The Beat

Life away from the limelight can be tough for former athletes, which is why Inside Schwartz, NBC's new sitcom about a wannabe sportscaster with a rich fantasy life, has proved to be a godsend for ex-jocks. The show has already featured cameos by Bill Buckner. Dick Butkus and Bo Jackson (below, with Schwartz star Breckin Meyer), and athletes appearing soon include Magic Johnson and Deion Sanders. NBC execs have urged executive producer Stephen Engel to land active stars; their wish list includes Tiger Woods, Shaquille O'Neal and—of course—Anna Kournikova. "But with athletes like that," says Engel, "if they're not in season, they're on vacation." Two who have taped scenes that ended up on the cutting-room floor: Keith Hernandez and Michael Irvin. Engel insists it wasn't because of their performances but because the episodes ran long....

Bob Costas and his wife, Randy, are divorcing after 18 years of marriage. According to Pam Davis, Bob's business manager, "The parting is amicable. They are devoted to their children, and Bob will continue to live in St. Louis to remain close to them." The couple have a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. Costas and his wife decided on the split in August but held back announcing the news for personal reasons....

Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby's 1992 book about his obsession with the English soccer club Arsenal, is headed for the big screen. Actually, Pitch was already made into a movie as a 1997 British production, but the new film will Americanize the story: The hero's sport will morph from soccer into baseball, with the Red Sox taking Arsenal's place. "The Red Sox will be the crutch for the man being unable to make commitments in his life," says producer Amanda Posey. "That is, until he meets a woman he can fall in love with and must choose between the team and the woman." One detail to be tweaked: The book climaxes with Arsenal's victory over Liverpool to win the 1989 league championship. Unless the film strays into sci-fi, a Bosox World Series title won't be part of the remake.