TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "National Sports Report," the 11:00pm ET 30-minute
edition of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" and the 11:00pm ET 60-
minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" all led with Reds-
Braves, followed by Astros-Mets. The first non-MLB report
for "NSR," at 6:11 into the broadcast, was an injury update
on Lions QB Charlie Batch. "NSR" reported on the U.S. Open
at 22:50 and had 2:01 of total Open coverage. The first
non-MLB report for "Sports Tonight," at 5:12, was an injury
update on Packers QB Brett Favre. "Sports Tonight" reported
on the U.S. Open at 12:29 and had 2:26 of total Open
coverage. The first non-MLB report for "SportsCenter," at
9:55, also was Favre. "SportsCenter" reported on the U.S.
Open at 15:29 and had 3:05 of total Open coverage.
TIGER'S ALLEGIANCE TO ABC: GOLF WORLD's Geoff Russell
reports that CBS' "The Early Show" "tried to book" Tiger
Woods for an appearance following his historic win at the
PGA Championship, but Woods "declined, reportedly because a
clause" in his contract with ABC for the "Battle at Bighorn"
"prohibited him from making any promotional appearances on
any network other than ABC in the week prior to the prime-
time match" (GOLF WORLD, 9/1 issue).
U.S. OPEN RATINGS UP: USA Network's second-day coverage
of the U.S. Open on Tuesday earned a 1.3 cable rating, up
30% from last year's 1.0 and identical to Monday's rating.
The network added 71 minutes of "bonus coverage" Tuesday
night, as Galo Blanco upset Patrick Rafter in five sets.
The extended coverage earned a 1.2 cable rating, up 33% from
last year's rating of a 0.9 (AP, 8/31).
