TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "National Sports Report" led with Devil Rays-Blue
Jays, followed by Tigers-Yankees. The first non-MLB report,
at 10:28 into the broadcast, was Cowboys OL Erik Williams
asking to be traded. "NSR" reported on the British Open at
15:28 into the broadcast and had 8:44 of total British Open
coverage. Last night's 11:30pm ET 30-minute edition of
CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" (the 11:00pm ET edition was pre-
empted by a special report from CNN) led with trade rumors
surrounding Reds SS Barry Larkin, followed by Reds-Astros.
The first non-MLB report, at 8:35, was a preview of Redskins
training camp. "Sports Tonight" reported on the British Open
at 12:32 and had 4:04 of total British Open coverage. Last
night's 11:00pm ET 60-minute edition of ESPN's
"SportsCenter" led with Mets-Expos, followed by Braves-
Marlins. The first non-MLB report, at 10:06, was the
announcement that Ravens LB Ray Lewis will not be suspended
by the NFL. "SportsCenter" reported on the British Open at
10:30 and had 10:19 of total event coverage (THE DAILY).
WINDY PROMOTION? In Chicago, Jim Kirk: "It appears that
an on-air promotion from ESPN Radio's WMVP-AM 1000 claiming
it is the most-listened-to sports station in Chicago has
drawn the ire of WSCR-AM 1160." Arbitron reports that the
average weekly number of WMVP listeners is higher than
WSCR's, but WSCR execs claim that "most of that is driven by
White Sox broadcasts." WSCR Program Dir Ron Gleason: "They
beat us at night because of the White Sox. They do not beat
us in any major daypart" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/20).
AN EXPLANATION: Street & Smith's college football
preview edition was supposed to feature a cover photo of
Univ. of FL QB Jesse Palmer on its Southeast edition. But
due to a "mix-up with the negatives," it instead features
former FL QB Danny Wuerffel. Both wear No. 7. FSN's Chris
Myers: "I know Florida coach Steve Spurrier likes to shuffle
his quarterbacks, but ... this is a little ridiculous"
("NSR," FSN, 7/19). Street & Smith's Annuals Exec Editor
Mike Kallay: "We blew it. There are some long, convoluted
reasons for it, but clearly, bottom line, it should not have
happened. God knows, we regret it" (AP, 7/19). THE DAILY
is a publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
NOTES: After ABC's NHL playoff coverage was up 14%, the
network has decided to air five days of NHL regular-season
coverage for the 2000-01 season -- one more than last
season. ABC Dir of Sports Programming Dan Margulis said
after the increased playoff ratings, "We're looking forward
to seeing what another window will do" (BLOOMBERG, 7/19).
...In N.Y., Rush & Molloy report that Warner Books has "laid
out something like" $600,000 for author Roger Angell to
write a bio of Yankees P David Cone to be released next May.
But a "publishing insider" says that Warner execs are
"starting to worry that readers may cool on Cone," who is
struggling at 1-8 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/20)....In Ft. Worth,
Blane Bachelor reviews ESPN2's "MLS Extratime" and writes
more "personal interaction on the show, instead of so much
replayed game action, would make for a much more
entertaining and interesting show" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/20).