The pancakes are still there. But so are the numbers for growth in 2008 among eight sports-only cable networks -- and Versus led them with a 20.2 percent increase in total-day viewership and a 23.6 percent increase in prime-time viewers.

On Versus.com it states "In sports, the V is everywhere, whether it's Victory, Valor or Vengeance." Not sure how much "valor" is involved, but Versus does get a victory and some vengeance over snide snobs such as myself.

There must be an audience for the NHL, cycling, Indycar and bull riding after all.

Actually, Versus' growth supports a claim of mine -- that almost everything today that's not football, Major League Baseball and the NBA is a niche sport. And there's nothing wrong with that as long as the sport knows how to operate within its niche. (The Arena Football League clearly did not.)

In prime-time viewer changes from 2007 to 2008 (as compiled by Sports Business Daily), after Versus the others clocked in this way: Speed up 13.8 percent, ESPN up 8.7, ESPN2 down 2.4, ESPNews down 3.4, Golf Channel down 4.4, NFL Network down 10.7, and ESPN Classic way, way down at minus-30.8.

ESPN Classic won't make it to the end of 2009. We don't care about yesterday's sports. You can make a case that we don't care about yesterday at all -- but that's another story for another section of the newspaper.

In any case, congratulations to Versus and I'm sorry for taking your name (and your love for the letter "V") in vain. I can't wait to get back to your Web site and read the column titled "Great Debate: Best French-Canadian Netminder."

Really, I can't wait. Give me a "V" for Verisimilitude!

POSTSCRIPT: The Versus Web site has video of a Zamboni falling off the back of a truck. Trust me, you can't beat Zamboni humor.

Magic: Hot bet & hot hat

*We know the Orlando Magic are winning, but the Web site Todayspicks.net tells us that they are doing a great job of "covering the spread," too. After 37 games, the Magic were 24-12-1 overall against the spread and 12-5-1 on the road against the "jelly." So if you are into that sort of thing, you may be able to wear as much bling as the players.

*And it looks as if you already are wearing their gear. The Magic were named the NBA's Team Retailer of the Year 2007-08 because of a 10 percent increase in merchandise sales despite the lack of a team store in Amway Arena.

Scully 1, Madden 29, Vitale 47?

The American Sportscasters Association released its all-time Top 50 list with Vin Scully a predictable No. 1. The rest of the top 10 are: 2. Mel Allen, 3. Red Barber, 4. Curt Gowdy, 5. Howard Cosell, 6. Bob Costas, 7. Jim McKay, 8. Keith Jackson, 9. Al Michaels, and 10. Dick Enberg.

Others you might know: 17. Marv Albert, 18. Harry Caray, 29. John Madden, 31. Joe Buck, 32. Milo Hamilton, 35. Chris Berman, 39. Bill Walton, 44. Brent Musberger, 45. Pat Summerall, and 47. Dick Vitale.

Amazingly, Tony Siragusa was left out.

Nobody asked but . . .

*Sign of the times: UCF men's Basketball Coach Kirk Speraw had to cancel the Tuesday broadcast of his radio show because the hosting sports bar in Oviedo folded. The way restaurants keep closing, I may have to learn how to cook.

*The top six TV broadcasts in Orlando last week were all football. For more details, go to the Virtual Cheap Seats at Orlandosentinel.com.

*LeBron James is on the current cover of GQ -- and they still swear the dude is only 24.

*There may be an opening at Foxsports.com for a headline writer after a salute to Urban Meyer's Gators that was titled "Crystal Math" as a pun on the term "crystal meth."

*Did you hear about the 13-year-old girl in California who totaled 14,528 text messages in one month? The online AT&T statement was 440 pages. During her birthday party, she was texting her best friend -- sitting next to her.

*The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) will provide 10 hours live daily coverage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. I mention this just to write "Aboriginal Peoples Television Network."