YAHOO SPORTS' Jeff Passan writes the Phillies are "whetting their appetite over what could be" when their RSN deal with Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia expires after the '15 season. Philadelphia-based Comcast "does not want to lose the rights of the team that from 2009-11 ranked among the three highest local baseball broadcasts." But the "problem is, Fox Sports, which has scooped up local rights to about half of baseball, wants to further its grip on the sport." A source said of Fox, "They want Philadelphia. They got the Yankees, which helps. They're not going to have the Red Sox. They're not going to have the Mets. They want another East Coast team" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/28).
OH, LORD: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Celtics G Jason Terry's recent postgame reference to God "must have rubbed Al Trautwig, anchoring the Madison Square Garden Network postgame show, the wrong way." Terry, after the Celtics' win over the Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday said, "We give God the glory. I woke up this morning and he told me 'keep fighting, you guys ain't dead.'" Trautwig then sarcastically said on MSG Net, "Yeah, I'm glad God spoke to Jason Terry this morning. That's good to know." Raissman notes neither Trautwig nor his colleagues "chose to mock or even chastise" Knicks G J.R. Smith for the role his one-game suspension played in the game's outcome (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/30).
TEE TO GREEN: In Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato noted the USGA yesterday launched USOpen.com. The site "includes several new features and enhancements designed to bring fans closer to the on-course action." The U.S. Open "suite of digital products also features a new iPad app that will deliver live video, real-time scores, news and highlights throughout the championship." There also is "an interactive experience that includes live coverage of marquee groups and selected holes" (JSONLINE.com, 4/29).
K.C. MASTERPIECE: FS K.C. drew a 7.9 local rating for the first game of Sunday's Royals-Indians doubleheader, marking the highest-rated Royals telecast ever on the RSN. Through 20 games, Royals telecasts this season are averaging a 5.7 local rating, up 35% over '12 (FS K.C.).
