Sportsworld (U.S. TV series)

Sportsworld (also known as NBC SportsWorld) is an American sports anthology television program which aired on NBC on Saturday afternoons from 1978^[1] to 1992.^[2]

Format

The program presented a wide variety of lower-profile and offbeat sporting events, in the same fashion as ABC's Wide World of Sports, and was generally scheduled to air during the winter and spring following the college football season.

Bowling

The series covered several professional bowling events throughout its run that were not broadcast as part of the Pro Bowlers Tour on ABC. From 1984^[3] to 1991,^[4] it had its own series called The PBA Fall Tour. Jay Randolph and Earl Anthony served as commentators.

From 1988^[5] to 1990,^[6] bowling had its own version of the Skins Game called The Bowling Shootout. Four bowlers (three pros and one amateur in the 1989^[7] and 1990) competed. Each frame had a designated value and to win, the bowler on the floor must be the only one to strike, spare or have most pin count to claim the prize. A two-player tie meant all tied, but all players bowled regardless (where there was a game within a game). If it was still tied after the 10th frame, the players would go on to a one ball roll-off. The bowler with the highest monetary prize won the Shootout. In addition, the bowler who threw the most strikes (the game within a game) won a boat. Marshall Holman (who moved on to the roll-off in three consecutive tournaments: with Mark Roth in the 1988 Muskegon, Michigan and the 1989 Reno, Nevada Shootout, and the 1990 tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey) won all three boats. Brian Voss (who moved on to the roll-off in the 1990 tournament, alongside Holman) was the only bowler to win a frame with a spare.

CART

SportsWorld aired the CART/PPG Indy Car World Series from 1979 to 1990, serving as the exclusive home of the series during its first four seasons. The Indianapolis 500, which was sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC), was televised by ABC Sports.

NASCAR

SportsWorld aired the fall race in Charlotte from 1979^[8] to 1981^[9] and the Winston 500 from 1983^[10] to 1985.^[11]

On-air staff

Hosts

Mike Adamle^[12] was one of the first, and one of the longest-running hosts of the program. Dick Enberg^[13] also appeared regularly during the series' early years.

Other commentators

• Marv Albert^[14]
• Len Berman^[15][16]
• Don Criqui
• Merle Harmon^[17]
• Bruce Jenner
• Charlie Jones^[18][19]
• Paul Page^[20]
• Ahmad Rashad^[21][22]
• Johnny Rutherford^[23]
• Gary Gerould

Notes

References

External links

• Sportsworld at the Internet Movie Database
• Sportsworld theme music available from Score Productions website
• SPORTSWO.mp3
• Sportsworld on Twitter