I’ll do a few links for you this evening.
I’ll start with a strange story that surfaced today from a University of Maryland journalism class during which ESPN Vice President and Executive Editor John Walsh made some rather strange statements about Deadspin’s John Koblin over the Lynn Hoppes plagiarism situation. Deadspin has raised issues of Hoppes lifting material from Wikipedia. In the journalism class, student Mark Sanchez asked Walsh about Hoppes and the plagiarism. Walsh then made puzzling statements that Koblin was angry that Hoppes stole his girlfriend. This is quite interesting except that Koblin is gay. The whole thing came out on Twitter in this very interesting thread. John Koblin later talked with Walsh who denied making the statements. One of the strangest stories I’ve ever seen this year or any other year.
A story that broke Wednesday night, Michael Hiestand of USA Today reports that CBS/Turner might get permission to use ESPN’s Dick Vitale on the NCAA Tournament and team him with Charles Barkley.
ESPN has gained the rights to air the NBA in the UK and Ireland.
Jason Howerton at The Blaze writes that Bob Costas and Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly had a discussion on guns.
Dave Scott from ESPN’s Front Row public relations blog notes that Sean McDonough is recovering from surgery to correct a rare ear condition.
Tom Van Riper of Forbes says former ESPN’er Brian Kenny brings a big network feel to MLB Network.
Reuters has a Disney executive crowing about ESPN ad sales being ahead of last year’s pace.
David Goetzl from MediaPost notes that SodaStream will advertise in Super Bowl XLVII on CBS.
Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age looks at the companies buying time in the Super Bowl.
Ed Sherman from The Sherman Report talks with former Fox Sports Vice Chairman Ed Goren about a career that spans many decades back to his days with CBS.
Ed also has former New York Times writer Robert Lipsyte discussing Bob Costas’ halftime commentary on Sunday Night Football.
Dee McVicker from Radio World says ESPN has been studying consumers’ cross-platform habits.
SportsRantz notes that Cumulus Media has purchased radio stations that ensures that CBS Sports Radio will be heard on FM in the nation’s top three markets.
Matthew Kitchen of Esquire talks with ESPN’s Samantha Steele.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has video of a Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic anchor mocked LeBron James after the Washington Wizards defeated the Miami Heat last night.
Sports Media Watch says the SEC Championship Game on CBS did really well in the ratings.
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton went out on a limb to say the NHL Lockout could be resolved.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News talks about Fox’s spending spree reaching to Cleveland.
Jerry Barmash from Fishbowl New York notes that the Jets are staying with ESPN Radio NY for years to come.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the Week 14 NFL TV Schedule.
Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says TV rights fees help teams spend on free agents.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner delves into a Sports Business Journal report stating that Fox Sports was interested in buying MASN.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with former Astros analyst Jim Deshaies about leaving for the Chicago Cubs.
The Chronicle prints a press release stating that ESPN’er Steve Bunin is joining Comcast SportsNet Houston.
Mel Bracht in The Oklahoman has the weekend TV ratings for Oklahoma City.
Jay Miller at Crain’s Cleveland Business speculates about the sale of Sports Time Ohio to Fox Sports. Your humble blogger is quoted in the story. (subscription might be required)
Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch says the extra cash from STO’s sale may not help the Dolan family which owns the Cleveland MLB team.
Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch notes that ESPN’s Samantha Steele is now engaged.
Chris Kue of the Chicago Tribune has Jim Deshaies looking forward to being the new Cubs analyst.
Lewis Lazare at the Chicago Business Journal says Comcast SportsNet Chicago has hired a new news director.
Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune writes that the Raiders are shooting down any rumors of ESPN’s Jon Gruden coaching the team once again.
Jeff Blair from the Toronto Globe and Mail talks about the late Blue Jays voice Tom Cheek being bestowed a Baseball Hall of Fame honor posthumously.
At Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, Greg Wyshynski speculates on how many games would be played if the NHL Lockout ever gets resolved.
I think that will end our linkage for the night.
