Ok, let’s do the Friday megalinks. Getting a late start as I’ve been all over the place today, but better late than never.
Check out the Weekend Viewing Picks for information on the sports and entertainment programs for the first weekend in October.
Now to the links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about ESPN creating a new brand that will target women and could eventually become a dedicated TV channel. This was already scoffed at on Twitter. We’ll see how this evolves. Asides from ESPN Mobile, the Alleged Worldwide Leader’s ill-fated cell phone brand, when the network commits to an idea, it will usually work so we’ll see.
Eleanor Barkhorn from The Atlantic shares her thoughts, pro and con, on the new ESPN women’s brand.
A Girl’s Perspective on a Boy’s Game blog has some thoughts on ESPNW.
Dylan Stableford at The Wrap notes there are many women who aren’t in love with ESPNW.
Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser has more on the new ESPN venture.
Joe Posanaski of Sports Illustrated has a very good tribute to Los Angeles Dodgers voice Vin Scully.
Noah Davis of SportsNewser says the Boston Globe will put all of its web content content except sports and breaking news behind a pay wall.
Dave Kindred at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center looks into the history of one of his favorite leads and finds it doesn’t quite measure up to its legend.
Milton Kent of Fanhouse notes that weather delays at the Ryder Cup will force NBC to go live with its coverage on Saturday instead of planned taped coverage.
Fanhouse’s Brett McMurphy has a facetious look at the first televised college football game.
Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports says the Ryder Cup has to move to an earlier date to avoid inclement weather.
Spencer E. Ante of the Wall Street Journal notes NFL games are about to be seen on tablets.
Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter notes that Fox has pulled 19 of its channels including several sports regional networks off Dish Network over, what else? A carriage dispute.
Andrea Morabito from Broadcasting & Cable says in addition, MSG Network and MSG Plus were pulled from Dish over a pricing dispute.
John Consoli of Mediaweek looks at Fox making Game 3 of this year’s World Series an extra early start.
Mike Freeman of CBS Sports says LeBron James can’t call racism over criticism over “The Decision” when he’s never taken a stand in his life.
The Huffington Post has TNT’s Charles Barkley ripping James for his comments.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says US Ryder Cup team outfitter Sun Mountain Sports is getting heat over its non-waterproof raincoats.
And we have more in this video featuring Darren on CNBC.
SMW notes that Fanhouse writer Jay Mariotti pleaded no contest to domestic violence charges and was eventually sentenced to probation and community service.
SportsbyBrooks says while ESPN doesn’t have Mariotti in its plans, Fanhouse is apparently lobbying owner AOL to keep him.
Dave Kohl in the Major League Programs blog looks at the stellar ratings for Monday night’s Packers-Bears game.
Brady Green at Awful Announcing says Screamin’ Gus Johnson is now launching a new clothing line based on one of his catchphrases.
The Thoroughbred Times says the Breeders’ Cup will be aired live on five ESPN networks.
East and Mid-Atlantic
The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn talks with NESN’s Bruins voice Jack Edwards who’s looking forward to hockey season.
The Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s Bill Doyle looks at a local movie theater that shows New England Patriots games on its really big screen.
Amanda Bruno at Batter-up with Bruno has some thoughts on the Boston Globe’s online paywall.
The Watertown (MA) Tab & Press talks with a town native who directed the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, “Once Brothers”, that airs later this month.
Over to the New York Times’ Richard Sandomir who delves into why Fox decided to start World Series Game 3 an hour earlier than the other games.
50 years later, Richard gets analysis from SNY’s Keith Hernandez on a pivotal play that occurred in the 1960 World Series.
Newsday’s Neil Best talks with CBS/WFAN/Westwood One Radio’s Boomer Esiason who hardly has time to sleep these days.
Neil also talks about MSG and MSG Plus getting pulled from Dish Network.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says SNY’s Mets crew’s mocking of the White Sox Hawk Harrelson got them close to mocking the Yankees’ Derek Jeter. That’s what Raissman is contending.
