TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "The National Sports Report" led with more
allegations against IN Univ. basketball coach Bob Knight,
followed by Lenny Wilkens interviewing for the Wizards
coaching job. "TNSR" had 13:45 of NBA coverage. Last
night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of CNN/SI's "Sports
Tonight" led with Blazers-Jazz, followed by Knight. "Sports
Tonight" had 2:09 of NBA coverage. Last night's 11:00pm ET
60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Blazers-
Jazz, followed by Braves-Marlins. "SportsCenter" had 10:22
of NBA coverage (THE DAILY).
COMPETITION WANING? In Boston, Howard Manly writes the
Red Sox' $35M asking price for a five-year radio rights deal
starting next season "has forced" potential bidder Greater
Boston Radio Group "to drop out" its WTKK station. Unless
another station "unexpectedly emerges," there will be no
competition for present rights holder WEEI, meaning "chances
are slim" that the team will "get their asking price"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 5/12).
HOME TEAM ADVANTAGE? In DC, Eric Fisher reports that
the Capitals' ownership group Lincoln Holdings "is planning
to bid" for Home Team Sports (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/12). But
in Minneapolis, Judd Zulgad writes that Fox Sports Net "is
the front-runner" in the bidding for HTS, as well as for
Midwest Sports Channel. Fox Sports VP/Media Relations Lou
D'Ermilio: "There have been some discussions, but I don't
have a time frame as to how quickly the process will be and
exactly how far along they are" (Minn. STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12).
IN THE STUDIO: With Peter Vecsey "on assignment" in
Phoenix Saturday, former NBAer Eddie Johnson appears on "NBA
Showtime" on NBC (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/12). Celtic President
& coach Rick Pitino will serve as an in-studio guest analyst
on Sunday's "NBA Showtime" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/12).
NOTES: In Toronto, William Houston notes NBC Sports'
"wall to wall" 2002 Olympic hockey coverage on CNBC, which
is distributed in Canada, will put the coverage in direct
conflict with Canadian rights holders TSN and CBC. As a
result, "look for" TSN and CBC to "demand" that the IOC's TV
body "impose a Canadian blackout" on CNBC's hockey telecasts
(GLOBE & MAIL, 5/12)....In N.Y., Phil Mushnick questions
last Tuesday's move of the Devil Rays-Yankees game from MSG
net to Metro due to MSG's Knicks-Heat playoff game coverage.
Mushnick, noting the NBA game was also available on TNT: "By
moving the Yankee game to Metro, hundreds of thousands of
local cable subscribers lost the Yankee telecast on a night
when no one had to lose anything" (N.Y. POST, 5/12).
