For Final Four ... Crowded Booths on Radio, TV

So much for simple or subtle.

If it's a big game -- a sporting event that has become a cultural touchstone -- it apparently requires a more-is-better approach in terms of broadcast talent, too.

While CBS Sports has garnered some attention as it expands from a two-man broadcast team (Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg) to three (adding Steve Kerr), it has no exclusivity to the approach this weekend at the Final Four.

Westwood One, the radio home for the NCAA Tournament on 450 stations across the United States, has twice that many talkers.

After host John Tautges welcomes listeners to the broadcast, Westwood One still has enough for its own starting five. The team: play-by-play man Kevin Kugler; former national champion coach John Thompson; former coach and veteran analyst Bill Raftery; two-time national champion and three-time Final Four participant Bill Walton; and reporter Jim Gray, he of the lengthy resume and amazing ability to aggravate people.

On the TV side, CBS Sports hopes the addition of Kerr brings a bit more discussion and interaction to the booth. Ironically, while everyone associated with the move insists it's a no-egos, win-win addition, they also hope for some disagreement between Kellogg and Kerr during the broadcast.

"It's better TV," director Bob Fishman said Friday.

And honestly, more might be better on radio, too. As long as those involved keep in mind that it's the game that matters most, some varied perspectives can help and make a broadcast better.

Still, just like the larger venues the NCAA values as hosts for the Final Four (because of more ticket revenue), there is a point at which more can become a bit much. If the broadcasts have not reached that point, listeners and viewers can certainly hear and see it from here.

Marv Albert to Exit 'Monday Night Football'

Play-by-play man Marv Albert has elected not to return to Westwood One's radio broadcasts of "Monday Night Football" for the 2010 season.

He's held the role for the past nine years, working with color commentator Boomer Esiason, the former NFL quarterback who also works for CBS Sports on TV.

Albert will remain quite active. He works national NBA games on TNT and New Jersey Nets games for for YES Network during the regular season. He might just appreciate a little break from travel during the fall before basketball starts up again.

It will be a loss for listeners, though. He has a distinctive voice and usually handles his play-by-play duties well.

Westwood One has not named a replacement for Albert. Its two teams that handle Sunday afternoon NFL broadcasts are led by play-by-play men Howard David and Kevin Kugler, who could be candidates for the job.

NCAA Tournament Works on Radio, Too

CBS Sports, cbssports.com and ncaa.com will draw millions of viewers and visitors during the NCAA Tournament, but they're not the only exclusive media outlets for games.

People without access to a TV, computer or mobile device (and that's an admittedly dwindling group these days) truly get a feel for the games and the tournament itself on Westwood One Radio, which holds exclusive radio rights to the event.

Host John Tautges capably directs listens between games when they're switched form one matchup to another -- and Westwood One seems to do that with a regularity TV viewers would enjoy -- while their group of on-air talent at the game sites does their jobs well.

For the opening weekend of action, that contingent includes play-by-play talent such as Gary Cohen, Bob Papa, Wayne Larrivee, Ted Robinson and Dave Sims. The network's group of color comentators includes former coaches such as P.J. Carlesimo, Bill Frieder, Pete Gillen and John Thompson.

It's just a good group, and a good network that does its job well.