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On The Air
Philadelphia-based basketball promoter Jeremy Treatman can
breathe a sigh of relief now that high school “phenom” LeBron James
has been cleared to play for the remainder of the season, which means
he’ll be able to participate in Treatman’s “Dayton Scholastic
Play-by-Play Classic.” The final of Treatman’s four games this
season featuring James’ St. Vincent-St. Mary squad is scheduled to
play Sunday, February 16 at 4 p.m. on ESPN2. (ESPN2 would only televise
the game if James played). “I
would have been disappointed if LeBron couldn’t have played,” but
the game would have gone on without him,” said Treatman, who began
planning this event over a year ago and also organized James’ sold-out
appearance at the Palestra in December.
Next Sunday’s event is expected to be a sell-out.
Treatman also arranged high school events with NBA players Dajuan
Wagner, Eddie Griffin, and Kobe Bryant. This
weekend James can be seen in “The Primetime Shootout” from
Trenton’s Sovereign Bank Arena tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. on CN8. James’
possible destination next year, “The NBA All Star Game” takes place
for the first time on cable television, on TNT Sunday at 8:30 p.m. from
Atlanta, Georgia. Marv
Albert, Mike Fratello, and Jeff Van Gundy will call the game. (I’d
love to see those guys in a slam-dunk competition).
Craig Sager and Cheryl Miller (the tallest announcer of the
bunch) will report. Mariah
Carey will perform at halftime. Other
game-related shows include a “Salute to Michael Jordan” on TNT
tomorrow at 6 and “NBA All Star Saturday Night presented by America
Online” at 8 p.m. Since
AOL is involved, does that mean viewers will be losing their connection
to the game every five minutes? “Reversal
of Fortunes” Former
NBC announcer and NBA player Jayson Williams settled a civil suit with
the family of the limousine driver he allegedly shot to death last year
in an accident at his New Jersey home.
Terms were not disclosed. The criminal trial, which was scheduled
to begin February 18 has been delayed.
Meanwhile, the man who replaced Williams on NBC last year, Tom
Tolbert will join Brad Nessler and Bill Walton on ABC’s lead
announcing team. Ironically, Tolbert’s first game will feature two of
Williams’ former teams – Philadelphia and New Jersey, Sunday the 16th. “NHL
– Needs Help League” Fans
are so starved for football that NBC’s debut of “The Arena Football
League” got almost the same ratings as the “NHL All Star Game” on
ABC last week. The NHL had
a 2.4 overnight rating/5 share compared to a 2.2 overnight rating/5
share for the AFL.
“My
Big Fat Greek Olympics” NBC,
along with CNBC and MSNBC will telecast over 806 hours of the 2004
Olympics in Athens, double the coverage from Sydney, Australia. “This
Will be Higher Rated Than the NHL All Star Game Soon” The
College Sports Television Network debuts on a cable system near you
February 23. It will
feature more than 25 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports,
except for Division I football and men’s basketball.
“Dr. Vai”
WCAU sports director Vai Sikahema has a walk-on role on “ER”
next Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Sikahema and entertainment reporters from some of the other NBC
affiliates were flown out to the set in Hollywood to provide some
cross-promotion during February sweeps.
Why Vai? For some
unknown reason, WCAU doesn’t have an entertainment reporter.
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