I was pleased to hear we won't be losing our best games. The general impression was that NBC was going to cherry-pick the best games. But it wouldn't be fair to give us the dogs.

The ecstatic leap of two years ago ? smiling and subtle today. Phil Mickelson, at 35, connecting his personal legacy with the legends and tradition of The Masters.

He was the first superstar of sports television.

He was the first superstar of sports television because he did all of the big events. He's the last of the dinosaurs. No one will ever be the voice of so many major events at the same time ever again.

I was shocked when I got the call. I still regard myself as being very strong on football, and I think we had a great season. I can't accept that my work is any less than it was in the past. I feel I story-tell as well as anyone. I won't take this as a defeat.

There wasn't a great living athlete or legend who wasn't on the show. I met every one of my heroes.