Turner Sports yesterday "withdrew permission for Kenny
Smith to serve as an analyst" for "The Game on Showtime"
players exhibition on Saturday night, according to Mark
Asher of the WASHINGTON POST. Sixteen players have agreed
to participate in the charity game. Smith, who is a
commentator for TNT's NBA telecasts, said he received
initial approval from Michael Jackson, an assistant to
Turner Sports President Harvey Schiller, to work the game
and "had signed a contract with Showtime." But Smith said
that Jackson called him yesterday "and withdrew that
permission." Smith: "I can understand their position. You
spend nearly a billion dollars (over four years) on NBA
basketball and then you have one of your broadcasters sign
to do the game. It's like a slap in the face." Turner
Sports VP/PR Greg Hughes: "HBO is one of our companies and
HBO is a direct competitor of Showtime." NBA Commissioner
David Stern said there was "absolutely no pressure of any
kind" put on TNT regarding Smith (WASHINGTON POST, 12/16).
Nets C Jayson Williams and former Spurs/Pacers coach Bob
Hill will handle TV duties (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/16).
SHOWING BROTHERLY LOVE: FAME President and exhibition
game Dir of Operations Curtis Polk said that six
Philadelphia-area charities will share in the game's
proceeds, joining the int'l organizations of UNICEF and Save
the Children (Phil Jasner, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 12/16).
