Overnight Nielsen ratings of the NFL Divisional
Playoffs will be available tomorrow.
FROM THE BOOTH: In Indianapolis, Marc Allan reviews
CBS' coverage of Sunday's Titans-Colts game: "What the
broadcast lacked in deep analysis, it more than made up for
with superb camera work and quick recognition of pivotal
moments." Allan adds that analyst Phil Simms "is noticeably
different from his analyst counterparts in that he never has
a discouraging word to say" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/17). In
Orlando, Jerry Greene calls CBS' Greg Gumbel "smooth and
competent, while Simms is enthusiastic and sharp." Greene
also writes that Fox's Pat Summerall "was rambling" by the
end of Sunday's Vikings-Rams game. Greene: "Someone needs
to tell Summerall it's high tide" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/17).
In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes on Summerall: "It's
becoming apparent that he either is having vision problems
or there are simply too many miles on the odometer. ... It's
sad to think that age is catching up with a broadcasting
great, but it's even sadder to think that many people may
remember Summerall as a guy who couldn't get it right"
(TORONTO STAR, 1/17). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke also offers
his reviews of the weekend NFL coverage (USA TODAY, 1/17).
Gumbel and Simms appeared on "The Early Show" with Bryant
Gumbel this morning. Bryant Gumbel, on CBS' telecast of
next Sunday's Titans-Jaguars AFC Championship Game: "If you
choose to turn down the sound, we'll understand. ... I'm
just teasing" ("The Early Show," CBS, 1/17).
IS MARV THE MVP? In Orlando, Jerry Greene adds that the
"best pregame show often" is FSN's "NFL This Morning." Host
Chris Myers is "agreeably bland," Jackie Slater and Chris
Spielman are "energetic and honest," while Marv Levy
"clearly is the star and clearly is the best addition to
national sportscasting this year" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/17).
HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN: In Dallas, Barry Horn
reported that the Cowboys pulled a 33.8 local rating on Fox
and a 30.7 on CBS in '99, down 23% from '95, their last
Super Bowl season, when they averaged a 43.9 rating on Fox
and a 39.8 on NBC (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/15).