Let’s do your Thursday links. I’m a bit behind on things. But let’s get to the links while I can.
USA Today’s Christine Brennan analyzes why baseball was beaten in the TV ratings by a lackluster Monday Night Football game.
ESPN Ombudsman Don Ohlmeyer is out from hibernation and he answers readers questions on ESPN the Magazine’s Body Issue, gambling, NASCAR, ESPN’s relationship with athletes and the Favre/Sterger story, in that order.
Kirk Badenhausen from Forbes says perhaps ESPN’s exorbitant rights fees paid for the privilege to have timeouts called late on Monday Night Football to get commercials played.
Kashmir Hill of Forbes says Erin Andrews is being violated once again and I totally agree.
TMZ reports that despite Cease and Desist requests, a website is still posting images from the illegally shot video of Erin Andrews in her hotel room last year.
Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk says Jenn Sterger has hired an attorney who says she will pursue “potential remedies” in the Brett Favre case. I’m thinking “remedies” means settlement.
Milton Kent at Fanhouse says Magic Johnson helped out ESPN when he sold his interest with the Los Angeles Lakers.
At the Hollywood Reporter, George Szalai opines that DirecTV and Verizon Fios might be picking up subscribers in the wake of the Cablevision/Fox controversy.
Mike Farrell of Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News writes that there’s no progress in the Cablevision/Fox dispute.
John Eggerton in B&C writes that other cable and satellite providers are pointing to Fox’s handling of the Cablevision situation in their arguments regarding access to Comcast/NBC.
While we know that Kirk Gibson is going to sell his uniform, batting helmet and bat from Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, but CNBC’s Darren Rovell wants to know what happened to the ball from the home run off Dennis Eckersley.
All Access says ESPN Radio New York early morning drive show lead-in to Mike & Mike gets an extra hour to host.
The Smoking Gun says ESPNU reporter Elizabeth Moreau was pranked in an early morning call to her hotel room. Thanks to Deadspin for the link.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times talks with the TBS cameraman who got a very close look at a bat during Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
Newsday’s Neil Best reports that Gus Johnson won’t be returning to MSG Network to call New York Knicks games.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the CBS College Sports college basketball schedule.
DCRTV’s Dave Hughes in Press Box says a DC sports radio show is not allowed to have a regular guest who’s currently running for political office.
Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has video of some DC sports media stars doing Karaoke.
The Florida Times-Union’s Jeff Elliot says he knows that ESPN did not request Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio to call late timeouts during the Monday Night Football game.
Karen Voyles of the Gainesville (FL) Sun says police are investigating the prank on ESPNU reporter Elizabeth Moreau.
Melissa Renteria of the San Antonio Express-News talks with the director of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on former Dodgers pitching sensation Fernando Valenzuela.
Ben Smith of the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal-Gazette talks with ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen.
Dave Kallman of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders why Sunday’s NASCAR race outrated the NLCS in the local market.
Mike DeArmond of the Kansas City Star says ESPN’s College Gameday has adjusted its Friday cut-in schedule on the Mothership.
Chris Erskine of the Los Angeles Times says a fan’s collection of audio tapes of the 1981 season featuring Valenzuela will be a big part of the 30 for 30 documentary on “Fernandomania”.
At TV Predictions, Phil Swann feels Fox is not broadcasting the National League Championship Series in real HD.
At SportsNetworker, Brendan Wilhide feels the NFL would clean up if began utilizing geolocation apps.
While ESPN and Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher may have dropped the Monday Night Football late timeouts story, SportsbyBrooks continues to investigate through Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio.
Three things from Deadspin. First, AJ Daulerio was leaked a Bleacher Report memo telling its writers to behave.
David Matthews recaps Deanna Favre’s morning show appearances where she sidestepped questions about her husband’s alleged sexting to Jenn Sterger.
Daulerio also recaps his conversation with NFL Security over the Favre issue.
Matt Sebek of Joe Sports Fan notes that Colombia, MO is rolling out the big welcome mat for Erin Andrews this weekend.
I’ll end this for now. I might have more later.
