TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "The Keith Olbermann Evening News" led with a
report on a Manny Ramirez trading card featuring a piece of
corked bat, followed by Saints-Rams. The first report on
golf's Skins Game was at 13:37 into the broadcast. The
"Evening News" first reported on the NBA, at 25:37, with
Bulls-Raptors. Last night's 11:30pm ET 60-minute edition of
ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Saints-Rams, followed by
Eagles-Redskins. The first non-NFL report, at 12:30, was
Jazz-Pistons. "SportsCenter" reported on the Skins Game at
28:35. Last night's 11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of
CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" was pre-empted due to continuing
coverage of Election 2000 (THE DAILY).
PEEK-A-BOO: Fox weathercaster Jillian Barberie, on why
she was wearing an army fatigue-colored skirt: "I feel like
every Sunday I'm going into battle with you guys." Fox'
Terry Bradshaw: "You look like you want to go hunting,
hunting stuff." Barberie: "With you T.B., later on. What
are we going to hunt for?" Bradshaw: "Turkey." Barberie:
"Please, does Terry hunt in the woods? That's not all he
does there." Barberie, on Bradshaw being a good QB in the
rain: "No stranger to the wet balls that Terry Bradshaw. ...
It's probably going to be my last show. I can say whatever
I want before they fire me" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 11/26).
NOTES: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth released his 2000 Sports
Media Dubious Dozen Achievements. Among those cited: NBC
Sports Chair Dick Ebersol, for his handling of spin control
during the Sydney Games; CBS' golf coverage was cited for
playing "false chirps" of birds during its coverage; the
NBA's "crime" was airbrushing the visible tattoos and
earring off of 76ers G Allen Iverson when he appeared on the
cover of "NBA Hoop" magazine (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/24).
...ABC's Al Michaels, on how the "MNF" team will
"acknowledge the continuing" murder trial of former Panthers
WR Rae Carruth during tonight's Packers-Panthers broadcast:
"We'll have to look at it. How much, I don't know. I know
this is a huge story in Charlotte and the surrounding areas,
but I also can't lose sight of what I think the rest of the
audience will know" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/27)....In
Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote that the ratings for the
Raptors' first five regional games on CTV SportsNet are up
44% over comparable ratings last year. This season's games,
"seen across Ontario," are averaging 101,000 viewers, but
while the Maple Leafs "routinely pull in four times the
viewers" as the Raptors, these are "encouraging signs" for
the NBA team (TORONTO STAR, 11/23)....Also in Toronto,
William Houston wrote that the radio rights dispute between
Headline Sports and the Blue Jays "is at an impasse and
headed for court" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/24)....In
Phoenix, Pedro Gomez wrote, "There's little reason for
keeping" the NFL's blackout rule in effect, but the league
"continues to insist that its outdated and senseless
blackout policy remains a necessity," and "continues to put
a stranglehold on its franchises by refusing to allow them
to show home games not sold out at least three days before
kickoff." Gomez: "The best piece of advertising an NFL team
has -- actually showcasing its product -- is not allowed
because of foolishness" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/26).
NBA: The AP reports that Ahmad Rashad will "move from
reporter to studio host" for NBA games televised on NBC this
season, replacing Hannah Storm. The "change comes because
Storm is due to give birth about a month after" NBC's NBA
coverage begins on December 25 (AP, 11/27).
