I thought this weekend would be quiet and I would be able to do some good blogging like Saturday and Sunday linkage, some Sunday thoughts and a few press releases thrown in, but it turned out to be very busy. Don’t understand it, but it happened. Can’t go back now. Just moving forward so it’s time to provide the linkage for today.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today notes that this week will be chock full of US Open coverage on three networks.
Ryan Nakashima of the Associated Press says Comcast’s $4.4 billion expensive pricetag for four Olympics may end up paying dividends in the long run.
Tripp Mickle of the Sports Business Journal takes us inside the meetings that left NBC firmly entrenched as America’s Olympic Network.
John Ourand of SBJ looks at ESPN’s and Fox’s perspective on the Olympic bidding.
Lindsay Powers at the Hollywood Reporter notes that Miami Heat star LeBron James was mocked on Twitter after his team lost in the NBA Finals on Sunday.
John Eggerton of Multichannel News says a US Court of Appeals ruling closes the FCC terrestrial loophole exemption, but still allows Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to keep its programming off DirecTV and Dish.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that Versus saw double digit percentage ratings declines for the NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Mike says Golf Channel’s new show with David Feherty will line up a mix of interesting guests.
Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine tells us about NBC’s ratings bump for the Belmont Stakes.
George Winslow of Broadcasting & Cable writes that NASCAR.com is launching its first social media-based game.
Andrew Gauthier at TV Spy notes that the now-infamous tape of the Miami Heat’s Dwayne Wade and LeBron James mocking the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki’s fever shot by a Dallas CBS affiliate proved to be a turning point in the NBA Finals.
Cam Newton of SportsNewser says reserve members of the German Women’s World Cup soccer team appeared in the German version of Playboy.
Cam says Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban spewed an “S” bomb live on ESPN’s SportsCenter last night.
Dashiell Bennett at the Business Insider Sports Page has media reaction to the Miami Heat’s loss in the NBA Finals.
Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reports that the Vancouver Canucks’ attempts to sell the broadcast rights to a potential Stanley Cup victory parade were shot down.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the potential conflicts of interest when TV analysts are hired as coaches, but still work for their networks.
Karen Crouse of the Times talks with CBS golf analyst David Feherty about his new Golf Channel show and his role at the network.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has your U.S. Open broadcast schedule.
Bob Fernandez of the Philadelphia Inquirer chronicles how Comcast bigwigs helped NBC to land four Olympic Games.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic anchor Julie Donaldson who has bounced back after a domestic assault incident in Boston in 2008.
Bill Starr of The State (SC) remembers former sportswriter and television editor Doug Nye who passed away recently.
Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times gives his thoughts on the weekend in sports television.
Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that the Miami Herald has some egg on its face after running an ad for a Macy’s Heat “Championship” shirts. It would be understandable if this came after Game 7, but Game 6?
The Madison (IN) Courier says former TNT NASCAR voice Bill Weber will be calling hydroplane racing on Versus.
Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business talks with White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone about his new book.
The Denver Post’s Dusty Saunders wishes Charles Barkley had a bigger role at the NBA Finals.
Over to Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News who has the Southern California sports calendar for this week.
Irwin Block of the Montreal Gazette reports that local media are shocked over the death of a locally-based Reuters photographer who suddenly died over the weekend covering the Canadian Grand Prix.
Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail wants the media to focus on NHL referees who have vendettas against players. Why don’t you do that on your own, Bruce?
My podcast partner Keith Thibault has unveiled a new look at Sports Media Journal. Tell Keith you like it.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the overnight ratings for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final were an improvement from 2009, but a decrease from 2010.
Joe Favorito says in minor league hockey, timing is everything.
And that is where I’ll leave the linkage for today.