ABC earned a final 4.2/10 national rating for Game Six
of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday night. The rating
peaked with a 5.9 at 11:30pm ET. In Dallas, Game Six earned
a 28.7 rating, while the N.Y. market earned a 7.0. ABC
earned a 3.7/8 for its coverage of four Stanley Cup Finals
games, which is up 9% from Fox' 3.4/6 for its three games in
'99 (NHL). Game Six' 28.7/47 in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area
was the highest local rating ever for a Stars game. ABC's
four Stanley Cup Finals broadcasts averaged a 23.1 local
rating in Dallas-Ft. Worth and a 6.3 local rating in the
N.Y.-N.J. area (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/13).
MEDIA FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE CUP: In Dallas, Barry Horn
writes that "for the most part," ABC "did a stellar job with
a sport that is hard on most TV viewers' eyes" (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 6/13). In Ft. Worth, Randy Galloway writes,
"Ten years ago, they could have played the Stanley Cup
Finals in my back yard and I wouldn't have walked out there
to see it. ... [But] the Devils and Stars gave us, and gave
those watching nationally, some of the best entertainment,
competition and suspense the jock kingdom has ever had to
offer" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/13). In Toronto, Chris Young:
"Here's one difference between the NHL and the NBA. At the
Stanley Cup playoffs, games become grim, fascinating and
irresistible when they go into the third overtime. At the
NBA playoffs, games become grim, stupefying and unwatchable
when they reach the third hour" (TORONTO STAR, 6/13). FSN's
Jim Rome: "What a tremendous win [for the Devils]. Too bad
nobody knows and nobody cares. Well, I used to care until I
found out that nobody in the league office cared themselves,
so now I don't either. ... On more than one occasion, I've
even been accused of being a pimp for the NHL. But, since
nobody in the league office wants to come on this show or my
radio program, then they can get their exposure without my
help. ... The last thing the league needs is to alienate
those people who are behind the game and can make a
difference" ("Last Word," FSN, 6/12).
DEVIL OF A TIME: In N.Y., Andrew Jacobs reports that
the Devils will hold their victory parade in the Continental
Airlines Arena parking lot tomorrow night, "repeating the
rally" for their last Stanley Cup win in '95 (N.Y. TIMES,
6/13). In Newark, Rich Chere cites members of the Devils
organization as saying that there was an offer from Newark
to hold a parade, and while it "was considered," outgoing
team Owner John McMullen "was firmly opposed to having the
celebration" in Newark (STAR-LEDGER, 6/13). CBS' David
Letterman: "I want to take a second here to congratulate
your [Devils] on winning their Stanley Cup championship. I
feel bad for the Devils because, first of all, who knew they
had a hockey team over there? And when the Rangers won the
Stanley Cup, ... they get the parade up the Canyon of Heroes
and it's great. The Devils, they'll, like, circle the
parking lot at the Meadowlands" (CBS, 6/12).
TV TIME: Devils C Scott Gomez appeared on CBS' "The
Early Show" on Monday. Bryant Gumbel: "What's it mean to be
the first Latino [to win] the Stanley Cup?" Gomez: "It's a
great honor. Hopefully, in the years to come there will be
more Gomezes ... on the Cup" (CBS, 6/12). Meanwhile, Devils
G Martin Brodeur appeared on yesterday's "Live with Regis &
Kathie Lee" with the Stanley Cup (ABC, 6/12).
