In Toronto, Neil Campbell examines the increase
nationwide conference calls, putting the cost of a telephone
news conference at less than C$1,000. NBA Dir of Media
Relations Chris Brienza: "It's a great thing for writers who
don't work in an NBA market and don't get a chance to talk
to players twice a week" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/19).
...The NFL Panthers victory over the Ravens Sunday drew a
local 23.2/47, while Panthers broadcasts for the season are
averaging a 21.2 rating, buoyed by a 32.5 for the team's
December 8 win at San Francisco (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/19).
...TNT's Bulls-Lakers telecast Tuesday drew a 4.3 rating,
the network's fourth-highest rating in their eight years of
NBA coverage (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/19)....The
Marquee Group will produce coverage of the '96 Puerto Rico
Holiday basketball Classic for ESPN and ESPN2 December 30-
January 1 (The Marquee Group)....Olympic gold medalist
Michael Johnson: "I hope we can raise our sport to the next
level, so when I have a season like I did this past year, I
can get to be Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/19).
