Let’s get to some links. We had a lot late last night so let’s see what we have now.
Starting with USA Today, Michael Hiestand writes that CBS will not do any extra hype for Sunday’s New England-Indianapolis game which is good. If Fox or ESPN had the game, you would see hype up the ying-yang, but CBS prefers to let the game speak for itself.
Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher should talk to the media instead of by-passing reporters.
James Day of the Salem (OR) Statesman Journal says ESPN and the Pac 10 decided to make Saturday’s Arizona State-Oregon a national broadcast.
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times says if Joe Torre is hired by the Dodgers as manager, he would bring back a celebrity quotient to the games.
From the Raleigh News & Observer, Tim Simmons writes that Taco Bell got plenty of publicity for some mentions of free tacos thanks to the World Series.
David Scott & Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer write that if Time Warner gets the naming rights for the Bobcats arena, it could give up the cable TV rights and have Fox Sports South gain them.
John Denton of Florida Today says the Orlando Magic’s first game which will be aired on Fox Sports Net Florida will not be carried by Bright House Cable. Dick Scanlon of the Lakeland Ledger writes about the FSN-Bright House dispute.
The Arkansas-Tennessee game on November 10 will be carried on Lincoln Financial Sports. In other SEC news, the Georgia-Auburn game will be picked up by CBS Sports for the 3:30 p.m. ET slot on the same day. From the WAC, Brian McInnis of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin says a decision will be made today whether ESPN will pick up the Hawaii-Fresno game.
The Waterbury Republican-American’s Ed Daigneault says UConn’s athletic director feels ESPN is using the school as a pawn in an attempt to get ESPNU carried on Comcast. Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford Courant has another version on the UConn/ESPNU/Comcast story. And Chip Malafronte from the New Haven Register has more on UConn being angry at ESPN.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talks with ESPN NBA analysts Hubie Brown and Jeff Van Gundy about the Bucks. And from Tuesday, Wolfley says ESPN spent too much time deferring to Packers QB Brett Favre.
Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle says Bay Area fans have a dilemma this Sunday. The Texans-Raiders game is not sold out and if it’s not by the Thursday deadline, CBS will beam Patriots-Colts instead. Mark Gillispie of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the local CBS affiliate won’t be able to show New England-Indianapolis despite not carrying the Browns this Sunday. David Heuschkel of the Hartford Courant talks with Jim Nantz and Bill Cowher of CBS Sports about the Patriots running up the score.
Neil Best of Newsday writes that the Yankees allowed ESPN into its conference call announcing Joe Girardi as manager.
Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune writes that Comcast SportsNet and the Blackhawks have obtained a sponsor to present the team’s home games starting November 11. Tim Cronin of the Chicago Daily Southtown says it’s time the Blackhawks show its home games on local TV.
Jim Benton of the Rocky Mountain News has three questions for ESPN’s Suzy Kolber. Chuck Abrams from Insider Racing wonders what’s causing apathy towards NASCAR. Jon Lafayette of TV Week says ESPN/ABC’s overall ratings for NASCAR might be dipping, but it’s pointing to a rise in ratings for certain demographics.
Here’s ESPN’s press release touting its “multi-platform” approach to the NBA which will include carrying games on ESPN360, cell phones, live audio on ESPN.com and sending games to your home phone. I’m joking about that last part, but you just never know what ESPN is thinking.
Maury Brown in his Biz of Basketball website reports that NBA TV will air the D-League draft tomorrow. That will certainly be compelling TV.
A lot of links for midweek. We’ll be back later today.
