Lewis goes nuts over OSU football
Nov. 25, 1996

Comedian Richard Lewis has been to every Ohio State-Michigan game since 1966 when he was a student at OSU. Richard says it's the game of the year ... despite Michigan's 13-9 victory Saturday.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who was recently honored with a "Distinguished Alumni Award."

WHO IS HIS FAVORITE BUCKEYE EVER? Archie Griffin, the two-time Heisman winner of the 1970's. Lewis says Griffin is a great ambassador for Ohio State and a wonderful human being. Yes, success in Hollywood has helped Lewis's seating situation at Ohio Stadium.

As a starving student he sat in the bleachers, but now sits in a luxury box with his good friend Gordon Gee, president of OSU.

Lewis says that he would like to attend more OSU football games but there are not many producers in Hollywood who grant his request to take time off for a college football game in Ohio. But when it comes to the OSU vs. Michigan, he demands time off.

The Ohio State vs. Michigan war is one of the oldest in the country. Richard informed me that Wolverine is Yiddish for sucker and loser. (You learn something every day).

He loves all sports, except cricket. Lewis says you have to be a moron to watch cricket. Recently, he beat Pete Rose at a game of stickball. When I disputed his claim, Lewis said he had the game on videotape. While Lewis denied they had bet on the outcome, he did say that he won some baseball memorabilia from baseball's all-time hits leader.

A little of this and a little of that

Famous father-and-son race car drivers Mario and Michael Andretti challenge Home Improvement's Tim Allen to a unique turkey carving contest on "Tool Time." The contest is announced by famous Indy 500 pit announcer Jack Arute on the Tuesday, Nov. 26 (9-9:30 p.m., ET) episode. ...

Some of the celebs sitting courtside at this past weekend's Seattle SuperSonics-New York Knicks game -- singer Tony Bennett, Mark Curry, star of "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" and Spike Lee (big surprise). ... All-America basketball player and Olympian Sheryl Swoopes introduces herself to young readers and sets the stage for her theme -- rebounding from adversity in her book "Bounce Back" dribbling into book stores this week. ... Kudos to some of the players on the Portland Trailblazers, Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets who will be helping feed the less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day.