Tiger knocks hockey, says nobody watches

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DETROIT (AP) | Don't count Tiger Woods among those glued to their TVs during the Stanley Cup Finals.

The world's top golfer appeared via teleconference yesterday, promoting August's PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in suburban Detroit.

Woods was asked whether he was rooting for Detroit or Pittsburgh.

Woods started to laugh, then landed a zinger.

"I don't really care. Let's talk about the Dodgers," the California native said. "I don't think anybody really watches hockey any more."

Ouch.

But the improved television ratings for this year's finals doesn't seem to match Woods' assessment.

The Penguins' victory over the Red Wings on NBC drew the best overnight rating for a Game 3 of the Cup finals in six years. Pittsburgh's 3-2 win on Wednesday night earned a 2.8 national rating and an 18.2 rating in Detroit, beating out the 15.9 rating for the Pistons' matchup with the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Eastern Conference finals.

The combination of Games 1, 2 and 3 have made this the highest-rated and most-watched opening games of the finals since Detroit faced Carolina in 2002.

"The National Hockey League has enormous respect for Tiger Woods, for all his accomplishments and for his work with the community," NHL spokesman Frank Brown said. "We think he's a great golfer."