LITTLE LEAGUE's Sizzlin Series Finale Makes Extra Move

(From The USA Today -- By Michael McCarthy)

It wasn't quite THE HEIDI GAME, that infamous sports TV moment in 1968 when NBC cut away from the ending of A NEW YORK JETS/OAKLAND RAIDERS GAME to show the film HEIDI -- causing football fans around the country to hurl stuff through their TV sets.

But for viewers of THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME between EWA BEACH, HAWAII and CURACAO it was pretty close.

With the game tied 6-6 and heading into extra innings shortly after 6 pm ET, ABC play-by-play announcer BRENT MUSBURGER informed viewers that, with the exception of THE WEST COAST and HAWAII, the network was cutting away to coverage of HURRICANE KATRINA menacing NEW ORLEANS and THE GULF COAST.

The rest of the country, Musburger said, would have to switch to ESPN2 for the ending, which occurred in the bottom of the seventh when HAWAII WON ON A HOME RUN. (WEST COAST AFFILIATES also had the option of switching away from the game, ABC/ESPN spokesman MARK MANDEL said Sunday night.)

"ABC NEWS has the authority to go to news when it's something this important," explained Mandel. "We're very pleased we had this option where sports, in this case THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES, could move to ESPN and fans could see the conclusion."

Before the move, viewers were treated to a spectacular game filled with dramatic homers, great catches, fanatical fans and nail-biting tension. Analyst HAROLD REYNOLDS was everywhere, providing color commentary and starring in instructional shorts. Reporter SAM RYAN interviewed players, coaches and parents while kibitzing with the fans.

Reynolds made sense of it all, too, explaining how the 11 and 12-year-old players were swinging at the equivalent of major leaguers' 99 mph fastballs due to the smaller field dimensions.

Reynolds related the best back story of THE SERIES about MYRON ENOS SR., the father of one of THE HAWAII PLAYERS. Told he wasn't allowed to take time off from his truck-driving job to watch his only son play in THE WORLD SERIES, Enos quit, took out a $12,000 loan and flew the family to WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

"Give him a job when he gets back," Reynolds said.