Time to give you some links on this Saturday. Linkage doesn’t rest for the weekend.
Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News writes that golf’s ratings will suffer without Tiger Woods, but they won’t fall off the earth.
But Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette feels viewers won’t be drawn to their TV sets without Tiger playing in the British Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup this year.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that KMOV-TV is downsizing its sports department.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News continues the golf bashing bandwagon.
Jerry Garcia of the San Antonio Express-News tells readers what a potential ESPN-NFL Network joint venture could mean for Dallas Cowboys fans.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his blog about the ESPN-NFL Network talks. And Hoffarth goes into the Johnny Miller apology regarding statements made about Rocco Mediate during NBC’s U.S. Open coverage.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that ESPN took a gamble on having its announcers for Euro 2008 in Bristol, CT instead of flying them to Austria and Switzerland.
The Sports Media Watch has its usual weekend ratings predictions.
Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable says ESPN2 wants to build a regular late night programming lineup. John Eggerton of B&C writes that Comcast feels no matter what, the NFL Network belongs on a sports tier.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Pat Summerall is recovering from emergency surgery this week. Apparently this is more serious than originally reported last night.
Candus Thomson of the Baltimore says the “X” factor could help the Olympics in popularity and ratings.
Brent Hunsberger of The Oregonian explains in his excellent Playbooks & Profits blog what the Big Ten Network-Comcast deal could mean for the Portland Trail Blazers.
And the always lovely Daryn Kagan profiles former New York Giants defensive lineman George Martin who’s finishing his walk across America to raise money for the 9/11 first responders.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back on Sunday.
