African-American viewers, "by all accounts," are "among
the most loyal" to ABC's "MNF," making it their "most
watched weekly program from September to January," according
to Milton Kent of the Baltimore SUN, who writes, "You would
have to wonder, then, why ABC would even consider placing
Rush Limbaugh, a man many blacks consider an anathema, in
the 'MNF' booth" (Baltimore SUN, 5/26). In L.A, Tom
Hoffarth: "What does it say about ABC's plans for ['MNF']
when Rush Limbaugh gets a tryout but Dick Vermeil isn't even
given an invitation? The thing Vermeil apparently lacks:
Abrasive, incessant banter" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/26). In
Miami, Barry Jackson reports that after "initially showing
reluctance," ABC "now is considering" ESPN's Tom Jackson and
Sterling Sharpe for "MNF" (MIAMI HERALD, 5/26). In L.A.,
Larry Stewart calls Sharpe "articulate" and "knowledgeable."
Stewart: "And isn't it about time ABC put an African
American on this high-profile series?" (L.A. TIMES, 5/26).
PLAYING ALONG: The AP, when reporting that St. John's
Univ. basketball coach Mike Jarvis' was exploring other job
offers after he failed to reach a deal to become head coach
of the Wizards, "relied on an interview" with Jarvis' agent,
Robert Ades. But "it turns out" that the AP "spoke not with
Robert Ades, the Washington agent, but Robert Ades, a young
New Yorker who said he thought his friends were playing a
joke on him." The non-agent Ades: "I honestly thought it
was one of my friends trying to play a practical joke on me,
so I decided to go along with it." Steve Salky, attorney
for the agent Ades, said that there "would be no lawsuit if
the AP acknowledged the foul-up -- which the wire service
finally did in a story late yesterday." AP Sports Editor
Terry Taylor said yesterday, "It's clear to us that we spoke
to the wrong Rob Ades" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/26).
OUCH: In UT, Scott Pierce called WWF Chair Vince
McMahon "irresponsible, arrogant, obnoxious and provides
programming that's not only remarkably stupid but
reprehensibly irresponsible. How proud NBC and UPN must be
to be in business with him [w/the XFL]" (DES. NEWS, 5/24).
