Celtics-Lakers Game Four Earns 10.4 Overnight Nielsen Rating

ABC Earns 10.4 Overnight Rating For Last Night's Celtics-Lakers Game Four

DRIVING THE VAN: In L.A., Larry Stewart writes ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy has "become the star of an announcing team in need of one." Van Gundy is "not afraid to express an opinion or say whatever is on his mind," and his "sense of humor helps too." Van Gundy is the "closest thing ABC has" to TNT's Charles Barkley (L.A. TIMES, 6/13). In Miami, Barry Jackson writes ABC "has assembled its best game-announcing talent since reacquiring NBA rights in 2002. And that is largely because of Jeff Van Gundy, who mixes dead-on analysis with quirky observations, humor and cutting candor." Van Gundy also "knows when to be serious -- and his observations about strategy are consistently cogent and concise" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/13). However, in Boston, Steve Bulpett notes during the first quarter of Thursday's Game Four, as the Lakers got out to a big first-quarter lead, Van Gundy "told ABC viewers that this was going to be a 2-2 series, inviting viewers to seek their entertainment elsewhere." Bulpett: "Think his bosses will forgive the rookie mistake?" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/13).

READY FOR ACTION: USA TODAY's Chris Colston notes NBA Entertainment (NBAE) for the Finals games in L.A. set up a "war room in a 65-by-140 foot tent at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza to provide work space for more than 100 employees." NBAE "feeds packages to ABC and ESPN, including its all-access recap" (USA TODAY, 6/13).

Print This Article