European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Atlanta Falcon aundray Bruce fare the Ball Loose from Houston quarterback Warren Moon. The play following scrutiny by replay officials was ruled a Fumble a and a touchdown after a Falcon player picked up the Ball and scored. Replay debate Par v by Dave Goldberg associated press it was t a Groat Start for year v of instant replay which moans that there probably will be another Debato next March and another narrow decision to renew it for Ono year. One National showcase occurred in the opening sunday night giants eagles game when replay clearly showed that Tho giants Lewis Tillman fumbled before hitting Tho ground but there was no replay because Tillman had All godly Boon whistled Down before the Ball Camo Loose negating a touchdown by Philadelphia a Soth Joyner Tho second occurred in the saints-49ors game on that first monday night when the officials ruled that san Francisco s Darryl Pollard was out of Bounds when he into Copto John four ado s pass in the end zone. Throo minutes Lator the Call was reversed negating what would have been at least a Field goal by the saints in a game they lost by one Point. That seemed to subvert the new Rule that limits review to iwo minutes. So after Tho reversal it was announced that review starts Only when Tho replay official contacts the Umpire. So the official review took a convenient 1 57. Then there was Tho Falcons Ollers Brawl game. Score that Ono replay 21, oilers 0 a replay decisions or Lack of them gave Atlanta 14 Points and took 7 from the oilers. The first Call came in the first Quarter when Warren Moon was hit by aundray Bruce As his Arm seemed to be moving Forward and the Ball came out of his hand and hit about five Yards upfield. A Bunch of players looked at it and seemed to ignore it a Atlanta s tory Epps actually walked away from it. Then Delon Sanders batted it toward the end zone it rolled a bit and Bobby Butler picked it up. After a consultation referee Bob Mcelwee signalled touchdown and replay official Tom Kelleher declined to overturn. The second came less than two minutes later when Moon was tackled by Jessie Tuggle who reached under Moon after he fell took out the Ball and trotted downfield. He stopped at about the 30-Yard line looked around and trotted again into the end zone. Another touchdown and no reversal. Quot that a one i be never seen before Quot said new Orleans general manager Jim Finks who happens to head the a Fly a Rule making Competition committee. Quot in a not quite sure i believe what i  and finally in the third Quarter a fourth Down pass from Moon to Tony Jones that Jones caught clearly inbound in the end zone. On the replay it appeared he might have juggled the Ball As he stepped out of Bounds but it was hardly Clear. This time. Quot we have a reversal Quot Mcelwee announced. Beat goes a ref Musburger s Back covering football new Day rent Musburger had a Busy weekend. What else is new five months gone from lbs in the rancorous april fools night firing Musburger started his work this season As a College football play by play voice on abcs Texas tech at Ohto state telecast. He then flew Back to Connecticut to appear As a special guest on esp s opening National football league pregame football show. It s a Novelty one shot Deal a bit of a coup for esp to have Musburger on As it goes head to head against the pregame shows of Abc and cd so a a nil today Quot the show Over which Musburger presided for More than a decade. Musburger had a chuckle or two at the idea of up staging a even in a Small Way a the heavily promoted debut of the new Quot nil today Quot lineup. Is Musburger still bitter about the lbs Bosses who fired him in a word yes. So he arranged to observe the sunday pregame Cable show hosted by his Friend Chris Berman and agreed to go on for esp a kind of subsidiary of Abc. Quot i wanted to see their operation i wanted to see the games. Some Guys say they done to watch sports after they Are out of it. That a pure Bull Flowers Quot he said. He intended to go out to Las vegas on a sunday to see the betting operation there. Quot i want to see How much of that supposed hot action is hype and How much is real. And i want to go to the football stadiums i Haven t seen Quot he said. Musburger 51, bounced Back from his lbs split to sign a six year contract at Abc Worth a reported $11 million. It is astounding that he a or any sportscaster a can make that kind of Money but that is the crazy nature of the business. Its just As nutty that Musburger a firing received so much attention in the Media. This is a kid from Montana who worked one year As a minor league Umpire went into newspaper work then radio before he grabbed attention As the lbs sports Lead personality who for a the Rush to fill the void by Dwight Chapin san Francisco examiner no fewer than 20 people Are being featured on various pro football pregame shows this fall. Brent Musburger wont be one of them. The Man who in t there a initially at least a is As big a Story As the men and women who Are. Musburger was a sunday sports institution the Host of cd so a Quot the nil today Quot going Back to 1975, when the Pittsburgh Steeles ruled professional football and Terry Bradshaw had hair. But Musburger was dumped by lbs this Spring and wound up at Abc which is just about the Only network that does not have a pregame or pos game nil show a merely the reliable Trio of Al Michaels Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf on Quot monday night  now a whole Bunch of broadcasters is trying to stand out in a Market that