Sarni's Scrolls: Eagle soars above everyone else

By Jim Sarni

Ian Eagle, the best and brightest play-by-play man in the business, had the line of the weekend in the Kansas City Chiefs-Jacksonville Jaguars game.

"Kelce finds a blank space for the score," said the CBS announcer, making reference to the Taylor Swift song "Blank Space" on Travis Kelce's touchdown catch.

KC's Kelce is reportedly dating the pop star.

Of course, the clip went viral.

"I'm a Swiftie," Eagle told Jeff DeForrest on "The Defo Show."

"I was aware of the scuttlebutt [about Kelce and Swift]. If things broke a certain way... but you have to allow it to happen naturally."

Eagle played it perfectly.

Rich Eisen joined in the final with several Swift-related puns on "NFL GameDay."

***

Top highlight: Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber's jaw-dropping, 483-foot home run against the Braves on Monday. You have to see it... and hear it to truly appreciate it.

Third longest HR of the season behind Giancarlo Stanton (485) and Shohei Ohtani (493).

***

ESPN's lead college football team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit did not call last Saturday's Colorado St.-Colorado game... even though Herbstreit was in Boulder for GameDay.

Fowler and Herbstreit are not calling this Saturday's Colorado-Oregon game either.

GameDay is in South Bend for Ohio State-Notre Dame, and ESPN may not think Herbstreit can get to Oregon in time for a 3:30 kickoff.

Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer are calling the Buffaloes-Ducks showdown...

The 10 p.m. Colorado St.-Colorado game registered an amazing 9.3 million viewers, making it ESPN's 5th most-watched CFB game on record...

More ratings: Sunday's Jets-Cowboys late game on CBS drew 25.78 million viewers, making it the most-watched broadcast on network TV since the Super Bowl. The Chiefs-Jags early game drew 16.15 million (up 17% from last year), giving CBS a combined 21.5M and making it the network's biggest doubleheader since the NFL returned to CBS in 1995.

***

The XFL and the USFL are talking merger. Game broadcasts will likely be split between Fox and Disney. The leagues had mediocre ratings this year...

ABC will simulcast 10 additional Monday Night Football games amid the strike-induced programming shortfall. This will help ratings...

The new MNF anthem -- Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana reimagining the Phil Collins classic "In The Air Tonight" is excellent.

***

The Tampa Bay Rays announced a new $1.3 billion domed, 30,000-seat ball park in a redeveloped St. Petersburg Gas Plant District. Projected opening: 2028.

Now that the future of the A's (moving to Las Vegas) and Rays seem to be set, MLB can focus on expansion to 32 teams...

Las Vegas' $2.5 million MSG Sphere us set to open in the coming days. It will host concerts, movies, boxing, MMA...

South Korea is preparing to build a world class sports district at the site if the 1988 Olympics. Featuring a 35,000-seat ball park, Olympic Stadium, hotels, pool.

***

Max and Warner Brothers Discovery are adding a sports package, including NBA, NHL and MLS games. Inevitable move. Free until February, then $10/month...

Boston is getting an NWSL expansion team. Nickname to come...

No football today, but plenty of soccer. Champions League: 8 games (12:45-3, Paramount+); MLS: 14 games (7:30-10:30, Apple, six free)...

50 years ago, Sept 20, 1973: " Battle of the Sexes", Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs.

***

Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television.