THE TRAGIC HOUR? In Baltimore, Milton Kent writes that
as host of "The Magic Hour," MAGIC JOHNSON "has only shown
the ability to fawn over his guests, who have, in turn,
fawned over him. It's almost like watching ESPN's STUART
SCOTT or NBC's AHMAD RASHAD suck up to MICHAEL JORDAN for an
hour, only Johnson has a band and a sidekick" (Baltimore
SUN, 6/11). In N.Y., David Bianculli: "So far this opening
week, there has been no evidence whatsoever of either
spontaneity or originality" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/11).
NAMES: Lions Vice Chair WILLIAM CLAY FORD had heart
surgery Wednesday and the team said he was resting
comfortably (USA TODAY, 6/11)....DENNIS RODMAN "has offered
to pay for the funeral expenses of the black man in Texas
who apparently was dragged to his death this week behind a
pickup truck allegedly driven by three white men" (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 6/11)....JOHN ELWAY's college scholarship drive
from his car dealerships raised $329,680 this year. Elway
donated $20 from each of the 16,484 vehicles sold at his
dealerships in '97 (DENVER POST, 6/11)....CLINT EASTWOOD's
love of golf is profiled in USA TODAY. Eastwood, who is a
partner in golf apparel line Tehama: "Golf is a big part of
my life now" (USA TODAY, 6/11)....In Toronto, William
Houston reports that former CTV President JOHN CASSADAY "is
being pitched as a compromise choice" to head up Toronto's
2008 Olympic bid (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/11).
