Remembering the ‘Challenge’ posed by Dick Enberg

Q: I was sad to learn of the passing of sportscaster Dick Enberg. I remember his “Sports Challenge” game show. When was that on the air? – Jim Storey, via e-mail

A: The syndicated show was televised for most of the 1970s, from 1971 to 1979, with two teams of three former or then current athletes being posed questions related to film clips that were shown. The series had a brief revival in the early 1980s on ESPN as “The Best of Sports Challenge,” and it also has been shown on other ESPN networks over the years. Some fans also may remember a product that was related to the series: the Sports Challenge Instant Replay toy manufactured by Mattel, which involved discs being inserted into a handheld device – essentially a small record player – that would give statistics about sports players and milestones.

Q: What’s the background of the youngster who played Ralphie in Fox’s live version of “A Christmas Story”? – Mary McQueen, Aiken, S.C.

A: Seattle, Wash., resident Andy Walken was found in a nationwide digital casting call. He ultimately was chosen for the production from more than 350 contenders for the role, and he joined a cast that also included such pros as Matthew Broderick, Maya Rudolph and David Alan Grier as he played the youngster constantly warned that “You’ll shoot your eye out” in hoping for his most desired Christmas gift.