Now hear this: Free antennas boost reception for ODU on radio

Now that THE Old Dominion men's and women's basketball games are being carried by 94.1 FM, ODU's coverage area is three times larger than it was when broadcasts were on sister-

station ESPN 1310.

This little broadcasting fact may come as news to potential listeners and frustrated fans who are having trouble picking up the FM station's signal.

"It depends on where you are," said ODU senior associate athletic director Debbie White, noting that reception in Suffolk and Chesapeake has been the most problematic.

If you're catching the game in your automobile, ODU broadcasts are likely to come in loud and clear. But the station's transmitter is in Yorktown. As a result, some people in South Hampton Roads are having trouble finding the games on their home radios.

The data on this problem is anecdotal, a few complaints here and there. Only a dozen or so have passed her desk, White said. She has sent them along to the station, which is offering a quick, free solution.

For those seeking better reception of 94.1, the station will give you a small T-wire antenna suitable for installing to the back of radios. Since quantities are limited, ESPN 1310 program director Tony Mercurio, who is also the voice of the Lady Monarchs on 94.1, is asking people to call in Thursday to his 3 p.m. talk show to reserve the equipment.

"We're trying to make sure that everybody who wants the games can get them," said Mercurio, who says he has received four complaints.

"Who knows how many people are having trouble?" he added. "It might be 15, it might be 200. Some people told me that they just have to move their radio around. But we're glad to give listeners an antenna and provide satisfaction."

Far be it for me to try to inhibit anyone from opining about the dubious merits of the BCS - I've whined about it enough myself. Complaining is cathartic... and it helps fill columns.

But let's not kid ourselves; proposing changes to the BCS is an annual exercise in futility. It doesn't matter how many coaches, sports writers, blogs or.com outfits demand movement in the direction of a multi-team playoff; big-time college football is no closer to that pipe dream this year than it was last.

We know this because Fox owns the broadcasting rights to four BCS bowls through 2014 and ABC just signed an eight-year contract with the Big Ten and Pac-10 to televise the Rose Bowl.

The networks are comfortably in bed with the BCS. That alone should end all discussion about the prospects for a playoff.

Still want to complain?

Be my guest.

The NFL's regular season starts to drag this time of year. The best teams have been identified; sub.-.500 teams with limited appeal continue to slog it out for that last playoff spot.

The relative absence of drama is reflected in the TV listings. If you were thinking about expanding your cable coverage to include the NFL Network, hold off for this week. On Thursday night, Denver plays Houston, a game only slightly more appetizing than Saturday night's NFL Network offering of Cincinnati at San Francisco.

These games would be almost impossible to watch if they were being offered free through a rooftop antenna.

Meanwhile, next week, Monday Night Football serves up a game between Chicago and Minnesota that only looks somewhat interesting when compared with this past Monday's exercise in tedium featuring Atlanta and New Orleans.

Played on the same day that Michael Vick was sentenced in a Richmond courthouse, the game naturally served as a forum for the MNF crew to talk ad nauseam about the former Falcons quarterback. Everyone at home had to know that was coming.

Even so, to watch the one-sided, tepid affair while listening to the overwrought commentary from the booth, it was impossible not to feel as if you, too, were paying for Vick's crimes.

Another thing about MNF: What is the purpose of Chris Berman's "fastest 3 minutes" halftime interlude? Does ESPN honestly believe that its viewers haven't already seen - probably more than once - highlights from Sunday's games?

All ESPN does between the end of Sunday afternoon's games and the kickoff to MNF is show highlights from around the league. You can't miss them if you try.

From where I sit, Berman's rapid-fire halftime feature appears to be little more than an excuse to get him on screen for another of his sophomoric exercises in self-promotion and sound effect disguised as sports commentary.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com