NBA’s Odd Couple Reunited on ABC

It’s a Christmas tradition. After Tab A has been inserted into Slot B, after everyone has sneaked off to hide away the reindeer sweater gift from Aunt Blabby, after one last viewing of how Ralphie got that BB gun, it’s time to peer through the discarded wrapping paper and watch the NBA.

Sunday’s doubleheader on ABC starting at 9:30 a.m. features an NBA Finals rematch of the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills, followed by the Lakers and the Miami Heat in Florida at noon.

The big news here is the reunion of analysts Bill Walton and Steve “Snapper” Jones, who will work the first game. When Walton goes off on one of his hyperbolic flights of fancy, Jones has been known to ground him with a good-natured jibe.

The two, joined by fellow analyst Hubie Brown, held court in a conference call Wednesday to discuss matters NBA. Some highlights:

* Walton on the resurgent Lakers: “They have really come to embrace each other as teammates. This is not a team that is filled with talented players except for Kobe Bryant.”

* Brown, recalling his time as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, on the trade availability of the Indiana Pacers’ Ron Artest: “You could have had him three summers ago, two summers ago.”

* Walton on whether he’d want the mercurial Artest on his team: “My experience is it’s always better to play against the likes of Ron Artest.”

* Jones on how Laker Coach Phil Jackson can act superior: “When he has the best situation, he likes to rub it in.”

* Brown on whether the Phoenix Suns’ up-tempo, share-the-ball offense will become a trend in the NBA: “You cannot play the way Phoenix plays night in and night out unless you have Steve Nash.”

* Walton on how the league was more intense in his day: “I’m of an era where teams routinely didn’t like each other. When that ball is put up to decide the fate of Western Civilization, you’re ready.”

* Jones on possible rivalries to match the Lakers-Boston Celtics of the 1980s: “If the Pistons and the Spurs can maintain their positions for four-five years, you may see that kind of rivalry.”

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ABC has retooled its NBA pregame show, now called NBA Nation, which debuts Sunday at 9 a.m.

Scottie Pippen has been added as a studio commentator, working with returning host Mike Tirico.

Each show will feature a round-table discussion with a celebrity guest panel.

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Monday’s Baltimore-Green Bay game got an 8.2 national rating, the second lowest game in “Monday Night Football” history.

The lowest was last year’s Tampa Bay Buccaneer-St. Louis Ram game, which drew a 7.7.

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HBO’s “Real Sports” presents a best-of-2005 show Tuesday at 7 p.m. Among the four repeat segments, the one most worth another look may well be “Fields of Hate,” a piece about the racism in European soccer.

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The 35th Eclipse Awards for horse racing will be televised live by TVG on Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. from the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

The Eclipse Awards, which TVG televised live for the first time last January, will open with a red-carpet preview show, continue with the presentation of awards and conclude with interviews of the winners and commentary by horse racing experts, including recently retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, a past Eclipse Award winner.

Eclipse Awards are presented in 16 equine and human categories: horse of the year, 2-year-old colt, 2-year-old filly, 3-year-old colt, 3-year-old filly, older male horse, older female horse, male turf horse, female turf horse, sprinter, steeplechase, owner, breeder, jockey, apprentice jockey and trainer.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Larry Stewart is on vacation.