I’m watching Paul Mooney’s stand up special on Showtime. It’s very funny. I forgot to put it in the Primetime Viewing Picks. The next time it’s on, I’ll recommend it. Paul Mooney is a very funny man. I have not laughed this hard since watching Chris Rock’s last standup special on HBO. If you have Showtime, it’s definitely worth watching.
Ok, let me try to do some links in between Paul’s jokes.
It was reported earlier today that Cincinnati Reds pitcher and announcer Joe Nuxhall died on Thursday at the age of 79. Nuxhall was the youngest pitcher ever to pitch in the major leagues at the age of 15, but he made his mark in Cincinnati as an announcer, first teaming up with Claude Sullivan and Jim McIntyre in 1967, then with Al Michaels in 1970, and finally in 1974 with his longest partner, Hall of Famer Marty Brennamen. While he no longer was in the booth full-time, that ended in 2004, he did selected games including Opening Day this past season. John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer has Marty’s reaction to the Ol’ Lefthander’s passing. John Erardi says Marty and Joe were a special team. John Eckbert tells us that Nuxie was also a respected commercial pitchman. John Kiesewetter talks to the people he met for breakfast every morning. From the Dayton Daily News, veteran Reds beat reporter and Baseball Hall of Famer Hal McCoy talks with Marty Brennamen as well. And Dave Greber of the Daily News says a campaign to get Nuxie in the Hall of Fame as a broadcaster will continue. Mark Katz says Nuxhall will live on in the memories of Reds fans. Nuxhall’s signature signoff was “This is the Ol’ Lefthander rounding third and heading for home.” He’ll definitely be missed.
Neil Best of Newsday reports that New York Times columnist Selena Roberts is leaving to go to Sports Illustrated. Apparently, ESPN had sought her services as well. He also writes that WFAN has announced that SI’s Jon Heyman will make regular appearances with Mike & the Mad Dog. Heyman had been a regular guest on Michael Kay’s show on 1050 ESPN Radio. And finally, Neil tells us that SNY has picked up the Harvard-Yale game.
Paulsen at the Sports Media Watch gives his weekend ratings predictions. And he says the NFL’s primetime TV partners are seeing lower ratings this season.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that ESPN and TNT have seen demographic rises in the ratings for the NBA and FSN has seen higher ratings for its local cablecasts. Kent Gibbons from Multichannel reports that two women, Sheila Johnson, the first woman to own stakes in three sports franchises and CBS’ Lesley Visser, were honored for their trailblazing roles today. Finally, Reynolds reports that Tennis Channel has won the rights to show an exhibition series between Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says it might have been best for Barry Bonds to actually use flaxseed instead of the clear.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that a popular Toronto sports anchor who abruptly left City-TV is apparently on her way back.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says a veteran sports anchor is heading to radio.
You’ve got a lot of links tonight. I’ll be back with some more links tomorrow morning.
