BCS title game draws one of lowest ratings

And that lack of enthusiasm showed in the ratings.

Nationally, the LSU-Ohio State game drew a 14.4 Nielsen rating, a 17-percent drop from last year’s Florida-Ohio State game.

Monday’s rating also was the third lowest in the 10-year history of the BCS. The lowest came in 2005 when the USC-Oklahoma game drew a 13.7. In 2002, Miami-Nebraska drew a 13.8.

In Kansas City, Monday’s title game drew a 17.2 rating, down from last year’s 18.2 rating for Ohio State- Florida. Monday’s game was viewed in about 159,461 television homes in Kansas City.

Not surprisingly, Monday’s title game paled in terms of the ratings to the Missouri and Kansas bowl games last week. The KU-Virginia Tech game drew a 32.2 rating, while the Missouri-Arkansas game drew a 27.1.

Next year’s Hall

Rickey Henderson will lead next year’s list of candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, provided he doesn’t try to make a comeback. He will be a slam-dunk, first-year guy.

The other likely candidates will include former Royal David Cone, pitcher Jesse Orosco, first basemen Mo Vaughn and Mark Grace, and third baseman Matt Williams.

Cone, who won the Cy Young in 1994, finished his career at 194-126 with a 3.46 ERA. He also had 2,668 strikeouts and pitched on five World Series champs.

Bearcat sighting

Yes, that was former Northwest Missouri State star Dave Tollefson getting into the act Sunday for the New York Giants. Tollefson leveled a big-time hit on Tampa quarterback Jeff Garcia.

Tollefson was drafted in 2006 by the Green Bay Packers but was eventually released. He was elevated from the Giants practice squad in November.

Tip money

Players on the winning team in the Super Bowl XLII will receive $78,000 this year. The losing team will get $40,000 per player.

MVP theory

The only voter who didn’t vote for Tom Brady for most valuable player was Frank Cooney from the Web site “The Sports Xchange.” Cooney voted for Brett Favre.

Cooney told the Boston Globe, “Favre was the quarterback and unquestioned leader of the youngest team in the NFL, one that was expected to win only five games. He led that team to 13 wins. I think that was a more valuable individual achievement than what Brady managed with his great team.”

To reach Jeffrey Flanagan call 816-234-4492 and leave a message or send e-mail to jflanagan@kcstar.com