NO FINAL RATINGS: Due to the Labor Day holiday, final
network ratings from last weekend's sports events were
unavailable at press time (THE DAILY).
NHL PERSONALITIES: "Hockey Night In Canada" announced
that Fox/MSG NHL analyst John Davidson will work on about 20
games, plus playoffs. This comes after "HNIC" hired former
Avalanche coach Marc Crawford as an analyst (GLOBE & MAIL,
9/11)....The NHL Kings inked radio play-by-play voice Nick
Nickson to a new five-year deal. He will team with rookie
analyst Cammi Granato for his 18th season (Kings)....The
Predators hired Pete Weber and Terry Crisp as TV/radio
announcers for their inaugural season (Predators).
NOTES: The Store at ESPN.com launched yesterday,
offering ESPN-branded merchandise, as well as pro and
college league/team goods (ESPN.com)....In Houston, starting
September 27, KHOU-CBS will give viewers a say in what NFL
games are broadcast. The "You Name the Game" poll at
www.khou.com allows viewers to vote on what game they want
to see. The network, however, "has the final say." Program
Dir Joan Kelly Swanson: "I doubt that we will have all the
Oilers games that will be offered. It depends on which
teams are doing well competitively and which are doing well
in Houston" (David Barron, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/11)....The
MLB Giants announced a new six-year deal with flagship radio
station KNBR-AM, which is "believed to be one of the
lengthiest deals in baseball" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/11)....NFL
Senior VP/Broadcasting Dennis Lewin tells USA TODAY's Rudy
Martzke that because of a playoff conflict with New Year's
Day bowl games, next year's NFL schedule will begin a week
after Labor Day (USA TODAY, 9/11).
