The "Best and Worst of TV Tennis 1995" is featured in the
current issue of TENNIS magazine. Among the highs and lows:
BEST ANNOUNCER: Mary Carillo, "out there running her legs off to
get insight," edges out newcomer John McEnroe. WORST ANNOUNCER:
Jim Lampley, a "one-man band in the middle of an orchestra."
MOST IMPROVED ANNOUNCER: Chris Evert, "consistently weighing in
with pointed, pertinent analysis." BEST ANNOUNCING MOVE: CBS
signing McEnroe which "pumped a lot of life into its U.S. Open
shows." WORST ANNOUNCING MOVE: NBC's "banishment of Bud Collins
from its booth." BEST TOURNEY COVERAGE: USA Network's U.S. Open
"perfectly" captured all that "is unique about New York's Slam."
WORST TOURNEY COVERAGE: ESPN's Davis Cup coverage. WORST
EXECUTION OF BEST IDEA: ABC cutting away from the exciting Bjorn
Borg-McEnroe "Challenge" Champions Event semi-final. BIGGEST
SHAM: CBS' "contrived coverage" of Monica Seles' comeback was
"nothing more than an International Management Group-engineered
ode to all things Monica." BEST TREND: Having tennis stars hit
the late night talk show circuit. BEST MARKETING GIMMICK:
Columbian coffee for their "brilliant planting of a Juan Valdez
look-a-like directly into camera range" at the U.S. Open. TRUTH
IN ADVERTISING: Rolex's "unique deal" with NBC during Wimbledon
allowing them "not-so-subtle on-air plugs." After one mention by
Dick Enberg, McEnroe remarked: "They must've paid a bundle" (Mark
Preston, TENNIS magazine, 12/95 issue).
