On this day when many of you head back to work after the lazy holiday season, let’s provide some links as we get into the New Year.
I’m still saddened today by the passing of Turner Sports and PGA.com essayist Jim Huber. Reading the tributes on Twitter from those who knew him and those who did not, the man was widely well-liked. Jim gave us the facts, was willing to let the events come to him and never was one to call attention to himself. And when you finished reading or watching one of Jim’s essays, you felt the richer for having seen it.
Some links for you.
Scott Michaux from the Augusta (GA) Chronicle says Jim Huber’s passing was so sudden.
Michael Schulder, an Senior Executive Producer at CNN writes at SI.com, that Jim was not only a great writer, he was also a poet.
Ryan Ballengee at Golf Channel mourns Jim’s passing.
John Kim at PGA.com has an obit.
Carla Caldwell at the Atlanta Business Chronicle also has an obituary.
And the Turner Sports-run NBA.com has a story plus a video tribute to Jim Huber.
Other sports media links.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch says ESPN has responded to a column written by The Oregonian’s John Canzano saying the network has bought access to the Rose Bowl while sacrificing journalism.
John Ourand & Michael Smith from Sports Business Journal report that Oklahoma University will have plenty of its sports programming seen in the Sooner State as well as Texas thanks to a new deal signed with Fox Sports.
Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age says NBC has sold out its Super Bowl XLVI ad inventory in sharp contrast to the last time it aired the Big Game when it was selling ads in the week leading up to the event.
And Brian writes that some Super Bowl advertisers are looking to make a big splash like Apple did with its famous “1984” ad.
Alex Sherman of Bloomberg Business Week writes that NBC is getting as much as $4 million per 30 second ad for the Super Bowl. That’s a lot of money.
At the Hollywood Reporter, Georg Szalai writes about the neverending dispute between MSG Network and Time Warner Cable.
If you watched the NHL Winter Classic yesterday, you may have noticed a new ad from Bridgestone Tires with a fake press conference involving various ESPN personalities, one TNT analyst and if you’re really sharp-eyed, a reporter from Sports Business Journal. Shirley Brady of Brand Channel looks at the ad campaign that will climax at the Super Bowl.
To Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy where he laments the death of Versus.
Jeff Sonderman at the Poynter Institute looks at how Philly.com handled comments in the reporting of Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin’s alleged molestation of seven children.
Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group mourns the passing of an ABC Sports production legend.
Dan Daley of SVG looks at how Turner Sports wired its NBA broadcasts when the league returned to play on Christmas Day.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that Time Warner Cable has put NBA TV in MSG Network’s channel slot.
Richard says HBO’s 24/7 on the NHL Winter Classic is another part of the network’s winning formula in sports documentaries.
Richard looks at the Super Bowl ads selling out and setting a revenue record for NBC.
Newsday’s Neil Best says NBC did its best to sell hockey during yesterday’s Winter Classic.
At Fishbowl NY, Jerry Barmash catches up with former WABC-TV sports anchor Scott Clark.
Will Leitch at New York Magazine wants to know what’s going on with the MSG/Time Warner Cable spat.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette tells Time Warner Cable subscribers what they’re missing tonight on MSG and MSG Plus.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that two ESPN’ers and also Capital Region natives get an on-air reunion during this week’s Orange Bowl broadcast.
Pete says Fox Sports Radio has debuted yet another morning show.
WCAU-TV in Philadelphia has announced a deal to pick up ACC Network basketball games this season.
Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has highlights of the DC NFL Team Radio Network’s season finale from Sunday.
Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times has some thoughts on the holiday weekend in sports television.
At the Houston Chronicle, David Barron writes that Jim Rome is promising a return to H-Town in the near future after his local affiliate dropped his radio show.
To the Daily Oklahoman where Mel Bracht says ESPN got the job done for last night’s Fiesta Bowl.
Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post is a fan of NFL RedZone.
Jason Quick of The Oregonian says Comcast SportsNet Northwest has struck a deal allowing fans without access to the channel to view Portland Trail Blazers games online. For a fee, of course.
Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times feels Fox Sports NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira should call things both ways.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the NHL Winter Classic drew its lowest overnight rating ever.
Sports Media Watch notes that TNT is putting Charles Barkley courtside this week.
SMW notes the Rose Bowl saw its lowest overnight rating in years.
Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead says Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is banning his players from Twitter and CNBC’s Darren Rovell is pissed.
Barry Janoff from The Big Lead looks at the aforementioned Bridgestone ad campaign.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has tweets from people angry over Matt Millen’s analysis during last night’s Fiesta Bowl. Millen was really awful last night.
Lots of good links for you today. That will do it.
