Yup, time for the Friday megalinks. As long as I don’t get interrupted, I should be able to do this all in one shot for you.
Your Weekend Viewing Picks have a whole lot of sports and entertainment programs so take a gander and see what suits your fancy.
To the links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about ex-Florida coach Urban Meyer diving headfirst into being a college football TV analyst for ESPN.
Nate Davis at USA Today’s The Huddle blog notes that ex-NFLer’s and current TV analysts Michael Strahan and Warren Sapp don’t take much stock in Tiki Barber’s comeback.
Also in USA Today, Devra Maza talks with Hall of Fame baseball announcer Bob Wolff about his memories calling Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest is seeking to change his name to “Metta World Peace” while his wife, Kimsha is being cast for the new edition of VH1’s “Basketball Wives”.
Jon Weisman of Variety says David Feherty’s new show gave Golf Channel its most watched premiere in the history of the network.
Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser notes that Wednesday’s Mexico-Honduras Gold Cup semifinal match was the highest rated primetime sporting event ever on Univision.
Sports Media Watch has some various news and notes.
Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has the new DirecTV Football Cops ad featuring the Manning brothers.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks with WEEI’s Dale Arnold who had to watch the Bruins championship run while being mostly on the sidelines.
Rich Fahey of the Globe says former Bruins TV host Tom Larson followed through on a 30 year promise to shave his beard.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says with a lockout looming, the NBA Players Association is standing firmly behind its leadership.
Phil Mushnick in the New York Post has praise for ESPN’s Bobby Valentine and Orel Hershiser, but has to somehow temper it.
The Post’s Brett Cyrgalis has four questions for Mets radio voice Howie Rose.
Newsday’s John Jeansonne looks at how John McEnroe was perceived as a player and perceived now as an analyst.
The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty says two local TV reporters were able to catch up with Jimmer Fredette after the NBA Draft.
Pete says Jimmermania kept fans watching the NBA Draft for about an hour.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call looks at the new CBS Sports Network contract with the Patriot League.
In Press Box, Dave Hughes talks about the programming changes at one Baltimore sports radio station.
Dave says the Washington City Paper is firing back at DC NFL Team owner Daniel Snyder in his efforts to sue the publication.
South
Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times feels ESPN should not be leading the charge to move the Rays out of Tampa Bay.
William Brethertont of the Marietta (GA) Daily Journal says an Atlanta Beat Women’s Professional Soccer star will be on ESPN’s Women’s World Cup coverage.
Dan Murtaugh of the Mobile (AL) Press-Register says Tennis Channel will focus on a local program that benefits young women and weaves in a tennis exhibition to help raise funds.
David Barron at the Houston Chronicle recognizes one sports anchor’s longevity in the market.
Berry Tremel at the Daily Oklahoman says FX’s early college football schedule is all-Oklahoma, all the time.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that Thom and Marty Brennaman don’t seem to have time to work together in the Reds broadcast booth.
Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk will be swinging a golf club on NBC’s celebrity golf tournament next month.
Bob says local overnight ratings for the NBA Draft on ESPN were strong.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has this week’s winners and losers in sports business and media.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a local sports anchor is pinch hitting on the news side this month.
And Dan has a few news and notes.
West
Scott D. Pierce at the Salt Lake Tribune looks at Urban Meyer moving to the TV booth on college football Saturdays for ESPN.
Richard Eng of the Las Vegas Journal-Review explores the decision of former Triple Crown caller Tom Durkin to step down this year.
John Maffei of the North County Times says this weekend is a big one for soccer fans.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star notes that the Los Angeles Lakers will have different voices for next season.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Lenny Dykstra is now tweeting.
Tom also has a column on Captain Blowhard’s Grantland site.
Jack Humphreville of City Watch LA takes a look at Frank McCourt’s embattled ownership of the Dodgers and the collapse of his rich rights deal with Fox.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail has yet another mediocre media column this week. I’m close to dropping him from the megalinks.
The Toronto Sports Media blog notes the one year anniversary of a huge lineup change on one local sports radio station.
And that’s going to do it for today.
