There shouldn't be "any pity parties" for NBC and
Turner over Michael Jordan's retirement, as they are "big
conglomerates who can take care of themselves," according to
Milton Kent of the Baltimore SUN. Kent: "It will take
awhile for the NBA to bounce back from the dual hits it has
suffered [the lockout and Jordan's retirement], but as [NBC
Sports Chair Dick] Ebersol points out, for those who want to
reach the young male demographic, the NBA is the best place
to go in the first and second quarters of the year." Kent
writes that the only two people to be worried about are
NBC's Ahmad Rashad and ESPN's Stuart Scott as "they've been
so attached to Jordan's hip for so long that they may have
no place to go" (Baltimore SUN, 1/14). CNBC's Jerry Cobb:
"Advertisers say that despite these setbacks (the lockout
and Jordan's retirement) pro basketball will continue to be
one of the most effective venues to reach a young male
audience" ("Market Wrap," 1/13). Turner Sports President
Harvey Schiller, on adjusting to the retirement: "I think
all of us are trying to create the best atmosphere to keep
the ratings up as best we can" (CNN, 1/13).
WHAT A WEEK! In N.Y., Don Kaplan writes that NBC "will
be happy to see the end of this week," after Jordan's
retirement and the "ugly" Olympic scandal (N.Y. POST, 1/14).
MJ NOTES: In Chicago, Ed Sherman examines the media
frenzy around Jordan's retirement and notes that ESPN
Radio's coverage of his press conference "scored before and
after" with interviews of NBA Commissioner David Stern and
agent David Falk. He adds that Fox Sports Net trumpeted
having reaction from President Clinton, but considering
Clinton's impeachment trial, it "might not want to brag
about that too much" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/14). In Boston,
Howard Manly writes that "the greatest battle" yesterday was
between ESPN and Fox Sports News during the press conference
as the two networks "provided extensive coverage." Manly
notes that FSN "had more interviews" and also "had more
drama" by airing the complete unveiling of Jordan's jersey
hanging in the United Center (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/14).
