Well, it’s been a long ten days since I last did linkage. First, it was the Thanksgiving holidays, then work became crazy. I was able to do press releases as they came into the Fang’s Bites inbox, but you’ve been owed some so let’s get to it without further delay.
Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News writes about the big viewership for the Miami-Cleveland NBA game on TNT.
Mike says Comcast SportsNet California remains off Dish Network systems after being removed before Thanksgiving Day.
Michael Malone from Broadcasting & Cable says NBC Sports and sister network Universal Sports will air a prestigious international rugby competition starting this weekend.
Dave Kindred at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says the Arizona Republic reporter who asked Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson about his smiling during a bad loss on Monday Night Football was not trying to goad him into a meltdown.
Anthony Crupi from Mediaweek discusses how Super Bowl XLV on Fox will have plenty of car ads.
Speaking of Super Bowl ads, Natalie Zmuda of Advertisting Age mentions that Best Buy will be making its first appearance in the Big Game in 2011.
EJ Schultz of Ad Age says by not abandoning Tiger Woods, Nike helped its bottom line.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that former NFL QB Kurt Warner will be an Amway endorser.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times talks about the marriage of the New York Yankees, the Big East Conference and ESPN for the new Pinstripe Bowl.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post continues his nasty vendetta against WFAN’s Mike Francesa by calling him out on his interview earlier this week with New York Governor David Patterson. Nice mention of Friend of Fang’s Bites, Bob’s Blitz.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union mentions that ESPN wants its analysts to be highly sought after.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette breaks news that a local Capital Region sports anchor is leaving for a bigger market.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner has comments from CBS’ Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson on today’s SEC Championship game.
Jim says MASN will air coverage of a local basketball tournament.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has some sports media stories in a rare weekend column.
Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News reviews ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary on the SMU football program.
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Reds will be bringing back its radio booth intact for next season.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Sunday Night Baseball changes by ESPN are definitely an upgrade.
On Friday, we learned of the death of beloved Chicago Cubs third baseman and radio analyst Ron Santo. He was 70. Ron battled diabetes throughout his career and dealt with bladder cancer in his later years. With Ron, you knew where he stood. There were the Cubs and there was everyone else. His love for the Cubbies came through the radio every day. Even though he was never objective, that was ok. He did praise the opposing team whenever there was a good play, but through it all, Santo was the Cubs. And he was also a great third baseman. Why he isn’t in the Baseball Hall of Fame is beyond me. That snub hurt him until his dying day. Let’s hope Ron gets in the next time the Veterans Committee meets.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes the obituary for Santo.
Phil Rogers of the Tribune also remembers Santo.
David Haugh from the Tribune says the Cubs have lost their heart and soul with Santo’s passing.
WGN Radio has some of Ron’s best highlights and also some audio reaction to Santo’s death.
Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times says Ron Santo embraced life.
Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business has an obituary for Santo from 2003 as he had a health scare back then.
MLB.com has compiled some highlights of Santo’s playing career.
And the Chicago Cubs’ website has a special section devoted to Ron Santo.
MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann feels Santo should be in his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Kurt Warner will be in the booth to witness two of his former teams play on Sunday.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has his extensive media notes.
Sports Media Watch notes that the Miami-Cleveland game on Thursday was the third highest watched NBA regular season game since last the 1990’s.
SMW says ABC’s Saturday Night Football got its highest rating of the season last week.
Joe Favorito says we’ve come a long way in the manner we view Russia in the sports world.
Brendan Frazier at Sports Business Digest talks about how two Los Angeles-based groups are pursuing the Minnesota Vikings.
And there you have it for the linkage. Glad to have it back.
