TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition
of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" led with Marlins-Braves,
followed by Expos-Mets. The first non-MLB report, at 6:59
into the broadcast, was Rams QB Kurt Warner agreeing to a
seven-year, $47M contract. "Sports Tonight" had 7:04 of
total NFL training camp coverage. Last night's 11:00pm ET
60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" also led with
Marlins-Braves, followed by Expos-Mets. The first non-MLB
report, at 11:12, was also Warner's deal with the Rams.
"SportsCenter" had 16:50 of total NFL training camp
coverage. Last night's 12:00am ET 60-minute edition of
FSN's "National Sports Report" led with Yankees-Twins,
followed by a report that Darryl Strawberry has left a FL
drug rehab clinic early. The first non-MLB report, at
20:52, was Warner's contract. "NSR" had 7:31 of total NFL
training camp coverage (THE DAILY).
NOTES: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports that CBS
Sports President Sean McManus met yesterday with MLB COO
Paul Beeston to discuss the league's TV package (N.Y. TIMES,
7/28)....In N.Y., Bob Raissman, on MSG's lawsuit against the
Yankees over TV rights: "The longer this thing drags on, the
tougher it will be for [Yankees Owner George] Steinbrenner
to get his network up and rolling. In the end, only one
thing matters. Steinbrenner owns the Yankees. He has every
right to do what he wants with his team, including where it
appears on TV. No number of lawsuits, lawyers fees or legal
mumbo-jumbo can ever change that fact" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
7/28)....Johnny Bench said Thursday that he "did not quit"
the morning daily radio show, "Brennaman and Bench on
Baseball," because co-host Marty Brennaman mentioned Pete
Rose in his HOF induction speech last weekend. Bench said,
"It's just my own decision to make with the station and the
way some of the things were handled" (CIN. ENQUIRER, 7/28).
