Jim O'Donnell: Sox to find out if Kasper milquetoast travels
SO, AS FIRST SUGGESTED in this space 17 months ago, Len Kasper is leaving Cubs TV.
To work White Sox radio.
Since it involves Kasper, the first impulse is to reach for the shark-toothed Gary Deeb Thesarus to find fresh synonyms for the word “milquetoast.”
Kasper has those dog ears covered. So the next task becomes to contextualize the rock 'n shock value of the defection.
If Harry Caray from the Sox to the Cubs in the winter of 1981-'82 was a “10” — and it was — Kasper-to-the-Sox is a “2.”
It's like inanimate Charlie Wojciechowski leaving WMAQ-Channel 5 News for WTTW-Channel 11's “Chicago Tonight.”
Or lucky-charmed Lou Canellis departing skeletal WFLD-Channel 32 Sports for “Good Morning Steubenville!”
Cut to its core, the Kasper lane change is a C-list play-by-play man moving to a C-list local MLB radio property.
That could be upgraded to a “Category B” radio property on ESPN AM-1000 in 2021 if Tony La Russa and his peanut-butter conspiracists play up to expectations.
Kasper in no way, shape or tone is a game-changer.
For 16 long seasons — like an electric floor fan in the night — he has droned through Cubs games as if touched by Advil P.M.
In tandem with Jim Deshaies for the past eight years, Kasper and mate could prompt only one conclusion from a reasonable viewer:
Both are just two strained, self-satisfying broadcasters who someone important liked.
As for dormant AM-1000, the acquisition is like more seasonal pothole fixing on the Kennedy.
Under Craig Karmazin and Mike Thomas, the Good Karma Brands station has little talent, listing revenues and remains mired 20,000 leagues below the Chicago t-radio sea.
First-wave rumors remain rife Chris Myers will replace Kasper at the Cubs Marquee Sports Network.
Two decades ago, that would have been an impacting change. Myers bolted ESPN for Fox in 1998 and had hot, high-level dice.
Now he's 61 years old, a second-tier national name and not likely to set baseball-watching pulses racing from Wrigleyville to Wheaton.
The Marquee startup has been plagued by poor planning, low energy and bad luck.
GM Mike McCarthy can begin in-house de-mothing by generating more effective promotion, hiring an inspired cadre of Cubs-centric imagineers and developing a media relations department.
In the meantime, if La Russa ever feels the urge to drift off in the Sox dugout next season, hopefully none of his staff will provide ear buds tuned to AM-1000.
That could send The Senior Señor off to the land of winkin', blinkin' and nod.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO this week, Mike Ditka and the 12-0 Bears went to the Orange Bowl and got fin-faddled by the Miami Dolphins, 38-24.
It would be the team's lone loss in an 18-1 season that ended with triumph in Super Bowl XX.
A review of the ABC telecast of “Monday Night Football” on YouTube (q.v.) is fascinating, especially underscoring how thoroughly Don Shula and staff out-coached Ditka, Buddy Ryan, offensive coordinator Ed Hughes and all.
Absolutely amazing was Ryan's failure to counter Shula's insertion of water bug Nat Moore as a third zip option for Dan Marino. Moore had his way with Wilber Marshall and Miami scored on its first five possession en route to a 31-10 halftime lead.
Eeriest TV moment came during an exchange between Frank Gifford and analysts Joe W. Namath and O.J. Simpson when Simpson was being kidded about his expensive car collection.
Joking that Simpson may have to sell one, Namath added, “I don't think Nicole would like that. She looks so pretty in 'em.”
STREET-BEATIN': While Gary Bettman is calling the start date of the NHL season “a work in progress,” credible reports some teams are well along in exploring a hub — home outdoor arena hybrid. ...
Only 15% of the U.S. will be force-fed the Bears-Lions Sunday (Fox-32, noon; Kevin Kugler-Chris Spielman). Maybe George McCaskey and emerging Detroit heiress Sheila Ford Kamp can arm-wrestle at halftime. ...
The Thanksgiving Day rib-knocker between Dallas and Washington was TV's most-watched show since the Super Bowl. (What, no Prime Time Emmys?) ...
Marv Albert plans to return — remotely — to play-by-play when the Turner/NBA package tips off in three weeks. (At age 79, he sat out the Disney bubble.) ...
Dave Corzine and Zach Zaidman are back as the DePaul men's radio team when the Blue Demons travel to Iowa State Sunday (WYLL-AM 1160, 5 p.m.). Dave Leitao is in tough with spidery Paul Reed gone pro and in camp with the Sixers. ...
And London-bridging Wally Ruston, on ways to break the dour Bears TV cycle: “The second half of Tottenham-Arsenal on Peacock Premium.”
• Jim O'Donnell's Sports & Media column appears Thursday and Sunday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com.