Arena Football
Mar
01
“Arena Football Friday” Returns To NFL Network
Next Friday, Arena Football returns to NFL Network. There will be a total of 20 regular season games aired between March 9 and July 20 and three postseason games leading up to the ArenaBowl in New Orleans.
The play-by-play announcers for the season will include Paul Burmeister, Fran Charles and Ari Wolfe. Analysts for the games will be Brian Baldinger, Charles Davis, Anthony Herron, Kurt Warner and Solomon Wilcots.
All games will be played on Friday nights except for the April 30 game between Kansas City and Tampa Bay as the NFL Draft will take precedence on April 27.
We have the schedule for Arena Football Friday on NFL Network below.
NFL NETWORK NAMES ANNOUNCERS FOR 2012 DEBUT OF “ARENA FOOTBALL FRIDAY”
Paul Burmeister & Charles Davis kick off the League’s Silver Anniversary on NFL Network
CHICAGO – NFL Network personalities Paul Burmeister and Charles Davis will be in the booth as the AFL opens its 25th season on March 9, 2012 featuring the Pittsburgh Power at Orlando Predators. The season opener will be coined as the “Hall of Fame Game” as members of the 2011 AFL Hall of Fame Class will be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. The 2012 season will mark the third consecutive year of “Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network.
During the 23-game slate, which includes 20 regular season games, two playoff contests and ArenaBowl XXV held in New Orleans, Burmeister will share play-by-play duties with Fran Charles, and Ari Wolfe, while Davis, Brian Baldinger, Solomon Wilcots, AFL Hall of Fame Inductee Kurt Warner and Anthony Herron serve as analysts. Wolfe and Herron will serve as sideline reporters throughout the season as well.
NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” telecasts are set for 8:00 pm ET. The AFL’s national game of the week on NFL Network is coming off a record rating for ArenaBowl XXIV featuring the Jacksonville Sharks at Arizona Rattlers on August 12, 2011. Below is a schedule for “Arena Football Friday” broadcasts on NFL Network:
DATE MATCHUP
March 9 Pittsburgh Power vs. Orlando Predators
March 18 Georgia Force vs. Tampa Bay Storm
March 22 Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power
March 30 San Jose SaberCats vs. Spokane Shock
April 6 Tampa Bay Storm vs. New Orleans VooDoo
April 13 New Orleans VooDoo vs. San Antonio Talons
April 20 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Philadelphia Soul
April 30 Kansas City Command vs. Tampa Bay Storm (Special Monday Night game after the NFL Draft Weekend)
May 4 New Orleans VooDoo vs. Jacksonville Sharks
May 11 Cleveland Gladiators vs. Milwaukee Mustangs
May 18 Orlando Predators vs. New Orleans VooDoo
May 25 Jacksonville Sharks vs. Orlando Predators
June 1 Cleveland Gladiators vs. Iowa Barnstormers
June 8 Pittsburgh Power vs. Cleveland Gladiators
June 15 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Orlando Predators
June 22 Arizona Rattlers vs. Milwaukee Mustangs
June 29 Milwaukee Mustangs vs. Cleveland Gladiators
July 6 Milwaukee Mustangs at Jacksonville Sharks
July 13 Cleveland Gladiators vs. Utah Blaze
July 20 Jacksonville Sharks vs. Pittsburgh Power
That’s it.
Oct
04
NFL Network Will Air Arena Football Again in 2012
Catching up on a few press releases from Monday, we have this one from NFL Network announcing that it will air the Arena Football League once again in 2012. Games will air on Fridays from the start of the season wall the way to the Arena Bowl in August. NFL Network says the last two postseason AFL games it aired this year set record ratings so you can take that for what it’s worth.
2012 will mark the third consecutive year of Arena League action on NFL Network. These games are produced and called by NFL Network staffers unlike the Canadian Football League which is taken from TSN.
We have the announcement from NFL Network.
“Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network set to return in 2012
TULSA – The Arena Football League will continue for its third consecutive season on NFL Network, AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz announced today.
“To be paired with the NFL and NFL Network for our third season speaks volumes,” AFL Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz said. “We saw a dramatic increase in our ratings over the course of last season. More people are learning about us, following us and becoming a part of the AFL family.”
In the last two postseason games of the 2011 season, “Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network notched record high ratings. In the American Conference Championship game featuring the Georgia Force and Jacksonville Sharks on Monday, August 8, 2011, the AFL turned in a rating that increased 220 percent from the Conference Championship game in 2010. During ArenaBowl XXIV on Friday, August 12, the Sharks defeated the Arizona Rattlers, 73-70, in front of 14,320 fans at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, AZ. The broadcast marked a new record high rating, 164 percent more than ArenaBowl XXIII in 2010.
“Arena Football Friday has delivered the exciting, high scoring live action that we expected when we agreed to the partnership,” said NFL Network programming director Lawrence Randall. “We look forward to celebrating the AFL’s 25th season and third season of Friday night games on NFL Network.”
The Arena Football League is entering its 25th season in 2012. After enhancing the schedule to a 20-week season in 2011, the League saw a 37.1 percent total increase of attendance throughout the 2011 campaign.
“I’m pleased,” Kurz said. “We have always had a loyal following and the continued support from our fans is outstanding.”
About the AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the AFL has provided the fast-paced and exciting game of Arena Football to millions of fans in numerous markets across the country. NFL Network will once again broadcast an AFL National Game of the Week for the entire regular and post season on Friday nights at 8:00 pm ET, culminating with the ArenaBowl Championship Game in August 2012.
That’s going to do it.
Jul
31
Some Sunday Linkage
Ok, I have some free time to do some linkage now. I was hoping to get this posted in the morning, but recently, weekends have become busier than my workweek. I really don’t understand how this happened. However, with the next few hours free, I should be able to give you some good posts here.
Edvard Pettersson of Bloomberg notes that Fox Sports has objected to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ hiring of a firm to help the team gain a new cable TV rights deal. Fox agreed to a long term deal with the Dodgers and lent money to the team which has led to MLB taking over the operations.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News notes that the Pac-12 will be adding channels to your cable and satellite universe in 2012.
Mike says NFL Network and NFL.com received record numbers for free agent frenzy last week.
Craig Harris at the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism talks about the importance of sports business reporting.
Cam Martin at SportsNewser says universally hated Mike Lupica will now target 8-12 year olds as he will write books for that age group.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post sets his hate on in-game reporters Kim Jones of YES and Kevin Burkhardt of SNY.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that the Buffalo Bills won’t be heard on local radio this season.
Pete discusses Curt Smith’s new tome on baseball announcers.
Pete wonders why NFL Network dumped live Arena Football and CFL action for free agent frenzy programming.
David Walsh of the Huntington (WV) Herald-Dispatch talks with Golf Channel’s Kelly Tilghman about her visit to the Greenbrier Classic this week.
Jim Kleinpeter of the New Orleans Times-Picayune talks with ESPN’s Desmond Howard about the season opening LSU-Oregon game.
The Cleveland-centric Waiting For Next Year blog says Sportstime Ohio, the home of the Indians and Browns could be sold to one of two potential suitors.
Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times writes about Fox Sports attempting to block the Dodgers of hiring a firm to help secure a new cable TV rights deal.
John Daly at The Daly Planet writes about Allen Bestwick’s return to the NASCAR broadcast booth this weekend after being screwed over by NBC seven years ago.
Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing looks at some of the grammatical and typographical errors on ESPN last week.
Sports Media Watch looks at the big ratings increase for last week’s Canadian Open on CBS.
SMW has some various ratings news and notes.
SMW has a few more notes.
That will do it.
May
13
Doing Some Friday Megalinkage
Now that I’ve learned that I don’t have to travel in between two offices today, I’ll do some megalinks for you.
You can check out the Weekend Sports and Primetime Viewing Picks here. Now to your links.
National
Michael Hiestand of USA Today talks with TNT’s Steve Kerr on the similarities he sees between the Chicago Bulls teams he played on with Michael Jordan and the Miami Heat of today.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News breaks news that TNT’s Marv Albert is in talks with CBS to possibly replace Gus Johnson for the NCAA Tournament. Bob isn’t national, but it’s big enough news to be placed here.
In Sports Business Journal, John Ourand and Michael Smith report on how ESPN and Fox came together for the Pac-12 TV contract.
Kimberly Nordyke of the Hollywood Reporter says Oprah Winfrey’s booking of the United Center for her overblown farewell shows has forced the NBA to juggle the schedule for the Eastern Conference Finals.
To Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News who writes that TNT is on a fast track to have its highest-rated NBA postseason in its history.
Mike has a story on the NBC Sports Group signing Saratoga Race Course for horse racing programming in the summer.
Noted FoxSports.com basketball writer Jeff Goodman announces that he’s leaving for CBSSports.com.
Also writing his farewell column is noted hockey reporter E.J. Hradek who’s leaving ESPN.com for the NHL Network.
At the Business of College Sports, Kristi Dosh says despite what rivals’ complaints, there’s nothing unfair about the new Longhorn Network.
Matt Hinton at Yahoo’s Dr. Saturday college football blog notes that ESPN.com really messed up in reporting the death of Alabama offensive lineman Aaron Davis.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem about a faltering Tiger Woods and what it means to the Tour.
Darren explores the new magazine put forth by energy drink distributor Red Bull.
