Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!clarinews From: clarinews@clarinet.com (JEFF HASEN, UPI Sports Writer) Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc Subject: Broadcast Column: Sportscast Keywords: misc sports Message-ID: Date: 12 Jan 90 05:09:25 GMT Lines: 60 Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com ACategory: sports Slugword: sportscast Priority: major Format: regular ANPA: Wc: 630; Id: s1432; Sel: ns--s; Adate: 1-10-135pes; Ver: sked; Ref: adv12 Codes: ysz.rxx. Note: adv. for fri, jan. 12 LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- No matter which teams win this weekend, Brent Musburger sees little hope for the AFC champion in the Super Bowl. ``The NFC clearly is superior at the top,'' said the host of the ``NFL Today'' on CBS. ``I think the AFC might be better at the bottom, but the teams that got into the playoffs in the NFC are superior to those of the AFC. ``There are four or five NFC teams that would be favored over whoever wins the Denver-Cleveland (AFC championship) game. I'm not sure New Orleans can't play with either one of them. But it's cyclical. It'll change.'' CBS has the Super Bowl telecast, so Musburger would have no reason to hype Sunday's NFC title game between the defending champion San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. ``I think it's the Super Bowl,'' he said. ``These are the two best teams in the NFL this year.'' Musburger forecasts a close game, but wonders how the Rams can pull off another upset. ``The question is whether the Rams can keep up this incredible streak on the road,'' he said. ``This time, their opponent knows them well. There's no question that the Rams have talent. We'll have to see how much they have left.'' San Francisco reached the title game with a 41-13 thumping of Minnesota. ``The 49ers had just a morning romp,'' Musburger said. ``They showed they have a complete football team. Their field goal kicker (Mike Cofer) had some problems but they were attributed to the long snapper. ``I think the teams can top the two regular-season games with one better. The stakes are higher now. I can see a win in the fourth quarter and it'll likely be a great ending.'' Musburger gives the Browns a decent shot against the Broncos because they survived in the AFC Central, which he believes might be the strongest division in the league. _S_w_i_t_c_h_i_n_g_ _c_h_a_n_n_e_l_s_: Joe Garagiola's return to baseball play-by-play pleases new partner Joe Torre. ``Catchers are the smartest people in the world,'' said Torre, who will work with fellow former catcher Garagiola on California Angels cable telecasts. ``They'll just have to make the broadcast booth a little bigger to accomodate both of us. ``I've admired Joe's work for a number of years. When I started breaking into broadcasting, I received tips from Joe from time to time.'' Garagiola, NBC's long-time baseball voice, resigned from the network before last season after failing to get a quick commitment for a new contract... CBS boxing analyst Gil Clancy returns to the corner Monday night when heavyweights Gerry Cooney and George Foreman meet in Atlantic City, N.J. Clancy has spent two months training Cooney. ``I just wanted to help the kid,'' Clancy said... Aging running back O.J. Anderson of the New York Giants spent the season making an impression on everyone but CBS' Dick Butkus, who last week called him ``Armstrong''... Marv Albert, who is in his 25th year as radio voice of the New York Rangers, will team with John Davidson and Mike Emrick on NBC's telecast of the Jan. 21 NHL All-Star Game from Pittsburgh. Davidson is an analyst on Rangers cablecasts. Emrick, who will report from behind the benches, does play-by-play on SportsChannel America and Philadelphia Flyers cable telecasts. _a_d_v_._ _f_o_r_ _f_r_i_,_ _j_a_n_._ _1_2