NFL pressure may force ESPN to sack 'Playmakers'
Now that CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves has won his network's
Edward R. Murrow Courage in Broadcasting Award, it comes as no surprise
to learn that pro football has been taking notes. Rather than expose
his parent company, which includes a number of government-sponsored
businesses, to political pressure, Moonves pulled a miniseries about
Ronald Reagan off his network. Sounds good to the NFL.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie says it's "certainly a possibility''
that the league could cut its ties to ESPN if its hit show, "Playmakers,''
continues on the air. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who is in charge of
TV negotiations, doesn't care for the show, either.
NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has appeared on CNN to call it "a
gross mischaracterization of our sport.'' Players Association executive
director Gene Upshaw has complained about it.
"Playmakers,'' which wrapped up its inaugural season Tuesday,
uses pro football as a setting for subjects such as drugs, spousal abuse,
casual sexy fun , locker-room fights, homosexual players and more. Its ratings
have been excellent, particularly in the coveted 18-34 demographic,
in which it leads its time slot, beating out such competition as "24''
and "Larry King Live.''
Would ESPN, which has developed quite a bit of new programming recently,
actually pull a show that is doing so well? Don't bet against it.
"We're hoping our powers that be don't cave in to this pressure,''
Jason Matthew Smith, who has a major role in the show, told Florida
Today. "But it's a big business. They're going to do what they're
going to have to do.''
If ESPN does decide it can't stand the heat, it could fill the time
slot with an objective recounting of what passes for news in the NFL
these days. Like those 10 Raiders called to testify before a federal
grand jury investigating the use of designer steroids. And the lawsuit
filed by the family of one of Al Davis' former partners with the Raiders,
accusing Davis of financial misconduct and challenging his control of
the team.
And Redskins owner Daniel Snyder sending his personal jet to pick up
former Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell, who has been suspended
twice -- most recently for a year and a half -- for violating the league's
substance-abuse policy. And former Jets offensive tackle Greg Lotysz's
suit against the team's doctors after knee surgery ended his career
and left him walking with a cane.
And the Patriots cutting offensive tackle Kenyatta Jones after he was
charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault to
maim and mayhem. And the Jets restoring defensive tackle Josh Evans
to their roster after a third violation of the league's substance-abuse
policy. And Broncos running back Mike Anderson, an ex-Marine with a
clean-cut image, being suspended for four games for what he says was
secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke.
Never mind "Playmakers.'' That would be must-see TV.
The Bulls aren't the only team with players unhappy about their playing
time. Would you believe the Lakers? "I don't even want to discuss
it,'' Gary Payton, who sat out 21 minutes of the Lakers' 105-95 loss
Monday to the Grizzlies, told the Los Angeles Times. "Just let
me play, that's all.'' ... Kobe Bryant, who was 4-for-14 from the field
in a loss Friday to the Hornets, was 5-for-15 against the Grizzlies.
... Then there is the normally mild-mannered Don Chaney, who is feeling
the pressure with the 2-5 Knicks. "I don't mind you killing us,''
Chaney told reporters who wondered about the benching of Dikembe Mutombo
against smaller players. "That's your job. You do it all the time,
so I'm used to it. I don't want you to beat a dead horse when you ask
me stuff because you're insulting me.'' ... LeBron James was 3-for-3
from three-point range in a 94-80 victory Monday against the Knicks
and scored 17 points while taking only one shot from the paint. "Every
day in practice, I go into the gym and hear voices saying I can't shoot,''
James said. ... Roger Clemens says he is retired, but the Rangers might
try a creative way to bring him aboard. The Dallas Morning News says
they might offer him a deal similar to the one Nolan Ryan had in his
final seasons that allowed him to pitch at home as much as possible
and have a lot of time off. Clemens has yet to file official retirement
papers and has filed for free agency instead.
Washington State lineman Billy Knotts is a graduate student in computer
technology. Asked if he could hack into the school's system and change
a grade, he told the Spokane Spokesman-Review, "That's a work in
progress.''
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