After being in the Massachusetts office this morning and needing to run a few errands for the main RI office, I’m now ready to provide links provided I don’t get interrupted at work. You never know. And with the decision to eventually close the MA office due to the slow economy, I may be looking for work so if any blogging networks want to bring on a sports media blogger full-time, please contact me. I’m available any time.
Let’s get to your links.
We start with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand who looks at the Olympic bidding that began today.
Stephen Wilson of the Associated Press reports from Switzerland where the US networks are meeting with the International Olympic Committee, that in its bid, Fox has committed to airing four Olympiads (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020).
Sports Business Daily including reporter Tripp Mickle who’s on the ground in Switzerland looks at the Fox presentation to the IOC today.
While many observers are already handing the Olympics to ESPN or Fox, John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal writes that new NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus isn’t coming into these Olympic negotiations cold and raw.
Tripp and John have a podcast at Sports Business Journal in which they predict the winner of the Olympic bidding. Their picks might surprise you.
Funny article from Spencer Hall at SB Nation saying it would be bad if Fox got the Olympics.
Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter also looks at the Fox bid.
Over at Geneva Lunch in Switzerland (I believe this is the first time I’ve linked to a publication from Switzerland), Ellen Wallace looks at Lausanne hosting three American networks for the Olympic Games bidding.
Lawrence Donegan of the London (UK) Guardian says there could be a changing of the guard for the US rights to the Olympics.
Anthony Crupi at Adweek notes that ESPN could very well come out on top of the Olympic bidding when all is said and done.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times handicaps the Olympic bidding.
To non-Olympic bidding stories now.
John Ourand at SBJ wonders how high is too high for sports rights fees.
Kudos to SportsbyBrooks which continues to investigate Mel Kiper Jr.’s relationship with NCAA-scrutinized 7-on-7 summer football camps and why ESPN has been covering it up.
Dwayne Dunham at Technorati speaks with The Big Lead’s Jason McIntyre about his blog. Disclaimer: Fang’s Bites is a member of The Big Lead Sports blogging network.
Jason Fry writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center looks at the writing for free-writing for pay debate.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says it’s not a surprise that Tiger Woods has left agency IMG after his own agent left the company.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that hoops beat the Yankees and Mets head-to-head on two separate occasions.
Neil talks with ESPN Radio New York’s Michael Kay about his YES workload.
Neil says it’s time to go live around the clock with the Olympics.
Neil also reviews the Borg vs. McEnroe HBO documentary.
It’s like the old days when I used to have multiple links to Neil!
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post gives Shaquille O’Neal a backhanded compliment.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times enjoys Mike Milbury’s commentary.
David Barron at the Houston Chronicle has a few thoughts on this week’s sports media news.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business wants the Big Ten Football Championship to be played out of doors.
Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post reviews HBO’s McEnroe/Borg documentary. I’ve seen the first half of the doc and it’s very good.
Ron Kantowski of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes the death of former Sporting News Radio host “Papa Joe” Chevalier. A couple of readers wondered why I didn’t do anything on him. First, I didn’t know he died and second, Sporting News Radio didn’t have an affiliate in Rhode Island so I never got the opportunity to hear him. From the story, he sounded like a good host. Never had the chance to listen.
I’m leaving the office now so I’ll have to end the links right here. I’ll be back later to finish up.
UPDATE, 6:10 p.m.: Time for more links.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the sports calendar for this week.
Tom notes that Marv Albert is the latest addition to the NFL on CBS roster.
Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star says we must pay attention to Captain Blowhard. I say no!
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says HBO won’t be putting a Canadian NHL team on 24/7 in anticipation of the Winter Classic.
The Canadian Sports Media Blog is surprised that CBC did not set a ratings record on Saturday for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Sports Media Watch notes that NBC saw over a decade ratings high for the French Open men’s final.
Ben Koo at Awful Announcing can’t believe that Fox is in even in the discussion to get the Olympics.
Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has Charles Barkley feeling someone at ESPN or TNT would lose his job if Shaquille O’Neal is brought on board.
That’s all.
