ITEM ONE:

NFL: TOPS FOR THE YEAR IN CABLE, TOPS IN 20 MARKETS

The year is almost over, and the NFL holds the top rank.  The Steelers-Ravens game on ESPN last Sunday night pulled the most viewers of any cable television program this year – an average of 7.8 million homes.  Locally, the game was No. 1 also.  In Pittsburgh, the top-ranked show of the week (12/10-16) was the Steelers’ 26-21 defeat of the Super Bowl champs, earning an amazing 57.5 rating and 75 share (combined ESPN and over-the-air numbers).  The game was the top-rated show of the week in Baltimore, too (34.9/50)……Throughout the nation last week, the NFL finished with the No. 1 show in 20 of its markets.  In addition to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the cities to draw 30 ratings/50 shares were Milwaukee (48.3/71), Tampa (34.5/64), Kansas City (32.4/58), Denver (32.1/63), Chicago (31.7/59) and Minneapolis (31.1/67).               

ITEM TWO:

MC COMBS & LERNER: AWARDED & SELECTED

One NFL owner was saluted for his contributions to football.  Another has been tapped for what he can contribute to the nation.  Both feel honored.  Last week in New York City, Minnesota Vikings owner RED MC COMBS received the Gold Medal Award from the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, the organization’s highest honor.  McCombs joins seven U.S. presidents among others in being saluted for exhibiting superior qualities of scholarship, citizenship and leadership and for his support of amateur football.  “Football has consumed my life since I was five years old,” said McCombs.  “I am humbled and honored by the award”……Cleveland Browns owner ALFRED LERNER recently was at The White House after being appointed by President GEORGE W. BUSH to the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.  Lerner, a U.S. Marine veteran, joins 14 others on the board, including former California Governor PETE WILSON.  The board, led by former national security advisor BRENT SCOWCROFT, gives independent advice to the president on the quality of the nation’s intelligence system. 

ITEM THREE:

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PARTICIPATION RISES

More boys than ever are playing high school football.  The latest participation figures from the National Federation of State High School Associations are in and, again, football is the only sport that totals one million players, and its numbers have grown.  In the 2000-2001 school year, 1,012,420 boys played 11-man football, a jump from the 1,002,734 of 1999-2000.  The one-million figure nearly doubles the second-ranked boys high school sport, basketball (539,749).  The top five boys participatory sports included track & field (491,822), baseball (450,513) and soccer (332,750).