NBC is thrilled with the performance of "The 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics," winning the primetime ratings each of its first 11 nights on the air, with an average 18.2 rating.

By LAURA NACHMAN
Courier Times
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NBC is thrilled with the performance of "The 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics," winning the primetime ratings each of its first 11 nights on the air, with an average 18.2 rating.

Each national rating point is equal to about one million households.

According to Nielsen Media research, 171 million unique viewers have watched some of the broadcasts (even curling). The ratings are more than 10 percent higher than the last Winter Games from Nagano, Japan, on CBS in 1998.

Dan Hicks and Mary Carillo will co-host the Winter Games Closing Ceremony at 8 p.m. Sunday. Bob Costas will anchor from the studio.

Keeping quiet

NBC is hoping the Olympics will keep the public from concentrating on the Jayson Williams' situation, which the network has been able to avoid addressing because of the Winter Games.

The NBA studio analyst (and former Sixer) was present when a man was accidentally shot to death at Williams' estate in northern New Jersey on Feb. 14. An NBC spokesperson said: "The next NBA on NBC studio show will be March 3 . Beyond that we have no comment on the situation."

Honoring Boomer

ESPN's Chris Berman will receive the Maxwell Football Club's prestigious Reds Bagnell Award for contributions to the sport at its annual banquet Tuesday night. Some of the previous winners include Pete Rozelle, Joe Paterno, Eddie Robinson and Don Shula.

This past NFL season marked Berman's 15th consecutive as ESPN Sunday NFL studio host, tying the record set by Brent Musburger of the long ago great "NFL Today" on CBS. Berman has been with ESPN since the network's first year on the air in 1979.

Are you kidding me?

Proving he'll do anything for love, Sixers radio announcer Tom McGinnis will co-host "Studio 57" with his wife, Robin Rieger, the next two Saturdays at 10 a.m. on UPN 57 while regular co-host Ralph Fox is on vacation.

Dodging dodgeball

On Monday, HBO's "Real Sports" with Bryant Gumbel will take a look at the national movement to ban the game of dodgeball in schools. What's next - jump rope?

Who cares?

ESPN's telecast of the Houston Texans' expansion draft was the biggest waste of airtime since "Jake and the Fatman."

Jersey showdown

Sunday's battle between the top two high school basketball teams in New Jersey, No. 1 St. Anthony of Jersey City and No. 2 Camden Catholic, at Sovereign Bank Arena can be seen on CN8 at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. High school sports guru Jeremy Treatman is the announcer.

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 215-949-4177 or email [email protected].

Friday, February 22, 2002