Darren notes that Nike is coming under fire again for factory conditions in Asia.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the ratings for nights 25-28 of the NHL Playoffs.
Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has audio of a Captain Blowhard call into the Tony Korneheiser show this week.
Dan also has video of a deeply subdued Gus Johnson talking to Dan Patrick about his move to Fox.
Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy notes that Versus’ Jeremy Roenick gave praise to Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks, two games after calling him “gutless”.
In Publiside, the lovely Gail Sideman advises athletes to keep using social media despite some recent incidents where some did not think before tweeting.
In Major League Programs, Dave Kohl reviews the sports media news of the week.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe quotes a WCVB-TV interview with NESN’s Jerry Remy in which he states he expects to return to analyzing Red Sox games on Monday. Remy has been out with pneumonia. Chad also breaks news that NESN’s Kathryn Tappen is being targeted by NHL Network as a possible studio host.
At SB Nation Boston, Bruce Allen says the Bruins now have the Hub’s attention all to themselves.
NESN has Heidi Watney visiting the MLB Fan Cave.
Newsday’s Neil Best notes that Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee actually saw Tiger Woods’ implosion at the Players Championship coming before it happened.
Melissa Hoppert of the New York Times discusses NBC Sports Group bringing Saratoga horse racing into the fold.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick hates everything and everybody today, but when is that different from any other day?
Justin Terranova at the Post has five questions for NBA TV’s Kevin McHale.
Ken Belson from the New York Times writes that the famed Melrose Games may leave its Madison Square Garden home where it’s been held for almost a century.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says Siena lacrosse fans have a few ways to monitor their team’s NCAA Tournament game against Syracuse this weekend.
Ken says an NCAA Division III Lacrosse Tournament game will be online for fans to listen.
Patrick Berkery from the Philly Burbs papers talks with Comcast SportsNet Phillies analyst Chris Coste.
Dan Steinberg from the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the Nationals’ ratings on MASN are way up from this same time last year.
Dan says the DC sports media is firing shots at each other over whether DC NFL Team quarterback Donovan McNabb refused to wear a wristband to help him calls plays because it didn’t look good.
Dan says one DC radio show is sending barbs at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic over its reporting on the McNabb wristband.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says NBC will be all over The Players Championship this weekend.
Jim notes that NASCAR is coming to the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend.
And Jim says the NBA is heating up on both ESPN and TNT.
South
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times looks at the latest sports media news.
David Barron from the Houston Chronicle talks with the man who’s spearheading ESPN’s Longhorn Network and getting it ready for launch this summer.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman has a chat with NBA TV’s Kevin McHale over Oklahoma City’s win over Memphis the other night.
Mel says the Thunder are setting local ratings records.
Mel also has his media notebook.
Midwest
Jeff Bell of Columbus Business First writes that Fox Sports Ohio will be a corporate sponsor of the local sports commission.
The Detroit News says last night’s wild Game 7 between the Red Wings and San Jose Sharks set a ratings record for Fox Sports Detroit.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks about ESPN getting all hands on deck for a special college basketball game on Veterans Day.
In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman lists his weekly winners and losers.
Erin Meyer of the Chicago Tribune says the staff of WMAQ-TV is shocked over the death of sports anchor Daryl Hawks who was found in a hotel room as he was to cover last night’s Bulls-Hawks game.
Maudlyne Ihezjerika of the Chicago Sun-Times says another WMAQ-TV sportscaster died under similar circumstances almost a decade ago.
NBC Chicago has a slideshow of Daryl’s career not only at the station, but before he came to the Windy City.
Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a local sports radio executive’s tumultuous tenure is coming to an end.
West
The Phoenix Business Journal reports that the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers now have a local TV deal.
John Maffei of the North County Times talks about announcers shuffling back and forth between networks.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says TNT’s Charles Barkley’s premonition about the Lakers ended up coming true.
Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News answers real sports media questions from fake readers.
Tom looks at an organization that aids reporters and writers in need of assistance.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin says golf viewership is getting out of red numbers.
We’re going to end it there. Enjoy your sports weekend
May
12
Chugging Along On A Thursday Linkage Edition
Time for the linkage here on this Thursday getting a late charge out of the gate as I’ve had to visit a jobsite and then had to run a couple of office errands, but we’re back inside ready to give you some linkage. Lots of stuff to get to now.
We begin with some sad news from Chicago. Sports anchor Daryl Hawks of WMAQ-TV, the NBC affiliate, was found dead this morning in an Atlanta hotel room as he was going to cover tonight’s Bulls-Hawks game. He was 38. No other details are available.
Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business says this is the 2nd unexpected death to happen to the WMAQ-TV sports staff in less than a decade.
Robert Feder at TimeOut Chicago says Hawks’ friends and colleagues are stunned.
If I get more details about Hawks’ death, I’ll post it here.
From USA Today’s Arin Kariminian, we learn that the NFL players are suing for over $700 million in damages from the league over the disputed broadcast revenues that led to the lockout in the first place.
Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal who’s been wearing bow ties for charitable causes, tells us that he’ll be wearing one this week for the Red Sox-Yankees game that will be near and very dear to his heart. We at Fang’s Bites wholeheartedly support this.
Etan Vlessing from the Hollywood Reporter says the owner of Canadian sports TV network The Score has purchased the third largest sports mobile app provider in the US.
To Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser who tells us that ESPN3.com will stream the entire season of the National Lacrosse League.
Jason Dachman from Sports Video Group looks at NBC/Golf Channel’s production of this weekend’s Players Championship.
In the Indiana National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times does not want athletes to stop tweeting their thoughts.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at one restaurant chain that is allowing customers to drink beer for free as long as the NFL lockout continues.
Darren suggests that Disney buy Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom if he wins the next leg of the Triple Crown.
Public relations maven Bill Hofheimer in ESPN Front Row talks with two ESPN’ers who hope to have their CBS sitcoms picked up in the network upfronts later this month.
Adam Proteau from the Hockey News says fans rallying around Sean Avery’s gay marriage stance and denouncing of Uptown Sports’ tweets against it shows a true evolution in the sport.
In the Boston Herald, Ian R. Rapoport has video of Tom Brady explaining why he cried during the ESPN/NFL Films documentary, “The Brady 6.”
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman writes an appreciation of collegue, cartoonist Bill Gallo who passed away at the age of 88.
The Daily News’ Flip Bondy has Gallo’s obituary.
And Mike Lupica says Gallo will live on through his work.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette writes about ESPN airing a college basketball game from a military aircraft carrier on Veterans Day.
A related note from the Associated Press and picked up by the Sporting News: the carrier that buried Osama bin Laden at sea could be the one that hosts the game.
Ken says the NBC Sports Group will be airing horse racing from Saratoga Race Course over the summer.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner notes that NASCAR fans in the DC area will be flocking to Dover this weekend.
Garry Smits from the Florida Times-Union looks at the NBC Sports Group airing the Players Championship this week.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times says a popular local sports radio host has signed a new contract with his current station.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that police confiscated some 30 phony passes including some labeled “NBC Sports” from people attempting to attend the Kentucky Derby.
John E. Hoover at the Tulsa World notes that the Oklahoma-Florida State game will be aired in primetime by either ESPN or ABC.
Amanda Van Benschoten from the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that NBC’s Cris Collinsworth has been named to a national fitness panel.
Alan Babbitt of the Holland (MI) Sentinel says ESPN’s Outside the Lines will air a segment Sunday on the high school basketball team that had a player pass away on court earlier this year.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Arena Football League’s Mustangs will be heard on local radio.
Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business explores the latest troubles with Jay Mariotti.
Mariotti’s former paper, the Chicago Sun-Times uses wire copy to construct the latest story on his latest arrest on stalking and domestic violence charges.
John Vornhof, Jr. from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal writes that Fox Sports North jumps into the WNBA game this summer.
Scott Dochterman in the Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette notes that Big Ten Network will air a new original series on conference coaches.
Ben Kaplan of the National Post writes about a new documentary on Donald Trump’s efforts to build a golf course in Scotland that was first chronicled by HBO’s Real Sports.
The Toronto Sports Media blog notes that a Rogers Sportsnet host who weighed in on the gay marriage debate on Twitter regarding Sean Avery’s stance, was fired yesterday.
Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star says the host, Damian Goddard is standing by his tweets.
The Big Lead looks at the first review of Captain Blowhard’s Grantland site.
The Pretty in Pinstripes blog takes down the SNY “More Sports, More Testosterone” ad campaign that was very inexplicably created by women.
Sports Media Watch says the Miami Heat series clincher over Boston took in a good rating, but not as good as Game 4.
Joe Favorito explores the new magazine being published by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull.
And that is where we’ll end it for today. Lots of links for you today.
Mar
10
NFL Network Programming Into Next Tuesday
We have the programming schedule for NFL Network from today through next Tuesday. Lots of stuff to go over. The programming includes the premiere of Arena Football Fridays.
