The Zapper

Last Saturday's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals (page 44) earned a 5.6 preliminary Nielsen rating, an 8% increase over last year's Game 6 clincher. In Denver, land of the victorious Avalanche, the rating was a mountainous 37.6, while in New York, home of the defeated Devils, the Nielsen was a mere 8.1—46th out of the 50 major markets surveyed....

Hearing ESPN's Harold Reynolds fawn over President Bush during his interview at the College World Series last Friday was embarrassing, but Dubya's ceremonial, heart-of-the-plate, first-pitch strike (from the mound, no less) demonstrated more command than any toss by a previous Commander in Chief....

A "who'd a thunk it" World Series preview? The Cubs and Twins meet at Wrigley Field this weekend (WGN, Saturday, 4 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m.).