I must admit that I thought Bob Gilreath was jesting when he noted that double Dutch jump-roping competition was on ESPN ... but then I read the Wall Street Journal article (page B-1, November 1), entitled "Loss of Baseball, Hockey Curbs Gains at ESPN." The article indicates that the network is " ... going to the dogs ..." The networks (ESPN and ESPN2) are scrambling for replacement programming and resorting to shows like "Super Dogs, Super Jocks" --- a program with frisbee-fetching canines --- to try and satisfy its fans and the advertising community. Other replacement fare is reported to have included the double Dutch jump-roping, roller hockey, and "classic" games. Future plans include gavel to gavel coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial on ESPN2, while ESPN is reported to be planning live interruptions when there is noteworthy testimony. The article continues its discussion of substiture fare by noting that more college football, college hockey, and boxing would be quite appealing to sports fans. A media representative who purchases air time for advertisers said that the current replacement programming "... isn't exciting ..." Yet, it seems that the big advertisers have not retrenched a single iota from their advertising plans. A spokesman for one major beverage concern is reported to have said, "We're willing to sit patiently until hockey begins." Surprisingly ESPN finds itself with higher ratings than this time last year. They suspect the ratings to be associated with the fact that collegiate football is benefiting from the absence of hockey and the World Series. ESPN officials have been concerned that the delay in the hockey season is causing viewers to lose interest in "SportsCenter." Keith Oberman (ESPN on-air anchor) is reported to have said (about viewers), "They don't want to hear the latest hockey gossip without being able to watch the latest hockey highlights." John Wildhack, ESPN's senior vice president of programming stated, "We were optimistic we would see huge ratings increases for hockey" because of the exciting conclusion to last year's Stanley Cup. He adds "The sooner the NHL is back, the better for us." Go figure? If college football has brought about the current increase in viewership and ESPN is anxiously awaiting the NHL's return ... why not explore the realm of collegiate hockey? James Bradshaw