TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "The National Sports Report" led with Dodgers-Mets,
followed by Twins-Yankees. The first non-MLB report, at
9:13 into the broadcast, was Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens
announcing his resignation. Total NBA coverage on "The
National Sports Report" was 10:32, and total NHL coverage
was 4:39. Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of
CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" led with 76ers-Hornets, followed
by Wilkens' resignation. The first non-NBA report, at 7:18,
was Maple Leafs-Senators. Total NBA coverage on "Sports
Tonight" was 7:59, and total NHL coverage was 2:32. Last
night's 11:00pm ET 60-minute edition of ESPN's
"SportsCenter" led with 76ers-Hornets, followed by Sonics-
Jazz. The first non-NBA report, at 10:20, was Maple Leafs-
Senators. Total NBA coverage on "SportsCenter" was 12:28,
and total NHL coverage for NHL was 9:57 (THE DAILY).
NHL PLAYOFF RATINGS: The preliminary national Nielsen
rating for Sunday's Blues-Sharks earned a 1.4/4, which is up
56% from Fox's 0.9/3 for its regional coverage last year
(NHL). In Boston, Howard Manly wrote that "very few people
are watching" the NHL, but "it's not for lack of trying" by
the league's network partners. Manly: "ABC, ESPN and ESPN2
... have cross-promoted the sport like crazy and still can't
grow the audience." Manly noted that ESPN's coverage of six
first-round Stanley Cup playoff games averaged a 0.65
rating, up 2% from last year's 0.64, but ESPN2's seven
playoff games averaged a 0.47 rating, down 16% from last
year's 0.56. ESPN Senior VP/Research, Sales & Development
Artie Bulgrin: "We have fairly good proof that we are
connecting with the young male viewer" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/21).
GOING IN CIRCLES? While former ABC exec Roone Arledge
signed a $500,000 deal with Harper Collins for his memoirs,
the N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Deborah Mitchell reported the deal was
reached after the N.Y. Times' Richard Sandomir "wrote the
book proposal," but later "bowed out of the project, citing
scheduling problems." But one publishing source said that
Arledge has now "returned to Sandomir, who had been promised
$125,000. ... Sandomir didn't think that was enough. So
Arledge has upped the ante." Mitchell: "Watch for another
play in the next quarter" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/23).
FREEMAN ON ESPN: In Houston, David Barron, on Mike
Freeman's new book "ESPN: The Uncensored History": "This is
a book that informs but also incites and invites conflict.
It polarizes those who are mentioned by name, and it will
leave you with conflicting emotions if you choose to read
it." Freeman: "I don't watch the network the same way. I
still watch the people who are great reporters, but
especially since the book has come out and I have seen just
how aggressive they have been in attacking me, it kind of
sours you on the network a little bit. But not to the point
where I'm going to watch CNN/SI" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/24).
