Today, I was all over the place going in between two offices, heading to see a client and running through Northern Rhode Island for no good reason. But I’m trying to do some megalinkage after not being able to do them last week so let’s not delay any further. Check out the Weekend Viewing Picks for sports and primetime recommendations.
Now to the linkage.
National
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy says ESPN’s Michelle Beadle has quickly become one of the network’s most popular personalities.
With this being the one year anniversary of the abortion known as “The Decision”, ESPN Ombudsman Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute wonders if the network has learned anything after running the program.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News notes that the new Time Warner Sports regional sports network has made two important hires.
Guest blogging for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Joe Gisondi tells aspiring writers that going for the offbeat can sometimes lead to some of the best stories.
Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group writes that ESPN continues to use the MLB Home Run Derby as a guinea pig for new innovations.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that a year after “The Decision”, LeBron James still remains a pariah among sports fans.
David Goetzl of MediaPost says ESPN is still dealing with the fallout from “The Decision.”
The Business Insider’s Sports Page provides the best and worst of the first 30 days of Captain Blowhard’s Grantland site.
Sports Media Watch tells us that the ratings for the Women’s World Cup are up significantly from the previous event from four years ago.
SMW also has some ratings news and notes.
Joe Favorito says Victor Martinez may not have been selected for the last American League All-Star Game roster spot, but it wasn’t due to his creative campaigning.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn from the Boston Globe compares and contrasts the Hub’s two regional sports networks, NESN and Comcast SportsNet New England.
At SB Nation Boston, Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch looks at the fill-ins on local sports radio and he remembers the late Boston Herald columnist and celebrated boxing writer, George Kimball.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram talks with Fox Sports MLB analyst Eric Karros about the All-Star Game.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says the new season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm broaches some painful baseball memories.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post lectures everyone who thinks the Roger Clemens perjury trial is a waste of time.
Justin Terranova of the Post writes about Bob Costas and Al Michaels calling tonight’s Mets-Giants game on MLB Network and SNY.
At Press Box, Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com writes about some changes at a Baltimore sports radio station.
I hope this next story goes viral. From the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg writes former quarterback Joe Theismann telling a local radio station how he got hoof and mouth disease playing in the CFL. Why does that seem appropriate for Theismann?
Jim Williams talks about Al Michaels and Bob Costas teaming up for MLB Network.
South
Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald has former Hurricane quarterback Gino Torretta calling out Ohio State fans for forcing ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit to move out of his native Columbus.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle discusses the Longhorn Network making some on-air hires.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman notes that Tulsa native Dari Nowkhah will be the main host on ESPNU for the upcoming college sports season.
Mel has his sports media news and notes.
Midwest
Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal looks at “The Decision” one year later and where it leaves native LeBron James.
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press has Joe Buck raving about the Detroit Tigers.
In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley has Fox’s Tim McCarver discussing the Brewers’ All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder.
Crain’s Chicago Business’ Ed Sherman has his winners and losers in sports business.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks with Fox’s Tim McCarver who will be at the mic for his record 20th All-Star Game on Tuesday.
West
John Maffei at the North County Times looks at the HBO Curt Flood documentary that airs the night after the All-Star Game.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star writes about Al Michaels accepting Bob Costas’ invitation to call a game on MLB Network.
In his notebook, Jim writes that the Home Run Derby is watched by the MLB All-Stars as well.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with Fox’s Joe Buck.
Tom has Joe willing to step aside to have Vin Scully call the World Series one more time.
Tom has his news and notes.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the doctor with a connection to Tiger Woods and pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges raised the ire of ESPN Radio hack Colin Cowherd.
The Canadian Sports Media blog notes that IndyCar makes two stops this summer in the Great White North and TSN will take Versus’ coverage of both events.
And with that and it being early Saturday morning, I’ll end the megalinks here.
