ANALYSTS REVIEWS: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes that
NBC's NBA analyst Isiah Thomas "believes his rookie problems
are mostly in the past, and that being paired with [Doug]
Collins has accelerated his progress." Sandomir also writes
that it took until Saturday's Pacers-Knicks Game Three for
Collins and Thomas "to sound effective as a team" (N.Y.
TIMES, 5/12). Also in N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that NBC's
Matt Guokas, who teamed with Mike Breen for Sunday's Pacers-
Knicks Game Four, "excelled in a frenetic game in which his
analytical skills were put to the test" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
5/12). In Baltimore, Milton Kent writes that Turner's Kenny
Smith "has emerged in just a few weeks as the best NBA
studio analyst working" (Baltimore SUN, 5/12).
OTHER NOTES: With an October launch approaching, CTV
Sports Net is profiled by Robert Macleod of the Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL. CTV VP/Sports Doug Beeforth said that there's
"still plenty of programming holes to be filled" (GLOBE &
MAIL, 5/12)....Home Team Sports' decision to air both the
Orioles' game and the Capitals' playoff game last night
"created confusion among area viewers who could not locate
one of the two events on their cable system." Wednesday's
Capitals and Orioles games are also scheduled to be aired by
HTS, and the net will provide an updated list of the proper
channels for each game (WASHINGTON POST, 5/12)....Hornets F
Anthony Mason "took off his microphone and left" just before
the scheduled taping of ESPN's "Up Close" on Monday. Mason,
who had been asked by host Chris Myers about pending
statutory rape charges: "People keep asking about stuff I've
told them I can't talk about." Sources "familiar with ground
rules" for the interview said that ESPN had "agreed not to
bring up the issue" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/12)....Times
Mirror Magazines "has green-lighted" a new men's magazine
called Outdoor Explorer and has hired SI Senior Editor Steve
Madden to serve as Editor of the title. In N.Y., Keith
Kelly writes, "Insiders said the company ultimately plans to
bring the magazine out eight times a year with a circulation
of a half-million" (Keith Kelly, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/12).
