TV/Radio

Remote patrol

By JOHN C. COTEY
Published May 13, 2005

JUST REWARD

The smart Cathy Weeden, who deserves credit for the evolution of Sun Sports (formerly Sunshine) from an infomercial with occasional sports coverage to one of the better regional sports television networks in the country, has been promoted and will oversee FSN Florida as well.

Weeden, vice president and general manager of Sun Sports, joined that network in 1990 and guided it through the addition of a number of acclaimed shows, a name change and new branding.

Fox recently acquired FSN Florida to go with Sun Sports, and will try to create two better networks. Weeden's biggest challenge will be trying to find the right balance of sports on each network.

"We believe these two regional sports networks will be better able to serve their varied constituents led by one management group," said Randy Freer, chief operating officer for Fox Sports Networks.

FSN Florida reaches 5.1-million households statewide and owns broadcasting rights agreements with the Devil Rays and Marlins. Sun Sports has 6.1-million subscribers and rights to the Lightning, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. Both have college sports packages as well, with Sun Sports the better of the two.

St. Petersburg's Winky Wright will fight Felix Trinidad Saturday in what many believed could have been the fight of the year. Now, that will be much harder to accomplish.

Last week, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo fought an epic lightweight title fight that left everyone who saw it claiming it as an instant classic. Many in the media did not hesitate to call it the best fight ever.

If you missed it, Showtime will replay it at 11 tonight.

If you like slugfests along the lines of the Aaron Pryor- Alexis Arguello showdowns and the Arturo Gatti- Mickey Ward trilogy, you'll love watching Corrales and Castillo engage in a brutal 10-pounder that has one of the most exciting climaxes in boxing history.

Contestants on ESPN2's reality game show I'd Do Anything will compete at 10 p.m. Monday to grant their friend or loved one's wish to spend a day with tennis player Maria Sharapova.

Three contestants will attempt to box against a ranked junior middleweight, gather submerged golf clubs, compete in a female fitness aerobics competition and perform stadium vendor duties under extreme duress.

Outdoor Life Network's Emmy-nominated Fearless (10 p.m. Saturday) features last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Smarty Jones . ... ESPN presents a SportsCenter special, "Abuse of Power: Baseball's Steroid Era," at 7 p.m. Thursday. The one-hour program features four pieces and related discussions and interviews with host Bob Ley. ... The ESPN2 series Timeless (Saturday) airs a behind-the-scenes look at Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan and his Andretti/Green racing team at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

[Last modified May 13, 2005, 00:57:16]