PLAYOFF NOTES: HOCKEY RULES IN MOTOR CITY

     The Bulls-Magic drew only a 6.0 rating and a 12 share in the
Detroit market, while the Red Wings-Avalanche on Fox's WJBK drew
an 18.4/38 (Tim Kiska, DETROIT NEWS, 5/21)....The Blues-Red Wings
Game 7 last Thursday was the second-best local rating ever for a
hockey telecast in St. Louis.  The game drew a 22.8 on KPLR,
second only to an opening round Game 7 in '91 which drew a 28.3
(Dan Caesar, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/21)....The N.Y. TIMES'
Richard Sandomir is highly critical of NBC's Ahmad Rashad's dual
role as close friend to Michael Jordan and game-day "reporter"
(N.Y. TIMES, 5/21)....With CBC's strike deadline looming on
Thursday, SOUTHAM NEWS' Adrienne Tanner notes "contingency plans"
have been in works for more than a year.  Plans for NHL coverage
are to pick up the U.S. feed with American commentators
(Vancouver PROVINCE, 5/21).