TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "National Sports Report" led with the return of
Braves P John Rocker after his suspension by MLB, followed
by Red Sox-Tigers and Yankees-Rangers. The first non-MLB
report, at 5:08 into the broadcast, was Pistons-Knicks. The
first NHL report, at 9:16, was Flyers-Sabres. Total NHL
playoff coverage on the "National Sports Report" was 6:20.
Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of CNN/SI's
"Sports Tonight" also led with the return of Rocker,
followed by Giants-Reds and Brewers-Mets. The first non-MLB
report, at 5:28, was Flyers-Sabres. Total NHL playoff
coverage on "Sports Tonight" was 2:36. Last night's 11:00pm
ET 60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with
Sonics-Kings, followed by Flyers-Sabres. "SportsCenter"
covered the return of Rocker at 29:30 into the broadcast.
ESPN's Rich Eisen said, "We've been trying to tell you about
John Rocker the whole night. The reason why we didn't is
because the game went into the 12th [inning]." Total NHL
playoff coverage on "SportsCenter" was 6:37 (THE DAILY).
NO ROCKER-ING THE BOAT: Rocker "did only one brief
interview" with TBS prior to last night's game. Rocker, on
his suspension: "It's not a big deal. I think when the team
starts winning and we get the ball rolling, all that will be
forgotten" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/19). In Philadelphia, Paul
Hagen writes from last night's Phillies-Braves game that
despite the presence of MLB Dir of Security Kevin Hallinan
and "a slightly enlarged press corps, [Rocker's return]
turned out to be largely much ado about nothing. There were
no apparent protests outside the stadium. The crowd of
34,903 was relatively quiet" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 4/19).
NOTES: Jason Shaw, who organized a pro-Bobby Knight
rally, on the media treatment of the IN Univ.'s men's
basketball coach: "There are some people, like with CNN and
the Indianapolis Star, ... that have almost been on a
personal vendetta, like National Enquirer type reporting"
("Last Word," 4/18)....In Atlanta, Prentis Rogers reports
that Fox's Pam Oliver will be the lead weeknight anchor when
FSN begins its Atlanta-based regional newscasts on July 5.
The assignment "is not expected to interfere with her NFL
duties for Fox Sports" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/19)....Rush
Limbaugh tells USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke that he "just wants
a '30-minute face-to-face' meeting" with "MNF" Producer Don
Ohlmeyer, who has yet to contact him about joining the "MNF"
booth. Limbaugh: "Until I speak with him, I can't allay his
fears, but I think I can" (USA TODAY, 4/19).
