Friday, May 16, 2008.

Remember the fun you had trying to watch Boise State's games against Wyoming and Utah on TV two years ago? Get ready for more football hide-and-seek. CSTV will be the only source of television for the BSU-Southern Mississippi game in October. It's similar to the situation fans faced with "the mtn.", the fringe network created by the Mountain West Conference that has the rights to all that conference's games. CSTV is available on Dish Network and Direct TV, but not on CableOne. KTVB offered to carry CSTV's feed of the game in Boise, with all the network's commercials intact. But CSTV declined, as it's using the Bronco-Golden Eagle game as leverage to try to get carriage on CableOne. It worked with the mtn. two years ago--we'll see what happens come October.

For many fans in 2006, the only choice was to go see one or both of the games in person. About 1,000 BSU faithful traveled to Wyoming. But two weeks later, a stunning 8,000 filed into Rice Eccles Stadium and basically took the place over once the Broncos had control in their 36-3 win over Utah. Good luck taking a leisurely drive to Hattiesburg, MS, though. All 12 Boise State games will still be televised live, including six on KTVB, four on ESPN or ESPN2, one on Fox Sports Northwest, and that one that's going to be really hard to find.

To be sure, Dr. Tim White stabilized a volatile situation during his tenure as president at the University of Idaho. But stabilization in the president's office is the issue now, and that has a ripple effect on any athletic department. White's departure yesterday to UC Riverside leaves Vandal programs wondering if his replacement will be as sports-friendly. They can't afford to let projects such as the Kibbie Dome renovation tread water.

The Boise Burn are headed for the far-off spring break mecca known as Daytona Beach for a Sunday afternoon game against the Thunderbirds. We'll see if the Burn treat it as a business trip after their four-game winning streak was stuffed by Spokane last week. Burn wide receiver George Williams will have fun no matter how the club approaches this game. Williams, who has passed af2 legend Magic Benton as the league's career leader in points and touchdowns, has one more Benton milestone in his sights. Williams trails him in career receiving TDs by 22. With 10 games remaining this season, Williams could put that record away, too.

From the "whatever happened to" file comes Marco Pietroniro. A charter member of the Idaho Steelheads roster in 1997-98, Pietroniro has been coaching in the Central Hockey League since 2005. Now he gets a ring, as his Arizona Sundogs won their first CHL championship a week ago, taking the Ray Miron Cup with a 6-3 win over the Colorado Eagles in Game 4 of the league finals. Pietroniro was everybody's favorite Italian French-Canadian during his two seasons in Boise, when he scored 52 goals for the Steelies.

Troy Merritt is in position to become the first Boise State golfer to make the NCAA Championships. Now he just has to maintain over the final 36 holes of the West Regional in Bremerton, WA. Merritt shot a one-over-73 in yesterday's first round at the Gold Mountain course. He's 19th in the 141-player field, but he's No. 1 among the six at-large players whose teams didn't make regionals. The top two in that group go to nationals, and Merritt has a one-shot lead over Brian Locke of Loyola-Marymount and Jimmy Lytle of Elon.

The first points are on the ledger at the WAC Track & Field Championships at Bronco Stadium, with the Fresno State men and the Idaho women getting the best of the two days of competition in the decathlon and heptathlon. Now things get hectic, as field events start at 12:30 and running events at 2PM. This combined championship event demonstrates the effect Title IX has had on non-revenue college sports over the years. Eight of the nine WAC institutions have women's track & field squads--only San Jose State doesn't participate. On the men's side, only five WAC schools sponsor the sport. Nevada, Hawaii, San Jose State and Louisiana Tech go without.

Our former Boise Hawk of the Day is Matt Wise, who was activated off the disabled list Tuesday and has already made two appearances since for the Mets. Last night Wise finished a pitcher's duel in fine fashion, even though New York came up short in a 1-0 loss to Washington at Shea Stadium. He threw the final inning and a third, allowing just one hit and striking out two. It was his best outing as a Met as he tries to get settled in with his new team after four seasons in Milwaukee. The 32-year-old righthander was the ace of the Hawks rotation in 1997, going 9-1 with a 3.25 ERA and 86 strikeouts.

The College of Idaho women's softball team hits the diamond in about 15 minutes to open the NAIA World Series in Decatur, AL. The Coyotes, led by NAIA Region I Player and Pitcher of the Year Katie Zillner of Emmett, take on Trevecca Nazarene this morning and Lubbock Christian tonight. Pool play continues tomorrow with two more games.

This Day In Sports...May 16, 1869:

The Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball's first all-professional team, play their first game, defeating Antioch 41-7. I always thought we'd see a score like that during baseball's Steroid Era, but it never happened. That event begs a couple questions. How much did Cincinnati's centerfielder make back then? How much did it cost a family of four to attend?

(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment Sunday nights at 10:30PM on KTVB's Sunday Sports Extra and anchors five sports segments each weekday on 1350 KTIK/The Ticket. He also handles color commentary on KTVB's telecasts of Boise State football.)

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