A look back at the articles on this site from May 4 to May 10.
Monday
- Bulls/Celtics Game 7 draws a massive 17.3 rating in Boston — and an impressive 5.3 overnight nationally.
- Overnight ratings for the Kentucky Derby rise to the highest level since 1992.
- Game 1 between Sidney Crosby‘s Penguins and Alex Ovechkin‘s Capitals draws a 1.4 overnight on NBC, up 40% from last year.
- For the second time this season, a NASCAR race on FOX sinks below a 4.0 overnight rating.
Tuesday
- The first 100 days of Barack Obama‘s presidency, set to Roundball Rock.
- Notable figures: The four major sports commissioners sit down for a panel discussion; NBC’s Pierre McGuire could leave the net for the Minnesota Wild; Buck Martinez and Dennis Eckersley fill in for Jerry Remy on NESN.
- Random items: HBO sets a date for the debut of the new Joe Buck show; notes on nationally televised Pac-10 games; problems at Nielsen result in delayed television ratings.
- Game 7 of Bulls/Celtics draws a 4.4 U.S. rating and 7 million viewers, making it the highest rated, most viewed first round NBA Playoff game ever on cable.
- Helped by Bulls/Celtics, TNT has its most-viewed first round of the NBA Playoffs ever.
- More Bulls/Celtics news: the seven-game series draws big numbers in Chicago.
Wednesday
- The Stanley Cup Playoffs have been a ratings success in several local markets.
- Then-NBC NBA analyst Pat Riley grills then-76ers player Charles Barkley in a 1991 interview.
Thursday
- The 2009 Kentucky Derby draws big numbers on NBC; Mine That Bird’s win is the highest rated Derby since 1992 and the most viewed since 1989.
- Los Angeles Dodger Manny Ramirez is suspended 50 games after failing a drug test.
- More notable figures: NESN’s Jerry Remy takes a leave of absence due to health issues; Matt Millen officially joins ESPN as an NFL and college football analyst; Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison are in talks with NBC about joining Football Night in America.
- Boosted by the presence of Tiger Woods, ratings for the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship jump 131% from last year.
- Penguins/Capitals Game 2 is the most viewed second round Stanley Cup Playoff game in seven years.
- The NHL investigates a message board death threat against the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin.
Friday
- Game 3 between the Penguins and Capitals surpasses Game 2 as the most viewed NHL playoff game on cable since ’02.
- Through six games, the 2009 NBA Playoffs are averaging a 3.0 rating on ABC, down 12% from a 3.4 through the same point in ’08.
- In a very rare occurrence, a NASCAR telecast on FOX was beaten head-to-head in the ratings by an NBA game on cable (TNT).
- John Tesh raps to Roundball Rock.
Saturday
- ESPN quotes Steve Van Gundy on the Celtics/Magic series.
- The Stanley Cup Playoffs are averaging a 1.0 rating on NBC through May 3, up 11% from a 0.9 through the same point in ’08.
- Ratings predictions for the weekend in sports.
Sunday
- Even more notable figures: Hall of Fame NBA coach Chuck Daly dies at 78; CBS’ David Feherty talks about shooting Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; NBA TV analyst Steve Smith is set to make his debut on TNT.
