Sports: Is Aikman too dull for TV?

Is Aikman too dull for TV?

By SHARON GINN

Troy Aikman, star broadcaster.

If you followed Aikman's career with the Dallas Cowboys, those are four words you probably never thought about putting together.

Yet Aikman and/or former teammate Daryl Johnston seem poised to take over as Fox's No. 1 analyst when John Madden retires. More than a few people have wondered whether Aikman is too dull to be any good, but Johnston says there's much more to his new on-air partner than people realize.

While Johnston said in Dallas there were "certain individuals who felt it was better to be entertaining," Aikman's view was that "when you talk to the media and the press, your statements all have to be made for the betterment of the team. ... People may have the perspective that Troy was being guarded, but the thing that he was doing was protecting the Dallas Cowboys."

Chimed in Fox Sports president Ed Goren: "I think that very few people know Troy Aikman. Those who know Troy won't be surprised by the broadcaster he will become."

Craig James is leaving NFL Today on CBS to take over Johnston's position as the network's No. 3 analyst. Apparently CBS doesn't plan to replace James, prefering to leave more room for Jim Nantz, Mike Ditka, Jerry Glanville and Randy Cross to "show their personalities," CBS Sports president Sean McManus said.

DRAFT NEWS: For the first time, ESPN will have a reporter -- not just a camera -- inside a team's "war room" during NFL draft coverage. Veteran Andrea Kremer will huddle with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, producer Ed Placey said ESPN has set up a round table in its Bristol headquarters that is "based loosely on our ABC brethren doing Politically Incorrect." He promises lots of give and take among host Mike Tirico and the six analysts, a change from years past.

"When the bold moves happen, those guys (will) ... hopefully stir up a lot more thought-provoking commentary than everybody going around the room once and giving opinions," Placey said.

RAYS RIPPED I: Is bad national publicity better than no publicity? If so, the Rays have been benefiting (?) all week. Bob Costas had this to say Wednesday on his HBO show, On the Record:

"Wade Boggs had 3,010 career hits, the first 2,000-plus of them with the Red Sox, whose cap he wore while winning five batting titles. But when a young kid visits the Hall of Fame in a few years, what team will he associate Boggs with? Not the Red Sox, or even the Yankees, where at least he won a World Series, but Tampa Bay. Wade Boggs in Cooperstown as a Devil Ray is like Paul McCartney entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Wings."

For the record, while Boggs is a Tampa native and Rays hitting coach, he has not announced which team he would represent if elected to the Hall of Fame.

RAYS RIPPED II: Jim Rome dissed the Rays on his radio show Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for various reasons. "That's a record that is never coming down," he said. "A Devil Rays take three days in a row on this show."

WORTH WATCHING: NBC's Ahmad Rashad says he talks to Michael Jordan every day. Saturday he'll do it on camera, in a two-part interview addressing rumors about Jordan's return and his hiring of NBC analyst Doug Collins as Wizards coach. Expect them to say lots of nice things about each other, but there should be a news nugget or two. Part one will air during NBC's studio show at noon; part two will air at halftime of the San Antonio-Minnesota game. ... ESPN2 will provide the first WNBA draft telecast beginning at 11:30 a.m. today.

CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: "Remember all the things I said about Trent Dilfer? (The Rays') Vinny Castilla is going to get it just as bad if not worse. Even Trent didn't get $7-million a year." -- Steve Duemig, WDAE-AM 620 host, on Thursday's show.