Let’s do the Thursday links. Been up since 4 a.m. and I’m already dragging, but you don’t care. You want links so let’s provide them.
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy has ESPN’s Mel Kiper really down on NFL quarterback prospect Cam Newton.
Mike says ESPN and Sunday NFL Countdown analyst Cris Carter are negotiating a new contract.
Louisa Ada Seltzer at Media Life Magazine says college basketball is the main attraction on TV this week.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser notes that Apple TV picks up two sports out of market packages.
Jesse Lawrence at the Business Insider’s Sports Page says Madison Square Garden and New York are back as the Mecca of Basketball.
Multichannel News says Big Ten Network is running a sweepstakes tied to the Big Ten Tournament.
Dan Fogarty from SportsGrid has audio of WFAN’s Mike Francesa going ballistic after the Rutgers-St. John’s game which had an absolutely bizarre ending.
Brad Cohen of SportsGrid says a Philadelphia sports radio host unwittingly threw on “F” bomb on live TV.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the once harmonious NFL labor talks have now gotten stuck over financials.
Darren writes that a Miami bar owner is losing money over the Heat’s current six game losing streak.
Darren explains why Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel should have been fined more for covering up NCAA violations.
Newsday’s Neil Best raves about ESPN Films’ new documentary on Michigan’s Fab Five.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has CBS’ Gus Johnson and Clark Kellogg talking about Penn State’s chances to get into the NCAA Tournament.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call talks with Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia’s 76ers sideline reporter Meredith Marakovits about her first season on the job.
Keith Gabriel of the Philadelphia Daily News says the MLS’ Union is talking with Comcast SportsNet Philly to put most of its games on the regional sports network.
John Smallwood of the Daily News wonders if Charles Barkley will make CBS and Turner regret using him on the NCAA Tournament.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with Turner’s Marv Albert who gets to call the NCAA Tournament again after a nearly 30 year absence, although Marv did call college basketball with NBC throughout the 1980’s.
The Pee Dee (SC) Morning News says ESPN wants people to attend a live appearance of Mike & Mike in the Morning when it comes to Myrtle Beach next month.
Gary Smits of the Florida Times-Union says a relaxation of PGA Tour rules on groupings has allowed for a marquee trio to appear on Golf Channel today and tomorrow.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says the local sports radio talk show host who was arrested on DUI charges last week has now been suspended by his station.
Ed says the Big Ten Network has finally unveiled who’s the top Conference icon of all-time.
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Sun-Times says the local host has been suspended for the rest of the week.
Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says CBS-owned WCCO-AM has lost the rights to University of Minnesota sports after a 7 decade relationship.
The Canadian Press says CBC has a new executive director for its sports properties.
And the Canadian Press says a former head of CBC Sports now has a position with the Commonwealth Games.
The Canadian Sports Media blog goes over the controversial comments made by a Toronto sports radio host in regards to International Women’s Day.
The Toronto Sports Media blog looks at more lineup changes at one local sports radio station.
Ben Koo of Awful Announcing looks at the migration of sports from free TV to cable.
New York Sports Journalism feels online viewing of March Madness will surge this year.
Emmett Jones at Sports Business Digest says Domino’s Pizza has signed an endorsement deal with the NCAA.
Sports Media Watch has some various NBA ratings notes.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says Versus had another good ratings month for the NHL.
Joe Favorito says there’s plenty of sponsor value to be had in March Madness.
And we are ending it there.
