NOTES: Former 49ers coach George Seifert "is expected
to land a job at CBS, perhaps as early as tomorrow."
Seifert said that he "isn't sure" whether he is being
considered for a studio position or as a game analyst (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 4/14)....NBC Sports VP/Communications Ed Markey
said that the net "erred" by leaving Sunday's Knicks-Heat
game without showing a replay of its controversial ending.
Markey: "It was probably a mistake" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/14).
...THE DAILY RACING FORM's Steve Haskin, on Fox's April 4
broadcast of the Santa Anita Derby, its first foray into
racing coverage: "This was a flawless telecast that left us
yearning for more" (DAILY RACING FORM, 4/7)....Turner Sports
has re-signed Bob Neal to a new multiyear contract. Neal
will continue to call NBA games on TBS and TNT through the
2001-2002 season (Turner Sports). USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke
wrote Neal's new deal is worth "close to" $500,000 annually
(USA TODAY, 4/10)....N.Y. Times Magazines took out a full
page ad in Monday's N.Y. Times touting its three golf
titles, GolfWorld, Golf Digest and Golf Shop Operations.
The ad text noted that the three won 14 Golf Writers
Association of America Awards (THE DAILY)....Mets announcer
Ralph Kiner is taking an extended leave of absence due to
his wife's battle with cancer and his recent health
problems. Kiner said his return date is "wide open" and
that the Mets said he could take the entire season off, if
necessary (Bergen RECORD, 4/10).
RATINGS: See (#32) for a full listing of overnights
from this weekend's network sports events. In S.D., Fritz
Quindt wrote that the Padres' March 31 season opener on
Padres/Channel 4 got a 3.4 rating, while last Tuesday's home
opener earned a 6.9. Wednesday's first prime-time game did
a 9.3, which placed second locally during its time slot
(UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/10)....In Boston, Howard Manly writes that
WABU's coverage of Friday's Red Sox opener received a 6.9/17
rating, while Saturday's Sox game got a "whopping" 9.2/31,
and Sunday's an 8.1/31 (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/14).
NHL: In N.Y. Richard Sandomir notes that Saturday's Fox
NHL coverage pulled a "wee" 1.5 overnight, including a
"microscopic" 0.8 rating in the New York market. Through
nine dates this season, Fox's NHL coverage is averaging a
1.5. Fox Sports President David Hill: "We don't know what's
wrong, but we still believe in hockey" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/14).
The NHL wants Fox to move its telecasts to Sunday afternoons
next season, the final year of the net's five-year, $155M
deal. Fox's Dan Bell said that "nothing has been decided,"
but talks "are ongoing" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/11).