NFL NETWORK & NFL.COM PROGRAMMING NOTES (3/10 – 3/15)
“Arena Football Friday” Returns for Second Season on March 11 at 8:00 PM ET
Top Prospects Patrick Peterson, A.J. Green & Da’Quan Bowers Featured on Path to the Draft This Week“Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network Returns on Friday, March 11 at 8:00 PM ET – Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power
The second season of NFL Network’s Arena Football League (AFL) “Arena Football Friday” broadcasts kicks off on Friday, March 11 at 8:00 PM ET when the Pittsburgh Power host the Philadelphia Soul. Paul Burmeister provides the play-by-play while Solomon Wilcots serves as game analyst live from CONSOL Energy Arena in Pittsburgh.NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” telecasts are slated for 8:00 PM ET. Below is a schedule of the games that will be shown on NFL Network:
Date Teams
March 11 Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power
March 18 Philadelphia Soul vs. Chicago Rush
March 25 Spokane Shock vs. Iowa Barnstormers
April 1 Jacksonville Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Storm
April 8 Dallas Vigilantes vs. Georgia Force
April 15 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Philadelphia Soul
April 22 Kansas City Command vs. Chicago Rush
May 1* Orlando Predators vs. Jacksonville Sharks
May 6 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Orlando Predators
May 13 Tulsa Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo
May 20 Arizona Rattlers vs. New Orleans Voodoo
May 27 Utah Blaze vs. Iowa Barnstormers
June 3 Jacksonville Sharks vs. New Orleans Voodoo
June 10 Philadelphia Soul vs. Spokane Shock
June 17 Orlando Predators vs. Tampa Bay Storm
June 24 Kansas City Command vs. Utah Blaze
July 1 Pittsburgh Power vs. Orlando Predators
July 8 Cleveland Gladiators vs. Philadelphia Soul
July 15 Pittsburgh Power vs. Cleveland Gladiators
July 22 Spokane Shock vs. Jacksonville Sharks*This game is tape delayed from Saturday to air on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM ET due to the NFL Draft on NFL Network
All AFL games on NFL Network will be telecast in high definition and feature special in-game audio techniques that capture the high-scoring action and fast-paced intensity that is the hallmark of the AFL.
LSU Cornerback Patrick Peterson, Georgia Wide Receiver A.J. Green and Clemson Defensive End Da’Quan Bowers Profiled on Path to the Draft This Week
NFL Network’s ‘Path to Primetime’ 2011 NFL Draft coverage continues with the fifth season of Path to the Draft, which airs Monday through Friday at 6:00 PM ET up until the 2011 NFL Draft on April 28-30. With news reports, one-on-one interviews, player rankings and exclusive mock drafts, Path to the Draft is the go-to destination for the most in-depth NFL Draft coverage.NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock headlines Path to the Draft’s extensive roster of analysts, which includes draft analyst Charles Davis, former NFL front office executive Michael Lombardi, former NFL player Brian Baldinger and former NFL general manager Charley Casserly. Paul Burmeister and Fran Charles rotate as hosts.
Path to the Draft also includes daily “First Draft” features on the top prospects. This week’s episodes will profile:
- LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson (Wednesday):
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eaa3df/First-Draft-Patrick-Peterson- Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green (Thursday):
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eaa386/First-Draft-A-J-Green- Clemson defensive tackle Da’Quan Bowers (Friday)
Next week, “First Draft” will profile Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller (Monday) and Florida center Mike Pouncey (Tuesday).
Below are video links to segments from Monday and Tuesday’s editions of Path to the Draft:
- “First Draft” – Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-first-draft/09000d5d81ea6130/First-draft-Blaine-Gabbert- “First Draft” – Alabama running back Mark Ingram:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81eaad41/First-Draft-Mark-Ingram- Analyst Mike Mayock grades quarterback Cam Newton’s performance at Auburn’s Pro Day:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eaa476/Grading-Cam-Newton-s-pro-day- Auburn quarterback Cam Newton recaps his Pro Day performance with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81eaadc2/Cam-on-Cam- Analyst Bucky Brooks reports from Arkansas’ Pro Day, featuring quarterback Ryan Mallett:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eaa849/Arkansas-pro-day-report- Analysts Charles Davis, Michael Lombardi and Brian Baldinger discuss prospects who are on the rise:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81ea5af3/Draft-stock-up- Charles Davis unveils his second mock draft:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/09000d5d81ea5fd3/Charles-Davis-mock-draft-2-0- Michael Lombardi’s latest mock draft:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/09000d5d81eaa708/Lombardi-Mock-draft-3-0THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM
Thursday, March 10
- CHAT: Steve Wyche (12 NOON ET)
- CHAT: Bucky Brooks (2:00 PM ET)
Friday, March 11
- CHAT: Vic Carucci (12 NOON ET)
- CHAT: Mike Mayock (TBD)
DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)
Thursday, March 10
11:00 AM – Path to the Draft (Wednesday)
12 NOON – America’s Game: 2003 New England Patriots
1:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Wednesday)
3:00 PM – Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts vs. Dallas Cowboys
3:30 PM – Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins
4:00 PM – America’s Game: 2003 New England Patriots
5:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots
6:00 PM – Path to the Draft – LIVE
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Characters
9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Cornerback Tandems
10:00 PM – Path to the Draft
11:00 PM – NFL Total AccessFriday, March 11
11:00 AM – Path to the Draft (Thursday)
12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Characters
1:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Cornerback Tandems
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Thursday)
3:00 PM – Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins
3:30 PM – Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings
4:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Characters
5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Cornerback Tandems
6:00 PM – Path to the Draft – LIVE
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – Arena Football Friday: Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power – LIVE
11:00 PM – NFL Total AccessSaturday, March 12
8:00 AM – Path to the Draft (Friday)
9:00 AM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 3
9:30 AM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 4
10:00 AM – America’s Game: 2003 New England Patriots
11:00 AM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots
12 NOON – Path to the Draft (Monday)
1:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Tuesday)
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Wednesday)
3:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Thursday)
4:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Friday)
5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Characters
6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Cornerback Tandems
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – America’s Game: 2006 Indianapolis Colts
9:00 PM – America’s Game: 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM – America’s Game: 2004 New England Patriots
11:00 PM – NFL Total AccessSunday, March 13
8:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Football Families
9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Motivational Coaches
10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Characters
11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Cornerback Tandems
12 NOON – Sound FX: Brett Favre
12:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 1
1:00 PM – NFL Replay Real-Time: 2010, Week 1
2:00 PM – Full Color Football: Episode #1: The New Frontier
3:00 PM – Full Color Football: Episode #2: Times They Are a Changin’
4:00 PM – Full Color Football: Episode #3: War and Peace
5:00 PM – Full Color Football: Episode #4: Revolution
6:00 PM – Full Color Football: Episode #5: The Final Frontier
7:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Motivational Coaches
8:00 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #100-91
9:00 PM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #90-81
10:00 PM – NFL Football Follies: Football Follies on Parade
11:00 PM – NFL Football Follies: Phenomenal Football FolliesMonday, March 14
6:00 AM – NFL Football Follies: Football Follies on Parade
7:00 AM – NFL Football Follies: Phenomenal Football Follies
8:00 AM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #100-91
9:00 AM – Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players: #90-81
10:00 AM – NFL Football Follies: Football Follies on Parade
11:00 AM – NFL Football Follies: Phenomenal Football Follies
12 NOON – Sound FX: Ray Lewis
12:30 PM – NFL Replay: Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys – Week 2, 2010
1:45 PM – NFL Replay: Houston Texans vs. Washington Redskins – Week 2, 2010
3:00 PM – NFL Replay: New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers – Week 2, 2010
4:15 PM – NFL Replay: Miami Dolphins vs. Minnesota Vikings – Week 2, 2010
5:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 2
6:00 PM – Path to the Draft – LIVE
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – America’s Game: 1972 Miami Dolphins
9:00 PM – America’s Game: 1973 Miami Dolphins
10:00 PM – Path to the Draft
11:00 PM – NFL Total AccessTuesday, March 15
11:00 AM – Path to the Draft (Monday)
12 NOON – America’s Game: 1972 Miami Dolphins
1:00 PM – America’s Game: 1973 Miami Dolphins
2:00 PM – Path to the Draft (Monday)
3:00 PM – Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings
3:30 PM – Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM – America’s Game: 1972 Miami Dolphins
5:00 PM – America’s Game: 1973 Miami Dolphins
6:00 PM – Path to the Draft – LIVE
7:00 PM – NFL Total Access
8:00 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 5
8:30 PM – Sound FX: 2010, Week 6
9:00 PM – NFL Films Presents: Traveling Many Miles
9:30 PM – NFL Films Presents: Kicking Game
10:00 PM – Path to the Draft
11:00 PM – NFL Total Access
And that’s it.
Mar
08
NFL Network Announces 2011 Arena League Schedule
On Fridays throughout the Spring and into the Summer, the NFL Network will air Arena Football League games. Paul Burmeister, Fran Charles and Ari Wolfe will call play-by-play. Solomon Wilcots leads a cast of 1,000 analysts. The NFL Network’s Arena League slate includes two playoff games and the Arena Bowl. We have the announcement.
Paul Burmeister & Former NFL Safety Solomon Wilcots Kick Off 23-Game Slate with Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power March 11 at 8:00 PM ET
Analysts Michael Lombardi, Charles Davis, Trent Green, Brian Baldinger, Tom Waddle & Others Call Broadcasts
NFL Network personalities Paul Burmeister, a former University of Iowa quarterback, and Solomon Wilcots, a former NFL safety with the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, and current game analyst for CBS Sports’ NFL coverage, will be in the booth for the start of the second season of NFL Network’s Arena Football League (AFL) “Arena Football Friday” broadcasts on Friday, March 11 at 8:00 PM ET when the Philadelphia Soul take on the Pittsburgh Power.
