Media Notes
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NFL Draft On April 25 Will Start At 4:00pm
ET, One Hour Later Than Last Year |
In Boston, Chris Gasper noted the NFL Draft is "creeping ever closer to prime time," as the NFL confirmed that the first two rounds of the '09 draft will start at 4:00pm ET on April 25. The start time is an hour later than last year when the draft was moved from 12:00 to 3:00pm ET. NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said last year's move "made for a better television experience for fans and didn't negatively impact the teams in terms of making their picks" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/15).
BACK IN THE GAME: In N.Y., Bob Raissman reported the MLB Network crew for the April 16 broadcast of Indians-Yankees, the first regular-season game at the new Yankee Stadium, will include Bob Costas, Harold Reynolds and former Yankees analyst Jim Kaat. Kaat had "'retired' from broadcasting following the 2006 campaign," but sources said that he is "likely to work more games for MLB Network and pop up in the studio on select occasions." Raissman wrote acquiring Kaat, "even on a part-time basis, is a coup" for the net, as "already recognized as one of the top analysts in the game, a rejuvenated Kaat, during the [World Baseball Classic], had plenty to say." Meanwhile, Kaat "won't be returning to YES' Yankees booth." Sources said that Kaat was "offering his services on a limited basis at a reasonable price" to the net, but he "was told YES had no room for him because of budgetary constraints and scheduling" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/15).
TAILING TIGER: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes under the header, "TV Fascination With Tiger Goes Overboard." Commentators during NBC's coverage of the WGC-CA Championship this weekend "had their superlatives at the ready," and "every shot that Tiger took once the cameras started rolling" was shown on air. Zelkovich: "This would have been fine had golf's meal ticket been in contention. But he wasn't even close." The net "decided that it was going to ride the Woods gravy train all the way and didn't miss one Tiger shot" (TORONTO STAR, 3/16).
OFFSEASON MOVES: The S.F. EXAMINER's Artie Gigantino reported Fox "will be making adjustments in its NFL coverage this fall," and former NFL coach Jon Gruden and former NFLer John Lynch "could end up in the broadcast booth as new additions." Gigantino: "Gruden would be great!" (S.F. EXAMINER, 3/15).
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