It's where you're known, not from, that counts most: TV's dream teams

Sporting News, The, June 7, 2004 by Fritz Quindt

Sure, David Stern and the networks are prone to a case of the shakes whenever the Lakers trail in a playoff series--they root, root, root for teams that produce the biggest ratings. Stars, trophies, big-market pedigree ... by TV standards, the Lake Show is a certified dream team.

Nielsen logic suggests any entry from New York would merit that status also, because that's where 7 percent of America's sets are located. That isn't always the case. The programmers' list of favorites locks on to the usual subjects, teams that win with glamour. In that vein, TV sports' dream teams are exactly who you'd think they'd be. The other faves are a more interesting study.

Dream team

NBA                     MLB                     NHL

Shaq & Kobe             Viewers'                Mostly because
Live! headlined         love/hate affair        Detroit tunes in
this seasons            with Pinstripes         en masse.
highest-rated           makes them              National puck
games on ABC            perennially             ratings are so
ESPN and TBS,           fashionable. The        small, they get a
followed by the         Braves bring the        bump from
Spurs. The              TBS audience            home markets,
most-watched            wherever they           ESPN/ABC's
team from the           go; the Giants          audience
East is the             are the top West        peaked 1) when
Cleveland               Coast draw for          the Rangers
LeBrons. No one         ESPN's late             were champs,
rates half as           games. Cubs-Red         and 2) when
high as the Bulls       Sox would               Wayne Gretzky
in Michael              be the ultimate,        laced 'em up
Jordan's NBC            of course; FOX          for whomever.
heyday, though.         suits are still
                        moping about
                        missing out
                        on that in '03.

NFL                     CFB                     CBK

Old-schoolers           Domers are still        UConn's appeal
rule. That              considered the          is beginning to
means Packers,          gold standard,          transcend the
Raiders--and            Which explains          Northeast--but
definitely Bears        the annual $9           heed the words
and Dolphins,           million endowment       of a certain
who produced            from NBC                ESPN talent:
Monday Night            and why their           "The Dukies!
Football's highest      last 136 games          Nobody can
all-time                have been on            touch the Blue
rating in 1985.         network TV.             Devils, bay-bee!
But as a CBS            Disclaimer: On          They're the king
publicist in the        any given               of PTPers!"
1970s, Beano            Saturday, Irish
Cook spoke the          ratings can be
gospel: "When           doubled by traditional
in doubt, give          ABC and
them the                CBS heavies
Cowboys."               Ohio State Penn
                        State, Oklahoma
                        and especially
                        Miami.