TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of CNN/SI's
"Sports Tonight" led with Panthers WR Rae Carruth being
charged with murder after the death of his girlfriend
Cherica Adams, followed by Pistons-Suns. The first NHL
story was Flyers-Sabres, at 25:02 into the broadcast.
ESPN's 11:00pm ET edition of "SportsCenter" led with an
update on Pistons-Suns, followed by T'Wolves-Hawks. The
first non-NBA story, at 9:00, was the St. John's Univ.-
DePaul college basketball game. The first NHL story was
Kings-Devils, at 13:12. FSN's 11:00pm ET edition of
"Primetime" led with Knicks-Rockets, followed by Spurs-Mavs
at 2:23. The first non-NBA story, at 5:40, was an update on
Vikings WR Cris Carter's ankle sprain. The first NHL story
was Flyers-Sabres, at 16:41 (THE DAILY).
SPORTS ON THE WEB: The HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL's
Jennifer Darwin reports that a Web site promoting "Houston
Texans" as the name of Houston's new NFL expansion franchise
has been launched at www.texansfootball.com. Darwin: "The
only problem: Houston Texans is one of the handful of
potential names [team Owner Bob] McNair trademarked last
March. ... And now the NFL is investigating the Web site and
its organizers for possible trademark infringement." NFL
Senior Manager of Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy:
"That Web site operates at its peril." The league has faxed
the site a cease and desist order (HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL,
12/13 issue)....SportsLine.com began auctioning off two of
the bases used in the last World Series of the century, one
from Yankee Stadium and one from Turner Field. The two will
be auctioned at www.auction.sportsline.com (SportsLine.com).
DITKA TO ABC? Saints coach Mike Ditka, on a Chicago TV
report that he reached a deal to join ABC's "MNF" as a
commentator after this season: "I have never talked to ABC"
(AP, 12/14). ABC Sports President Howard Katz said there is
"not a shred of truth" to the report (USA TODAY, 12/15).
BOXING IT OUT: America Presents filed suit against Time
Warner and HBO, accusing the network of blocking a David
Reid-Felix Trinidad fight so it could pursue a Trinidad-
Oscar De La Hoya rematch (AP, 12/15). The company is
seeking an injunction to keep Time Warner from "asserting
its first negotiation/last refusal rights as well as asking
for compensatory damages" (L.V. REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/15).
NOTES: GE CEO Jack Welch said he has "no intention" of
selling NBC, despite speculation that the network is for
sale. Welch: "I've tried to say that in as many ways as I
can, even when Rupert [Murdoch] went off the reservation"
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/15)....USA Home Entertainment and NBAE
have released "Hearts of Champions: The Official 1999 WNBA
Championship Video" (NBAE)....ESPN's Kenny Mayne, on the
Fresno St.-Univ. of UT Las Vegas Bowl being televised on
Animal Planet instead of ESPN2 in some UT areas:
"Unfortunately, only 50,000 cable subscribers in Utah are
getting ESPN2, which means that others would have missed the
game, to say nothing of missing `Fitness Beach' on a daily
basis" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/14)....Jay Leno, on the GOP
Presidential debate in IA Monday night: "Anybody see the
Republican debate last night? Nobody watches it. And the
Republicans are smart. They put it up against `Monday Night
Football.' Good thinking" (Tonight Show," NBC, 12/14).
