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Show rSpDDttS (spQrts prQbe) ffoOe Violence down in gridiron wars? Jenner on Games People Play' by Bud Teneram Super athlete Bruce Jenner marked a major moment of fulfillment on July 30, 1976, the day he crossed the finish line in the final decathlon event at the summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada and today, more than four years later, Jenner is still fulfilling his dreams, One of my major interests has always been the broadcasting business," confirms Bruce during a break in a recent taping on NBC-TV- s new weekly series Games People Play' on which he is a When I there had been a boycott of the 1976 Games." Continues Jenner, "My first initial reaction was as an athlete. know what the participants go through to get there. Some of my friends had been training all their lives for a shot at the Olympics. It is a jarring loss to have something as important to you taken away, for whatever reason. "On the other hand, from our country's point of view, the boycott certainly demonstrated our genuine concern about an issue of international importance. And too, I'd have felt pretty as an American going over there and helping them put their show on. One of Jenners first roles in a dramatic presentation was r his portrayal in the production The Golden Moment An Olympic Love Story, a fictional story set in Russia against the backdrop of the Olympic Games. Executive host, frequent celebrity Thursdays sports series 'SportsWorld' and, this season, as celebrity host on Games People Play which made its debut in August, 1980. One aborted goal was Bruce's participation as part of NBC Sports elite broadcast crew in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. "I was really looking forward to that assignment," admits Jenner. signed with NBC in on-ai- producer Olympic decathlon limit of 8,500 points by chalking up a 8,618 points after winning the two-dacompetition, has been active in a number of roles with NBC appearing as a performer in variety specials, World Premiere movies, 'Big Event' presentations, a s regular sportscaster with of the film was Don Less rough stuff an impression of there being more violence today simply because much more attention is drawn to action that is couched under the label of violence. It doesnt mean that the frequency or severity of such incidents is greater. It's all just blown up more." What about injuries today as compared to when he been in charge of the networks There ex- clusive Moscow Olympics coverage. Jenner jokes about one day on The Golden Moment set when Ohlmeyer walked in. As Don ap- d y NBC-TV- n Ohlmeyer who, as Executive Producer of NBC Sports, would have d 10-eve- play-somet- hing four-hou- Goals The decathlon star who broke As to his feelings about the eventual boycott by the U S team, Jenner comments, "Well, first of all, from a very personal standpoint, choose not to even think about what my situation would be right now if SERVICES, It does seem that we're seeing more serious injuries today," says Merlin, "but that is another misleading factor regarding this violence business. The greater number of injuries and the greater degree of severity is really due to the fact that todays players are faster, stronger and more ruggedly conditioned than in years past. As a result, physical confrontations tackles, blocks, fall- s- take a measurably higher toll in the form of injuries. "And too, there is no question in my mind but that artificial turf has prompted an increase in injuries, particularly to the knees. It all boils down to the fact that slam-banprofessional football is a much more wide-opecontest. That more players tend to get hurt should not be attributed to unsavory meanness on the part of the players." INC. sports action for the week SATURDAY SUNDAY (CBS) SPORTS SPECTACULAR: Special Edition. 56th Annual East West Shrine Game, from Palo game GAME: TIME TO BE TV COMRUIOC SERVICES INC (NBC) COLLEGE BASKETBALL 81: 12:30 PM P.D.T. 1.30 PM M.D.T. Villanova at Syracuse, Tennessee at Kentucky, Notre Dame at Marquette, University of Houston at Texas, Colorado at Oklahoma State, South Dakota State at Utah (Check listings for game in your area ) (NBC) NFL 81: TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED Pre game program beginning one half hour before the start of the PLAY-OF- F fast-pace- d Alto, California (CBS) THE NFL TODAY: TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED National Football Conference Divisional Playoff game (NBC) NFL DIVISIONAL NOUNCED Teams to be announced 12:00 NOON P.D.T. 1:00 PM MD.T. (CBS) THE NFL TODAY: TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED A program preceding each National Football League broadcast with news and features on the NFL and other sports news of the day is was playing? proached Jenner chided, You promised me Moscow and this is as far as got TV COMPUIOO play- an NBC Sports football analyst. Merlin had a helmet view of the rugged trench warfare that is so much a part of professional football during his 15 years with the Rams, and now that experience translates into broadcasting credibility. Says his broadcast partWhen ner, Dick Enberg, Merlin talks about interiorline that many fans ignore in favor of acfollowing the wide-opetion. involving the quarterback, receivers or running backs-th- ey not only listen but they believe him. Merlin is a knowledgeable and ar tlculate observer, and he has a knack for knowing when to talk and when not to." On the subject of violence in todays game of profesThere is sional football, Olsen is firm in his opinions definitely much less violence today than there was, for instance, during my playing days some 10 years ago," he says two-face- d 1978," he says, "the understanding was clear that hoped to broaden my broadcast knowledge and hone r talents That's just what my Ive been doing and while I'll be the first to admit there is always a lot more to learn, feel I'm progressing on schedule the Few athletes have made the transition from the ing field to the broadcast booth as smoothly and successfully as Merlin Olsen, former standout defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams now in his fourth year as (ABC) WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS: 1:00 PM P.D.T. - 2.00 PM M.D.T. Live, satellite coverage of the Hula Bowl, as East and West colclash in this annual classic, from Aloha Stadium in legiate Honolulu, Hawaii AN- EAST-WES- T SHRINE GAME Roger Staubach, former of the Dallas Cowboys, Frank Glieber and Dick Stockton will be reporting on the 56th Annual East West Shrine Game from Palo Alto, California, on a special edition of quarterback NFL '81 Spectacular' Bryant Gumbel will keep viewers up to date on the days n NFL action when he hosts NFL 81 preceding and wrapping around NBC Sports exclusive live TV coverage of an AFC divisional 'CBS-Spor- post-seaso- ts SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 This traditional gridiron battle will showcase many of the nations top collegiate players, some of whom will wear pro uniforms next play-of- f year ( TV COMPUIOG SERVICES INC HUK USTINUS FOR fAU game, SUNDAY, JANUARY 4. CHECK LISTINGS FOR TIMt TV COMPUIOG SERVICES, INC EXACT TIME |