Let’s give you the Friday megalinks.
Find the Weekend Viewing Picks here.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes about former Yankees pitcher David Wells moving to the TBS announcing booth.
John Paul Newport of the Wall Street Journal writes that former ABC Sports golf analyst Bob Rosburg died Thursday.
Matt Foran of the Nielsen ratings wire blog says internet buzz for Manny Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez spiked as news of their steroids use broke.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at one of the contestants for this year’s World’s Strongest Man.
Joe Favorito looks inside the Miami Dolphins’ Land Shark deal to rename its stadium.
Steve Lepore of Puck the Media says Versus nabbed over a million viewers for Game 7 of the Penguins-Capitals series. Steve says Versus has set its announcing teams for the NHL Conference Finals. And NHL fashionista Wrap Around Curl hopes the league will not follow MLB and market pink hats.
The Sports Media Watch writes that advertisers may have jumped the gun on hyping LeBron James and Kobe Bryant for the NBA Finals. SMW notes the excellent ratings for the NHL regionally, but not nationally. And Paulsen says that the NBA’s ratings on network TV have eroded thanks to all of the games on cable.
John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable reports that an FCC judge is ready to hear the case between MASN vs. Comcast on Monday.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Thursday’s Game 6 of the Lakers-Rockets series set a basketball ratings record for ESPN.
Todd Spangler of Multichannel writes that MLB has been granted a patent on setting internet blackouts for its MLB.TV service.
Dave Kohl of the Major League Programs blog looks at the latest sports-related lawsuit.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says the Boston sports fan has been quite busy with the Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox all playing simultaneously at times.
Newsday’s’ Neil Best talks with Sirius XM’s Chris Russo about life without former WFAN partner Mike Francesa. Neil adds his thoughts on Russo’s satellite radio show. Neil also looks at the new Spike TV reality show hosted by former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin on those hoping to get a team roster spot. Neil writes that Irvin used a premiere party for the show as a fundraiser for the Cowboys scouting assistant who was paralyzed when the team’s practice bubble collapsed. Neil has a bit more on the reality show. Neil marks an important date in the history of sports television.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News feels the New York Yankees need a refresher course in public relations as they’ve failed at it in recent weeks.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick lectures us on cheating. Just what we need.
Justin Terranova of the Post talks with NBC’s Donna Brothers about the Preakness Stakes. Justin has five questions for SNY Mets voice Gary Cohen.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union feels ABC is rooting for the Lakers to make it to the NBA Finals. Pete writes that a 50-1 shot winner in the Kentucky Derby is certainly bringining in some compelling storylines for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says the NHL Network will pick up Canada’s Memorial Cup tournament for Junior Hockey. Ken is tired of listening to the Yankees’ John Sterling.
UPDATE: 5/16/09, 12:15 p.m. – Well, I fell asleep trying to do the megalinks around 1 a.m. and listening to the Red Sox lose to Seattle. Well, picking up where I left off, I’ll add Saturday links here as well.
Back to Ken Schott, he reviews Spike Lee’s documentary on Kobe Bryant and actually likes it.
Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News feels the Kobe doc is a mixed bag.
Ray Frager of Sports Media Journal has some news and notes.
To Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner. He says Kobe Bryant’s documentary and the NBA’s Games 7 will be part of a busy viewing weekend. And Jim previews the Preakness Stakes with NBC’s Gary Stevens.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald enjoys Jeff Van Gundy on ESPN’s NBA broadcasts.
David Martindale of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram looks at the Kobe Bryant documentary.
Ray Buck of the Star-Telegram gave Dallas Mavericks TV analyst Derek Harper a chance to chime in on the Mavs loss to the Denver Nuggets.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that a long time sports radio executive has left his station.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reviews Spike TV’s reality show, 4th and Long. Barry looks at the various radio spots 4th and Long host Michael Irvin did across the country. Barry also tries to predict the finalists of 4th and Long.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman also looks at 4th and Long. And Mel has his usual media notebook.
Midwest
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press looks at the next generation of TV analysts.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says tonight’s ESPN doc on Kobe Bryant will show an insider’s look at the egomaniac.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says Chicago-Detroit will get top billing in NBC’s NHL coverage. Ed also talks with Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz about his decision to televise home games full-time.
Ted Cox of the Chicago Daily Herald says the NHL Western Conference Finals will be difficult to find as Versus will air as many as five games in the series.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar urges the Rams to put ex-coach Jim Hanifan back in their radio booth. Dan notes other changes in the Rams radio broadcasts for this upcoming season.
West
Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic talks with Diamondbacks radio analyst Tom Candiotti.
Jay Posner from the San Diego Union-Tribune talks with a long-time sports radio executive about a local station that’s getting a makeover.
John Maffei from the North County writes that the Mountain West’s conference baseball tournament will get some extra attention on TV and across the country next week.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star has a look at the Kobe Bryant documentary. Jim says former MLB on Fox pregame host Jeanne Zelasko will be calling Dodgers games on the internet.
Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News reviews the Kobe doc. Tom has more on the documentary in his extensive media notes. Tom looks back at the week in blogging and other media. Tom writes that it did not take long for the Dodgers to take Manny Ramirez’s mug off its billboards all over LA.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News looks at the Pac 10’s TV contract.
John Ryan of the Mercury News says despite the flap over his recent article in D magazine, David Feherty will be working at the Texas Open for CBS this weekend.
And that concludes the megalinks. Enjoy your weekend.
