The Raptors and Grizzlies make their expansion draft picks
shortly after 1pm EDT tomorrow, but the NBA "has decreed the
choices must not be made public until NBC and CTV roll the tape
of a packaged 30-minute draft special" (TORONTO STAR,
6/23)....The NFL Panthers and Carolinas Stadium Corporation have
awarded a 10-year telecom contract to Southern Bell. Worth at
least $1M, the contract calls for the installation of fiber optic
cable and advanced communications equipment
(Panthers)....SportsTicker and Sports Systems Services have
teamed-up to provide college sports information directors and
media outlets with score reports, statistics, game previews and
recaps, and other sports news through a fax on-demand service
called "Fax Scoreboard." A formal announcement will be made
Sunday at the College Sports Information Directors of America
workshop in Denver (SportsTicker)....Boston's WCVB is expecting
an 18 share for three live telecasts of Patriots exhibition games
(BOSTON GLOBE, 6/23)....Richard Sandomir rates ESPN and Fox on
their Stanley Cup coverage. Fox has the "edge" on play by play,
analysts, production, and look; ESPN has the "edge" on studio
program, sideline reporters, statistics, and (least amount of)
annoyances (N.Y. TIMES, 6/23).