Ok, we have the LeBronathon coming up tonight. Lots of stories ragging on “The Decision” so let’s get to them. Why wait?
USA Today’s Mike Lopresti is sick of LeBron and ESPN.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch who appeared on the Dan Patrick Show this morning has his take on the whole LeBronathon.
Sports business writer Evan Weiner says the marriage of LeBron and ESPN sets a bad precedent.
Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age writes that ESPN sold its soul to the Devil in order to get the LeBronathon on the air.
Milton Kent from Fanhouse says ESPN lost some integrity by giving LeBron James an hour of airtime. I think ESPN lost its integrity a long time ago.
Milton has an ESPN executive defending its decision to air “The Decision.”
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the stock market is betting that LeBron James becomes a New York Knick.
Darren says James can make more money in Miami than Cleveland due to Florida not having an income tax.
Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter has media analysts scratching their heads over the demands made by LeBron James’ management team to get an hour of airtime on ESPN.
Stuart Levine from Variety says the LeBronathon is a study in excess.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News looks at the unique time buy that led to “The Decision” on ESPN.
Ryan Berenz from Channel Guide Magazine isn’t happy about hyping “The Decision.”
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at ESPN’s granting LeBron James one hour of airtime tonight.
Harvey Araton of the Times asks if James deserves the ESPN airtime.
Also from the Times, Lynn Zinser mocks the reporters using anonymous sources trying to be first in the LeBron story.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post hates the idea of ESPN giving a program to James. Of course he does, but he’s right.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says ESPN has sold its soul to accommodate LeBron James.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner has details of “The Decision.”
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has his take on ESPN providing LeBron James airtime.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald provides the nuts and bolts on the LeBronathon.
Josh Robbins in the Orlando Sentinel has Magic coach Stan Van Gundy’s opinion on the whole LeBron malarkey.
Mark Bradley from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says we can’t hide from the LeBronathon.
Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle there’s some genius behind the LeBron decision.
Also from the Chronicle, David Barron writes that the one hour special is feeding James’ ego.
To the Detroit News and Vincent Goodwill who doesn’t like LeBron/ESPN marriage.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business feels the LeBronathon is feeding James’ ego.
Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune says the one hour special actually fails to maximize James’ brand.
In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley says “The Decision” is ego-driven.
Bob Mayhall of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat notes that “The Decision” is the ultimate reality show for Cleveland, Chicago, New York and Miami.
Mark Heisler in the Los Angeles Times feels LeBron James is making a spectacle of himself.
Scott Collins and Joe Flint of the Times says “The Decision” is big for ESPN as well.
Drew Magery of Deadspin calls out LeBron James.
The great SportsbyBrooks looks at how freelancer Jim Gray helped to plant the seed with James’ camp to bring “The Decision” to fruition.
Dave Kohl of the Major League Programs blog feels the LeBronathon is not really news.
Now to non-LeBronathon stories.
ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer talks about the network dealing with the vuvuzelas for the World Cup.
Sean Leahy in USA Today’s The Huddle blog says free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens is putting the blame squarely on ESPN as to why he hasn’t been signed as of yet.
Glen Dickson in Broadcasting & Cable talks about the cable providers picking up YES’ 3-D telecasts of Mariners-Yankees this weekend.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek notes that despite the USA losing early in the World Cup knockout round, ratings on ESPN and ABC for the quarterfinals were strong.
Mediaweek’s Mike Shields says the World Cup has led many fans to head to their cell phones to watch.
Yinda Adegoke of Reuters says the World Cup has exceeded all expectations for ESPN.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine writes that Univision isn’t just about the World Cup.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce has joined ESPN’s army of NFL analysts.
Jessica Heslam from the Boston Herald says former SNY and WHDH-TV reporter Julie Donaldson is back on the air freelancing for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Donaldson resigned from WHDH in 2008 after some personal matters were revealed during a domestic abuse case.
Jackie Majerus in the Bristol (CT) Press says ESPN is going to get a tax break for a new child day care facility
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says MSG Network will carry five New York Knicks NBA Summer League games next week.
Gary Dulac and Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has NBC’s Dottie Pepper raving about the Oakmont course that’s the home of this year’s US Women’s Open.
Back to Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner who has details of the ESPN/ACC 12 year rights deal.
Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution also has a look at the ESPN/ACC contract.
Eric Snyder of the Nashville Business Journal says the NHL’s Predators have signed a new deal to put more games on Fox Sports Tennessee and SportSouth.
John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that a local sports radio producer will become the voice of a local minor league hockey team.
The Sports Media Watch says the AT&T National with Tiger Woods out of contention did not do well for CBS Sports.
Emmett Jones in Sports Business Digest says Facebook might be sponsoring the English national soccer team.
And we’ll end it there.
