Fox's "magic number" in the '96 World Series was 17.4,
which the Yankees-Braves averaged for their six-game series.
In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers writes that for Fox to approach
that in '98, "the Padres would probably have to split the
first two games in Yankee Stadium" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
10/16). Fox Sports Senior VP/Media Relations Vince Wladika,
on whether having No. 26 market San Diego in the Series will
hurt ratings: "We think we're going to do a lot better than
people think" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/16). Fox's NLCS,
"saddled" with a long rain delay and NFL competition, earned
a 7.6 final rating, down 15% from '97 (USA TODAY, 10/16).
A FOX IN THE HOLE: For its World Series coverage, Fox
will use 60 microphones, 19 cameras, 15 tape machines and a
catcher-cam, among other enhancements (Tom Hoffarth, L.A.
DAILY NEWS, 10/16). Fox's newest innovation is "Super
Shot," which is a "really slow-motion camera," which Fox
plans to have "trained on the ball to capture all the plays,
up close and personal" (Howard Manly, BOSTON GLOBE, 10/16).
Padres C Jim Leyritz "is expected to wear" Fox's catcher-cam
during the Series, but Yankees catchers "probably won't" due
to a team decision (Steve Zipay, NEWSDAY, 10/16).
WORTH A BUCK: In St. Petersburg, Ernest Hooper calls
Fox's play-by-play announcer Joe Buck "one of the best in
the business and a rising star. ... Buck comes across as
smart, savvy, funny and self-assured" (ST. PETERSBURG
TIMES, 10/16). In Toronto, Rob Longley writes that Buck
"quickly has become one of baseball's brightest play-by-play
voices" (TORONTO SUN, 10/16). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir
writes that what Fox "offers during the World Series is a
verbal and production cohesion that NBC strived for in its
playoff broadcasts," but Fox's crew "does baseball every
week of the season" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/16).
SUITE DEAL: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick criticizes local
media writers for accepting Yankees Owner George
Steinbrenner's invitation to be "wined-and-dined" in a
Yankee Stadium luxury suite during the playoffs. Mushnick:
"Not even the executive editor of the ... New York Times
could bring himself to refuse Steinbrenner's offer. Top
executives at all the local papers, including The Post, have
accepted, too. ... Do free tickets and red-carpet treatments
at Yankee playoff and World Series games enter the editorial
process? I don't know, but as long as the people who
establish editorial policy accept such gifts, the question
is well worth asking. And these guardians of good should
know better than to place themselves in a position where the
question needs to be asked" (N.Y. POST, 10/16).
