NFL: CNN/SI's Peter King, on CBS's status for securing
NFL TV rights: "It looks like if CBS does not get 'Monday
Night Football' that they're going to try to create a
package with a lot of the loose games -- the Thanksgiving
games, the late Saturday games in December and some of the
Thursday night games earlier in the year when they have a
conflict with baseball. They'll get about a 10-game package
or try to get a 10-game package, and maybe put a couple of
the games in prime time during the November sweeps month"
("NFL Preview," CNN, 10/19). In Boston, Will McDonough
quoted one anonymous owner as saying, "If we don't get a 100
percent increase, then we haven't done our jobs." If that's
the case, TV payments to individual teams would increase
from about $40M now to about $80M (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/18). On
NBC, McDonough said the NFL "might ask" for $400M for the
Browns expansion team and that "by going to expansion in
1999, as it now looks, in the year 2001 or 2002, you have to
look for a 32nd team to come in the NFL, and when they do,
I'm told there is going to be a major realignment. They'll
switch from six divisions to eight divisions, with four
teams in each division" ("NFL On NBC," 10/19).
MLS: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman noted attendance for
last week's MLS playoff games as not "exactly numbers the
league was proud to publicize." The United-Crew averaged
10,663 and the Burn-Rapids drew 11,788, both below the
league average of 14,616 (MIAMI HERALD, 10/19). In Ft.
Lauderdale, Jeff Rusnak wrote that MLS should "consider"
holding its playoffs in September rather than October.
Although MLS Commissioner Doug Logan has said the league
will stay on its scheduling course, Rusnak wrote "if poor
playoff crowds become a trend, MLS may have no choice in the
future but to steer clear" of October (SUN-SENTINEL, 10/19).
ABL: The Rage hosted the first ABL game in Philadelphia
against the Glory last night in front of 5,312 at the
Palestra. In Philadelphia, Dick Jerardi: "The ABL is here,
ready or not. Judging by opening night, it would appear
that Philadelphia is ready" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 10/20).
GENERAL: NC-based Raycom Sports has met with the LPGA
and CA-based Longs Drugs Challenge tournament officials and
is "expected to sign on as the tournament's owner and
operator before the end of this month" (SACRAMENTO BEE,
10/18)....In K.C., 18,123 attended Kemper Arena for a
Lakers-Cavs preseason NBA matchup (K.C. STAR, 10/19).