During the 23-game slate, which includes 20 regular season games, two playoff contests and ArenaBowl XXIV, Burmeister will share play-by-play duties with Fran Charles and Ari Wolfe, while Wilcots, Michael Lombardi, Charles Davis, Trent Green, Brian Baldinger, Tom Waddle and others rotate as analysts. Wolfe and Anthony Herron will serve as sideline reporters throughout the season. Additional play-by-play announcers and analysts will be announced later in the season.
NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” telecasts are slated for 8:00 PM ET, with Burmeister and Wilcots calling the 2011 season opener and 24th season of Arena Football when the Power, owned by NFL Hall of Fame WR Lynn Swann, play the first game of their inaugural season against the Soul, owned by former Philadelphia Eagles QB Ron Jaworski, at CONSOL Energy Center. Below is a schedule for the “Arena Football Friday” broadcasts on NFL Network:
March 11 Philadelphia Soul vs. Pittsburgh Power
March 18 Philadelphia Soul vs. Chicago Rush
March 25 Spokane Shock vs. Iowa Barnstormers
April 1 Jacksonville Sharks vs. Tampa Bay Storm
April 8 Dallas Vigilantes vs. Georgia Force
April 15 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Philadelphia Soul
April 22 Kansas City Command vs. Chicago Rush
May 1* Orlando Predators vs. Jacksonville Sharks
May 6 Tampa Bay Storm vs. Orlando Predators
May 13 Tulsa Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo
May 20 Arizona Rattlers vs. New Orleans Voodoo
May 27 Utah Blaze vs. Iowa Barnstormers
June 3 Jacksonville Sharks vs. New Orleans Voodoo
June 10 Philadelphia Soul vs. Spokane Shock
June 17 Orlando Predators vs. Tampa Bay Storm
June 24 Kansas City Command vs. Utah Blaze
July 1 Pittsburgh Power vs. Orlando Predators
July 8 Cleveland Gladiators vs. Philadelphia Soul
July 15 Pittsburgh Power vs. Cleveland Gladiators
July 22 Spokane Shock vs. Jacksonville Sharks*This game is tape delayed from Saturday to air on Sunday, May 1 at 3:00 PM ET due to the NFL Draft on NFL Network
All AFL games on NFL Network will be telecast in high definition and feature special in-game audio techniques that capture the high-scoring action and fast paced intensity that is the hallmark of the AFL.
That will do it.
Aug
12
Kurt Warner Joins NFL Network To Call Two Arena Football League Games
In what could be a harbinger for former St. Louis Rams/New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, NFL Network has just announced that he will be in the booth tonight and next week for Arena Football League postseason games. As you are probably aware if you’re an NFL fan, Kurt Warner got his professional start in the Arena Football League before gaining stardom in the NFL.
Warner will be an analyst for tonight’s Conference Championship game and next Friday’s Arena Bowl. I note this could be a sign of things to come as several networks have approached Warner to be analyst. If he does well, I expect to see him working for a network maybe even as early as this season.
FORMER SUPER BOWL MVP KURT WARNER CALLS ARENA BOWL ON NFL NETWORKAFL Legend Returns to the Booth for Arena Football National Conference Championship Game on Thursday NightKurt Warner, the greatest player in Arena Football League history, will call the Arena Bowl for NFL Network on Friday, August 20 at 8:00 PM ET, it was announced today. In addition to the Arena Bowl, Warner joins Fran Charles in the booth for the Arena Football National Conference Championship Game featuring the Milwaukee Iron at Spokane Shock tonight at 8:00 PM ET.Warner, who has played in two Arena Bowls, joins former University of Iowa quarterback Paul Burmeister, who will be handling the play-by-play and sideline reporters Anthony Herron and Ari Wolfe. The Arena Bowl concludes NFL Network’s 21-game Arena Football Friday schedule.“I was lucky enough to play in three Super Bowls and two Arena Bowls,” said Warner. “There is nothing better than playing for the championship at any level of football. I will share my experiences and what the players are feeling as they play for the ultimate prize in Arena Football.”Warner was an analyst on NFL Network’s Arena Football Friday for the Iowa Barnstormers game against the Arizona Rattlers earlier this season. Prior to that game, he was inducted in the Iowa Barnstormers Hall of Fame.“We couldn’t be more pleased to have one of the legends of Arena Football, Kurt Warner, call the Arena Bowl and National Conference Championship game on NFL Network,” said AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz. “We have an enjoyed a successful return of Arena Football and can’t wait to crown a new champion.”Warner was a two-time NFL MVP as well as the MVP in Super Bowl XXIV when he led the St. Louis Rams to a win over the Tennessee Titans. Warner appeared in two Super Bowls with the Rams and led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl for the first time in the franchise’s history in Super Bowl XLIII. Prior to the NFL, Warner was a star in the AFL, leading Iowa to Arena Bowl appearances in 1996 and 1997.NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.
So in essence, you have an audition by Kurt Warner for the networks. Kind of similar to last year when Jon Gruden did the NFL Draft for NFL Network then was hired by ESPN for Monday Night Football.
Mar
29
NFL Network Sets Announcing Crew for Arena Football League Games
After obtaining the rights to the Arena Football League earlier this year, NFL Network has now set its announcing lineup for AFL games this spring. The games actually start this week. Take a look at the press release and the schedule of games.
NFL NETWORK NAMES ANNOUNCERS FOR ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE DEBUTPaul Burmeister & Former Cincinnati Bengal Solomon Wilcots Kick Off 18-Game Slate Beginning April 2Fran Charles, Charles Davis, Tom Waddle & Others Call ‘Game of the Week’ TelecastsNFL Network personalities Paul Burmeister, a former University of Iowa quarterback, and Solomon Wilcots, a former Cincinnati Bengal, will be in the booth for the debut of the Arena Football League (AFL) “Game of the Week” on NFL Network Friday, April 2 at 8:00 PM ET. Burmeister splits play-by-play duty with Fran Charles on the network’s 18-game schedule while Wilcots, Charles Davis, Tom Waddle and others who will be announced during the season will serve as analysts.NFL Network’s AFL “Game of the Week” telecasts are slated for Friday nights in primetime at 8:00 PM ET with Burmeister and Wilcots calling the inaugural April 2 game featuring the Chicago Rush vs. Iowa Barnstormers. Burmeister and Waddle pair up Week 2 with the Rush hosting the Cleveland Gladiators April 9, while Week 3 features Charles and Davis in Jacksonville with the Orlando Predators visiting the Sharks on April 16.All AFL games on NFL Network will be telecast in High Definition and feature special in-game audio techniques that capture the high-scoring action and fast paced intensity that is the hallmark of the AFL.Burmeister and Charles have previous football play-by-play experience on a variety of levels. Burmeister called the 2008 and 2009 Insight Bowl and has been the voice of Jacksonville Jaguars preseason football broadcasts for the past three years. In 2008, Charles served as the play-by-play voice for NFL Network’s telecast of the Texas Bowl and a preseason matchup featuring Patriots vs. Buccaneers.There will be a rotation of NFL Network analysts for the AFL games throughout the season. Wilcots recently completed his ninth season as a game analyst for the NFL on CBS. During the NFL season, Wilcots also contributes to Playbook on NFL Network and co-hosts a radio show on Sirius NFL Radio. Last season, Davis teamed with Dick Stockton calling matchups for the NFL on FOX and was the lead analyst for the FOX Sports’ BCS national championship game and Big Ten Network for the past three years.Waddle makes his first appearance in the broadcast booth as a game analyst on NFL Network’s AFL telecasts. Following a six-year playing career with the Chicago Bears, Waddle became a regular within the Chicago sports media contingent, co-hosting a radio show on WMVP radio. For the past three seasons he has been an in-studio analyst each Sunday alongside Charles on NFL Network’s NFL GameDay Scoreboard.The analysts on the “Game of the Week” will be announced throughout the season.AFL “Game of the Week” Schedule on NFL Network(games to start at 8:00 PM ET)Week 1 – April 2, Chicago Rush vs. Iowa BarnstormersWeek 2 – April 9, Cleveland Gladiators vs. Chicago RushWeek 3 – April 16, Orlando Predators vs. Jacksonville SharksWeek 4** – April 24 (Saturday), Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs vs. Iowa BarnstormersWeek 5 – April 30, Iowa Barnstormers vs. Orlando PredatorsWeek 6 – May 7, Jacksonville Sharks vs. Tampa Bay StormWeek 7 – May 14, Utah Blaze vs. Milwaukee IronWeek 8 – May 21, Arizona Rattlers vs. Iowa BarnstormersWeek 9 – May 28, Tampa Bay Storm vs. Orlando PredatorsWeek 10 – June 4, Jacksonville Sharks vs. Chicago RushWeek 11 – June 11, Tulsa Talons vs. Dallas VigilantesWeek 12 – June 18, Jacksonville Sharks vs. Orlando PredatorsWeek 13 – June 25, Bossier City/Shreveport Battlewings vs. Tampa Bay StormWeek 14 – July 2, Chicago Rush vs. Tampa Bay StormWeek 15 – July 9, Tampa Bay Storm vs. Dallas VigilantesWeek 16 – July 16, Spokane Shock vs. Iowa BarnstormersWeek 17 – July 23, Chicago Rush vs. Spokane ShockWeek 18 – July 30, Tulsa Talons vs. Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs**game to start at 9:00 PM ET
That’s it.
