TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "The National Sports Report" led with Heat-Knicks,
followed by Lakers-Suns. The first non-NBA report, at 11:02
into the broadcast, was IN Univ.'s investigation of men's
basketball coach Bob Knight. "TNSR" reported on Devils-
Flyers at 25:29. "TNSR" had 13:35 of NBA coverage and 1:42
of NHL coverage. Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition
of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" led with Lakers-Suns, followed
by Trail Blazers-Jazz. The first non-NBA report, at 6:06,
was an update on Knight, and highlights of the Devils-Flyers
at 14:56. "Sports Tonight" had 7:22 of NBA coverage and
1:20 of NHL coverage. Last night's 11:00pm ET (late due to
MLB) 60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with
Heat-Knicks, followed by 76ers C Matt Geiger and Pacers G
Reggie Miller being suspended for their altercation during
Saturday's Game Four. The first non-NBA report, at 9:16,
was Dodgers-Cardinals, while a report on Devils-Flyers came
at 14:48. "SportsCenter" had 10:23 of NBA coverage and 2:05
of NHL coverage. Note: Sunday's schedule included three NBA
playoff games and one NHL playoff game (THE DAILY).
BAKER ON MARTZKE: In Boston, Jim Baker wrote, "USA
Today tube tester Rudy Martzke spouts NBC Sports Chief Dick
Ebersol's party line so often that media comrades dubbed his
fantasy league team The Dick-Tations" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/14).
NOTES: In N.Y., Christopher Clarey reviewed Sanex WTA
Tour player Nathalie Tauziat's new book "Les Dessous du
Tennis Feminin" (The Underside of Women's Tennis) and wrote
that the book, which is a "blend of autobiography, trenchant
peer review and informed advocacy, is a conscious effort by
Tauziat to step into the light." Tauziat's thesis "is that
style has triumphed over substance and that the culture of
celebrity and, above all, the players' agents are at fault"
(N.Y. TIMES, 5/14)....In Chicago, Toni Ginnetti reports that
the White Sox are drawing their highest local TV ratings on
WGN "in years" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/15). But the SUN-
TIMES' Mike Kiley noted a "terrible Cubs club still outdraws
a good Sox team." Through May 10, WGN is averaging a 6.6
rating for its Cubs games, compared to a 2.5 for its White
Sox coverage. One ratings point is equivalent to 32,000
HHs. Kiley added that the difference between the two teams
is "less significant" on FSN, where the Cubs are averaging a
2.4, compared to the Sox' 1.7 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/14).
