Media Notes
In Houston, David Barron reports ESPN reporter Tom Ferrey Tuesday during an interview with Astros SS Miguel Tejada for "E:60" "produced a copy of a birth certificate" that showed Tejada's birthdate as being two years earlier than listed in the Astros' media guide. Tejada then "removed his microphone and ended the interview." Tejada Thursday acknowledged that the date in the media guide and other sources was "incorrect." An ESPN spokesperson, asked if the net "gave the Astros a truthful account of its intentions" for the interview, said, "We're confident that we expressed to everyone involved that the story was about Tejada, and we're comfortable that all our questions were appropriate" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/18).
 |
Avery's Actions Drawing
Attention Of Non-Hockey Fans |
RATINGS RANGER: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes NHL Rangers LW Sean Avery "has people outside of hockey's hard-core fan base tuning in just to see what Avery might do next." Avery's cell phone number "showed up in the records" of a prostitution service, and his faceguarding tactic on Devils G Martin Brodeur "inspired hours of sports talk." The attention Avery has drawn "can't hurt from a ratings standpoint." Former Rangers GM Neil Smith: "In a perverse sort of way, Avery is good for TV ratings" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/18).
UNDER REVIEW: On Long Island, Neil Best reports MSG Network's Mike Breen spent the net's Wednesday Knicks-Pacers broadcast "discussing in blunt terms with [announcers] Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe what went wrong in the [Knicks coach] Isiah Thomas era." The discussion "included the observation that it likely was a mistake to have Thomas serve as the coach and president." Best: "That's obvious, but the fact it was uttered on an MSG telecast was interesting" (NEWSDAY, 4/18).
NOTES: CBC Sports Exec Dir Scott Moore said that the net "aims to air all" of the Canadiens' Saturday night games during the '08-09 season for audiences in Quebec and selected regions outside southern Ontario. Moore said that the team "approached the CBC" about airing more Saturday night games (CP, 4/17)....NBA.com during the regular-season had nearly 900 million visits, an increase of more than 60% from last season's record number. The site also set an all-time broadband record with more than 230 million video streams, an increase of more than 70% from last season (THE DAILY)....Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard is taking a one-year leave of absence from the newspaper beginning May 15 (BROWARDPALMBEACH.com, 4/17)....Former NFL Giants exec Tony Ceglio next Thursday is launching The Italian American Network (CABLEFAX DAILY, 4/18).
|
