Unlike most of you, I watched much of the Raiders vs. Chargers mismatch Thursday, but I had an excuse: research.

I joined a number of NFL poobahs, including former Jets public relations intern Roger Goodell, Jets owner Woody Johnson, Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, at a Manhattan theater for one of three experimental viewings of the first pro Football game produced live in 3D. (The others were in Boston and Hollywood.)

What was it like?

Cool, but weird. The effect was muted from the traditional high sideline angle but was dramatic on field-level shots that showed layers of depth, from players in the foreground to fans in the deep background.

At times it looked more like a video game than a real event,

with players seeming almost as if they had been cut out and pasted onto a picture of a stadium.

The 3D effect was most profound on plays coming directly toward or away from a camera, with a long ownfield spiral seeming to be headed for the viewer's arms as much as the receiver's.

"It's really almost revolutionary,'' Johnson said. "I've never seen 3D that was this, I mean, real.'' Said Goodell: "It's pretty startling."

When will all this be in your living room? When the economics make sense. Sandy Climan, CEO of 3ality Digital, said major manufacturers will have consumer sets available next year.

Sirius has spoken to Sid Rosenberg about mornings

Sirius' goal for launching Chris Russo's 24-hour sports talk channel was sometime this autumn, which has only two weeks left in it.They're working on it. One intriguing option for morning drive: another former WFAN host, Sid Rosenberg. Rosenberg's agent, Mark Lepselter, said he has spoken to several companies with interest in Sid,, including Sirius.

Jerry Seinfeld is becoming a WFAN semi-regular

Jerry Seinfield appeared with Ca-Boom Friday morning on WFAN, seeking to clarify his remarks of earlier in the week with Steve Somers in which he praised Craig Carton's work but apparently neglected to offer sufficient props to Boomer Esiason.

Carton sought to get Seinfeld fired up about the possibility of the Mets acquiring Manny Ramirez, but Jerry responded, "Is that good for us?''Turns out Jerry prefers K-Rod.

Cute. I just share Jerry's concern that all this will go to Carton's head and ruin the humility that is such a big part of his charm.

Guitarist named for rodent infection writes Isles' music

The Islanders have a new ad campaign featuring music by Ron "Bumblefoot'' Thal, a guitarist for Guns N' Roses.

I'd be more impressed if I had heard of Mr. Thal before this week, but I have heard of Guns N' Roses. I researched Thal in preparation for this post and learned Bumblefoot succeeded a guy named "Buckethead.''

I also learned bumblefoot is a bacterial infection that often affects the feet of birds and rodents.

New York Bretts have become national TV attraction

More evidence the New York Bretts' national profile has risen dramatically this season: The two most-viewed time periods of the 2008-09 TV season both prominently featured Gang Green.

That includes last Sunday, when an estimated 25.5 million people watched CBS in late afternoon, when the country roughly was split between Broncos-Jets and Patriots-Steelers.

Here are the five most-viewed shows of the TV season:

1. CBS doubleheader game (Broncos- Jets
2. CBS doubleheader game (mostly Pats-Jets), Sept. 14, 25.2 million.

3. "60 Minutes'' (Obama interview, after Chargers-Steelers finish), Nov. 16, 25.1 million.

4. Fox doubleheader game (mostly Cowboys-Cardinals), Oct. 12, 23.7 million.

5. "CSI'' (season premiere), Oct. 9, 23.5 million. Numbers 6-10 all are Football games, the first two featuring

the Giants.

Chris Russo has opinions on John Mara's pajamas, 'poodle'

Here is a partial transcript from SiriusXMof a vintage Chris Russo rant about Giants president John Mara after the Plaxico Burress Affair. What's his point? What's the difference? It's hilarious.

(For the record, Mr. Mara does not own a poodle. He has four mutts from Pet Rescue.)

"I'll say one thing about the Giants. And the Giants are a classy organization, but let's be fair here. John Mara has more nieces and more nephews and little kids running around Westchester County.

Trust me. I know. There's hundreds of them. If he knew that one of his nieces, including the great Kate Mara, the actress, if he knew that one of his nieces or nephews or, God forbid, his own children was in an establishment late on a Thanksgiving weekend night when one of the patrons was drinking with a loaded pistol in his pocket, John Mara would have gotten out of bed with his pajamas on, hopped into his SUV with sleep on his face, with a cup of coffee, and would have himself escorted the nephews, the nieces, the sons, the daughters, his poodle, to get them out of the bar. Guaranteed, guaranteed, guaranteed . . . "

Did Plaxico Burress give nod to classic sci-fi series?

No matter how wacky or convoluted my baby boomer references get, readers always manage to surpass me. Take this observation from a radio industry type who (understandably) requested anonymity: Plaxico Burress reportedly checked into the hospital under the alias "Harris Smith.''

In the 1960s sci-fi show "Lost in Space," the bad guy was played by actor Jonathan Harris, whose character was Dr. Zachary Smith.

Hmm. Is Plax a closet "Lost in Space'' fan?