has become about As crowded and competitive As pro football itself. Bryant Gumbel s older brother Greg competent but still sort of faceless took Over Musburger s Anchor role working with Bradshaw Lesley Visser Pat o Brien and Chris Mortensen. Quot Brent was the smoothest Guy around but Greg is time was seen on just about every lbs event Short of the t riddled twinks championships. His firing got overkill attention because newspapers Are As wrapped up in what appears on screen As the most fervent to Junkie. If Musburger acquired a big head at lbs a he a former Newspaperman was known to complain to reporters Over criticism of his broadcasts a he May have gained a Little Wisdom from the experience. Quot i was Lucky,�?T1 he said Quot that at the time of the firing at the Mcaa championships in Denver my whole family was there and i had them to rally around. When something like that happens you appreciate the meaning of the word  he said Quot when something like that happens you done to miss the work so much As the social life. All my close friends were in the company i knew people in the company better than my family Quot the family is his wife Arlene sons Blake 20, and Scott 16. Quot after the firing in be had months of being together with them in our Homes in Georgia Montana and Connecticut i would advise everybody on the fast track not to walk away from family. The big ride could end at any time Quot Musburger showed class in his Swan song commentary during the Mcaa final when he said he had had a great run and that he did t want to take away from the game. A few Days later though he was on the air bitterly taking shots at his lbs Bosses Neal Pilson and Ted Shaker. This brought ridicule upon him from Many quarters. He does no to see it that Way. Quot i began seeing those unattributed quotes in some papers saying How difficult i had been to work with Quot he said. Quot when Power plays go Down in the corporate world that a the Way it is done. They lied to me. I believe in being honest Quot he is a team player All the Way. You can almost see the new Abc logo tattooed on his Chest. He debuted in the summer hosting a cockamamie sports award show did some minor horse races and the Little league world series. He talked enthusiastically about always wanting to do the Little league world series. Though some might scoff at that he was probably sincere because he is at heart a Jock s Jock. Quot sports Are my life Quot he says. Brent Musburger is wearing a different uniform but he is still a team player. Abc Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes going to carry on the tradition Quot said Ted Shaker the executive producer of Quot the nil  Quot i m a huge admirer of Brent Quot Gumbel said. Quot no one else did the Job that he did. For so Long he set the Standard for others. But in essence the Only thing that will remain the same will be the name of the  the show which is trying to project a softer focus than it did under Musburger who produced and frequently wrote Quot the nil today Quot May Well Rise or fall on the ability of Bradshaw to attract and hold an audience. He a plenty opinionated which in t bad but a a sometimes his opinions Are so off Center its hard to comprehend them. Y on Abc Quot nil live Quot is again in the capable hands of Bob Costas with . Simpson a whose last comfortable Niche seemed to be running with the football a and will Mcdonough As his sidemen. Gone Are last season s Quot insiders a Bobby Beathard now the san Diego chargers general manager and i journalist Ralph Wiley. But Mcdonough of the Boston Globe a defector from lbs May be even better pegged in to nil sources than his predecessors. He certainly has better credentials than Espnes resident Tattler Fred Edelstein whose predictions frequently have been so off base they re embarrassing. Abc the a monday night football Quot team from left Dan Dierdorf Frank Gifford and Al Michaels. Edelstein returned to Espnes Quot nil Gam Day Quot Crew with Host Chris Berman Pete Axthelm Tom Jackson and motor Mouth Joe Theismann who was recently added for the first half of the season. Gambling has taken an exit stage left. By order of the nil the gambling oriented Axthelm can no longer pick games against the spread on Quot Gam Day Quot which May negate much of his Appeal. With Musburger gone however Berman is probably the strongest National presence left and the show should be just Fine. Turner network television s Quot stadium show has a beefed up cast that includes Fred Hickman Kevin Kiley Ernie Johnson jr., Craig Sager Paul Ryden Pat Haden and the ubiquitous Larry King who is giving new meaning to the words talking head. Int goes live in pregame. Each of int s pregame shows is done live from the site of the networks weekly game which raises a serious question of whether there will be time space or material for that Many bodies a and that Many broadcast egos. Int will share the season with esp. Thanks to a $445.5 million Deal struck with the nil last Winter by Bossman Ted Turner int is airing sunday night games through the first half of the league schedule. Then esp takes Over for the second half starting nov 11. Witty and underrated skip Caray son of baseball broadcasting legend Harry is getting his first pro football showcase for int working with Haden the former Southern Cal and ram quarterback who has worked mostly College football telecasts. Caray and Haden will turn things Over to esp s Miko Patrick and Theismann who like it or not will offer a different approach. Saturday St tember 29,1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 15