TV: In Toronto, Rob Longley writes that yesterday's
debut of NBC's three-man NBA booth of Bob Costas, Isiah
Thomas and Doug Collins "created a talkathon." The "buzz has
already begun" that Thomas will "move into the studio where,
with his camera presence and chatty delivery, he would be a
natural" (TORONTO SUN, 3/30)....In N.Y., Jon Elsen reports
that ABC execs are "looking for ways to cut costs --
including possibly layoffs." There's "some speculation that
ABC Sports may bear more of the brunt than others" (N.Y.
POST, 3/30)....In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote that Fox's "Oscar
de la Hoya's Big Fight Night," shown opposite the Academy
Awards, produced "an anemic" 4.3 rating. Raissman: "This
dreadful night of 'boxing' was nothing more than a de la Hoya
infomercial" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/29)....In DC, Scott Moore
profiled Home Team Sports, noting that its relationship with
the Orioles "often results in a Home Team advantage when it
comes to telecasts, with coaches tipping the announcers and
producers before the game about strategies and concerns"
(WASHINGTON POST, 3/29)....Time Warner Cable reached a deal
with Midwest Sports Channel to carry 80 Brewers games this
season. Midwest won the rights to produce and distribute
Brewers games "and then had to enlist Warner to carry the
games to Warner's subscribers." Midwest has agreements with
Marcus Cable and TCI (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/29).
NOTES: D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo,
on sports-talk radio: "It is sick that people who have never
put on a jock in their lives go so far in terms of personal
attacks. The bottom line is you should not waste time
listening to them. Instead, what can you do to make the
world a better place?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/30)....In Ft.
Worth, David Markiewicz reviewed on ESPN Magazine's second
issue and said it "offers signs that 'ESPN' will be worth its
subscription price, not to mention a place alongside 'SI.'
... The biggest improvement in issue two ... may be that it's
more immediate than issue one (STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/28).