Nov
02
A Monday Link Thing
The links are here for you. Let’s go over them. Lots of good stuff.
Starting with Bob Kimball of USA Today who discusses Fox NFL Sunday heading to Afghanistan and the World Series.
To Sports Business Journal where we have a few stories for you today.
John Ourand has a column where he talks about what Comcast should do sports-wise when it brings NBC into the fold.
John tweets that Bill Walton won’t be returning to ESPN’s NBA coverage this season due to health problems. My best to Big Red who has long been one of my favorite announcers and players.
ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys adds that Walton will dedicate his life to public service. Bill is active in the San Diego community and he will be missed on TV.
Back to the SBJ, Terry Lefton says despite plenty of copyright infringements, MLB chooses not to go after companies that use “World Series” in their title.
John Lombardo writes that the remnants of the Arena Football League are being sold off in order to pay creditors.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says giving credit to Meb Keflezighi’s win in the NYC Marathon as an American win is wrong.
Jason Fry, writing for the Indiana National Sports Journalism Center, warns bloggers and writers that what they put on the internet will stay there forever.
Marc Berman from Mediaweek says World Series Game 4 was a huge ratings winner for Fox on Sunday.
To the New York Daily News and Bob Raissman who says Yankees radio voice John Sterling is the ultimate homer.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post decides to hit below the belt and accuses WFAN’s Mike Francesa of being an anti-Semite. Come on, Phil. This is low, even for you.
Bob’s Blitz looks into the whole Mushnick/Francesa thing.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette writes about Fox NFL Sunday airing live from Afghanistan this Sunday.
Laura Nachman shares some thoughts as she watched World Series Game 4 last night.
Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Fox decided to move the right field camera that literally came into play during Game 3 of the World Series.
Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews last week’s incident during which a local sports radio host erroneously said the owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in financial trouble.
Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News looks at the Fox production of the Seahawks-Cowboys game.
David Barron in the Houston Chronicle is shocked to learn that the Texans’ ratings fell yesterday.
To Crain’s Chicago Business and Ed Sherman who wonders what’s next for Mike North now that his morning show was canceled by Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Ed also asks how long will the honeymoon last with new Cubs owner Thomas Ricketts?
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel likes how Fox let the pictures tell the story during yesterday’s Minnesota-Green Bay game.
Dusty Saunders in the Denver Post enjoys listening to Dan Dierdorf on CBS games.
The great Tom Hoffarth in the Los Angeles Daily News has the sports calendar for this week.
Tom has a great story on a temporarily inconvenienced friend who has a great passion for soccer.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star gives praise to the Fox people for its World Series production.
Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that a Canadian sports network is getting a boost for its Blackberry and iPhone apps thanks to a TV commercial.
William Houston in Truth & Rumours says returning Toronto Blue Jays president Paul Beeston will find the local media won’t be as accommodating as in his first go-around.
Deadspin properly gets on Fox Sports for trying to force feed the new movie “Avatar” down our throats.
The Sports Media Watch has some news and notes on various personalities.
SMW says a strong lead-in from the NFL gave the World Series solid ratings for Fox last night.
And SMW says Minnesota-Green Bay did well for Fox, but won’t be setting any ratings records.
To the Biz of Baseball, Maury Brown conducts an interview with Fang’s Bites award-winning MLB Network host Victor Rojas.
Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media has some good suggestions for network press releases.
The always lovely Daryn Kagan has a great story on St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony LaRussa’s no-kill animal shelter.
And WEEI.com’s Kristine Leahy rounds out the links with today’s edition of The Five and it has a sponsor!
Those the links for today. I’ll be back later with various press release posts.
Dec
28
Some Sunday Links
Let’s give you some linkage on this Sunday.
The Boston Herald’s Inside Track girls report that Comcast SportNet New England fired a freelance blogger for um.. revealing too much about her locker room encounters with the Bruins to Deadspin.
And the blogger gives her side of the story to Barstool Sports.
Owen Canfield of the Hartford Courant writes that both Dick Vitale and Lou Holtz are truly good guys.
Starting with Phil Mushnick of the New York Post, he reviews the inaugural program that will kick off the MLB Network on New Year’s Day.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News writes that if the Jets lose today, it will just be the tip of the iceberg.
Laura Nachman says TNT’s Charles Barkley mentioned a Philly TV sports anchor who’s suffering from prostate cancer. And Laura says Comcast SportsNet Phillies analyst Mitch Williams is joining the MLB Network.
Dave Weekley of the Charleston (WV) Gazette discusses the upcoming launch of the MLB Network.
Mark Newman of MLB.com gives you ten reasons why you should watch the MLB Network.
Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball has compiled a list of cable channel assignments for the MLB Network in various major markets. And Maury writes that the New York Times is courting someone to buy its 17% stake of the Boston Red Sox.
Doug Nye of The State says Clemson’s upset of Nebraska in the Orange Bowl in 1982 put the school on the nation’s radar.
Keith Thibeault of the Sports Media Journal discusses Mark Cuban’s plan to save newspapers.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News also talks about Cuban’s idea. And Barry was startled to hear NFL Network’s Sterling Sharpe say that the Cowboys should not put the ball in Tony Romo’s hands. And Barry says CBS and Fox should provide whiparound coverage of the NFL today.
Richard Rothschild of the Chicago Tribune and Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star both have articles on the 50th anniversary of the 1958 NFL Championship Game.
Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the various NFL TV partners have opened up new employment opportunities for coaches.
The Los Angeles Times offers the Greatest Games Ever in each respective sport and Diane Pucin has her choice for sports broadcast (scroll down).
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News lists the notable passings in sports for 2008 to date.
The Sports Media Watch starts to look back at the Year in Sports and the blog starts off with the Arena Football League. Then, the SMW reviews what happened this year to the WNBA. And finally, the SMW takes a hard look at the business moves conducted by the Indy Racing League this year.
Puck The Media has another round in its NHL Tournament of Announcers.
Joe Favorito praises one horse owner’s promotional campaign for Horse of the Year.
That will do it for now.
Jul
27
Our Sunday Night Links
I was out all day preventing me from looking for links, but I’m back now so let’s do some linkage.
Starting with David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch, he tells us that Gordon Edes is finally leaving the Boston Globe and heading over to Yahoo.
Broadcasting & Cable editor Ben Grossman talks in a podcast about the new deal allowing NBC Sports to stream the Sunday Night Football schedule this season.
Hank Williams, Jr. returns for another season of singing the open for Monday Night Football.
Jim Seimas of the Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel writes that former NFL QB Trent Dilfer is looking forward to his new career as an analyst for ESPN.
The Sports Media Watch has its usual weekend ratings predictions. The SMW also says mixed martial arts did not do well on CBS last night as compared to its first telecast in May.
Neil Best of Newsday profiles SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt who has gone from selling used cars to becoming one of the network’s rising stars. In his blog, Neil clarifies one point that Kevin made in his column. Neil adds that WFAN beat rival 1050 ESPN Radio in the midday portion of the ratings.
From the New York Daily News, Bob Raissman writes that the media will and should hammer Personal Seat Licenses.
Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner talks with two men involved in the Nationals Spanish language radio network.
Artie Gigantino of the San Francisco Examiner is happy that the FCC lost in court to fine CBS for the Janet Jackson flash back in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Steve Wiseman of The State writes about NBC Sports flooding the net with the Olympics in 12 days.
Sam Ross, Jr. of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review looks at ESPN’s Outside the Lines focusing on the travails of the Penn State football program. The Centre (PA) Daily Times asks readers to respond to the ESPN report.
Sean Keeler of the Des Moines Register says the Big Ten Network and Mediacom Cable are still talking about a carriage deal, a month before the season begins.
And Jason Lloyd of the Northeast Ohio News-Herald says BTN and Time Warner Cable are hopeful they can reach an agreement in August.
Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News looks at the future of the SEC including the next TV contract.
Faimon Roberts of the Bauregard (LA) Daily News is not enjoying ESPN the way he used to.
David Andriesen and John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer say that Mariners voice Dave Niehaus was having a great time at the Baseball Hall of Fame where he was inducted earlier today.
Lisa Swann and Jon Lewin of the New York Daily News would have like to have seen the induction ceremony on ESPN or ESPN2 instead of ESPN Classic which is not readily available.
Thomas Bonk of the Los Angeles Times says ESPN/ABC college basketball analyst Steve Lavin likes the job security.
Joe Favorito says the Arena Football League handled commissioner Dan Baker’s resignation as best as it could heading into today’s Arena Bowl. And Joe bids farewell to his former employer, the International Fight League.
Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media blog recalls his first break in TV at the Canadian Open, some 27 years ago.
I’ll have the Week Ahead coming up.
Jul
11
It’s the Friday Megalinks!
On this day when many people are waiting for the new iPhone 3G launch, I remain outside of that loop and will provide you the Friday megalinks.
This being All-Star Game weekend in New York, we don’t have much for sports TV viewing. The big summer events happen next week with the MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, but this is a nice quiet weekend especially after last weekend’s great Wimbledon finals.
