CLASSIC SPORTS' REPLAY: Classic Sports Network's
"Replay: The History of the NFL on TV" premieres tonight at
8:30pm ET on ESPN. In Cincinnati, John Fay writes that the
show is "worth an hour and a half of couch time" (CINCINNATI
ENQUIRER, 4/20). In L.A., Ara Najarian: "Anyone who is
hooked on NFL Films -- and most football fans are -- is
bound to enjoy 'Replay'" (L.A. TIMES, 4/20).
PERSONALITIES: Philadelphia sportscaster Garry Cobb,
who refused to sign a contract as Eagles radio analyst that
included a clause that said he "would not criticize the
team's performance," believes that Eagles management "wanted
the clause in his contract." But Eagles Exec VP Joe Banner
called Cobb's claims "ridiculous. It's absolutely untrue"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/20)....Pete Rose will serve as
guest host this week for three consecutive episodes of "The
Last Word" (FSN)....In Richmond, Skip Wood wrote that NASCAR
owners, drivers and officials are "highly skeptical" about
reports that race track owner Bruton Smith is in talks with
Fox Sports to form a Thursday night series that would
include Winston Cup drivers (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/19).
...In Toronto, Steve Simmons reported that the "love affair
between Isiah Thomas and NBC is apparently over. Word
around is the network would like Thomas to leave, like
yesterday" (Steve Simmons, TORONTO SUN, 4/19).
PROGRAMMING AND NOTES: The Marquee Group will produce
today's U.S. cable TV coverage of the Boston Marathon, live
on ESPN2 (TMG)....In N.Y., Phil Mushnick reported that WFAN-
AM's "benign" treatment of Madison Square Garden and its
teams "has coincided with MSG's increasingly energetic steps
toward the creation of an MSG radio network" (N.Y. POST,
4/19)....ESPN Star Sports forecasts a 50% growth in the
number of homes who will receive cable in the Philippines
over the next two years. Currently, there are 400,000-
500,000 households with access to cable TV in the
Philippines (AD AGE, 4/20)....In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich
writes on a TSN Sunday report on the state of the NBA in
Canada which said that Canada "does not love this game" and
showed attendance figures and TV ratings "that showed just
that." Zelkovich: "That was a gutsy comment considering
that TSN carries NBA games" (TORONTO STAR, 4/20)....In S.F.,
Bruce Jenkins called the Fox "Hit Zone" a "total bomb. Get
rid of it now" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/18)....In Richmond, Mike
Harris reviewed ESPN Magazine and wrote, "Somebody tone this
thing down, please. ... [M]ake the darn thing readable.
Good graphics and layout should enhance the words, not bury
the words" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/19).
