TV MONITOR: Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of FSN's
"Primetime" led with Trail Blazers-Rockets, followed by
Pacers-Sonics. The first non-NBA story, at 6:15 into the
broadcast, was the Univ. of NM-Univ. of AZ men's college
basketball game. The first NHL story, at 34:42, was
Rangers-Sabres. The 11:00pm ET edition of CNN/SI's "Sports
Tonight" led with Spurs-Suns, followed by Trail Blazers-
Rockets. The first non-NBA story, at 5:55, was an update on
former Panthers WR Rae Carruth. The first NHL story was
Coyotes-Blues, at 22:18. ESPN's "SportsCenter," which began
at 11:18pm ET due to college basketball, led with Miss St.-
Stanford men's college basketball, followed by NM-AZ. The
first non-men's college basketball story, at 5:48, was
Spurs-Suns. The first NHL story was Coyotes-Blues, at 25:22.
SI SPECIAL ISSUE: In its year-end double issue, SI will
honor "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures" from each of the 50
states and Canada. In addition, the magazine will be
distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada with 51 distinct
covers, with one per state and one for Canada (SI).
STEWART BIOGRAPHY: Orlando Sentinel columnist Larry
Guest has agreed to author a biography of the late Payne
Stewart. The book will be published by Andrews-McMeel and
Woodfood Press in San Francisco (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/22).
NOTES: The Trail Blazers and Cable & Wireless announced
plans for the team to use Cable & Wireless' ISP service to
offer fans Internet service through RipCityOnline.com (Trail
Blazers). INTERACTIVE WEEK put the deal at five years and
reported that Cable & Wireless will provide the team with
technical and marketing support to run its Internet service
(INTERACTIVE WEEK, 12/17)....In AZ, Jim Gintonio profiles
new Fox Sports Net AZ VP & GM Cathy Weeden, who is "seen as
a rising star in the Fox family." Weeden becomes the second
woman to lead an FSN RSN. Weeden: "I don't see that as any
additional pressure. I work with a lot of men and women,
and I haven't had any issues about it. I'm comfortable in
that I know the business" (AZ REPUBLIC, 12/22).