Weekend Viewing Picks
MLB is the main agenda for the weekend. Fox prepares for the All-Star Game by televising the New York Mets hosting the Colorado Rockies. Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Ken Rosenthal will be at Shea Stadium with the call. Fox’s other games will be Minnesota at Detroit and Arizona at Philadelphia. The first pitches for each game will be 3:55 p.m. on Saturday. WGN will air the White Sox at Texas, Saturday night at 7 and the Cubs hosting San Francisco, Sunday afternoon at 2:10. TBS has the Red Sox taking on Baltimore at Fenway Park at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. And ESPN’s Sunday night game will be the Rockies-Mets.
The Tour de France continues on Versus throughout the weekend. Coverage on Saturday morning begins at 8:30 and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
HBO brings us live boxing from Hamberg, Germany Saturday afternoon as IBF/WBO/IBO Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitchko defends his titles against Tony Thompson. Jim Lampley leads the HBO World Championship Boxing crew. If you can’t watch the fight, it will be re-aired later at 10 p.m.
NASCAR heads to the Chicagoland Speedway for the Lifelock.com 400 Saturday night at 8 which marks the end of TNT’s 6 race season. In two weeks, ESPN/ABC picks up the rest of the Sprint Cup Series.
IndyCar will have Firestone IndyCar 200 from Nashville. ESPN goes head-to-head with NASCAR as it will show the race live Saturday at 8 p.m.
The PGA Tour has the John Deere Classic which CBS picks up for the weekend. Watch 3rd and final round coverage on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.
ESPN2 has live 3rd round coverage of the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, Saturday at 4 p.m., then will show the final round on tape, Sunday night at 6.
NBC will show the American Century Celebrity Championship, the golf tournament featuring celebrities from movies, sports, TV, news, you name it. NBC has the second round Saturday at 4, then on Sunday at 3 p.m. Charles Barkley is among the big names playing at Lake Tahoe.
Summer also means beach volleyball as NBC shows the AVP McDonald’s Chicago Open throughout the weekend.
The entire weekend schedule can be seen over at USA Today.com.
Now to your links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that MLB is putting its best foot forward for the All-Star Game festivities for ESPN and Fox. As you’ll notice in today’s links, the All-Star Game will be the theme.
This next link has nothing to with the sports media, but it’s to give you something to look at. They’re known as the “Wilhelmena 7″, a group of LPGA golfers selected by Wilhemena Artist Management to be showcased to show a different side of women’s golf. Here’s the first salvo, a very nice photo shoot for Golf.com.
We continue with the links.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Friend of Fang’s Bites, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch, breaks news that Boston Herald Red Sox beat writer Rob Bradford will be leaving the paper to write for the soon-to-be-relaunched WEEI.com. This is a big shake up in the Boston media as a mainstream writer leaves to write for a sports radio station’s website. Bruce Allen of BSMW says this is a very good move for Bradford and WEEI.
Nancy Marrapese-Burell of the Boston Globe says Fox Sports is pumped up for the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium this Tuesday.
Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant discusses ESPN’s new “30 for 30″ documentary initiative.
Brian Shelter of the New York Times also writes about the increased number of documentaries at ESPN.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium is an exercise in excess.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post says the Mets are gouging their season tickets holders. Justin Terranova of the Post writes that Yankee Stadium will be the real star of Fox’s coverage of the All-Star Game. Justin has five questions for YES’ Ken Singleton.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Ravens will now use their radio team to call its exhibition games on TV.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Washington Times says the Redskins-owned sports radio WTEM made some firings this week including the Redskins beat reporter.
Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner writes about some football-related media moves including Inside the NFL, Dan Patrick joining Football Night in America and Bob Papa joining the NFL Network.
Midwest
George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal says the ratings for the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators are pretty decent.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has Fox’s Joe Buck and Tim McCarver raving about the Brewers’ young pitching.
Ted Cox of the Chicago Daily Herald has the pros and cons of watching the All-Star Game.
Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune has his weekend viewing selections.
Judd Zulgad over at the Minneapolis Star Tribune says Fox will have some challenges in airing the All-Star Game.
Paul Christian of the Rochester Post-Bulletin writes that this All-Star Game will be one to watch.
South
Glenn Garvin of the Miami Herald says ESPN plans to produce a documentary about the U, University of Miami’s football program and it’s not expected to be sugarcoated. Barry Jackson of the Herald has a primer on the changing landscape of local sports talk radio.
Greg Stoda of the Palm Beach Post says Michael Strahan’s candor will make him a hit on Fox.
Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel looks forward to Bob Costas’ latest town hall meeting coming up on Wedensday. Also from the Sentinel, Brian Schmitz and Kyle Hightower wonder when FSN Florida will settle its dispute with Bright House cable about Magic games.
The Houston Chronicle’s David Barron writes that Fox is promising everything but the kitchen sink in its All-Star Game broadcast. And David tells us that NBC plans to air a majority of the Olympics on the internet.
Ray Buck in today’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Fox likes the storylines heading into Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
We have quite a few stories from Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman. First, Mel talks with Fox’s Joe Buck who wishes he had one more game with his father, the late great Jack Buck. Next, Mel has Sonics TV voice Kevin Calabro ripping Seattle for allowing Oklahoma City to take the team. Here’s Mel’s media notebook. And Mel has his viewing picks.
West
Jeremy Evans of the Tahoe (NV) Daily Tribune writing in the Nevada Appeal says ESPN’s Rick Reilly is the Michael Jordan of sports writers.
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says Yankee Stadium is the going to the real star of the All-Star Game. And here are the ratings from last weekend in San Diego.
John Maffei of the North County Times writes that Fox is trying to create moments at the All-Star Game instead of letting them happen.
Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star says Yankee Stadium will be the focus of the All-Star Game on Fox.
Larry Stewart from the Los Angeles Times writes that everybody loves a parade including Fox for the All-Star Game.
Tom Hoffarth in his weekly media column at the Los Angeles Daily News says NBC is planning to show everything at the Olympics in Communist China. Tom has his extensive media notes in his Farther Off the Wall blog. Tom facetiously combines two of Joe Buck’s favorite things.
Ferd Lewis from the Honolulu Advertiser says the WAC is appears to be getting increased exposure from ESPN in a new contract.
Media Publications
Kimberly Nordyke of the Hollywood Reporter says ESPN has signed 30 filmmakers for its “30 for 30″ project.
Larry Barrett of Multichannel News writes that ESPN is pulling out the heavy hitters for the All-Star Home Run Derby this Monday.
Press Releases
ESPN has also announced four new documentaries for the winter season.
NBC says its coverage of Wimbledon received its highest ratings in 8 years. And NBC talks about the stars participating in the American Century Championship this weekend.
Blogs
Awful Announcing looks at Bob Costas’ latest town meeting on baseball which will run live on HBO the day after the All-Star Game.
The Big Lead has video of Alyssa Milano visiting the Philadelphia Phillies’ TV booth. And the Big Lead has a transcript of WFAN’s Mike & the Mad Dog’s first show together since news surfaced that they might split up.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders how Stephon Marbury can sign a shoe deal with Amazon.com.
SportsbyBrooks talks about Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy going off on agent David Falk in the Elton Brand negotiations.
There you have it for your links today.
Jul
05
A Holiday Weekend Saturday Linkfest
I was not expecting to give you links today, but while I have some time, I figured why not.
Barry Horn talks to Mary Carillo of CBS/ESPN/HBO/NBC about Wimbledon.
The San Antonio Express-News tearfully says goodbye to a long-time institution, former columnist and broadcaster Dan Cook who died Thursday at the age of 81. There are many remembrances from colleagues and friends alike. And there are highlights of his 51 year career. You can certainly read the columns and stories about Cook who coined one of the most phrases in sports.
A couple of stories from Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. First, Dan has St. Louis-native Joe Buck apologizing profusely for his stupid comments about watching “The Bachelorette” over baseball. In his second story, Dan writes about the Sporting News leaving St. Louis after more than 120 years calling the Gateway City its home.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette writes about a sportscaster formerly from the Capital District who’s calling an Arena Football League game for ESPN tonight. Ken also writes that minor league baseball in the Schenectady area would work.
Neil Best of Newsday has the video of what was to me, the best rendition of the national anthem at a sporting event ever, Wayne Messmer singing the Star Spangled Banner at Chicago Stadium during the First Gulf War just before the 1991 NHL All-Star Game. Great stuff.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if the new U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team photo was done so as to hide Nike logos for non-Nike athletes.
The Sports Media Watch has its usual weekend ratings predictions. And the SMW has the previous ratings for all-Williams sisters finals and Federer-Nadal matchups.
Michael David Smith of the AOL Fanhouse blog has the story of ESPN.com’sPat Forde accusing 41 year old Dana Torres of using performance enhancing drugs in her win in the 100 meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials. And here’s Forde’s column.
Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Versus is slowly but surely making a name for itself.
Sean Randall of the Tennis-X blog says NBC is butchering Wimbledon.
That will do it for today.
Jun
29
Some Saturday Linkage
I was out earlier today so it’s time to give some links on this Saturday night.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette writes that a local sports anchor is very deserving of a recent promotion.
Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News says fans are hoping the news about the NFL Network games moving to ESPN Classic is true.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that a local sports radio host has won a seat in the World Series of Poker.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes about properly using the term “legendary” for certain sports broadcasters.
From the San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Garcia reports that a local Sporting News Radio affiliate is giving way to country music.
