TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of FSN's
"Primetime" (Fox Sports Net OH) led with an update on the
health of 49ers QB Steve Young, followed by the Cowboys
signing WR Alvin Harper and the broken hand sustained by
Lakers G Kobe Bryant. CNN/SI's 11:00pm ET edition of
"Sports Tonight" led with an update on the Red Sox-Yankees
in progress, followed by Bryant and Young. ESPN's
"SportsCenter," which aired at about 11:30pm ET due to
college football, led with Bryant, followed by the injury to
Pacers rookie F Jonathan Bender and then highlights of
Warriors-Blazers NBA exhibition action. Steve Young's
status followed the NBA coverage (THE DAILY).
MLS MONDAY? In Columbus, Craig Merz wrote that MLS CMO
Randy Bernstein "won't confirm" reports that ESPN is
considering a weekly Monday night MLS game for the middle
portion of the season. Bernstein: "I haven't heard Mondays
specifically, but we need to try and get some consistency
out of the schedule" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/14).
NAMES & FACES: Turner Sports named former Georgetown
Univ. men's basketball coach John Thompson as an NBA analyst
(Turner)....Montreal Gazette hockey writer Red Fisher,
Toronto Sun corporate sports editor George Gross and former
"Hockey Night in Canada" Exec Producer Ralph Mellanby
received achievement awards Wednesday from Sports Media
Canada (Montreal GAZETTE, 10/14)....Columnist Norman Chad,
on "MNF" announcer Boomer Esiason: "He offers little, other
than a memorable moniker. He sounds articulate but
articulates nothing. ... Esiason has no insight, no wisdom,
no humor, no perspective, no edge, no substance, no style,
and no special skills" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/15).
NOTES: ESPN will examine the future of NASCAR through
four themed specials as well as year-long exposure across
NASCAR programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Radio. The first
special, "NASCAR's Greatest Moments," will air November 21
at 4:30pm ET (ESPN)....The Racing Network Canada will make
its debut on Bell ExpressVu's PPV satellite service on
November 1. The network, at a monthly cost of C$24.99, will
offer two channels: one that "will show 12 hours of live
standardbred and thoroughbred racing" from North American
racetracks every day, and one that shows odds (GLOBE & MAIL,
10/15)....In S.F., Steve Kroner notes "Wilt Chamberlain's
death provided an example of how quickly sports networks can
cover a major story" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/15).
