Let’s give some more links this afternoon.
We’re beginning to hear that the Big Ten Network is close to a deal with Comcast. John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal is reporting a deal is imminent. Mike Snyder of the Detroit Free Press tries to find out more. Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says in his Business of Sports blog that other major cable providers in the Midwest, Time Warner and Charter do not appear to be close to signing the Big Ten Network. Even if a deal comes about, it won’t be in time for the Big Ten Tournament this week, it will most likely ensure that BTN will be on Comcast systems in time for college football season in late August or early September. We’ll continue to monitor.
In a move that saddens me and other sports fans in Rhode Island, Citadel Broadcasting has pulled the plug on all-sports WSKO AM-FM today. It’s really too bad. I have a bunch of friends who work there and I hope to hear from them in the next day or two. Scott Cordischi, Andy Gresh and John Crowe are all good people and I hope they get jobs somewhere soon. Greshie has been doing work at ESPN Radio and I’m sure he’ll land on his feet, but as far as producers and the grunts who have lost their jobs, this is bad news.
D.K. Wilson of the Chicago Sports Review follows the evidence and finds a connection into Pennsylvannia Senator Arlen Specter’s “investigation” into Spygate. And Philadelphia Weekly also goes after Specter for this investigation.
The Sports Media Journal has started the SMJ Sports Radio Madness Best Host Tournament. You can see the 24 sports radio talk show hosts involved in the tournament here. It’s quite an interesting list. You can agree or disagree with the choices, but the tournament is certainly an interesting one.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell is in day one of his Minor League Baseball Logo contest. Darren also talks with NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.
Newsday’s Neil Best recaps Alex Rodriguez’ appearance on WFAN’s Mike & the Mad Dog this afternoon.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks about ESPN’s Pedro Gomez being happy now that he’s no longer on the Barry Bonds beat.
Dusty Saunders of the Rocky Mountain News has high praise for ESPN’s documentary, Black Magic.
ESPN360 will offer a whole host of conference tournament and championship games this week.
Thomas Bonk of the Los Angeles Times has a profile of NBC Sports golf anchor Dan Hicks.
Paul Sen over at the Sports Media Watch is amazed that the much-hyped Pittsburgh-Washington NHL game didn’t do better on NBC on Sunday. But on the other hand, the Suns-Spurs NBA game on ABC did very well.
That’s it for now. If anything breaks on the Big Ten Network front, I’ll certainly let you know. And I hope to have a real time review of the latest Real Sports tonight.