Neil Best of Newsday writes that the Mike & the Mad Dog saga turned up to be a topic of conservation on SNY. And Neil reports that the producer of a minor league baseball show has pulled the series from SNY.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Chicago Cubs owner Sam Zell has a dilemma whether to sell now or later. And Darren writes that the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul may have pulled off the best sports promotion ever.
Joe Favorito says the Soul’s move is a bit risky, but a good idea nonetheless.
Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner reports that Baltimore TV sports anchor Scott Garceau will no longer report five nights a week. Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun spoke with Garceau about his decision.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says Canadians have been watching the Euro 2008 soccer tournament.
The Sports Media Watch has its weekend ratings predictions. The SMW says the ratings for the College World Series were up for ESPN. And Euro 2008 has been a hit for the Alleged Worldwide Leader.
Jeff Hash of the EPL Talk blog says Spain-Italy was the highest rated match for ESPN’s Euro 2008 coverage.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes ESPN and ESPN2 scored their best ratings ever for the College World Series.
Scotty Thompson of the Dublin (GA) Courier-Herald feels ESPN’s Mike Patrick did not do a good job during the College World Series.
From the “I’m Permanntly Scarred for Life” Department, the Sox & Dawgs blog has the video of three guys streaking at a recent Cape Cod League Summer League game. From the “This is Much Better” Department, Sox & Dawgs has the farewell video NESN put together for Hazel Mae’s last sportscast.
The 38 Cliches blog keeps track of former Red Sox announcer Jerry Trupiano’s trip to Houston this weekend.
Michael David Smith of the AOL Fanhouse blog has the transcript of Bonnie Bernstein’s apology for statements she made on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike show. Awful Announcing has the actual video of Bonnie saying Palestinian kids want to grow up to be suicide bombers. Bonnie was actually making a good point before she brought suicide bombers into the equation.
Mike DiMauro of the Bleacher Report says ESPN needs to showcase all MLB teams, not just a selected few. And in part 2 of his column, Mike writes that ESPN does not need to schedule games months in advance.
Bob Sassone of the TV Squad blog hates ESPN’s Wimbledon scoreboard graphic and I totally agree. It’s very confusing.
Craig Dolch of the Palm Beach Post says NBC did not show the U.S. Women’s Open much respect by not cutting away from Wimbledon coverage this afternoon and cutting into golf coverage. And what Dolch did not write is that NBC then cut away from the golf again at 6 p.m. ET, jettisoning the Open to ESPN2.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says NBC would love to have another U.S. Open playoff this Monday.
David Bauder of the Associated Press writes that NBC Sports is diving in head first into online streaming and live blogging for the Summer Olympics in Communist China.
Speaking of which, I’m watching the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials live on NBC Olympics.com while the Red Sox are on my TV. The picture quality through Microsoft Silverlight is excellent. If this is how the Olympics are going to look on my computer, then I have seen the future of sports television.
That will do it for now. I’m back tomorrow.
May
10
Some Late Friday Night Links
I’ll give you some links tonight. It looks like I won’t be here to give you Saturday links until late so I may give you something else in the interim when you wake up.
First, from Darren Rovell of CNBC, he wonders if Michelle Wie is truly done as a viable and marketable commodity. Considering her record, you really have to think she is one of the biggest flops after all the hype. And Darren says pizza chain Papa John’s goofed in charging 23 cents for pies in Ohio on Thursday to make up for a Washington, DC franchise’s mistake.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says UPS has signed an agreement with Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux for logo space on his racing colors and to wear a UPS hat after the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, provided the horse wins both, of course. Tom adds that TNT’s Kenny Smith will be in Santa Clara Saturday to help feed needy children.
Kat O’Brien of Newsday writes that Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain’s histronics on the mound against Cleveland on Thursday spurred plenty of talk on the radio and TV Friday.
Ted McKenna of Red Orbit looks at the cost cutting by CBS that led to the downfall of popular Boston sportscaster Bob Lobel earlier this year.
Speaking of CBS, Phil Swann of the TV Predictions website says CBS Sports may not broadcast all of its NFL games in HD, just like last year when it only did two or three games a week in HD.
Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch discusses a Chicago Tribune article which not only says it’s time to move on from Spygate, but also adds some criticism to the Boston Herald.
The Big Lead says it’s possible that Mike Lupica and Jason Whitlock could be working on the same staff.
Oh great. The Washington Post’s Leonard Shapiro thinks Buzz Bissinger was on target with his criticism of blogs.
ESPN says this Monday’s Arena Football League game between Philadelphia and Georgia will be essentially announcer-less except for Ray Bentley narrating what happened in-between breaks. On-field microphones will pick up referees’ decisions, coaches’ and players’ commentary and locker room discussions.
NBC Sports says the US Olympic Whitewater Slalom Trials will be seen on MSNBC this Sunday.
Barstool Sports likes US gymnast Alicia Sacramone. Who’s Alicia Sacramone? She’s the one who knocks out guys. Really. And she goes to Brown here in Rhode Island. Even more reason to like her.
And this is her in action on the floor exercise against the University of New Hampshire last year.
On that note, I’ll end it. See you tomorrow.
May
08
The Thursday Linkage
Time to give you some links this morning.
David Scott of the Boston Sports Media Watch wonders where was the Boston Globe when the Matt Walsh/Spygate Tapes story broke last night and also what’s with the Herald’s source as no tape of the Super Bowl XXXVI St. Louis Rams walkthrough was not among the tapes turned into the NFL.
Paul Flannery of Boston Magazine’s Boston Daily blog talks with Red Sox broadcaster Dave O’Brien.
The Boston Herald’s Jessica Heslam profiles new NESN sideline reporter Heidi Watney. Lenny Megliola of the Metrowest (MA) Daily News says Heidi is worth watching. Dan Lamothe of the Mass Republican also has a story on Heidi.
David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says 78 year old Rene Cardenas gets a fresh start today as the Spanish broadcaster for Astros game on FSN Houston.
Danny Knobler of the Michigan Booth Newspapers writes that he’s leaving to go to CBSSports.com.
Neil Best of Newsday laments the shrinking number of sports media/business columnists across the country. Neil links to a Deadspin entry on TNT’s NBA studio show. And Neil mentions that Erin Andrews will be a guest on “The Big Idea” with Donnie Deutsch on CNBC tonight.
Mike Lucas of the Capital (WI) Times talks with ESPN’s Erin Andrews who says her dream job is sitting next to Regis Philbin.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the difference when a CEO sells stock at Under Armour and Nike.
From the New York Times, Richard Sandomir reports that the NFL is taking its fight with Comcast to the FCC.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune looks at HBO’s Hard Knocks program returning to Dallas Cowboys training camp.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says college baseball will be broadcast on RPI’s radio station and the ESPN family of networks will telecast the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Christopher Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media has a look at ESPN’s broadcast schedule for the Lacrosse Tournament.
Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette talks with sports radio talk show host Mark Madden.
Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee needs a reality check on a college football playoff.
Zack Palmer of the Forest Grove (OR) News-Times says the story of the Central Washington players carrying the injured Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon so she could make it around the bases after hitting a home run has resonated across the country.
Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable writes that CBS College Sports will be cablecasting in HD.
John Jackson from the Chicago Sun-Times talks about the Bulls’ changes to the broadcast booth.
Adam Adkins of the Tampa Tribune talks with former Buccaneers QB and current ESPN Arena Football League analyst Shaun King.
Bill Dries of the Memphis Daily News writes about ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson who was in town on Wednesday.
Christine Brennan of USA Today says some sports stories have transcended to the news pages.
Ed Sherman from the Chicago Tribune says Tiger Woods’ absence will have a huge impact on NBC Sports’ telecast of this weekend’s Players Championship.
Michael Roberts of the Westword (CO) says local media has a dilemma of whether to send a reporter to cover the Summer Olympics in Communist China.
This has the potential to be annoying. ESPN and Coldplay have teamed up so the Alleged Worldwide Leader can use the group’s music on Euro 2008 promos.
Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter says many of NBC’s units will be moving from its famous headquarters of 30 Rockefeller Center except NBC Sports and Saturday Night Live.
Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News says KYW-TV management is not reportedly happy that some employees attended a party thrown by former anchor Alycia Lane.
That’s going to do it for now. I’ll be back later with more.
Apr
22
It’s a Tuesday Link Day
Let’s give you the links right off the bat.
David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch has some breaking news from the Boston Globe and NESN. First he reports that the Globe’s Gordon Edes is planning to leave the paper for Yahoo.com. That is a big blow to the paper. And he mentions that NESN has finally hired Heidi Watney as the sideline reporter for Red Sox games.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that in the world of publishing, “Best Game Ever” is used quite often in book titles.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says Jeff Van Gundy overlobbied for Mark Jackson for the Knicks’ coaching job on ABC this past Sunday.
Newsday’s Neil Best says more talk on SNY doesn’t necessarily translate to more viewers. Neil blogs about the increased talk at SNY. Neil wonders what ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. does the other 11 months of the year. Neil asks what defines a network. And Neil writes about the presidential candidates groveling for votes on WWE Raw last night. I really want to Rick-roll this next link, but I’ll save that for another day. I don’t even want to describe it. Click at your own risk.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette has a couple of hockey-related notes in his blog.
Laura Nachman reports about the new President of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
Rick Green of the Erie (PA) Times-News is not a fan of the NFL Draft.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun writes in his Medium Well blog about a new NFL Network program titled, “Football Factories”.
