Let’s do some linkage. I had to catch up on paperwork in the morning and I’ll provide some links now. Lots of good stuff today.
We begin with Sports Business Daily and a story on ESPN starting a three part series on how the public views LeBron James? Does this require three days? The Alleged Worldwide Leader continues to provide fodder for its critics with stuff like this.
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand notes how a less than stellar Monday Night Football game beat the ALCS in the ratings.
Sean Leahy at USA Today’s The Huddle blog has Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher clarifying statements that ESPN asked him to call timeouts to get its commercials run during Monday Night Football.
Brian Lowry of Fox Sports says it’s time for baseball to bring fans closer to the action through technology.
Amir Efrati of the Wall Street Journal watches his San Francisco Giants on delay and chronicles the silly ways he prevents from finding out the score until he watches the games some 8 hours later. Thanks to Barry Pachesky of Deadspin for the link.
Jon Wertheim at Sports Illustrated says tennis needs to improve its TV coverage.
At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times says the NFL needs to relax its TV blackout policy.
At Pro Football Talk, NFL Security wants to speak with Deadspin’s AJ Daulerio.
Alex Weprin at SportsNewser says the Rose Bowl has a new presenting sponsor.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the NFL Players Association had no sense of humor and took a Twitter handle away from a group of fans.
Darren notes that a shoe banned by the NBA is now bringing its manufacturer increased business.
Darren wonders what Magic Johnson’s intentions are after the former Lakers star sold his share in the team and also liquidated his Starbucks franchises.
John Eggerton and Mike Farrell of sister publications Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News say the Cablevision/Fox dispute rolls on.
In Multichannel News, John has the FCC Chairman unhappy over the Cablevision/Fox fight.
John of B&C says Tennis Channel and Comcast are heading to arbitration.
John writes that MSG Network is willing to go to arbitration to settle its dispute with Dish Network.
Mike Shields of Mediaweek tells us that the NBA has a new social network app.
Anthony Crupi from Mediaweek says thanks to Monday Night Football, ESPN overtook TBS as the top network in the cable primetime ratings.
Mediaweek’s Katy Bachman has Massachusetts Senator John Kerry willing to step in to get the Cablevision/Fox dispute resolved.
Diego Vasquez at Media Life Magazine says nothing is new in the Cablevision/Fox dustup.
To gossip publication OK Magazine where ESPN.com and Comcast SportsNet Northwest personality Lindsay McCormick denies that she’s dating Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.
In the New York Times, Brian Stelter and Bill Carter say Cablevision and Fox are intensifying their war of words.
Brian looks at how Fox extended this fight over TV carriage to Hulu.com.
Richard Sandomir in the Times says sports fans are a huge loser as the fight between the two parties drag on.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says TBS was on top of Bengie Molina’s home run power before he hit a huge bomb against the Yankees last night.
Newsday’s Bob Glauber notes that Jenn Sterger’s attorney has had contact with the NFL in regards to the Brett Favre sexting investigation.
Newsday’s Neil Best says the ratings for the ALCS have been very good despite the Yankees being beaten to a pulp in Games 2-4.
Brendan Prunty of the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger finds the Yankees fan who was caught by TBS cameras flipping off Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz after the fan interfered with a fly ball that eventually became a home run. Thanks to Matt Sebek of Joe Sports Fan for the link.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner writes that the Ravens and DC NFL Team dominated the TV ratings in their respective local markets.
Jim says the NFL may use regional rivalries to help promote a new 18 game schedule.
Jeff Elliot of the Florida Times-Union spent time in the ESPN Monday Night Football production truck for the Tennessee-Jacksonville game.
Jim notes that the American League Championship Series is bringing in the ratings for TBS.
Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times looks at the NFL’s impressive TV ratings.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN/ABC made a mistake regarding a trivia question that should have included former Sooner running back Adrian Peterson.
Mel notes that an Oklahoma football game got beat by the NFL in the local TV ratings.
The Detroit Free Press is giddy over Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio ripping of ESPN analyst and former Lions GM Matt Millen.
Reggie Hayes of the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel speaks with ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen.
Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that the insufferable Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News was included in a book dedication by mystery author Elmore Leonard.
George Diaz in the Chicago Tribune writes that ESPN and NASCAR are searching for reasons why TV ratings are down significantly this year.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says ESPN is making the College Gameday appearance at Missouri a big event.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls (IA) Courier notes that ESPN Dictator George Bodenheimer will be making an appearance in the Hawkeye State this week.
Bob Young in the Arizona Republic talks with Dan Patrick about Fox Sports Net simulcasting his radio show.
Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star previews tomorrow’s Pac 10 meetings which will also include talks on its TV contacts.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has a look at the NFL ratings in SoCal.
From the Fairbanks (AK) Daily News-Miner, we learn that Fox Sports Northwest will be picking up 9 Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Division II basketball games.
MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez speaks with the TBS cameraman who had a close call with a broken bat during the ALCS last night.
Sports Media Watch has the Weekend Overnight Ratings.
SMW says while the media is harping on the ALCS being beat by Monday Night Football, Paulsen notes that MNF had its smallest audience since 2008.
SMW has the local ratings for the LCS.
Susan Shan asks just what is the truth in the Brett Favre/Jenn Sterger story.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Christine Simpson joins the New Jersey Devils TV crew.
Yardbarker’s Pete Vlastelica writes an open letter to explain what the Fox purchase of the blogging network means.
Dave Kohl at Major League Programs talks about some upcoming sports radio show TV simulcasts.
Mike Silva’s New York Baseball Digest has ESPN Radio New York’s Don LaGreca calling out WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton for being Yankee suckups.
And that will conclude our linkage for today.
