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By SHARON GINN
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 7, 2001
NEW YORK -- Whoever reaches the U.S. Open women's singles final Saturday night -- the first women's Grand Slam title match to be broadcast in network prime time -- the match is sure to be entertaining. And not just because of the action on the court.
Whatever the level of play, count on CBS analysts Mary Carillo and John McEnroe to make it fun. Announcer Dick Enberg's job? Stay out of the way.
Enberg's work in NFL and college basketball is legendary, but this weekend his best bet is to let Carillo and McEnroe go at it.
With his stream-of-consciousness observations and sharp tongue, McEnroe could be an intimidating presence, but not for Carillo. A fairly obscure player (her highest ranking was No. 33 in 1980, though she won the '77 French Open mixed doubles with McEnroe), Carillo began to make her mark as an analyst 20 years ago with smart, well-timed commentary.
Enberg sums it up thusly: Carillo's comments tend to "transport through the cerebral area," while "John just fires away."
"It's not unlike the old (college) basketball days with Billy Packer and Al McGuire," Enberg said. "(McGuire) said what he saw. Packer was the Mary Carillo; he was always the one speaking from preparation and a lot of deep thought."
That contrast, combined with their quick wit, makes for fun exchanges. Witness this one from Monday, shortly after No. 2 Jennifer Capriati began to dominate a suddenly lackluster Barbara Schett, the 19th seed, in the second set:
Mac: "It's like she says she's playing the No. 2 player in the world, and this is okay."
Carillo: "You're saying you like the first Schett better than the second Schett?"
Mac: "I can't believe you said that."
They haven't always been a hoot. In 1993 McEnroe was critical of Carillo, suggesting women shouldn't comment on the men's game because they don't understand it.
Over time, Carillo changed McEnroe's opinion, though when asked about that last month he naturally failed to give her credit.
"There's nothing like having four girls around the house," the 42-year-old father of five said. "It gives you a totally different perspective."
Perhaps McEnroe is envious of his friend's expanding career. He told USA Today this week that he wants to branch out, openly lobbying NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol for a chance to do hockey commentary at the 2002 Olympics. Carillo, meanwhile, has had some nice turns as a reporter for HBO's Real Sports and recently joined HBO's Inside the NFL.
Carillo said the kind of guts it takes to come to the net -- she and McEnroe were serve-and-volleyers -- is what makes a gutsy broadcaster. "If you play from the baseline," she said, "you tend to commentate from the baseline."
RATINGS WATCH: CBS' Open ratings over the weekend increased 18 percent from last year and were the best over Labor Day weekend since 1994. ... USA Network's broadcast of the Pete Sampras-Andre Agassi quarterfinal Wednesday night garnered the largest audience for tennis, 4.6-million viewers, in cable history.
A NEW LOOK: Two stations that once were barely distinguishable are heading in different directions. CNN/Sports Illustrated has retooled its programming, signing deals for more live events. And ESPNNEWS is reinventing itself, scheduling a "relaunch" for 4 today that will reflect what the network calls its new streamlined and interactive format. The network plans to provide viewers with a little bit of everything except complete games: ESPN.com chats, analysis, polls and other content; live news conferences; cut-ins to important games; ESPN Radio simulcasts; and coverage of breaking news.