MacCulloch talks the talk on Sixers' radio broadcasts Sixers center Todd MacCulloch is finding another way to contribute to the team while he remains on the injured list for his foot ailments. He's working on the radio broadcasts as an analyst with play-by-play man Tom McGinnis on WIP 610-AM. "It's a lot of fun. It's the best way to stay involved with the team without being able to play," MacCulloch said in a phone interview from Toronto before Wednesday night's Sixers-Raptors game. MacCulloch, 27, said that Sixers general manager Billy King approached him about broadcasting at the end of the preseason when it became evident that he wouldn't be ready to play. "Though it's very disappointing not to be well enough to play, I went into broadcasting with an open mind and did a Webcast for a preseason game," MacCulloch said. "It went well, so we decided to continue until I can return to the court." "Big Mac" has done every regular-season game this season with McGinnis, who previously had gone solo. "Tom makes it easy for me," MacCulloch said. "He asks good questions." MacCulloch acknowledges that it is hard to criticize his teammates because they are his friends, but said he doesn't have that problem with the opposing teams. "I've also had to learn to become more impartial and say 'they' instead of 'we' when talking about the team," he said. Mitts causes stir Though Heather Mitts hasn't officially signed with WCAU yet, a newsroom source said that many are already grumbling that someone without much television experience is walking into a high profile television job in the fourth-largest market. The former Philadelphia Charge star is likely to become a sportscaster for the station soon. A Philadelphia sports insider said: "It's obvious why she was hired. She's blonde and beautiful. It's a shame for hard-working professionals who have to struggle for years to get a position like that." Philly Guys rock "The On-Air Football Party" hosted by the "Philly Guys" on WMMR 93.3-FM won three "Achievement in Radio (AIR)" awards, including Best Original Program Feature, Best Sports Reporting and Best Promo in a ceremony last week. Former WIP 610-AM personalities Joe Conklin and Mike Missanelli are two-thirds of "The Philly Guys." Rivers returning to TV Fired Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers has joined ABC Sports as an analyst on its top NBA announcing team. "Doc is absolutely the right fit for our NBA broadcasts," said Michael Pearl, senior VP and executive producer of ABC Sports. "He brings the experience of being a game analyst and former player and coach, and his style is fresh and opinionated. We are thrilled that this worked out for us to be able to bring him onto our team," he said. Rivers will work with Al Michaels on a select number of regular-season and playoff games, as well as the NBA Finals. He will also work games with play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler. Rivers' and Michaels' first game will be Houston at the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. She can be reached at bradyresident@aol.com. November 21, 2003 7:30 AM