In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote TNT's first "Players Only" broadcast last Monday was "compelling." Announcers Kevin McHale, Richard Hamilton and Greg Anthony "dished in free-form mode," and there was "not one time when we felt they needed to revert to a traditional style NBA telecast." This new format "could have easily been passed off as another of the many attempts by Turner Sports brainiacs to do something different for the sake of being different." Instead, it "stretched the boundary of conversation, which is often limited by the play-by-play voice dictating the direction of the discussion" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/5).
WHEN THE WHEELS COME DOWN: NBCSN will carry the inaugural Colorado Classic bike race for four nights in August thanks to a deal between NBC Sports Group and RPM Events Group. As part of the deal, NBC will live stream the four-day race on the NBC Sports Gold direct-to-consumer platform. Paul Sherwen, Christian Vande Velde and Bob Roll will call the race on both platforms (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
DODGER BLUES: In L.A., Houston Mitchell wrote the fact that "more than half of Dodgers fans can't watch the team on TV is disgraceful." L.A.-based KTLA-TV is working to televise 10 Dodger games in April and May, and Mitchell noted it will be "nice" to get those games, the "overall situation is still sad." It is "unfair to lay all of the blame for the TV situation at the feet of the Dodgers," but the team does not realize fans "look to the team to explain what is going on." Mitchell: "It feels like there is a giant communications blackout, and if the Dodgers truly believe they shouldn't be blamed, they should state their case to the fans" (L.A. TIMES, 3/3).
WHICH DO YOU PREFER? GOLF.com's weekly roundtable addressed preferences for CBS or NBC's golf coverage. SI.com's Jeff Ritter notes CBS "puts on a beautiful show, but I learn more from NBC." Golf magazine's Josh Sens: "CBS is pretty but often pulls too many punches for my taste." Along with Fox' Paul Azinger, NBC's Johnny Miller is the analyst Sens most likes "listening to." Golf magazine's Joe Passov notes viewers "may knock" CBS' Jim Nantz' "sentimentalism, but I'm a huge fan of the gravitas and golf knowledge he brings to each telecast" (GOLF.com, 3/6).
