Agreed that Hanlon was crazy at best. He was also a pompous jerk who wanted control of everything involving the team. Eric Wagner on the other hand was a playboy who had too much money and didn't know what to do with himself. He could have cared less about his football team and Hanlon wanted 100% control. By the way Culp gave another stellar performance in this one as well.
But consider this - a BIG game on, everyone at home, even the cops at the crime scene (later) had a small radio listening in. So a good scene in my opinion, a quiet Saturday afternoon. Hanlon takes an unassuming ice cream van which no-one would take a second glance at even if it were off the usual route. I thought this was a good story line with a good plot and it's only in the dying seconds the arrogant and conceited Hanlon is made to realise his mistake - well, that and the fact he tangled with Lt Columbo!