I have a couple of more things to post before I go on night duty on the blog later.
The SEC Championship on CBS drew monster ratings.
RATINGS RISE FOR “SEC ON CBS” WITH TIDE’S WIN OVER GATORS WITH HIGHEST RATING EVER FOR SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
CBS Sports’ coverage of the SEC Championship game between Florida and Alabama on Saturday, Dec. 5 earned an overnight metered market rating/share of 11.8/24, up +13% from last year’s 10.4/21 for the SEC Championship featuring Florida and Alabama.
The 11.8/24 is the best rating ever in the metered markets for the SEC Championship game since its debut in 1992 and is the highest-rated regular season college football game on CBS since 1989’s Notre Dame-Miami game (14.6 HH rating; 11/25/89).
Florida-Alabama also is the highest rated non-bowl game on ANY network in the metered markets since 2006 (13.7/28 for Ohio State-Michigan on 11/18/06).
Alabama-Florida’s game rating peaked at a 13.0/24 from 7:00-7:30 PM, ET.
NBA.com is featuring an interview between Allen Iverson and his former college coach, John Thompson of Georgetown University. It was done in advance of Iverson’s return to the Philadelphia 76ers which NBA TV picks up tonight.
On Monday, Dec. 7th, NBA TV will present the Denver Nuggets @ the Philadelphia 76ers, featuring the return of Allen Iverson to Philadelphia in what is projected to be Iverson’s first game with the 76ers since his signing. The game will begin at 7 p.m. (ET) with the Show tipping off the night at 6:30 p.m. (ET). NBA TV’s Rick Kamla, Brent Barry and Eric Snow, Iverson’s former teammate, will provide commentary and analysis throughout the network’s pre- and post-game studio coverage.
Please click on the link below to see Part One of TNT’s John Thompson’s exclusive interview on NBA.com with Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson
John Thompson’s exclusive interview with Allen Iverson
Thompson: “When was the last time you did something wrong? Did you rob somebody?”
Iverson: “It’s just a bad rap on me. It’s something that I have to accept and deal with because that’s the way it is. Nobody wants to hear about how many scholarships I give out, what I do as far as charities. Nobody wants to hear about that. That’s not news when it comes out. The
negative story is what people want to hear about when it comes to me.”
Thompson: “When I hear people talk about you now, especially during this period, I very seldom hear anybody ask you about your ability to play. They indicate your age or they indicate something else. Can you still play?”
Iverson: “I wouldn’t do that to myself. I wouldn’t do that to the franchise that invested in me. I wouldn’t embarrass myself like that. That’s the beauty of this whole thing that I can show that I can go at a high level (of play).”
Thompson: “I get the impression from listening to folks that you’re whining or you’re moaning or he’s complaining. Where is this stuff coming from? You’re not a cry-baby. I know that from the child-abuse I gave you (at Georgetown). “
Iverson: “I don’t know. I guess it comes with the coming off the bench thing. All I want to do is play. From my experience in basketball, no guy was given a job in training camp anyway. You’ve got to earn it. I don’t want anybody to give me (anything). I’ve earned everything that I’ve accomplished in my life. As far as playing time and being a starter, I think I’ve deserved it.”
Thompson: “You want someone to beat you (by) playing?”
Iverson: “Exactly, that’s all I ever asked. Just let the guy in front of me or the guy that I’m fighting with over position to beat me out. I don’t have a problem with that.”
Thompson: “What adjustments does a coach have to make to coach Allen Iverson?”
Iverson: “None at all. Give me an assignment. Tell me what you want me to do out on the basketball court to help us win and that’s what I can do.”
And ESPN has made four flex adjustments in its NBA schedule for December and January.
NBA Flex Schedule Adjustments
The following flexible schedule adjustments have been made to ESPN’s NBA lineup:
Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 10:30 p.m. – Washington at Sacramento (replacing San Antonio at Golden State)
Friday, Dec. 18, at 8 p.m. – Milwaukee at Cleveland (replacing Los Angeles Clippers at New York)
Friday, Jan. 15, at 8 p.m. – Phoenix at Atlanta (replacing Toronto at New York)
Sunday, March 21, at 8 p.m. – San Antonio at Atlanta (replacing Detroit at Cleveland)
That’s it for now.
