Mixed Martial Arts Set to Sully Network Television

Isn't it rather interesting that this deal was consummated by the entertainment arm of CBS, rather than the CBS Sports division? You think maybe Sean McManus, the classy and so very savvy head of news and sports at CBS wanted no part of foisting this kind of programming on a CBS sports audience far more used to seeing big-time golf, tennis, college hoops and NFL football?

Kahl insisted his entertainment unit made the deal mostly because CBS Sports "has so much on their plate right now" what with March Madness dominating the airwaves, soon to be followed by The Masters the week after The Final Four.

"We've talked to them a little and we would welcome their input and involvement," Kahl said.

The translation: You're probably not going to see Jim Nantz, Greg Gumbel, James Brown or any other regular CBS Sports announcer on the air doing MMA blow-by-blow on Saturday nights. Maybe there will be some technical help from CBS Sports people behind the camera, but any big-time sports broadcaster has to know it's hardly worth sullying his or her reputation on this kind of programming.

Kahl has heard the criticism of MMA before, and insists he was somewhat skeptical himself before becoming a true believer.

"We had to do some research as well," he said. "The sport did have real rough origins. We wouldn't be putting it on if it was in the shape it was five years ago. But the various organizations have done a good job getting it sanctioned and legitimized. There's very little question that there are fewer and fewer guys competing now who are barely in shape to fight in a bar. These are elite athletes and they take it very seriously.

"When I first heard about, I have to admit I was somewhat suspicious about it being a sport myself. But the more I watched, the skill level and the athletic nature of it convinced me."

I'm not ready to drink that Kool-aid quite yet. I'm still absolutely convinced this programming has no business being on network television, especially on a weekend night when young kids probably will have no problem convincing their teenage babysitters to let them watch the bad men knock themselves senseless.

For non-believers like myself, at least there's a simple way to deal with MMA on CBS. If I'm home on Saturday night, I'll just surf right on by¿or pop in a DVD¿or read a book¿or work on the taxes¿or clean the garage¿ or read and then quickly delete all those very ugly e-mails even now making their way through cyber space to my little old laptop.

Knight Patrol

Bob Knight pretty much behaved himself in his debut week talking basketball on ESPN. In fact, Knight talked so much that by the end of the week there was a rasp in his voice, but still definitely a twinkle in his eye. He's shown a willingness to take on most issues, and even had some advice on how to improve the NCAA tournament, adding that they never listen to him anyway.

Now, if ESPN could just do something about his wardrobe. Surrounded by co-hosts usually dressed in coats and ties, he keeps showing up on the air wearing a hideously drab semi-sweatshirt adorned with an ESPN logo over an open-necked golf shirt. Maybe his old signature red sweater was at the dry cleaners last week, or that red plaid sports jacket he wore so often in the '80s and '90s doesn't quite button at the middle any more.

Whatever, this is still very much a work in progress. So far, so good, despite the emperor's attire, but stay tuned.