Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Keyshawn impressive as live host on WDAE

By SHARON GINN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 24, 2001

Keyshawn Johnson acknowledges the Bucs so far have been "a little shaky." His debut as a radio host Wednesday night was anything but.

While more than a dozen Bucs are following the NFL-star-appears-on-local-station formula this season, there's nothing formulaic about Johnson's show on WDAE-AM 620. Johnson acts as a true host, chatting with callers, interviewing guests and even remembering to credit the sponsors and promote the station.

What's more, he's doing it at 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays from the food court at WestShore Plaza. The only way he'd be more accessible to fans is if he took time to sign autographs, but anyone who expects that has spent too much time at the Disney Store.

Those hoping Johnson would be controversial or outrageous likely were disappointed. He seemed more interested in doing a solid job as a host.

Everyone knows him as a talker, but he came across as sharper and less self-centered than someone who hears only sound bites might think. Though Johnson didn't always get in and out of station breaks smoothly and seemed to run out of gas in the final minutes, for the most part he deftly mixed his famous self-confidence with down-to-earth humor and candor.

There were no earthshaking revelations, but Johnson didn't shy from pointed questions, and at one point laughed good-naturedly when a Dallas Cowboys fan called to rant. He didn't even bristle when a caller told him why you should "never, ever" pick a Bucs player for fantasy football (the reason: woeful offensive statistics).

His questions for guest Bill Belichick, the New England coach, reflected his knowledge of the league and his intent to be a fair interviewer.

Johnson said his goal is to give fans a player's insight, though this time of year there isn't a lot of insight to give. The test will be how he handles direct criticism if he or the Bucs falter this season.

STORY OF THE CENTURY: We're not sure which century, but does it matter? ESPN Classic's award-winning SportsCentury series features Jennifer Capriati in its latest installment, which debuts at midnight Sunday on ESPN.

Capriati is neither washed up nor dead, but the series has proven so popular ESPN has decided to begin profiling younger athletes. Capriati is one of the first. The advance tape reveals nothing new, but her story is nevertheless well told. It will be played on ESPN Classic at 8 p.m. Sept. 7.

COMMERCIAL-FREE, BUT...: The good news for NASCAR Winston Cup fans is CNN/Sports Illustrated will present today's Sharpie 500 pole qualifying with no commercials. The bad news is you have to get CNN/SI to see it. For those who get the network, qualifying begins at 3 p.m.

In other NASCAR news, although NBC's broadcasts aren't as enjoyable as Fox's, the new Winston Cup fans don't seem to be going away. Through the first six races of the season's second half, NBC and TNT averaged a 5.1 rating, 36 percent higher than the five telecasts during the same period a year ago. NBC ought to enjoy it now, as similar gains are less likely once NASCAR starts going head-to-head with the NFL on Sunday afternoons.

FINE TUNING: Sunshine Network general manager Jim Liberatore has been named president of Speedvision, where he will help new owner Fox revamp the network. ... Earning the "Mr. Irrelevant" award for recent TV sports announcements is CNN/SI's deal to broadcast National Lacrosse League regular-season and playoff games through 2003.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright