Columnist Tim Graham: New Year’s wishes for some media members

Tim Graham

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 12:10 p.m.

TIM GRAHAM is a Las Vegas SUN sportswriter. His media column appears Wednesdays. He can be reached on the Internet at tim@lasvegassun.com

All the Christmas and Hanukkah presents have been unwrapped, but there still are some people out there with needs.

While most of these voids cannot be filled with a simple gift, I remain hopeful that they will be handled somehow, some way.

That said, here is my list of wishes for the new year for certain members of the media, both locally and nationally.

ESPN's Chris Berman: A hat big enough to fit his head and a "2-Minute Drill" that lasts less than four minutes.

Fox Sports' John Madden: Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

ABC "Monday Night Football" color commentator Frank Gifford: Early retirement and a collection of "Candid Camera" videos to help pass the time.

Admitted freakazoid Marv Albert: A pretty see-through neglige and a job he can sink his teeth into.

Former UNLV quarterback and current ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor Kenny Mayne and his pregnant wife, Laura: The problem-free delivery of a healthy child. The Maynes suffered the loss of twins -- one was stillborn, the other died months later after a lengthy struggle -- last year.

Thunder voice Tim Neverett: An NHL radio job.

Stars voice Jon Sandler: Eyes in the back of his head. Sandler was knocked unconscious and suffered permanent visual impairment when an errant pregame throw hit him in the head last year.

Las Vegan and CNN's NFL analyst Ron Meyer: One more crack at coaching in the NFL.

UNLV basketball and Oakland A's announcer Ken Korach: A vacation between now and the end of the baseball season.

UNLV broadcast manager Tony Cordasco: More high-profile work.

KVBC Channel 3 sports director Andrew Smith: A clean desk. Smith was suspended along with former producer Jason Cohen around the holidays last year for their unkempt work areas.

Channel 3 sports producer Rick Strasser: The chutzpah to wear his goatee on the air -- unless, of course, he would get suspended for it.

Omnipresent KLAS Channel 8 sports director Dave McCann: A sportscast that does not promote another of his many ventures.

KTNV Channel 13 sports director Ron Futrell: A wardrobe like Channel 13 weekend anchor Mario Diaz's.

Diaz: On-air confidence like Futrell's and more chances to showcase his on-the-spot reporting.

Befuddled Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium public-address announcer Dick Calvert: Some potassium tablets to help prevent those brain cramps that made him announce Michael Jordan's name as Michael Jackson and UNLV linebacker A.C. Smith's as A.C. Green.

Overnight sports talker J.T. the Brick: A contract to continue his show on SportsFan Radio Network. He graciously has worked without one for months.

One-on-One Sports call-in host "Papa Joe" Chevalier: The opportunity to broadcast his show from Las Vegas full-time.

Venomous blowhard Jim Rome: A dictionary of all his euphemisms so new listeners can figure out what the hell he's talking about.

L'il Penny: His own talk show.

Prime Cable: The addition of Fox Sports West 2 to its menu and the ability to order more pay-per-view packages such as ESPN's "Full-Court" college basketball coverage.

DirecTV: Lower equipment prices and installation fees so more viewers can revel in the dozens of regional and specialty sports stations it offers.

Merry Christmas

Former UNLV hoops star Reggie Theus is being credited for providing the ultimate Christmas present.

Now the NBA analyst for Turner Sports, Theus and producer Scooter Vertino presented the dramatic feature Dec. 23 on Portland Trail Blazer Rasheed Wallace and his missing son. The story led to the return of Wallace's son on Christmas Day.

Theus also has enjoyed a pleasant holiday season. His Rebel jersey No. 23 was retired along with old teammate Glen Gondrezick's No. 25 Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Gondrezick now is UNLV's radio color commentator.

Static

Former Las Vegas Stars broadcaster Rich Waltz is doing well. Now working for ESPN, he handled play-by-play for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego Monday before flying to Memphis, Tenn., to call the Liberty Bowl tonight. ... The makers of "NCAA GameBreaker '98," a video game for the Sony PlayStation system, contends Michigan will beat Washington State 24-10 in Thursday's Rose Bowl. Using computerized game simulations, it also had Florida State beating Ohio State 27-21 in the Sugar Bowl and Florida topping Penn State 38-28 in the Citrus Bowl. ... CBS is close to reaching a deal with former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith to become the network's top postseason studio analyst.