I can’t believe how busy at work I’ve been over the last month. One of these weeks, I’ll be back doing the Megalink thing during the day. And now that I’ve watched another episode of South of Nowhere, I’m ready to provide you with massive linkage. But before we do that, I give you the Weekend Viewing Picks.
For the first time this season, ESPN’s College Gameday goes to a site that is not an ABC or ESPN family of networks game. Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and a cast of thousands will broadcast live from the Alabama-LSU game in Baton Rouge, LA that be broadcast live on CBS later in the day. Other games of interest include Penn State at Iowa on ABC and Cal at USC, also on ABC. The College Football Viewing Picks has the entire national TV schedule.
In the NFL, some of the more intriguing matchups including the undefeated Tennessee Titans taking on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Green Bay at Minnesota, Buffalo at New England, Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, then the Giants at Philly in primetime on Sunday. The NFL Viewing Picks not only has the schedule for Sunday, but CBS and Fox coverage maps, DirecTV, Sirius and XM channel assignments.
As for your other viewing this weekend, there’s the NASCAR Checker O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 on ABC this Sunday at 3:45 p.m.
There’s a great matchup in boxing’s light heavyweight division as Joe Calzaghe takes on Roy Jones, Jr. on HBO Pay Per View Saturday night at 9.
As the PGA Tour limps to the finish of its season, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic takes place at Disney World on the Golf Channel throughout the weekend.
The women’s tennis season ends with the WTA Championships finals in Qatar on ESPN2, Sunday at noon.
Now to your links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that Barack Obama’s win on Tuesday is a big boost to Oregon State’s men’s basketball coach Craig Robinson who happens to be the President-elect’s brother-in-law.
Deadspin is being threatened by the overseas deployed boyfriend of the fired New England Patriots cheerleader.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell notices that President-elect Obama wears certain sportswear.
Joe Favorito says the Million Dollar Arm promotion may help baseball’s quest to get back into the Olympics.
From Puck the Media, Steve Lepore has a very good tribute to the best hockey broadcaster bar none, Mike Emrick, who is being deservedly inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Larry Barrett of Multichannel News talks about the ratings for Saturday primetime college football on ABC and ESPN.
Steve McClellan of Adweek writes that Cars.com has purchased a 60 second spot on the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year.
Tom Lowry of BusinessWeek says the University of Texas plans to launch its own cable all-sports channel.
One of my favorite actresses on one of my all-time favorite shows, 24, the lovely Reiko Aylesworth is expected to join my other all-time favorite show, Lost. By the way, Lost returns January 21, 2009 with a 2 hour premiere.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe says a feature by ESPN college football analyst Todd Blackledge on local eating establishments during games has become a big hit.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks with NESN and CBC analyst Mike Milbury who no longer doubts the ability of Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that NBC Sports’ documentary on the Paralympics really tugs at the heartstrings.
Over to the New York Post where Phil Mushnick goes after ESPN and the Big Ten Network.
Justin Terranova of the Post talks with Fox Sports NFL analyst Daryl Johnston and NFL Today analyst Bill Cowher about the Jets’ short turnaround on Sunday. And Justin has five questions for CBS’ college football analyst Gary Danielson about Alabama-LSU.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman feels Roy Jones, Jr. is aiming to return to HBO as an analyst. Do we really care?
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union enjoyed watching the Denver-Cleveland game on the NFL Network, but feels bad the rest of the country did not.
Jim Williams of the DC Examiner says NBC Sports’ presentation of the Paralympics and college football are the highlights of the viewing weekend.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald lists some of his annoyances with network football coverage both college and pro.
Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel says Magic fans are losing out with the Bright House-Fox Sports Florida dispute.
In the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Ray Buck wonders if Monday Night Football has become irrelevant.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle notes that Brent Musberger is back in the Lone Star State for the third time in four weeks.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News likes Bob Papa over Bryant Gumbel on the NFL Network, but prefers Cowboys’ voice Brad Sham over both of them. Barry says the West Coast won’t see Oklahoma State-Texas Tech Saturday night.
Jerry Garcia in the San Antonio Express-News says President-elect Obama will need a second term to fix the BCS mess.
In the Daily Oklahoman, Mel Bracht talks with ESPN/ABC sideline reporter Lisa Salters. In his media notebook, Mel writes about how Fox switched away from the Green Bay-Tennessee game that was going into overtime. And Mel says not all of Oklahoma’s cable systems are paying up to show Thunder games.
Midwest
Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News says the NFL Network is still failing to reach a wide audience.
Michael Zuidema in the Grand Rapids (MI) Press says a local radio sports reporter is getting ready for the annual high school football championships.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says former Brewers voice Matt Vasgersian could not pass up the opportunity to join the new MLB Network.
The Chicago Tribune lists the games you should watch this weekend.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes that the NFL Network can’t come to an agreement with Charter Communications.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the new format in the World Series of Poker will force ESPN to scramble in a quick turnaround to show the finals. And Dan writes that Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols filmed a “This is SportsCenter” promo.
West
Tyler Lockman of the Arizona Republic has Monday Night Football staffers telling college students that the Cardinals-49ers game will be a tough sell to get ratings.
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says there’s a lot of interest in the Padres TV job. And Jay has the ratings from last weekend.
John Maffei of the North County Times writes about the search to replace Matt Vasgersian as Padres play-by-play man.
To the Ventura County Star and Jim Carlisle who writes about NBC’s Paralympics documentary.
Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times says the West Coast is being neglected by ABC/ESPN for Saturday night’s Oklahoma State-Texas Tech game.
Philip Hersh of the Times strongly recommends you watch the NBC Paralympics documentary on Sunday.
From the Los Angeles Daily News, Tom Hoffarth says the fans are the losers in the Big Cable vs. NFL Network stalemate. Tom has some media news and notes in his blog.
Gary Washburn of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer talks with former Sonics guard Gary Payton who’s having fun being a TV analyst.
Canada
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says a local sports talk show host brought up race when mentioning President-elect Obama.
Sean Fitz-Gerald of the National Post reports that Versus will pick up TSN’s broadcast of the CFL Grey Cup later this month.
And that will do it for the megalinks today.
