The first day of the NFL draft last year was definitely an example of having too much of an overhyped thing. It took more than six hours to complete. General managers were in a stupor by the time it was all over. One of them nearly drafted his mother-in-law.

This year, the NFL hopes to streamline the proceedings by allowing only 10 minutes between picks instead of 15. The first day, covering the first three rounds, starts at noon Saturday on ESPN and NFL Network. The second day gets under way at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Of course, truth be told, most teams probably don't even need 10 minutes to figure out who their pick will be. They've had months and months to figure out who they'd like to take each round and if their top choice isn't available, they have alternates. The period built in between each selection has evolved into a time for the TV pundits to yammer about who just got picked and who'll be picked next.

ESPN producer Jay Rothman said the reduced time becomes a challenge for TV.

"I think by design we've streamlined our talent in numbers to try to meet the demands that the draft is going to present to us, given the reduced time on the clock," Rothman said. "While that's exciting for fans at home, it's going to be a challenge for television.

Where ratings happen: The first six games of the NBA Playoffs averaged 2.9 million viewers on ESPN and TNT, according to Sports Business Daily, up 25.5 percent from the 2.3 million last season.

TNT will bring in Alonzo Mourning for its studio show at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Dwyane Wade will be on the set next Thursday.

The newly retired Chris Webber has also been signed to do studio work for TNT and NBA TV for the rest of the playoffs in addition to "TNT NBA Overtime" work for NBA.com.

Not Scott-free: With Stephen A. Smith's noon-1 p.m. show having ended, ESPN Radio announced a change to that time slot along with that of the 10 a.m.-noon "Mike Tirico Show." Starting next Thursday, Scott Van Pelt will host the one-hour noon show and Tirico's show will be renamed "Tirico & Van Pelt." Van Pelt has been a co-host since Tirico's show started in September and this solidifies the connection. ESPN said Michele Tafoya and Kirk Herbstreit, who have also appeared as co-hosts, will continue to contribute.

Other notes: Major League Baseball has hired CBS Sports executive producer Tony Petitti to head up MLB Network, which will launch on Jan. 1 in 50 million homes.

HBO's "Costas Now" (10 p.m. Tuesday) with Bob Costas will examine sports media and its impact. A panel discussion will look at sports radio and TV, bloggers, the relationship with athletes and a discussion on the role race plays. MSNBC will show last weekend's U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon Trials at 9 a.m. Sunday. The event was won by Agoura High graduate Deena Drossin Kastor.

— Jim Carlisle