Former Eagles star Reggie White, who was known for his religious fervor, says he wants nothing to do with Christianity during a special Comcast show.

By LAURA NACHMAN
Courier Times
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Former Eagles star Reggie White, who was known as much for his religious fervor as his football prowess, says he wants nothing to do with Christianity in "Beyond the Glory: Reggie White" on Comcast SportsNet at 7 p.m. Sunday.

This Fox Sports Net production traces White's life from his childhood in Tennessee, through his college days at the University of Tennessee, and professional times with the USFL Memphis franchise, the Eagles and the Packers culminating with his Super Bowl victory in 1997, up through today.

White, who was ordained a minister at the age of 17 said: "To me, the church is doing major damage to society as a whole."

Other noteworthy parts of the special include White's controversial remarks about ethnic groups and homosexuals to a state legislature, the murder of his stepfather, and the death of former Eagle Jerome Brown.

White also talks about playing for the Eagles.

"Many of us loved playing for Buddy (Ryan)," he said, "but we didn't take pride in playing for the Philadelphia Eagles because we didn't feel like the people who were running the team had any pride in the team."

Among those interviewed are former Eagles teammate Keith Jackson, ex-Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan, Al Michaels, Brett Favre, and White's mother and wife.

WOLFE MOVING ON

WPHL will be on the lookout for a new sportscaster, as weekend sports anchor Jenna Wolfe is leaving the station in April to join the Madison Square Garden Network in New York City as a reporter. WPHL let her out of her contract to go to the all sports network.

Wolfe, who has been looking Katie Couric-ish lately, dated WTXF sports anchor Don Tollefson and was with the WPHL since 1999.

Now Mike Missanelli will need a new partner to join him at the cocktail table for "Sports Express." Part timer Blaine Applegate (yes, that's his real name) will fill in until a permanent replacement is named.

FIGHTING FOR RATINGS

Apparently Philly knows classy programming when it sees it. Fox's "Celebrity Boxing" had a strong 9.5 rating/13 share.

I confess that I watched and enjoyed it. The final match, featuring Tonya "TNT" Harding vs. Paula "The Pounder" Jones drew a 10.7 rating/15 share.

The other "bouts" featured Barry Williams vs. Danny Bonaduce and Vanilla Ice vs. Todd Bridges.

GOOD KNIGHT FOR ESPN

Despite getting pans from many reviewers (including me), more than three million people watched the ESPN made-for-TV movie "Season on the Brink" with Brian Dennehy as Bobby Knight Sunday.

It was ESPN's third-highest rated show of 2002. The Eagles-Tampa Bay game on Jan. 6 was the highest rated - and Andy Reid didn't even throw a chair.

DOUBLE LIFE

This is "busy season" for Saint Joseph's University basketball radio analyst Joe Lunardi.

Not only is Lunardi, 41, following the Hawks through the NIT, he is known nationwide as the "bracketologist" for www.espn.com.

Lunardi, who describes himself as "someone who has taken his love of basketball a step too far," created "bracketology" which is a system of forecasting the NCAA tournament field and seeding.

SORRY, NEIL

Is Neil Hartman a jinx? The first-year Temple Owls radio play-by-play man took over the microphone to see them miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in 12 years.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Your first chance to see John Madden and Al Michaels will be Aug. 5.

ABC's "Monday Night Football" will televise the annual AFC-NFC Hall of Fame Game from Canton, Ohio, featuring the expansion Houston Texans vs. the New York Giants.

SCHILLINGS IN SPOTLIGHT

Curt and Shonda Schilling are interviewed by Jim Lampley on "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" on HBO at 10:05 p.m. Monday. Topics include Shonda's battle with skin cancer, and Curt's desire to finish his career in either Philadelphia or Arizona.

Eskin update

Contrary to what was reported last week, WIP-AM and WCAU-TV sportscaster Howard Eskin told me he was in Phillies training camp recently and conducted an interview with skipper Larry Bowa for Channel 10.

Eskin also admitted that he was the caddie for Mike Schmidt during a Phillies golf outing. There is no truth to the rumor that Eskin will be handing out towels if Bowa and Schmidt go for a swim.

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write her in care of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 215-949-4177 or e-mail: [email protected].

Friday, March 15, 2002