TV MONITOR: Last night's 10:00pm ET 60-minute edition
of FSN's "National Sports Report" led with an injury update
on Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper, followed by an injury update
on Jets LB Bryan Cox. The first non-NFL report, at 4:43
into the broadcast, was the Marlins signing C Charles
Johnson to a five-year, $35M contract. The first NBA
report, at 9:44, was Mavericks-Celtics. The first NHL
report, at 48:18, was Panthers-Rangers. Last night's
11:00pm ET 30-minute edition of CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight"
spent the first 19:55 of the broadcast discussing MLB with
agent Scott Boras, Braves President Stan Kasten and taking
calls from viewers. At 25:35, "Sports Tonight" gave an
update on Rams-Bucs. Last night's 12:00am ET 60-minute
edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Mavericks-Celtics,
followed by Univ. of MO-IN Univ. NCAA men's basketball. The
first non-basketball report, at 10:08, was Sharks-Capitals.
The first MLB report, at 12:12, was Marlins/Johnson. The
first NFL report, at 17:48, was Rams-Bucs (THE DAILY).
ABC HIGH RATING: ABC earned a 16.0/25 preliminary
overnight Nielsen rating for last night's Rams-Bucs "MNF"
game, up 13% from a 14.2/24 for Jets-Dolphins a year ago.
Last night's rating marks the highest preliminary overnight
rating for "MNF" this season (THE DAILY).
AHMAD CITES JEALOUSY: NBC's Ahmad Rashad, on being
criticized for his close relationship with Michael Jordan:
"It's a situation most people would love to be in. I never
felt exploited. I really never paid much attention to the
criticism. Most of the players and a majority of people
respect my work as a sideline reporter. I think a lot of it
(criticism) had to do with jealously" (AZ REPUBLIC, 12/19).
NOTES: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir calls Sunday's
"Outside The Lines" on ESPN, which took a behind-the-scenes
look at negotiations for free agent OF Manny Ramirez, "a
fascinating video document." ESPN VP/News Vince Doria:
"[Agent Jeff] Moorad was really into it. On one hand, I was
surprised he agreed to do it, but on the other, it's no
surprise to learn that agents have big egos" (N.Y. TIMES,
12/19)....In Chicago, John Jackson, on Playboy.com 's
"Hottest Sports Babe" poll: "I see nothing inappropriate in
the poll because many of the 10 contestants were hired to be
'eye candy' for the audience. Their journalistic skills, if
applicable, were strictly an afterthought" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 12/19)....CNN/SI's "Sports Tonight" introduced Kara
Henderson as a new member of the on-air team last night.
CNN/SI's Vince Cellini, introducing Henderson: "We're adding
some punch to the show with our own Kara Henderson. She's
our partner, our conduit between us and the highlights and
breaking news, as well as adding a few wisecracks to the
show. So she should fit right in." Henderson: "I want
everybody to know right off the bat that I don't do weather"
("Sports Tonight," 12/18)....While Lifetime dropped its WNBA
game programming, last year's Friday night games averaged a
0.45 cable rating, which was "well below" the network's 1.8
average primetime rating (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 12/18).
