At least early for me. Hoping to get these done to free myself for the evening. Lots of stuff to get to.
Your Weekend Viewing Picks give you sports and entertainment viewing suggestions.
Let’s do your links now.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with NFL Films president Steve Sabol about the new HBO Sports documentary, Lombardi which premieres Saturday night.
Mike Snider of USA Today got an inside look at the Madden NFL video game development meetings.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch says if you’re looking for some drama during ESPN’s Heisman Trophy Presentation regarding Auburn QB Cam Newton, then you’ll be looking in the wrong place.
Joshua Weinstein of Variety looks back at sports television’s biggest rights deal in 2010, the CBS/Turner agreement with the NCAA for the men’s basketball tournament.
Michael Malone at Broadcasting & Cable mentions some changes in the Univision news and sports divisions.
John Eggerton at B&C writes that a March hearing date has been set for the carriage dispute between Tennis Channel and Comcast.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that four US cable and satellite providers will carry CBC’s first 3-D presentation of Hockey Night in Canada tomorrow.
Toni Fitzgerald from Media Life Magazine writes that the Foxwoods sponsorship deal with MSG Network could have far reaching effects throughout sports.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will be profiled on Sunday’s edition of 60 Minutes.
Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid gets behind the mystery of why Chris Berman had a mustache earlier this year.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the NFL’s doctors are nervous about the league having an official helmet.
Darren talks with the chair and CEO of sports powerhouse IMG.
Sports Media Watch notes that ABC’s college football ratings and viewership were down from last season.
SMW says on the other hand, ESPN says it had its highest viewership for college football in more than a decade.
SMW says the ACC Championship Game’s ratings were up on ESPN, but still very low overall.
And SMW tells us that the Big 12 Championship Game’s ratings suffered a drop from last year.
My Twitter Trophy wife, Amanda Rykoff, a.k.a. The OCD Chick, has some observations from her first Baseball Winter Meetings in espnW.
Amanda also notes that the Winter Meetings aren’t an Old Boys Club anymore.
Awful Announcing notes that the Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett is keeping an eye on the wardrobe of TNT’s Craig Sager.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe notes that the Red Sox’s offseason moves will pay off for NESN’s ratings in the summer.
Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald notes how Patriots coach Bill Belichick has his weekly segment down pat on the team’s weekly in-house TV show.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has his take on the ESPN production of Jets-Patriots on Monday Night Football.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times recaps Auburn QB Cam Newton’s interview on ESPN which aired Thursday.
At the New York Post, Phil Mushnick reminds us that we watch the game for the event, not the announcers. Thank you for that, Phil.
The Post’s Justin Terranova has five questions for Fox Sports’ Jimmy Johnson.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says Bills fans in New York’s Capital Region won’t be able to watch their team on Sunday.
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun asks readers which announcers seem to have a bias against the Charm City.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says Capitals analyst Craig Laughlin was not swearing on live TV the other night and explains why.
Dan says the Caps are just barely beating the Wizards in the local TV ratings.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner speaks with the producer of the joint NFL Films/HBO Sports documentary, “Lombardi”.
South
Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald feels it could make for interesting TV when Bill Simmons joins ESPN’s team to call tonight’s Heat-Golden State game.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes that the Miami Heat have launched their own store on Facebook.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has some various sports media stories in today’s column.
Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News has a quick preview of Jerry Jones’ appearance on 60 Minutes this Sunday.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Fox won’t be using Pat Summerall to call January’s Cotton Bowl and will use it as a dry run for the following month’s Super Bowl XLV.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with ESPN’s Tom Jackson about the Texans as his Super Bowl pick.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman discusses the end of ESPN’s critically acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series.
Mel also has his sports media notebook.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes the Queen City will be getting a live local sports morning show in January.
Mike Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Gazette talks with the man who will call the Michigan State-Michigan outdoor hockey game on Fox Sports Detroit on Saturday.
Jeff Arnold of AnnArbor.com says Fox Sports Detroit plans to give the outdoor game a big event feel.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has some thoughts on Don Meredith’s passing.
Bob has Fox’s announcing assignment for this Sunday’s Green Bay-Detroit game.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.
The Chicago Tribune live blogged the funeral services for Cubs third baseman and radio announcer Ron Santo.
At the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dan Caesar notes that the NHL likes being on Versus despite some huge warts.
Dan says the St. Louis Billikens are preparing for what they believe is their first nationally televised over the air broadcast against Duke.
West
Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out that the Chargers narrowly averted another blackout this weekend.
John Maffei at the North County Times says two sports documentaries tomorrow are definitely “Must See TV”.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says Don Meredith helped to make color analysts, colorful.
Jim notes that the Miami Heat have helped the NBA’s TV ratings.
Mike Perrault of the Desert Sun (CA) writes about a new Golf Channel series that will chronicle the comeback of a former homeless man who was once a prominent golf instructor.
Diane Pucin from the Los Angeles Times notes that Dodgers announcer Charley Steiner will receive an honorary doctorate.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says Steiner will also be the mid-term commencement speaker at his alma mater this month.
Tom has a look at the new espnW site.
Tom has more on espnW in his media column.
Tom also has his extensive news and notes in his blog.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail has a look at the local sports radio ratings.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star looks at CBC’s first foray into 3-D TV with Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.
Kimiya Shokoohi of the Vancouver Metro also writes about the CBC’s 3-D production.
And that will conclude the megalinks. They’re actually done before 3 p.m.! That’s bonus for you and me.
Expect some press releases tonight. Actually more than some, lots of them.
