All-Children's Telethon bumps French Open, LPGA on Sunday

Hey, tennis fans. If your plan was to spend Sunday afternoon watching the French Open on Channel 8, you're likely out of luck. The French Open and the LPGA's Ginn Tribute will not be seen Sunday because of Channel 8's annual All-Children's Hospital Telethon. The telethon runs from Saturday night at 8:30 to Sunday evening at 6:30.

A spokesman from NBC told Two Cents on Thursday that the network approached Channel 38 about picking up the tennis and golf, but nothing has been worked out, and likely won't be. The telethon also means that Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final will not be seen on Channel 8 Saturday night, but Channel 38 is picking up NBC's coverage of the Red Wings and Penguins.

Before you get all riled up, save it. The All-Children's Telethon has been on Channel 8 for 25 years, and it's an important cause, certainly more important than a tennis match or golf tournament or any sporting event. So if you're going to complain about it, take it somewhere else. Channel 8 is doing the right thing.

Comments

[joe hillman]

yawn. this story pops up every year. the only way this is news is if wfla decided NOT to broadcast the telethon.

in this day and age of wifi internet access, directv and sports bars combined with the history of the telethon, this is about as a non-story as you can get.

if tennis fans really want to see the french open, there are all sorts of avenues to take. it's not like tennis fans will be shut out.

i'm a hardcore hockey fan and even if channel 38 didn't have the winss-pens game, i'd just get off my lazy rear end and hit a sports bar.

[tampasucks]

This shows that Tampa is such a bush league city. It would be fine for a local TV station to show a telethon, but leave it to Tampa to have a network affiliate pre-empt major sporting events. WFLA, your trailor-trash affiliate.

[joe hillman]

>>>but leave it to Tampa to have a network affiliate pre-empt major sporting events. WFLA, your trailor-trash affiliate. <<<

let me guess: you are either older than tony kornheiser and are too senile to work a remote or you haven't mastered that thingy with buttons that comes with a tv at best buy.

here's a little help: hold the thingy in your left hand, point it toward the tv, and push 3... 8... enter.

presto. you will have the nhl.

does your mom have to dress you in the morning too?

[tampasucks]

Hey Sparky, I was referring to the loss of tennis coverage. The French Open, one of the four most important tennis tournaments in the world. Even you noted that wfla pre-emts the French every year (unless you are too senile to remember your comments from a few days ago).

[joe hillman]

>>> Even you noted that wfla pre-emts the French every year (unless you are too senile to remember your comments from a few days ago). <<<

sure i do, so why you complaining? you know it's going to happen same weekend every year (telethon). can't find a sports bar to watch the tennis? your local tennis club can't pull in a feed?

god forbid a local tv station puts a children's hospital ahead of a tennis match.

maybe you should have chosen a much more upper crust community to move to rather than tampa. you know, like ocala perhaps?

[Mad Volunteer For Telethon]

It was VERY rude of callers to call a HOSPITAL telethon and ASK why we had interrupted the STUPID game. If all you care about is some lame tennis game you need to get your priorities in order because this Hospital is one of the BEST hospitals in the Tampa Bay. You better HOPE and PRAY your child NEVER gets sick or has to deal with what the children of this Hospital go through. SHAME ON YOU!