Ok, I have some time to do some blogging this evening and I figure I’ll do the Friday megalinks, something which has been sorely lacking here. Let’s get cracking on the links.
As always, you can check the Weekend Viewing Picks for all of your weekend in sports and primetime TV.
Now let’s do your linkage.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate whether the U.S. Army should be throwing $7 million at sponsoring NASCAR.
Speaking of NASCAR, Hiestand talks about Fox using a new camera at the Daytona 500 that can pick up heat fluctuations.
At Quickish, Dan Shanoff feels the new Captain Blowhard project at ESPN.com will succeed.
Andrea Morabito of Broadcasting & Cable looks at Fox Soccer Channel extending its rights deal with Major League Soccer.
Ryan Ballengee of NBC’s Pro Golf Talk says Golf Channel’s Jim Gray was clearly in the wrong to interrupt golfer Dustin Johnson during the 1st round of the Northern Trust Open. Following Gray’s interview with Johnson, the reporter got into a heated argument with Johnson’s caddie which led to Golf Channel removing him from the broadcast for the rest of the weekend.
Emma Carmichael at Deadspin finds an excerpt from a 1990 book which recounts an incident where former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mario Soto found a way to get revenge on Jay Mariotti.
Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid notes that Tony Kornheiser is wary of blogs and the internet in general. Whatever. Mr. Tony really shouldn’t be talking anymore.
Sports Media Watch notes that the PGA’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am got a big ratings increase from last year for CBS.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says gets info from NBC Sports how Hockey Day in America will be presented on Sunday.
Awful Announcing has the video of an awkward interview between TNT’s Craig Sager and Washington Wizards rookie John Wall.
Joe Favorito says the New Jersey Devils are bringing fans closer to the game by allowing them to live tweet during games at the game and bring bloggers and broadcasters into the mix.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says a new ruling regarding the use of likenesses could allow athletes to go after video game manufacturers.
Fred Hickman, formerly of CNN, ESPN, YES and Fox Sports Net, has launched his own media training company for athletes. The question is, will Fred actually show up for his training sessions? Fred’s reputation precedes him.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn at the Boston Globe wonders what’s going on at WEEI?
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette also discusses the WEEI lineup changes.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that New York Mets tickets are selling well despite the team’s troubles on and off the field.
The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir looks at a new Broadway sports play being produced by the same people who brought “Lombardi” to the Great White Way.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Times attacks ESPN for allowing its personalities to sign endorsement contracts.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says Mets owner Fred Wilpon is not ducking questions about convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff.
Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says NASCAR has to learn to be able to take punches when people like Tony Kornheiser make silly statements about their sport.
Pete has a composite Spring Training TV schedule.
In Press Box, Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com says the effects of the Orioles leaving the CBS Radio-owned sports station are still being felt now.
Dave talks with former Baltimore Sun sports media writer Ray Frager who’s now the managing editor at the CSN Baltimore and CSN Washington websites.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says NFL Network will be all over the Scouting Combine next week.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times talks about Kornheiser’s NASCAR comments and other sports media issues.
The Chattanoogan previews ESPN’s new documentary on Tennessee’s first African-American quarterback.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Fox will have plenty of storylines for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that the late Dale Earnhardt still casts a big shadow over NASCAR.
Kirk Bohls from the Austin American-Statesman says the traditional Texas-Texas A&M Thanksgiving Night football game might be moved to accommodate the Big 12’s TV contract.
Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman talks with Turner Sports’ Kevin McHale about the NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competition.
Mel has his media notebook featuring Fox Sports MLB primetime games.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter from the Cincinnati Enquirer says former Reds teammates Eduardo Perez and Barry Larkin are reunited at ESPN.
Micheal Zuidema at the Grand Rapids (MI) Press talks with an area native who covers NASCAR for the Motor Racing Network.
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Sun-Times looks at how Comcast is bringing NBC to work together with its sports networks.
Neal Justin of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that the Minnesota Twins have gone all-cable with its new TV deal with Fox Sports North .
Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that the whole Albert Pujols contract dispute with the Cardinals has become a feeding media frenzy.
West
The Salt Lake Tribune notes that Fox Soccer Channel will pick up a couple of Real Salt Lake MLS games.
John Maffei at the North County Times marks the 25th anniversary of the great movie, “Hoosiers”.
John talks about how NASCAR’s Super Bowl takes place at the beginning of the season, not at the end.
Jim Carlisle from the Ventura County Star says the new Los Angeles Lakers channel to be run by Time Warner Cable is a gamechanger.
Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times talks about Jim Gray’s dismissal from the Northern Trust Open.
Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News says the Time Warner-Lakers deal will have far-reaching effects.
Tom catches up on the two weeks in sports media and has his extensive media news and notes.
Tom also writes about Jim Gray being sent home by Golf Channel.
Jon Wilner from the San Jose Mercury News has an extensive look at the Pac 12 TV negotiations.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail notes that CBC’s announcers for the Heritage Classic differ on how the game will affect Montreal and Calgary down the line.
The Canadian Sports Media blog notes that curling is back on TSN this weekend.
And we are done.
