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News Nuggets, 11.20.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ABC Television backing out of BCS sweepstakes?

NEW YORK — ABC has pulled its contract offer to the Bowl Championship Series, a move that could result in three of college football's biggest games moving to another network.

ABC has been the home of college football's four major bowls, including the national title game, since the current system was implemented in 1998.

Earlier this month, the BCS opened up the bidding for the broadcast rights to the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls after being unable to come to an agreement with ABC during the exclusive negotiating period.

``We have taken our bid off the table,'' Loren Matthews, senior vice president for programming for ABC Sports told The Associated Press on Friday.

The national title game rotates between the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta and Rose bowls every four years under the BCS. The Rose Bowl negotiates its own TV deal and recently re-signed with ABC through 2014.

ABC has been paying about $25 million per year for the rights to the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls. The current deal runs through the 2005 season.

BCS coordinator and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said ABC is not out of the running to retain the BCS.

``Negotiations are proceeding for the television rights to the Bowl Championship Series model that has been developed,'' he said in a statement late Friday night. ``ABC is one of the parties that is continuing to express interest in purchasing these rights; however, it is inappropriate to discuss any exchange of offers between the BCS and parties who have been involved in attempting to acquire the property.''

Earlier this year, BCS officials voted to expand the BCS to five games in the 2006 season to give two more teams access. The championship game will be played at the site of one of the current BCS games.

``Certainly, it's not any dislike of the sport or the BCS. It just didn't make financial sense and didn't appear to us that it would, going forward under their new format, make financial sense,'' Matthews said.

``With the addition of this fifth game, frankly it's adding another game that just doesn't matter in the national championship race.''

The BCS has met with Fox and College Sports Television in recent weeks.

``We've met with the BCS more than once,'' said Lou D'Ermilio, senior VP of media relations for Fox Sports. ``Those meeting have included a free exchange of ideas.

``We feel the BCS is a great event and it would fit well into our sports programming.''

Matthews said even without the BCS, ABC would still broadcast the national title game once every four years when it is hosted by the Rose Bowl.

``It makes sure that we will be part of the national championship picture,'' Matthews said.

In years when the Rose Bowl doesn't host the national championship game, its first priority is to host the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions, though those plans get be muddled when the winner of either of those leagues plays for the national title.

``We think if a second game effects the national championship, chances are it will be the Rose Bowl,'' Matthews said.

The Rose Bowl has consistently been the second-highest rated bowl game behind the national title game during the BCS era.

Matthews said regardless of whether the BCS changes its newly adopted format, ABC would be willing to consider making another deal with the BCS down the road.

The BCS was formed in 1998 when the Big Ten, Pac-10 and Rose Bowl joined with the now-defunct Bowl Alliance and college football's four other major conferences — the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference.

Former Louisville hoops star dead at 48

LOUISVILLE — Larry Williams, a Louisville basketball player in the 1970s who was drafted by the NBA and later spent five seasons in Europe, died at age 48.

Williams' body was found at a Louisville motel last Saturday, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner R.D. Jones said. The cause of death was not immediately determined. There was no sign of foul play, and Jones said he was awaiting toxicology results.

``I'll remember him as a man who came from a tough environment who did really well,'' former Louisville coach Denny Crum said. ``He gave back to this community. I just saw him a couple of months ago. He seemed to be doing well. I'm shocked. Shocked.''

Williams, who grew up in Chicago and was in a gang by the time he was 9, played at Louisville from 1975-79. The 6-foot-9 forward had his best season in 1976-77, averaging 13 points.

Williams was drafted by the Denver Nuggets but then cut. He played in the Continental Basketball Association, then went to Europe, where he played for five seasons before retiring.

Williams returned to Chicago but moved back to Louisville in 1990 after his wife, Nancy, died of breast cancer. His son, Larry Jr., plays basketball at Chattanooga State Technical Community College.

Williams had been executive director and chief executive officer of Plymouth Community Renewal Center in West Louisville since early last year. He resigned recently for health reasons, said Virginia Bradford, chairman of the center's board.

Williams is survived by his son; brother, George Williams; mother, Luvidia Lewis; and sister, Deborah Gilchrist.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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