Ratings are up for the Phillies so far this season.

Last year on opening weekend, the team had a 4.7 rating/10 share on UPN 57. This year it's 7.0/16 - an increase of 49 percent.

On Comcast SportsNet the numbers improved from a 3.2/6 last year to a 5.3/11 this year - an increase of 66 percent. Each rating point equals 28,010 households.

Expanded coverage

CBS will provide expanded coverage as Tiger Woods goes for his third Masters championship this weekend on CBS.

CBS will air the third round tomorrow from 3:30- 6:30 p.m. and all 18 holes of the final round on Sunday from 2:30-7 p.m.

Jim Nantz will host coverage for the 14th consecutive year. Other commentators will be Ken Venturi, Peter Oosterhuis, Verne Lundquist, David Feherty, Bill Macatee, Bobby Clampett, Peter Kostis, Dick Enberg and Lanny Wadkins.

This is the 47th consecutive year that CBS has broadcast the tournament from Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga.

Hot to Trot

CSN's Derrick Gunn snagged the first interview with Eagles free agent linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Tuesday. Trotter became an unrestricted free agent Friday when the Eagles removed the "franchise tag" from the two-time Pro Bowl player. Gunn has been the locker room reporter for "Eagles Post Game Live" the last three seasons.

WIP wannabes

If you think you could do as good as a job as Angelo Cataldi (who doesn't?), WIP-AM will give you the chance with "Monday Night Mouth-off," where winners will get to co-host on a Monday night at 10. To be eligible, send a non-returnable cassette to "Monday Night Mouth Off," c/o WIP, 441 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.

A good sport

Maybe a factor in Bryant Gumbel leaving "The CBS Early Show" was his success with his HBO series "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," which earned five Sports Emmy nominations, including a nod for "Outstanding Sports Personality." Possibly, Gumbel, who began his national career as a sportscaster with NBC in the '80s, wants to go back to the sports world full-time, and avoid interviewing "Survivors" anymore.

Crystal ball

Here are my predictions for the talent categories for the Sports Emmy Awards which will take place April 23:

Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Host: Bob Costas, Bryant Gumbel, Dick Schaap, Ernie Johnson, James Brown. If anyone besides the late Schaap wins, I would be shocked. If Johnson wins, a major assist should be credited to Charles Barkley. Gumbel's main role as host of "Real Sports" is for his reporters to pay homage to him after their stories.

Oustanding Sports Personality -- Play by Play: Al Michaels, Dick Enberg, Gary Thorne, Greg Gumbel, Joe Buck. Mike Patrick deserved the nomination over Michaels. Gary Thorne is the least known, but he is my choice. No nomination for Pat Summerall. Maybe Gumbel, who many love with Phil Simms, will win.

Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst: Howie Long, Kevin Kennedy, Max Kellerman, Terry Bradshaw, Tom Jackson. Bradshaw should not be rewarded for singing with Paul McCartney during the Super Bowl. I'm glad that Kellerman found work after owning the hotel in "Dirty Dancing." I'd give it to Long. Cris Collinsworth was the only member of the "Fox NFL Pregame Show" not to get a nomination.

Sports Personality - Sports Event Analyst: Doug Collins, John Madden, John McEnroe, Paul Maguire, Tim McCarver. Ok, so "The Chair" stunk, but McEnroe is as interesting as an announcer as he was as a player. What, no nomination for Dennis Miller?

Espy Awards

Samuel L. Jackson will host the 10th annual "Espy Awards" from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles (the new home of "The Academy Awards") July 10 on ESPN.

Wanted: Mohr viewers

"Mohr Sports" needs more viewers. The premiere of the Jay Mohr sports talk show on ESPN averaged a 0.4 rating - around 345,000 households nationwide. It airs Monday night/Tuesday morning at 12:30 a.m.

Dei on ice

Comcast SportsNet's Sixers reporter Dei Lynam moves from the hardwood to the ice as she'll be seen reporting for "Champions on Ice" featuring 2002 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sarah Hughes on TNT at noon tomorrow. The event took place in Atlanta Monday.

Laura Nachman covers television and radio sports for the Courier Times. Write her in care of the Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 215-949-6939 or email [email protected].

Friday, April 12, 2002