League Notes

In N.Y., Peter Vecsey notes the NBA has contracted a person, including former referees and team execs, in each of the league's member cities "to grade each call by each official in every game." Vecsey: "Not a bad gig; the observers get something like $450 every time they leave their house, in addition to two tickets" (N.Y. POST, 11/11).

NO BULL: In Las Vegas, Jeff Wolf notes the total announced attendance for last week's four-day Pro Bull Riders World Finals at Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center was 65,100, an average of 16,275 per night. NBC's 4:00-6:00pm ET telecast on Sunday drew a 1.8 overnight rating, but PBR CEO Randy Bernard said, "I was told ... that the final national rating could go as high as 2.3 or 2.4. The overnight number shows a 10 to 15 percent increase over last year" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL, 11/11).

BOWLING 'EM OVER: In Philadelphia, Larry Eichel notes PBA execs expect "to come close to breaking even this season and be in the black" for '04-05. ESPN's ratings for PBA Sunday afternoon finals, "seen opposite the NFL this time of year, are small but rising." Fourteen corporate sponsors "have come on board, including some that have traditional connections to the sport (Dexter bowling shoes and Miller beer) and some that don't (Geico insurance and Bayer aspirin)" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/11).