And can you believe I’ve been able to do linkage for most of the week? Hasn’t been like that in a long while. Glad I’ve been able to get it done.
Time for your Friday megalinks. As usual, we provide the Weekend Viewing Picks which has plenty of MLB and U.S. Olympic Trials action.
Let’s go to the links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand looks at ESPN extending its current deal with the Rose Bowl.
Michael looks at Erin Andrews’ departure from ESPN.
Sports Business Journal has a sampling of what some sports business and sports media figures addressed to the graduating Class of 2012 at the nation’s colleges and universities.
At the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman explores the strange dispute between the Arizona Diamondbacks and TV voice Daron Sutton.
Ed also notes some media bashing of Chris Berman a few months in advance of his Monday Night Football debut.
Stuart Kemp of the Hollywood Reporter writes that the BBC has launched a new Facebook app to allow UK users to watch the Olympics online.
John Eggerton from Broadcasting & Cable says the Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling throwing out the FCC fine against CBS for the infamous Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. Man, that was a long time ago.
Tim Baysinger of B&C says NASCAR Digital Media has hired five executives in advance of the sport’s takeover of its digital rights from Turner Sports next year.
Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group notes ESPN’s X Games production evolution.
The Nielsen Wire blog ponders the question of whether NBA Draft picks can do well in marketing products.
Deadline reports that ESPN’s ratings for the EURO 2012 semifinals this week are way up from EURO 2008.
One more week of writing, “CNBC’s Darren Rovell”. Today, CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that with less than a month to go until the Olympics, a major ticket dispute has erupted.
Joe Favorito notes how Delta Airlines’ sponsorship of English Premier League team Chelsea shows that the company wants to go outside of the US to gain awareness.
Sports Media Watch has a look at some of NBC’s Olympic assignments for London.
The Big Lead notes that ESPN and Bill Simmons removed a potential offensive part of his NBA Draft diary that is way too long for anyone to read.
Ryan Yoder of Awful Announcing has the winners and losers from Thursday’s night’s NBA Draft coverage on ESPN.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes about a documentary on an Olympic hopeful who is attempting to gain a spot on the US women’s gymnastics team.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette talks with the Voice of the Worcester Tornadoes minor league baseball team.
Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY talks with WFAN’s Mike Francesa on whether he’ll return to the station when his contract expires in two years.
Phil Mushnick in the New York Post is not happy about Chris Berman calling Monday Night Football.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette notes that local sports anchor Andrew Catalon gets another Olympics assignment.
Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union notes that the NBA Draft’s ratings on ESPN were down from the year before.
Pete looks at 25 years of WFAN.
Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record analyzes the NBC Olympic assignments.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call talks about the later start time for the NFL national Sunday afternoon game.
Keith has some fun facts about WFAN’s 25th anniversary.
Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com says Philadelphia Union voice JP Dellacamera will be calling Olympic soccer games for NBC.
DCRTV’s Dave Hughes in Press Box says the Baltimore Orioles’ ratings on MASN are up.
Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has the Nationals’ radio ratings.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner speaks with NBC’s Phil Liggett about the Tour de France which kicks off this weekend.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald culls media opinions regarding the Heat’s chances to repeat.
Jimmie E. Gates of the Jackson (MS) Clarion Ledger says a lawsuit against ESPN over a 30 for 30 documentary can proceed in state court.
David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says the Rockets are changing radio stations.
David writes the person who helped launch Houston’s original regional sports network will be part of the team that launches the city’s newest RSN.
Mel Bracht in The Oklahoman says a local sports radio network will be slightly affiliated with the new CBS Sports Radio.
More links later.
UPDATE, 9:20 p.m.: Time for more linkage.
Midwest
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley says Fox has replaced Daron Sutton from this Saturday’s Arizona-Brewers game.
Robert Channick of the Chicago Tribune says WMAQ sports anchor Mike Adamle who’s been on leave from the station is expected to return soon.
Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin goes over the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2012 series.
West
John Maffei of the North County Times talks with TBS’ Cal Ripken about the MLB All-Star Game.
Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star rails against the current format of the All-Star Game.
Jim reviews some of this week’s sports media news in his notebook.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times says the NFL has laid down guidelines for the league to return to the nation’s second biggest market.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News isn’t thrilled about NBC pulling tape delayed shenanigans for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Tom has more notes in his blog.
And we are finally done.