The New York Post’s Dr. Doom and Gloom is disappointed in NBC’s Cris Collinsworth. I’m sure Cris is going to change his style just for you, Dr. Doom and Gloom.
The Post’s Justin Terranova talks with NBC’s Johnny Miller about the Ryder Cup.
The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty looks at the revised Ryder Cup TV schedule.
Pete talks with the new voice of the AHL’s Albany Devils.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Bob Smizik explains why the local ESPN Radio affiliate is going by the wayside.
Brian O’Neill of the Post-Gazette says the long-lost TV footage of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series will be premiered by MLB Network in the Steel City before it airs on television.
DCRTV.com’s Dave Hughes writing in Press Box says the Baltimore Orioles are shopping their radio rights between two parties.
The Washington Examiner’s Jim Williams interviews legendary DC area sportscaster Johnny Holliday.
South
Rodney Ho from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Dish Network/Fox dispute could prevent Braves fans from seeing the Bobby Cox tribute tomorrow.
David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says the fans are the losers in the Dish Network/Fox carriage dispute.
William Pack from the San Antonio Express-News writes about the Dish Network/Fox dispute.
Mel Bracht from the Daily Oklahoman writes that both Oklahoma and Texas are working to develop their own independent TV networks.
Mel writes about Fox’s Jimmy Johnson getting voted off Survivor this week.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that Northern Kentucky’s long-time basketball radio voice will be honored on Saturday.
John says Fox Sports Ohio among other Fox channels were pulled from Dish Network.
And John says the Cincinnati Reds will be featured in a new MLB Postseason promo.
Michael Zuidema in the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says a local TV sports director is busy during high school football season.
Arthur Rothstein of AnnArbor.com speaks with Fang’s Bites fave Charissa Thompson.
Terry Hutchens in the Indianapolis Star notes that Indiana University will go 3-D next Saturday.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his weekly winners and losers.
Ed talks with new Chicago Bulls President Ed Reinsdorf.
Julie DiCaro at the ChicagoNow blog doesn’t like the idea of a separate ESPN women’s brand.
Lauren Fitzpatrick of the Southtown (IL) Star writes about the sad story about the mother of a Comcast SportsNet Chicago anchor being allegedly killed by her husband.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley has Fox’s Brian Billick high on the Green Bay Packers.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says legendary Gateway City broadcaster Jay Randolph will most likely call his last Cardinals game this Sunday.
Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch writes that the Rams managed to avoid a blackout of this Sunday’s game against Seattle.
West
Jay Posner at the San Diego Union-Tribune has 1st year Padres TV Dick Enberg looking forward to calling the games again next year.
Mark Zeigler of the Union-Tribune says fans in blacked out markets are finding creative ways to watch NFL games.
And this leads into Kevin Acee’s article in the Union-Tribune that the Chargers are blacked out once again on Sunday.
John Maffei at the North County Times says there will be plenty of lineup changes on local sports radio stations on Monday.
Meg James at the Los Angeles Times looks at the Dish Network/Fox carriage dispute.
Mike DiGiovanna of the Times says Torii Hunter of the Anaheim Angels will be a guest analyst on MLB Network during the postseason.
Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News says the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary unit has added a film on former Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.
As we go into the 10th month of the year, Tom has 10 sports media issues he’s thinking about.
Tom reviews the week in sports media.
Tom says thanks to the bad weather in Wales, the entire Ryder Cup will be shown live one way or another throughout the weekend.
Tom notes that the late Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Raiders voice Bill King is on the ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says UK’s Sky TV which is carrying the Ryder Cup shows no objectivity when it comes to covering the event.
Mark Brownlee of the Centretown News notes that Rogers Sportsnet’s new channel will leave Ottawa Senators fans out in the cold.
And that will conclude the megalinks
