The last couple of days have killed me going to New York on Friday for business then having to go to work on Saturday preventing me from really reacting to the Dick Ebersol resignation. I will do a Sunday thoughts column today and also start answering the mailbag. Good questions from all of you. If you want to squeeze question in, you can send it to kzf1@fangsbites.com and I do have some swag for you.
But let’s do some linkage first.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News talks about Tennis Channel and ESPN2 beginning their two weeks of French Open coverage today.
Mike says thanks to free previews, Tennis Channel’s audience will expand for the French Open.
Jessica E. Vascellero and Sam Schechner of the Wall Street Journal write that NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol clashed with Comcast corporate officials over money.
Marisa Guthrie at the Hollywood Reporter explains why Dick Ebersol chose to resign.
Brent Lang at The Wrap wonders what Ebersol’s next move will be.
Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable says NBC local affiliates really appreciated Dick Ebersol’s support of the broadcast stations.
Jon Lafayette of B&C notes that upfront ads have been selling fast and furious for the NFL despite the uncertainty over its season.
Anthony Crupi of Adweek writes that automakers are buying up the available Super Bowl XLVI spots making NBC quite happy.
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy reports that ESPN has reupped analyst Cris Carter for Sunday NFL Countdown.
Steve Jones of USA Today reviews the 2nd volume of the ESPN Films 30 for 30 DVD gift set.
Rick Chandler of NBCSports.com reviews the whole Chris Berman “You’re with me, Leather” incident that the Swami tried to deny in the new ESPN book.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the new ESPN book and recounts some of his experiences at the Alleged Worldwide Leader.
Chris Ariens of SportsNewser notes that CNN’s John King (a URI alumnus and a guy with whom I attended journalism classes) caught David Ortiz’s 300th career home run at Fenway Park.
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe previews tonight’s MLB Network airing of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.
William S. Paxton of the Stamford (CT) Advocate catches up with Chris Berman to talk about the NFL.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says Dick Ebersol won’t have a chance to redeem himself from the heavy financial losses from the 2010 Olympics.
At the New York Post, Phil Mushnick says taped Olympics and XFL brought down Ebersol’s legacy. Leave it to the Gloomster to find something negative.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that the new book on ESPN has definitely struck a chord.
Greg Connors at the Buffalo News talks with Tennis Channel’s Mary Carillo.
In the Philadelphia Inquirer, John Gonzalez speaks with ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi about replacing Josh Elliot on the daily morning SportsCenters. You’ll have to mute the autoplay video that starts as soon as the page loads. Just a warning.
In Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com talks about the spike in TV ratings for the Baltimore Orioles.
Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with Mary Carillo about her move to Tennis Channel.
Jodi Belgard at the Alexandria (LA) Town Talk profiles a local student who got an internship with ESPN.
Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman notes that ESPN’s NBA analysts were critical of the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.
Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune has Dick Ebersol saying that he expects NBC/Comcast to put forth a very strong bid for the 2014/16 Olympics.
Bryce Miller in the Des Moines (IA) Register talks with ESPN/ABC NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty.
Bryce also profiles the technician from Iowa who’s working ESPN on ABC’s production of today’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
Trevor Hughes of The Coloradoan recaps Denver News columnist Woody Paige’s honoring by Colorado State University about his piece last year about the suicide of a Broncos player and his brush with killing himself.
Dick Harmon from the Deseret (UT) News writes about BYUtv preparing to add more sports coverage to its agenda.
John Maffei at the North County Times reports that the San Diego Padres and Fox Sports are about to come together on a two decade, nine figure deal.
Michael Oliveira of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC is no longer bullish on 3-D TV.
EPL Talk says ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel have improved their English Premier League coverage, but still have a ways to go.
Sports Media Watch says the ratings Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference Finals on ESPN were up from last year.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the ratings for Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final on Versus.
Ian Bethune of Sox & Dawgs has the video of NESN’s Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy cracking up on the air again.
And that will do it.
