Badgerland game. Monona Grove goalie Brett Weum i made 32 saves in recording the shut- out. I SUN PRAIRIE 10, JANESVILLE PARKER 1 Dave Feiler scored three goals and Scott Willan added two as Sun Prairie (3-3) easily de- feated visiting Janesville Parker (1- 6) in a Big Eight match Fond du Lac clinched the Badger-land Conference title Thursday night with a 5-4 victory over Middleton at the Madison Ice Arena. Craig Koenigs broke a 4-4 tied with 2:03 left to give Fond du Lac the victory. BELOIT 7, MADISON WEST 4 Beloit scored four times in the third period to defeat the host Regents in a Big Eight Conference match at Hart-meyer Ice Arena.

West led, 3-2, until late in the third period, but took two penalties within 20 seconds. Beloit took advantage of the power play by scoring two goals and taking the lead for good. Beloit (83) added three Herzig (18-25) form one of the most potent lines in college hockey. Duluth is rounding into playoff shape. So is goaltender Rick Kosti, who is the WCHA's Player of the Week.

Kosti allowed only two goals in a sweep of Denver last weekend. "We have to be at our best now," said Sertich. Our destiny is in our own hands. There are no excuses." Return of the native: Skeeter Moore, who played his youth hockey in Madison, plays left wing for the Bulldogs. The series: Overall, the Badgers hold the edge 33-28-2.

At the Coliseum, since 1968, they are 19-9-1. But the Bulldogs have won 10 in a row. They have not played in Madison since the streak began on the weekend of Dec. 2-3, 1983. Interestingly enough, after sweeping the Badgers here last season, the Bulldogs went on a 17-4-1 tear.

UW BASKAU-PnEVIEW Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Teams: Wisconsin (10-10, 1-9), Ohio State (13-5, 6-4). Date: Saturday, Feb. 9, 1:05 p.m. Site: UW Fieldhouse.

Broadcast: Radio, WTSO (Brian Manthey and Russ Stowers), WIBA (Bob King and Ron Blomberg). Television, WHA-TV, Channel 21 (tape delay 10 a.m. Sunday). Coaches: Wisconsin, Steve Yoder (26-50, third year). Ohio State, Eldon Miller (148-101, ninth year).

Wisconsin's probable starters: Forwards, Scott Roth (6-9 senior, 19.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and J.J. Weber (6-7 sophomore, 7.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg); center, John Ploss (6-9 senior, 6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg); guards, Rick Olson (6-1 Junior, 16.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and Shelton Smith (6-0 freshman, 3.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg). Ohio State's probable starters: Forwards, Dennis Hopson (6-5 sophomore, 8.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Joe Concheck (6-8 senior, 10.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg); center, Brad Sellers (7-0 junior, 16.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg); guards, Ron Stokes (5-11 senior, 12.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and Troy Taylor (6-0 senior, 15.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg). Wisconsin update: The Badgers' losing streak went to nine with Thursday night's 58-54 loss to Indiana. But Coach Steve Yoder saw a ray of hope in the improved effort put out by his team.

If they'll continue to give this kind of effort, we 11 get a win very, very soon," Yoder said. I feel very confident that we can play this way Saturday and that we'U be in another ballgame. 1 felt we put ourselves in a position to win this game, and that's what everybody tries to do. We just weren't able to get it done." Ohio State update: The game marks the first return of former Badger Brad Sellers to the Fieldhouse. Sellers, who transferred from Wisconsin following his sophomore year in 1983, leads the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding.

He also is the top rebounder in the Big Ten. He scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Wisconsin earlier this year at Columbus. Two Buckeyes who have enjoyed tremendous success against the Badgers through the years are miniature guards Troy Taylor and Ron Stokes, who have played together since their high school days at Canton McKinley. Ohio State is coming off a shaky 63-60 victory at Northwestern Thursday. Taylor led the way with 18 points and Stokes had 10 Series: Ohio State leads the series 57-44.

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