Sports Media

BRING BACK WOOD RACQUETS? NBC'S EBERSOL CRITICIZES TENNIS

11.26.1996

          Two "highly competitive" championship tennis matches
     going head-to-head on national TV Sunday "reinforced" NBC
     Sports President Dick Ebersol's opinion that the game "is
     desperate for leadership," according to Jack Craig of the
     BOSTON GLOBE.  ESPN carried the final of the ATP World
     Championship from Germany between Pete Sampras and Boris
     Becker opposite ABC's coverage of the Chase Championship
     Women's year-end final between Steffi Graf and Martina
     Hingis.  Ebersol: "Tennis is in steep decline because it
     lets equipment companies run it.  They have slingshots for
     racquets now (that impede rallies).  We have a hard time now
     selling Wimbledon."  Craig: "That familiar complaint moves
     to the heart of the matter, but when uttered by Ebersol, it
     carries real weight" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/26).

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