Since I had to go out this morning and just got back now, time for me to give you some of the Saturday links now.
Jerry Garcia of the San Antonio Express-News writes that 96% of the country with the exceptions of Houston and Cleveland will get the Pats-Colts tomorrow. But Garcia makes a mistake in his story stating that CBS will televise Super Bowl XLII. Fox will get the honors this season. CBS did Super Bowl XLI back in February. William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBS is putting the Pats-Colts wherever it can. Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says not only is this a matchup of undefeated teams, but commercial pitchmen in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Some shocking news out of the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials today. Favorite Ryan Shay collapsed and died, just 5.5 miles into the race. The death cast a pall over the marathon which was won by Ryan Hall. And a bad job by NBC by not mentioning the incident during its highlights show. Just typical of NBC Sports. During the 1996 Olympics after the Olympic Park bombing, NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol did not allow any mention of it during his broadcasts.
From the Dallas Morning News, Barry Horn talks with ESPN’s NASCAR voice, Dr. Jerry Punch.
Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notices the female influence on ESPN’s NASCAR telecasts.
Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes that three University of Wisconsin officials feel the Big Ten Network is good for their school and the state. And Walker says Milwaukee bars that have BTN are doing good business today. Patricia Babcock McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald writes that even without Comcast, the Big Ten Network will be good for women’s sports. Jeff Richgels and Jason McMahon of the Capital (WI) Times write that a small cable company has picked up BTN while Charter continues to hold out. Adam Mertz of the same paper wonders if the Big Ten Network will eventually lead to conference expansion. Tom Miller of the Janesville (WI) Gazette says Badgers fans are fed up and are turning to satellite TV in order to get the Big Ten Network.
William Pack of the San Antonio Express-News reports that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is lashing out at Time Warner Cable for not picking up the NFL Network.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar writes that today’s Missouri-Colorado game has been shuffled from Midwest powerhouse KMOX-AM to a station that has a very weak nighttime signal.
Newsday’s Neil Best is on vacation and tells us he’s spending his time watching old hockey clips on YouTube.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star has an interview with Canadian John Saunders of ESPN.
Brian Hendrickson of The Columbian (WA) says Portland Trail Blazers fans can only watch the team’s games on Comcast SportsNet NW and it’s only available on Comcast systems for the time being.
Those are your links for today. I’ll have your NFL picks coming up later today. Also coming up this weekend, the Sunday morning links, Videos of the Week and a review of the season premiere of The Amazing Race 12. Lots of stuff on the weekend. Who says blogging can’t be done on the weekends?
