Before I was interrupted and called away from the office, I was in the midst of doing the Friday Megalinks and was on a roll. Unfortunately, I had to stop where I was. Well, I have time now and I’ll finish what I started.
I’ll see if I can add to the National and Eastern links.
National
NBC’s Bob Neumeier has been hospitalized in Lexington, KY after collapsing during NBC’s production of the Kentucky Oaks on Bravo today.
With the Kentucky Derby coming up, CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks horses. Darren also talks with the lovely Danica Patrick.
Joe Favorito says companies that donate equipment for certain causes is one of the best methods of branding.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says CBS College Sports will be Tweeting at the same time it’s airing certain events.
Over at Puck The Media, James writes of his horror stories trying to find Versus during his travels across the USA.
The Associated Press says ESPN and ABC will be using a new Rob Thomas song for its NBA package.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe reports that NESN Red Sox analyst Jerry Remy has flown home from Tampa after contracting symptoms that kept him out of the booth earlier this spring. Remy missed several games during Spring Training and also missed last night’s game. Buck Martinez is filling in for him for the series.
Dan Lamonthe of the acclaimed Red Sox Monster blog will make an appearance on WEEI and Comcast SportsNet come Saturday morning.
Newsday’s Neil Best writes that Michael Strahan is becoming more of a TV personality rather than remaining an ex-football player. Neil writes that SNY has debuted its closed captioning during tonight’s Mets-Phillies game.
Stu Hackel from the New York Times says NHL officials are hiding under their desks, not commenting over Versus’ refusal to air the end of the Devils-Hurricanes Game 7 after its coverage of the Rangers-Capitals game.
A Pittsburgh sports radio host was told to stay home over fears he has the Swine Flu.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Post says the NHL is happy over its TV ratings and visits to its website for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that NBC loves broadcasting the Kentucky Derby.
South
Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot feels the hype for the Kentucky Derby is too much.
Joseph Person of The State says the University of South Carolina is looking for a new basketball and baseball play-by-play man.
Barry Jackson in the Miami Herald writes that Dolphin Stadium is about to get a new name and I can already hear the jokes.
Andrew Adler of the Louisville Courier-Journal says NBC is now marketing the Kentucky Derby to women.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Texas Rangers star Josh Hamilton is in a new “This is SportsCenter” promo.
Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News writes that Mavs fans will have to put up with TNT and ESPN if they want to watch their team in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Barry looks forward to watching Game 7 of the Celtics-Bull series on Saturday.
Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle says a former Rockets TV analyst has passed away.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says former Oklahoma City Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo has praise for his replacement. Mel has his weekly sports media notebook.
Midwest
George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal says Fox Sports Ohio has a reason to love the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News waxes poetic about Gillette’s sponsorship of various sports.
Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press is worried about ESPN’s Chicago-centric website.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that the Brewers have extended their TV deal with Fox Sports Wisconsin.
Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business talks with WGN-TV’s sports production chief Bob Vorwald. Ed says White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone would like to continue to work on sports radio station WSCR. Ed also talks with Steve.
Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin wr
ites that a local cheerleading team having various disabilities will be featured on the Big Ten Network this weekend.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the newest sports radio station in the market is last among the three in the ratings. Dan has the local sports radio numbers from the last ratings period.
West
John Maffei of the North County Times says local blackouts of the Anaheim Ducks are only hurting the NHL, not helping it.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says KLAA Lakers analyst Dean Merrill also has a higher calling. Jim also goes over ESPN’s and NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes about his experience calling a minor league baseball game for the first time this week. Tom has more thoughts on how he did in his blog. Tom talks with Jim Rome as he was about to watch the horse he owns race at Hollywood Park. Tom reviews the week in blogging.
Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes that two of the University of Washington’s first three football games have been picked up by national TV.
Canada
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says there’s potential for another black eye for hockey with a possible NBC switch away from the Pittsburgh-Washington game on Saturday. Chris writes that TSN will actually air the CFL Draft for the first time on Saturday.
And we’re done.
