Let’s do your megalinks today. Lots to get to.
There’s the Weekend Viewing Picks which contains the sports and entertainment choices for Saturday and Sunday.
Now let’s get to the linkage. Lots of of it today.
National
From USA Today’s Game On blog, Mike McCarthy talks with the producer of new Lombardi Broadway play on the ten things we did not know about the late Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.
Michael Hiestand from USA Today talks about HBO’s foray into the NHL for the latest edition of its critically acclaimed “24/7” series.
Completing a USA Today trifecta, NHL writer Kevin Allen says bringing HBO into the fold is a big feather in the NHL’s cap.
Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated breaks news on Twitter that ESPN has hired World Cup announcer Ian Darke to be its signature voice for soccer replacing JP Dellacamera. That will include English Premier Games as well as MLS.
Stephen Wilson of the Associated Press writes that the International Olympic Committee expects to begin the bidding process for the US TV rights to the 2014/2016 Games early next year.
Forbes Magazine says ESPN is driving the Disney engine to profits.
Noah Davis at SportsNewser talk about NASCAR.com launching a new daily show.
Etan Vlesing at the Hollywood Reporter also has a story on the HBO 24/7 NHL series.
R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says NBA TV will cover the league’s first-ever “Midnight Madness” preseason practice next week.
John Consoli of Mediaweek says it’s hoped that the new HBO series on the NHL will bring new fans to the league.
Stuart Levine of Variety writes that the 24/7 series deal was done as the NHL looks ahead to signing a new TV rights deal.
All Access says a former producer with the Mike & Mike in the Morning radio show has been named program director at ESPN Radio in New York.
Kelly Dwyer at Yahoo’s Ball Don’t Lie blog profiles TNT’s Marv Albert.
Milton Kent of Fanhouse tells Ines Sainz to be a little more grateful.
CNBC’s Sports business producer Tom Rotunno lists the Top 5 Best Selling Playoff Gimmicks.
Sports Media Watch says the Philadelphia Phillies continue to set ratings records for Comcast SportsNet.
At Puck The Media, Steve Lepore provides his thoughts on HBO’s entrance into the NHL.
To Yahoo’s Puck Daddy and Greg Wyshynski who looks at what the Washington Capitals can expect to get from the HBO 24/7 series.
Yahoo’s Big League Stew blog talks with “Baseball” director Ken Burns in the latest edition of its podcast.
Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball is intrigued by MLB’s At Bat mobile app upgrade which now allows you to order food at the ballpark.
East and Mid-Atlantic
The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn says NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman could not hide his glee after signing with HBO.
At the Springfield (MA) Republican, Amanda Bruno gets on NESN for not airing Wednesday’s Bruins debut of rookie Tyler Seguin (scroll down).
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times has a fascinating article on the discovery of long lost TV footage of the 1960 World Series Game 7 between the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. Expect MLB Network to air during the offseason.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudamire becomes the first team member to be featured in a new ESPN NBA promo.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says the Jets will be under NBC’s scrutiny on Sunday night. Whatever, Bob. Make more stuff up.
Phil Mushnick at the New York Post isn’t a fan of the standard press release apology.
Pete Doughety at the Albany Times Union has the MLB Network schedule through Saturday.
Laura Nachman says the Phillies are cleaning up in Philadelphia.
Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Penguins are happy to be on HBO.
Bob Smizik of the Post-Gazette says rumors are swirling about the demise of the ESPN Radio affiliate in the Steel City.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog looks at the HBO 24/7 NHL series from the Capitals point of view.
Dan has video of a new NFL apparel ad featuring DC NFL team owner Daniel Snyder and actress Alyssa Milano.
Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks about the new HBO series on the Penguins and Capitals.
Jim says the Wizards will be the focus of NBA TV’s coverage of the first practices of the season.
Jim says the NFL is trying to enhance the fan experience at games.
South
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times has NBC’s Tony Dungy listing his three favorite TV shows.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes that the Miami Dolphins are going all out to attract fans to come to the game.
Sarah says Miami Heat game tickets go on sale next week.
Shannon Owens of the Orlando Sentinel wonders if Ines Sainz should have brought up her issue with the Jets to begin with.
Dave Williams of the Atlanta Business Journal says Chik-fil-A has signed an extension with ESPN keeping its football games on the Alleged Worldwide Leader.
Dave Walker of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says ESPN will catch up with a former Saints special teams player for Sunday NFL Countdown.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle has Fox’s Joe Buck waxing poetic on the old Oilers.
In the Daily Oklahoman, Mel Bracht says the Oklahoma City Thunder will be featured NBA TV’s training camp coverage.
Midwest
The Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Kiesewetter has info for those who want to watch the World Equestrian Games being held in Lexington, KY.
Michael Rothstein of AnnArbor.com chronicles the visit of ESPN2’s SportsNation to the University of Michigan this week.
The Muncie (IN) Star Press says Ball State students will be producing content for Fox College Sports.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.
Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a closer look at ESPN’s high powered goal line cameras that will be used in Monday’s Packers-Bears game.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Jack Clark will not work for Fox Sports Midwest for the rest of the Cardinals season.
Dan also looks at the new addition to Ken Burns’ PBS Baseball documentary.
West
Chadd Cripe of the Idaho Statesman talks with ESPN/ABC’s Brent Musburger about the Oregon State-Boise State matchup which he will call on Saturday.
The Statesman is excited about College Gameday’s visit to Boise on Saturday.
John Maffei from the North County Times says with local blackout looming in San Diego, it might be wise to invest in NFL Network’s RedZone.
Helene Elliot of the Los Angeles Times notes that long-time Kings announcer Bob Miller is looking forward to his 38th season with the team.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has Dick Enberg being excited over his first season calling the San Diego Padres.
Tom has his news and notes in his blog.
And that will conclude the megalinks for today.
