Today, this blog received a nice mention from Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch in his Media Awards for 2007. In the “Best Non-Corporate Sports Web Site”, Fang’s Bites received an Honorable Mention. Pro Football Talk was named the best in the category and deservedly so. I can’t complain being mentioned with Awful Announcing, Fire Joe Morgan, MinnPost.com, Dan Shanoff, Sports Media Watch and Sports Media Guide. And the Runners-up which consist of The Big Lead, Boston Sports Media Watch and SportsJournalists.com are all deserving as well. Ten years ago, blogs did not exist and really exploded in the last five years. There’s room for everyone and I thank Richard for his mention of this site which launched two years ago, but after a one year break, I started up in earnest again and it’s been a lot of fun. And thanks to the regular visitors and those visiting for the first time. I hope you have liked what you have seen and I look forward to serving you in 2008.
So let’s get to the links.
The Poinsettia Bowl is on as I write this entry. Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner writes in his Watch This! blog that you can not only see it on ESPN, but also on your cell phone if you so choose. And Williams writes a column for the Examiner wondering if the NHL is starting its own New Year’s Day tradition.
And Terry Frei of the Denver Post writes for ESPN.com wondering if fans will watch the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell reviews the 50 Most Influential Sports People in Sports Business in 2007 as compiled by Sports Business Journal.
Bruce Allen of the aforementioned Boston Sports Media Watch tells us what it was like watching the Steelers-Patriots game while on vacation in Mexico.
Newsday’s Neil Best who was honored by Richard Deitsch in the Mainstream Sports Media Bloggers category along with the LA Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth and AOL’s Michael David Smith, says the NFL has flexed the Chiefs-Jets game out of primetime next Sunday, December 30.
The aforementioned Deitsch also gives us the Top Ten Most Bizarre Media Moments and Stories of 2007. Some have been mentioned here in this blog over the year.
ESPN tells us about the features that will be seen on Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown.
Shall we move to NFL Network news? Yeah, why not. Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News reports that Time Warner Cable has refused an offer by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to enter binding arbitration to get the Patriots-Giants game on its lineup. Steve Donohue of Multichannel writes that Cablevision has added ESPN2HD to its lineup.
John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable writes in his blog about the political posturing before the Pats-Giants game. John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes in his Morning Buzz blog that the NFL’s desperation leading up to the Pats-Giants matchup is beginning to wear thin. Sandy Penner of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin says the NFL vs. Cable is a battle of greed.
King Kaufman of Salon.com talks with NFL Network host Rich Eisen about his new book.
TV Week’s Chris Pursell provides the broadcast and announcing team lineups for each and every college bowl in his Pressbox blog.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Lifestyle writer C.J. has a video looking behind-the-scenes at the taping of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption at the Metrodome on Monday.
ESPN has gotten a bit bigger buying the resources of SchoolSports Inc., a high school sports media company.
And the Lancaster (OH) Eagle-Gazette reports that Time Warner Cable is adding something to its lineup, FSN Ohio HD and the NHL Network.
With that, the Steelers have beaten the Rams, 41-24 and I’m going to bed. Good night. Friday megalinks will be up sometime in the afternoon or possibly in the evening.
