Marv Albert pleaded not guilty yesterday to forcible
sodomy and assault charges as a jury of seven women and five
men were selected to hear the case, according to Steve Zipay
of NEWSDAY. Zipay: "In explicit opening statements, a
Virginia prosector and a high-profile defense attorney
yesterday offered starkly different characterizations of the
relationship between [Albert] and his long-time mistress
that she says culminated in a violent incident in his hotel
room here last February." Testimony begins today at 10:00am
ET (NEWSDAY, 9/23). In DC, Brooke Masters reports the trial
opened "with painfully graphic sexual detail, celebrity
name-dropping and diametrically opposed views of the
character of the NBC sportscaster" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/23).
FUTURE IN SPORTS: MSG President Dave Checketts said
that there are "contingency plans" for MSG Network pending
the outcome of the trial. Checketts: "Marv knows we're
squarely behind him. Yes, there are [contingency plans],
but it's not a relevant issue right now" (Fred Kerber, N.Y.
POST, 9/23). In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that while
Albert's future in sports "rests in the hands of a few
people" -- Checketts and NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol
-- "others in the industry" are watching the case closely.
ISI Exec VP Steve Rosner: "[N]o matter what the outcome of
the trial, he's going to be tainted in the industry."
Rosner added that networks may be "pressured" to drop
Albert: "I would be concerned with advertisers and their
reaction to these allegations. (They) can be very aggressive
when they don't think a personality is living up to their
standards." IF Enterprises President Steve Herz: "If [NBA
Commissioner] David Stern says he doesn't want the league's
games covered by (Albert), that could cause serious problems
for Marv. In the relationship between them, the NBA the
tail wags the dog. NBC is the dog covering the event, but
the tail is the NBA and it is telling NBC what to do" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 9/23). Also in N.Y., Wallace Matthews writes
that "unless the NBC peacock grows some integrity overnight,
you will never see Marv Albert work at 30 Rock again." But,
Matthews adds, on NBC Sports "sexual abusers, cross-dressers
and violent knuckleheads are regularly presented as heroes."
Matthews: "And yet, I have a feeling that no matter how the
trial ends, Marv Albert's contract will end with it" (N.Y.
POST, 9/23). Burns Sports President Bob Williams: "He's in
serious jeopardy of losing his total income in sports."
Sports Marketing Letter Publisher Brian Murphy: "It's always
unwise to say that someone has fatally injured his career."
Marty Blackman, of Blackman & Rayber: "It's one fortunate
thing for him that we're talking about someone who is in
sports. All these juicy things come out, and one of the
things that kind of benefits him is the demographic" (Knipe
Brown & Chapman, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/23).
TV COVERAGE: "NBC Nightly News" reported on the Albert
trial seven minutes into its news broadcast as Tom Brokaw
identified Albert as an "NBC sportscaster." The report
lasted two minutes, and NBC's Pete Williams is on the scene
in VA ("NBC Nightly News," NBC, 9/22). ABC's "World News
Tonight" reported that the trial had started, as Peter
Jennings referred to Albert as a "sportscaster." The voice-
over report lasted twenty seconds ("World News Tonight,"
ABC, 9/22). "CBS Evening News" made no mention of the trial
("CBS Evening News," CBS, 9/22). ESPN's 6:30pm ET
"SportsCenter" featured the trial ten minutes into the
broadcast. Sal Paolantonio is in VA; Bob Ley reported on
the day's events and then had a Q&A with Paolantonio. The
report lasted two minutes ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/22).
