THE WORD FROM BRISTOL: ESPN NEWS AND NOTES

     Robin Roberts has signed a deal through 2001 with ESPN and
ABC Sports.  In addition to hosting the 6:30 pm EDT edition of
"SportsCenter," Roberts will host ABC's "Wide World of Sports";
host and do play-by-play for ESPN's NCAA women's basketball
coverage; anchor "SportsCenter" at Wimbledon and U.S. Open
tennis; and continue to host "Sunday SportsDay" and "In the
SportsLight" (ESPN).  The six-year deal is reportedly worth
$650,000/year.  Roberts:  "People can't remember a woman being
given this kind of variety.  I really want to do a good job
because I think that will make it easier for women, particularly
women of color, to succeed in this business (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 6/29).
     ONE MAN'S PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE ON THE EDGE:  In this
morning's N.Y. TIMES, Richard Sandomir asks if ESPN's Extreme
Games are "bad for America" or even "good TV"?  While clearly not
a fan of the "weekend psycho Olympics," Sandomir believes "in
virtually every technical way, ESPN and ESPN2 were excellent,
using every camera possible -- on helmets, courses, walls, toes,
eyelashes, nostrils, and toenails -- to enliven the events"
(N.Y. TIMES, 6/30).
     SPECIAL OLYMPICS:  Domestically, ESPN and ESPN2 will present
11 hours of coverage from the 1995 Special Olympics World Games,
which kick-off tomorrow and run through July 9.  ESPN Int'l will
telecast the games to 115 countries (ESPN).