CRITICS CORNER: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes that the
Mets' radio and TV broadcasts "are beginning to lose their
long-time identity as a safe haven for the objective fan,"
as the broadcasts "now feature a daily insult or three. ...
Never before have we tuned to Met broadcasts to be
confronted -- assaulted, really -- with such unyielding
expressions of gratuitous pandering" (N.Y. POST, 5/7). In
St. Pete, Ernest Hooper, on last night's Royals-Devil Rays
tape-delayed broadcast produced by a group of local high
school students: "Sure, there were a few gaffes, but the
show was more seamless than sloppy" (ST. PETE TIMES, 5/7).
INTERNET NOTES: News Corp. will invest $7.5M in
TheStreet.com. Under the deal, TheStreet.com agrees to
advertise on News America properties and co-produce a
branded show on Fox News Channel (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
5/7)....SportsLine USA has signed an agreement with H & S
Media Inc., publisher of World of Wrestling Magazine, to
produce a Web site for pro wrestling. The site will be
located at www.WrestleLine.com (SportsLine USA)....Isiah
Thomas will join Bill Walton in contributing analysis to
MSNBC Sports.com during the NBA playoffs (MSNBC).
NOTES: NBC Sports extended its broadcast deal with the
Breeders' Cup Limited through 2001 (Breeders' Cup)....NHL
Productions' one-hour TV special, "Lord Stanley's Cup," will
debut on Fox Sports NY on Monday at 7:30pm ET (NHL).
