NBC'S WORST FEARS? YANKEES ONE WIN AWAY FROM SERIES SWEEP

          Last night's Game Three of the World Series earned a
     17.6/28 preliminary overnight Nielsen rating on NBC, up 6%
     from '98's Game Three on Fox.  The game earned a 34.3/48 in
     N.Y. and a 42.7/57 in Atlanta (THE DAILY).  The first two
     games of the series averaged a 14.6/25, up 17% from last
     year's 12.5/21.  DAILY VARIETY's Tom Bierbaum: "It's the
     strongest World Series start in three years, but also the
     third-weakest ever" (DAILY VARIETY, 10/27).  But with the
     strong MLB numbers, NBC averaged its "best adults 18-49
     audience (6.5 rating/18 share)" for the week ending October
     24 since the conclusion of the '98 NBA Finals that featured
     Michael Jordan's last game (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/27).
          DON'T INVITE CHUCK AND JOE TO SAME PARTY? Yankees 2B
     Chuck Knoblauch, on NBC focusing on his defensive lapses:
     "They can do whatever they want.  [NBC's] Joe Morgan is the
     worst anyway.  I hope you print that.  I think he forgot he
     played the game once" (USA TODAY, 10/27).