Let’s give you some links on this Saturday. I have some work to do, but I’ll get the linkage out of the way first.
Rarely do I start the links with Barry Horn, but I’m going to today. He writes in his weekly column that the NFL is back with the Scouting Combine, all of it on NFL Network. Late yesterday, Barry broke the news that Emmitt Smith would not be returning to ESPN.
Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram also writes about Smith’s departure. Ray reviews the HBO documentary on Duke-North Carolina.
The Star-Telegram has the TV schedule for the Texas Rangers.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman wonders if the lovely Stacey Dales pulled the wrong move like Trev Alberts did (remember him?).
Patricia Babcock-McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald says Stacey’s leaving ESPN smacks of a diva. Ok.
Can Inman of the Contra Costa (CA) Times says Jon Gruden has become must see TV on the NFL Network.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reviews the week in blogging and includes a link to Fang’s Bites! Thanks, Tom.
Christopher Bryne in the Eye on Sports Media blog has part 3 of a guest column written by a WWE techie who helped to put on a road show for our fine men and women serving in Iraq.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette talks with ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla who will be in town to call the BracketBusters game between Northern Iowa and Siena on ESPN2.
Dave Zaleski of the Muncie (IN) Star-Press says some are questioning the value of ESPN’s BracketBusters.
Jon Lafayette of TV Week writes that Infiniti has signed on to be the exclusive sponsor of Big Ten and SEC basketball.
The always lovely Lisa Guerrero writes for the Los Angeles Times that Alex Rodriguez not only cheated on baseball, but on all of us.
Laura Nachman writes that a Philly sports radio personality named his son after Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels.
Patricia Sheridan from the Toledo Blade talks with NBC/MLB Network’s Bob Costas.
Joe Lemire of Sports Illustrated says MLB Network is off to a great start.
The Inside Track girls of the Boston Herald catch up with one of their favorite subjects, former NESN hottie Hazel Mae now of the MLB Network.
KTAR.com says the Arizona Diamondbacks will have 150 games carried on Fox Sports Arizona this season.
Joe Favorito says the next generation of virtual signage could be right on the back or front of a shaven head. Really! Joe says College Baseball Opening Day missed a big branding opportunity.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon’s money is locked in Stanford Financial. Darren wonders if there’s a Stanford Financial jinx. Darren has a clarification on where Damon and teammate Xavier Nady have their money invested in Stanford Financial. Darren says New Jersey Nets guard Eduardo Najera is happy to have taken his money out of Stanford Financial several months ago.
Dave Hughes of the great DCRTV website writes for the Baltimore Press Box site on some local sports media news and notes.
Jim Williams of the DC Examiner writes that college basketball, hockey, NASCAR and lacrosse dominate the weekend viewing.
Russell Adams of the Wall Street Journal writes about ESPN launching various local sports websites to provide what local newspapers can’t.
Eric Benderoff and Eric Gwynn of the Chicago Tribune say the new ESPN Chicago site will be staffed mostly by freelance writers.
Dave Davies of the Chico (CA) Enterprise-Record talks with Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Mindi Bach who hails from the Chico area.
Lois Weinert of the Green Valley (AZ) News & Sun talks with former ABC and CBS Sports and current Fox Sports Arizona broadcaster Gary Bender.
Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun says Flames voice Peter Maher looks fondly toward his home of Campbellton which is where today’s Hockey Day in Canada broadcast is based for CBC.
Daniel McHardie of CBC.ca says Don Cherry made a surprise visit to the Campbellton Middle School.
And there you have it. Plenty of links for today.
