It’s Thursday already? Man, this week is flying by fast. Let’s do some linkage.
We begin with Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated who says Keith Olbermann was contrite when his return to ESPN2 was announced.
Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead breaks news that Olbermann may make some more buzz for ESPN by hosting a week of SportsCenter starting August 19, which by the way is during the first full week for Fox Sports 1.
Steve Lepore at SB Nation’s Puck the Media wonders if Keithy can attract younger viewers to the 11 p.m. ET slot.
Jim Williams feels Olbermann needed to return to ESPN to make his life circle complete.
The mysterious Nikki Finke at Deadline says Disney’s higher-ups signed off on Olberman’s return.
Jeff Bercovici at Forbes asks if Olby can reign himself in during this second stint with ESPN.
ESPN’s Front Row PR blog has network Executive Vice President of Programming and Olbermann’s first SportsCenter producer Norby Williamson talking about why K.O. is coming back.
Karl Taro Greenburg at Bloomberg Businessweek looks at Fox Sports 1’s strategy to combat ESPN.
Terry Lefton of Sports Business Journal says the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NFL Network have quietly signed a new deal.
Cynopsis Media has its daily roundup of sports media and marketing.
Back to Sports Illustrated where Bill Squadron of Sportvision discusses one of sports television’s greatest innovations, the 1st and 10 line.
Stuart Kemp of the Hollywood Reporter says BBC’s Director General will not take action against sportscaster John Inverdale who made sexist comments about Wimbledon Ladies Champion Marion Bartoli.
Tim Baysinger at Broadcasting & Cable notes the All-Star Game’s ratings were even with last year.
The always lovely Jackie Pepper compares the media coverage of Johnny Manziel’s exploits to the comments made by Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose.
Paulsen at Sports Media Watch lists the Top 50 Most Viewed Sporting Events of 2013 to date.
Over to Ed Sherman at the Sherman Report who says Mike Tirico has a unique golf schedule for ESPN.
Do you want to work for TMZ Sports and taskmaster Harvey Levin? They’re hiring.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times explores Keith Olbermann’s return to ESPN.
Newsday’s Neil Best also has a blurb on Olbermann’s ESPN comeback.
Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette has CBS Sports Network’s schedule for the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News has the launch date for the new SEC Network.
David Barron with the Houston Chronicle looks at Keith Olbermann’s volatile past with ESPN.
The Oklahoman’s Mel Bracht says it’s no coincidence Olbermann’s new show is launching just as Fox Sports 1 is getting off the ground.
Mel says last year’s Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game will be part of an ESPNU college football marathon.
Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business says the Bears are launching their own TV show.
Landon Hemsley at the Deseret (UT) News says viewers may not be able to see Utah-Utah State on Fox Sports 1 if carriage negotiations don’t progress.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News also writes about the Keith Olbermann ESPN resurrection.
The Fingerman blog wonders why the Washington Post sent reporters to Europe to cover tennis and golf at the expense of the NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Michael Berkens of The Domains says NBC/Comcast has sold its old “Versus.com” domain name for six figures. They don’t need the name anymore.
That’s going to do it.
