Even with a visit from my sister, her husband and their dog, I still have some time to provide the Sunday linkage. I think this is the first time in quite some time that I’ve been able to provide linkage on both weekend days. Once again, I’m still in a holding pattern not knowing if I’m being booted from this server or if I have to go to another site. There are several places I’m considering for the next home of Fang’s Bites if things don’t work out here. I’ll keep you posted.
To the linkage.
Milton Kent of Fanhouse talks with ESPN’s Chris McKendry who is hosting at the Australian Open.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News looks at Versus picking up rights to the National Lacrosse League.
The great college basketball writer Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal looks at the effect of ESPN’s deal with the University of Texas.
Brittany Lyte of the Connecticut Post writes that ESPN filmed the opening of its Super Bowl coverage at a local blacksmith shop. Seriously.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman correctly gets on ESPN’s Tom Jackson for his silly explanation of his Patriots prediction last week.
Newsday’s Neil Best provides some of the best from his blog in the previous week.
Dr. Gloom and Doom at the New York Post decides that hating the entire world works for him.
From the New Jersey Newsroom, Evan Weiner feels ESPN will finally get some real competition from Comcast/NBC.
Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with Hall of Fame hockey announcer Mike “Doc” Emrick about the NHL All-Star Game.
Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the Capitals might have received a ratings bounce thanks to HBO’s 24/7 series.
David O’Brien from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Peachtree TV is outsourcing production of its 45 Braves games to Fox Sports South effectively ending Turner Sports’ long relationship with the team.
In a related story, Kristi E. Swartz of the AJC notes that Turner is turning over management of Peachtree TV to the local CBS affiliate.
The Dallas Morning News picks up a story from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Ray Buck on the new University of Texas/ESPN network.
Mike Baldwin of the Daily Oklahoman notes that ESPN’s Dick Vitale will be honored as part of an award handed to the nation’s top freshman college basketball player.
Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press says the ESPN deal to form a TV network based on the University of Texas sets a bad precedent in college sports.
Eric Weddle from the Lafayette (IN) Journal Courier looks at ESPN’s visit to the Purdue campus for College GameDay.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN has had plenty of coverage on the NFC Championship Game this morning.
Bob has Joe Buck’s storylines heading into today’s NFC Championship Game.
Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune provides this tribute to the late Olympic documentarian Bud Greenspan.
Also from the Tribune, Phil Rosenthal notes that unlike the 1985 Chicago Bears, not too many present day Bears have endorsement deals.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the video of a local TV reporter getting hurt at a motorcross live shot, and his fellow reporters laughing away.
The Sports Media Watch says Onion SportsDome’s second outing did progressively worse in the ratings.
SMW has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.
The Big Lead has the video of the announcer on the USA-Chile soccer friendly making a Black Eyed Peas reference.
Glenn Davis at SportsGrid has audio of WFAN’s Mike Francesa being totally clueless on UFC. I just shake my head.
And I think I’ll end it there. Enjoy your Championship Sunday.
