Burke's view from the sideline should add to ABC's credibility

Sideline reporters haven't taken as many hits as Sarah Palin lately.

But almost.

This week, Fox's Danyelle Sargent was scorched for making it seem as if the late Bill Walsh was still alive. Last summer, ESPN's Erin Andrews was the subject of debate after a Chicago-area columnist criticized the length of Andrews' dress while she worked the Milwaukee Brewers' clubhouse.

ABC is trying to break that trend. The network made a refreshing hire this week, choosing Doris Burke to take over as its lead NBA sideline reporter.

"I don't think anybody is hiring me on my looks or clothes," said Burke, a married mother of two. She is replacing Michele Tafoya, who gave up the job last spring because the intense travel schedule kept her away from her family.

Burke, who has earned a reputation as a meticulous reporter and a knowledgeable analyst in her work for ESPN covering men's and women's college basketball, said she used to think that sideline reporters were more unnecessary nuisance than providers of interesting information.

If that sounds as if Burke is still convincing herself the job is important, maybe she is.

"I sometimes wonder: What is the point of the sideline person?" Burke said. "But I've come to appreciate that if you work at the job you can begin to find out bits and pieces of information that can really give the viewer something to be interested in."

She is aware of the uproar caused by Sargent's mistake -- which never aired but found its way onto the Internet -- by asking new 49ers Coach Mike Singletary if he had called Walsh when he got the job.

And, yes, Burke paid attention to the discussion about the way Andrews dressed -- her outfit described as "skimpy," her manner "flirty."

"From my perspective, I'm just a nuts-and-bolts person," Burke said. "I think I have a lot of basketball knowledge. That's my thing."

The winner is . . .

If there was an organized get-out-the-online-vote by Kings fans, Bob Miller is thankful. Miller also will take any win he can get over Dodgers legend Vin Scully.

Of the 1,183 votes cast in the Los Angeles Times poll to select both your favorite and least favorite sports play-by-play announcers, hockey Hall of Fame member Miller won with 516 votes (44%) over baseball Hall of Fame member Scully, who finished with 366 votes (31%).

"That's a surprise to me," Miller said. "It's quite an honor. When I saw the list of names I automatically thought I had no chance."