TV

It was Al Michaels, John Madden and the rest of the seemingly ever-expanding team of commentators/reporters/analysts that make up NBC's football-coverage team.

Perhaps the biggest news item coming out of the panel was the reunion of Keith Olbermann with his ESPN counterpart, Dan Patrick. When someone asked about the secret of their success during those mid-90s hey-days when they co-hosted ESPN's Sportscenter, Mr. Patrick explained "We just tried to entertain each other."

Mr. Olbermann elaborated, saying "the goal being to make the other laugh uncontrollably on national television."

When, in a joking reference to the "controversy" that has dogged Mr. Olbermann here at the TCA Press Tour since, during an earlier Fox News panel," anchor Chris Wallace opined that Keith Olbermann's dual function on MSNBC as both outspoken editorialist and co-anchor of campaign coverage, was a breach of journalistic ehtics and/or intergrity, Mr. Olbermann was asked if his outspoken criticism of the Bush administration should disqualify him from serving as co-host of Football Night in America, he (eventually) responded thusly:

"Barring the possibility of John McCain picking Brett Favre as his running mate, I don't think it will be a problem."

As the panel wound down, a final question was asked. "Are any of you," someone queried "going to be on the next season of Dancing with The Stars?" A follow-up to the suprisingly slinky and newly traded REdskins pass-rusher, Jason Taylor who made it to the finals this past season.

Chris Collingsworth was the first to wave off the suggestion.

"My wife's been bugging me ever since the first season that show was on to take dancing lessons. I finally just told her 'I will never either look like or dance like Jason Taylor.' "

Jerome Bettis patted running-back-cum-commentator Tiki Barber and said "Tiki's our guy." For his part, Mr. Barber just laughed and shook his head 'no.'

Then Mr. Madden entered the fray on a serious note.

"I heard it's going to be Warren Sapp," he said and then proceeded to start doing what he does -- analyzing and forecasting the outcome.

"He's good, he's got the moves," Mr. Madden said. "I predict he'll win."

The panel had opened with a discussion of last year's Super Bowl (Mr. Madden thought it was good for football and -- more importantly -- football commentators that the NY Giants had one since it set up a more interesting storyline this season) and a look ahead to this coming Super Bowl. It culminated in Mr. Madden predicting that the New York Giants, against most oddsmakers, would win again.

Now he wrapped things up.

"I'm going with the Giants and Warren Sapp."