Let’s do the Monday links. I can’t believe my work productivity since I stopped interacting on Twitter during the workday. I’m now ahead of my work after being a month and a half behind. Who knew? Anyway, let’s do the linkage.
Leading off with the Sports Business Journal and a story from John Ourand that absolutely bears watching. It appears DirecTV after dropping Comcast-owned G4 earlier this year, is targeting another one of its networks, Golf Channel. John says Golf Channel could be removed as early as next Friday.
John also reports that Major League Soccer is seeking $20 million a year from Fox Soccer Channel, a seven-fold increase from what it’s currently receiving. MLS has to be realistic here.
Sports Business Daily’s Austin Karp looks at the overnight ratings for the NFL’s TV partners for Week 15.
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says Donovan McNabb provided plenty of fodder for the NFL pregame shows and he notes that tennis analyst Mary Carillo is no longer with ESPN.
At Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio talks about his new deal with NBC.
To the Nieman Journalism Lab where Jason Fry predicts what lies ahead for journalism in 2011.
Lindsay Powers from the Hollywood Reporter writes that fantasy football is helping to spur the NFL’s ratings renaissance.
George Winslow at Broadcasting & Cable notes that Turner Sports has relaunched NCAA.com as of today.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that ESPN is making so much money off college football that it can run the games commercial-free and still make a profit. Interesting.
At SportsNewser, Noah Davis writes that American Express is back as an NBA sponsor after a five year absence.
Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has today’s cover of the New York Post.
Mark J. Miller at Yahoo’s Scoop du Jour notes that CBS’ Bill Cowher may be looking at three teams to coach next season.
Bill Carter of the New York Times explores the rapid rise in ratings for the NFL.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette writes that Fox Sports Radio is making a change in its morning show.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union complains that ESPN is making too much out of UConn’s attempt to break UCLA’s college basketball consecutive win streak.
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun reviews Fox’s production of yesterday’s Saints-Ravens game.
To the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog and Dan Steinberg who looks at the rather playful feud between DC Mayor-elect Vincent Gray and DC NFL team radio voice Larry Michael.
Dan says Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau asked HBO’s cameras to leave before his now-infamous 15 F-bomb barrage that was captured on 24/7 Capitals/Penguins.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has a review of the weekend in sports television.
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says MLB Network looks back at the 1975 season tonight which has special meaning for Reds fans.
At the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley tells us that he enjoys watching NBC’s Football Night in America.
Bob talks about the overnight ratings for last night’s Sunday Night Football game.
Bob says ESPN’s Trent Dilfer has diagnosed what’s wrong with the Green Bay Packers.
In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman handicaps the possible replacements for the late Ron Santo on Cubs games on WGN-AM.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes has signed a new contract to remain with the team.
Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times goes behind the scenes with ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post feels Tim Tebow’s debut with the Broncos should lead to high ratings in the Rocky Mountain region.
John Meyer from the Post says a local triathlete found many friends wanting to watch NBC’s feature on her during its coverage of the Ironman Triathlon this past Saturday.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has this week’s SoCal sports calendar.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC’s Ron MacLean practically held new NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Donald Fehr’s hand during a rather referential interview on Saturday.
Ty Duffy at The Big Lead has a very good post on how some colleges stand to lose a lot of money over bad mandatory ticket deals for bowl games.
Crossing Broad has the Eagles radio call of yesterday’s Miracle at the Meadowlands II or III, whatever it’s being called.
Awful Announcing has the calls from legendary Eagles voice Merrill Reese of at least three Miracles at the Meadowlands. I’ve been informed there could be as many as four. Do Eagles fans want to give me five?
Over to Sox & Dawgs where Ian Bethune has the video of Patriots offensive lineman Dan Connolly rumbling 71 yards for a kickoff return that changed the complexion of last night’s game with the Packers.
And I’m being rushed by my boss to do something so this will do it for now.
