Another late start on the linkage today mostly due to shuffling between two offices and trying to catch up on press releases. Let’s get started.
Mike McCarthy at USA Today has LeBron James blaming race for the negative reaction to his ESPN produced “The Decision” earlier this year.
Mike notes that there won’t be a repeat meeting between Golf Channel’s Jim Gray and US Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin this weekend.
John Eggerton at Broadcasting & Cable writes that JetBlue Airlines is adding NFL Sunday Ticket free of charge to its DirecTV lineup.
Jon Lafayette of B&C says Fox is moving up the start time for World Series Game 3 to make it more “family friendly”.
Mike Shields of Mediaweek says Sports Illustrated is tapping some big names for a new web video series.
Julian Clover of Broadband TV News reports that ESPN is in talks to buy a French TV network.
Noah Davis at SportsNewser tells us that NBA TV is throwing the heavy hitters at the Miami Heat’s first preseason game.
The Big Lead has the video of Fox/NFL Network analyst Jim Mora, Jr. snapping at Perpetually Angry ESPN Radio host Doug Gottlieb today. Oh this is good.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks with the CEO of adidas on reviving the Reebok brand.
Darren says moving athletes from one city to another has become a huge business.
All Access says Mike North’s Fox Sports Radio show can now be heard in his hometown of Chicago.
TMZ reports Playboy offered to have Ines Sainz pose nude. Apparently this has been rejected.
The Boston Globe has announced it will go behind a pay wall for its printed content, but keep a free site open to all for its breaking news coverage. We’ll see how this works.
Neil Best of Newsday applauds the parties who made it possible for World Series Game 3 to start earlier.
Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record notes that Army makes an appearance on CBS College Sports’ hockey coverage this season.
Jeremy Schilling in New Jersey Newsroom tries to come up with a viable solution for NBC’s tape delayed coverage of the Ryder Cup.
Dave Mackall of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says ESPNU will take the Pitt-Duquense basketball game in December.
In the Washington Examiner, Jim Williams says the Ravens and the DC NFL Team once again pulled in the local ratings.
Jim says golf fans will need some true dedication to last through ESPN’s coverage of the Ryder Cup on Friday.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times says the NFL is cracking down on restaurants and sports bars that violated the silly TV blackout rules on Sunday.
Tom feels the World Series needs to play some day games.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says the Dish Network/Fox carriage dispute could leave Miami Heat fans without a way to watch Fox Sports Florida.
The Albany (GA) Herald says Fox Sports South will air extended coverage of this Sunday’s tribute to retiring Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox.
Business First of Louisville says the local NBC affiliate will have to move this Saturday’s SEC Network broadcast of Kentucky vs. Ole Miss to an alternate channel due to the Ryder Cup.
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer tells Reds fans they’ll have to watch TBS for coverage of their team in the National League Division Series.
Chicago Sun-Times reports the mother of Comcast SportsNet Chicago anchor Sarah Kustok was found shot to death. So sad.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has NBC’s Al Michaels waxing poetic about the City of Broad Shoulders.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Monday night’s Packers-Bears game brought in the viewers.
For some reason, Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune thought it would be a good idea to talk with ESPN MLB all-around charlatan Joe Morgan.
Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic says ESPN2 will be airing a local high school football rivalry to a national audience.
Bob Young of the Republic says Dish Network subscribers could lose Fox Sports West on Friday causing them to miss Saturday’s Arizona State game.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says Chevrolet stepped up to the plate to help World Series Game 3 move to an earlier time.
Ken Goe of The Oregonian says ESPN’s Erin Andrews reminded him of the start time for College Gameday this Saturday.
John Feeley of Awful Announcing notes that Stephen A. Smith announced that Stephen A. Smith is taping a talk show pilot for Showtime starring Stephen A. Smith.
Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes.
That will do it for now.
