Big Game to be Televised on Versus

Six months before Big Game, and the Big Game news seems to be pouring in.

It was just announced that the Big Game will be televised live on Versus. Versus was formerly known as OLN, which a collegue of mine noted that OLN meant the "Oll (all) Lance Network" as they were/are the network covering the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong. But I digress. In today's SF Chron:

Cal announced additions to its TV football schedule in a news release that brags, "The Stanford game will be Cal's debut on Versus."

To which many Cal fans are saying, "Pinch me."

And many Stanford fans are saying, "Geez, we scheduled Cal again?"

The good news for Bear backers is that the Big Game will be televised. As reported in Tuesday's Chronicle, about 30,000 Cal fans will be SOL (sorrily out of luck) when it comes to Big Game tickets this year because the game is at Stanford's greatly downsized House of Pain.

[snip]

But is Versus really TV? Yes and no.

Cal fans who have grown quickly into their Tedford-era sense of entitlement might feel disrespected by their team's relegation to Versus, which ain't ABC or ESPN, although it is sound and light emerging from the same plastic box.

Cal backers might be comforted to know that World Extreme Cagefighting recently made its national television debut on Versus. (Personally, I prefer World Moderate Cagefighting, where you can bite off an opponent's ears or fingers but must give them back.)

Versus was known as the Outdoor Life Network. It televises the Tour de France, the world's most prestigious urine-testing competition. It televises the Louis Vuitton Cup, which is either a yacht race or a competition among airport baggage handlers. Versus has the American rights to America's Cup coverage.

Versus also televises NHL hockey, bullriding, lacrosse, fishing and hunting. The Versus series "Holy @#%*!" is not a religious program but rather a roundup of "snowmobile crashes, rodeo wrecks, bungee-jumping disasters and skydiving mishaps." Stanford football highlights could be added to that mix, depending.

Versus is also the TV home of the Premier Darts League.

Pinch Me!