John Keim of the Baltimore Examiner says the appearance of former Ravens coach Brian Billick on the NFL Network this weekend could be an audition for other networks.
Jim Williams of DC/Baltimore/San Francisco Examiner writes that it will be a big hockey night in both Washington and the Bay Area.
The Washington Post’s Leonard Shapiro catches up with former WRC-TV sports anchor George Michael a year after his departure from the station.
George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal says the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff opener did well in the ratings on Saturday.
Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune writes that the Bears have a new flagship TV station.
Doug Segrest of the Birmingham News writes that Papa John’s will keep its name on its college bowl game for two more years.
Dave Del Grande of the Oakland Tribune wonders why the networks were rushing for the NFL schedule to be released. And Del Grande writes about Arena Football’s biggest fan.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News previews tonight’s edition of E:60 which includes the ambush interview of Miguel Tejada.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean should swear off bad language.
Eric Kuzmiak of the Bleacher Report says ESPN is showing preference to the NFL at the expense of the NBA and NHL Playoffs.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the lovely Candace Parker has picked up two endorsement deals.
That’s it for now.
Mar
03
Some Sunday Evening Links
I’ve been out all day and I just got back. Time for me to give you the links from the Sunday papers.
Last night, I made a post about Newsday’s Neil Best celebrating Cornell University’s trip to the NCAA Tournament by running nude around his block. Not only did I reference Neil, but also his colleague, Bob Glauber. Both have their own takes on the post, first Neil correctly says it’s rather disturbing and second, Bob is now asking for readers to send in Photoshopped pics of Neil’s head on a nude body. If that isn’t disturbing, I don’t know what is. Anyway, we move on.
Since I started with Neil Best, I might as well continue with his Sunday column in Newsday which is about Jon Bon Jovi talking about his ownership of the Arena Football League’s Philadelphia Soul and trying to raise the AFL’s very low ratings on ESPN2. Also from his blog, Neil has good news for Mets fans, Ralph Kiner will work an estimated 20 games on SNY.
Moving to other columnists, the constantly angry Bob Raissman of the New York Post doesn’t like ESPN hiring Bob Knight.
Dan Daly of the Washington Times puts his tongue firmly in cheek when he says Knight will breathe life into ESPN.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick shows his hate for WFAN’s Mike Francesca.
Bryan Curtis writes in the New York Times’ Play Magazine about two of the bigger media free agents in the last year, Dan Patrick and Rick Reilly.
Iliana Limn of the Orlando Sentinel says ESPN is experiencing growing pains. Also from the Sentinel, Jerry Greene talks with ESPN’s Mike Tirico.
We talked about this earlier, but the Detroit Free Press has picked it up. Chris Silva and Tom Lang say that two female high school wrestlers in Battle Creek, MI will be profiled on ESPN’s Outside the Lines.
Alexander Parker of the Lawrence (KS) Journal-World & News says Kansas University students were out in force for College Gameday yesterday.
Rich Fahey of the Boston Globe talks with Boston sports and news anchor Bob Halloran about his book on boxer Irish Mickey Ward.
The Sports Media Watch has its weekly weekend ratings predictions.
Steve Wiseman of The State says the South Carolina High School League put its basketball championship games for view on the web and it was a success.
George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal talks about the challenges facing the Arena Football League including its TV contract as a new season gets underway.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes about a college that teaches sports reporting.
That’s it for now.
Feb
26
Late Monday Night Update
Time to give you a few more links on this Monday night.
First, Neil Best of Newsday tells us that the Arena Football League’s New York Dragons will have 1050 ESPN Radio as its flagship station this season.
The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty writes in his blog about the higher ratings NBC experienced for this year’s WGC Accenture Match Play Championship with Tiger Woods involved in the entire weekend of play.
NBC Sports says the ratings for Sunday was 67% higher than last year’s event which saw Tiger eliminated early in the action. In addition, NBC says Pittsburgh at Washington will its choice for the NHL Game of the Week on March 9.
Greg Tunnicliff of the Flint (MI) Journal says ESPN will do a feature on two high school female wrestlers for Outside the Lines.
Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times says the University of South Florida will have four of its football games aired on the ESPN family of networks this fall, matching the most of any Big East Conference team.
The Denver Post reports that ESPN has moved the Colorado-West Virginia game to September 18, making it a primetime Thursday night game.
Teddy Feinberg of the Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News says coaches in the WAC are concerned about their TV exposure especially in the wake of a majority of their BracketBuster games not being shown on ESPN.
George James Malik of the Michigan Live website writes that NHL.com will stream TSN’s coverage of the Trading Deadline all day Tuesday. Stu Cowan of the Canwest News Service says the Trading Deadline is a big deal for TSN.
The Boston Herald’s Inside Track talks about the NFL Network ending its display of topless men at the Scouting Combine, plus the Track girls compare the ratings for the Oscars to the NFL.
And that does it for Monday. Good night.
Feb
26
Monday Evening Links
Let’s give you some more links this evening.
First, Newsday’s Neil Best notes in his blog that the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship on NBC with Tiger Woods outpaced the NBA game on ABC with Shaquille O’Neal on Sunday. Neil reports that NBC has passed on the Boston Bruins-New York Rangers tilt for its NHL flex game on March 9. And Neil criticizes ESPN’s Dick Vitale for getting distracted during the Tennessee-Memphis game on Saturday.
The Sports Media Watch says the rained out NASCAR race outpaced both golf and the NBA in the ratings. And the blog also notes that while the ratings for the Match Play Championships were up with Tiger winning, viewers may be getting tired of him. But Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Tiger’s appearance last week helped the Golf Channel reach its highest ratings ever.
Craig Dolch of the Palm Beach Post reports in his blog that Golf Channel has cut its early round coverage of this week’s Honda Classic from three hours a day to two.
Steve Cameron of the Merced (CA) Sun-Star says Golf Channel analyst Nick Faldo chose the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship to take a shot at his former sponsor, Nike.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes in his blog that CBS has made its wild card selections for its last weekend of regular season college basketball.
Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch noticed that the last two Celtics road games on Comcast SportsNet were not shown in true HD as advertised.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times writes that MASN will air 80 games of the Nationals and Baltimore Orioles in HD.
Jon Lafayette of TV Week says CBS will offer on demand highlights of the NCAA Tournament in HD. Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that Comcast and Bresnan Communications are the first two cable providers to sign up to distribute the highlights.
Daisy Whitney from TV Week says HBO has launched a YouTube channel that will feature videos from Real Sports and HBO Boxing. The link to the channel is here.
John Consoli of Mediaweek reports that ESPN is producing a civil rights-themed basketball documentary.
ESPN has reached a new two year agreement with FSN to air a handful of Big 12 football games.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports the Alleged Worldwide Leader will air one Arena Football League game involving the Utah Blaze.
Brian Bennett and Brett Lawson of the Louisville Courier-Journal write that the University of Kentucky has turned down an offer from ESPN to play in-state rival Louisville on Labor Day.
Kyle Hightower of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the city will host two black college football games, one sponsored by ESPN, but the other is in desperate need of a sponsor.
Jamison Hensley and Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun talk about former Ravens coach Brian Billick who appeared for three hours on a local radio station today.
Soccer fans will be able to watch all of FC Dallas’ games on TV through various English and Spanish outlets.
Former Philadelphia news anchor Alycia Lane has had her charges reduced stemming from an arrest in New York back in December.
I might have even another update later tonight. Keep checking here.
Feb
20
Quick Wednesday Update
Still dealing with work issues, but I can break away to give you some links today.
First, John Ourand of the Sports Business Daily breaks the news that Dish Network is moving the NFL Network to a less popular tier, cutting its subscriber base by 4 million.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has a word from Roger Clemens on Vitamin B-12. No, it’s not that Roger Clemens, but Dr. Roger Clemens of USC.
Speaking of that Roger Clemens, Richard Sandomir of the New York Times reports that the Rocket is pulling out of the annual ESPN the Weekend event at Disney World later this month. Scott Powers from the Business, Tourism and Aviation blog of the Orlando Sentinel has more on this story.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union reports in his Best Seat in My House blog that ESPN will assign upstate New York native Joe Tessitore to Arena Football League games this spring.
The St. Petersburg Times’ Tom Jones has an interview with sports writer Frank Deford in his Two Cents blog.
Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch has the Five Best Mainstream Sports Blogs in Boston.
In his Four DVRs no waiting blog, the Houston Chronicle’s David Barron wonders if anyone has switched to recording shows on DVD or does anyone still use antiquted VCRs? Personally, I use DVD recorders. Much easier and you don’t lose quality.
Maury Brown of the Business of Sports websites has an interview with CNBC’s Darren Rovell about his Nike documentary.
NBC Sports will pick up coverage of the PGA Tour starting with the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship this weekend.
The Business First of Buffalo reports that ESPN2 will host its Friday Night Fights program at the Seneca Allegany & Casino on March 28.
Multichannel News tells us that the former CSTV and ESPNU have picked up more cable subscribers. Linda Haugsted of Multichannel says DirecTV will offer viewers three extra channels of coverage for The Masters in April.
Michael Klein of the Philadelphia Inquirer says sports radio station WIP will join co-owned 94WYSP in carrying Eagles games next season.
The Detroit News reports that for the first time, all 162 Tigers games will be broadcast either on FSN Detroit or on national TV. One game that was not going to be aired on TV has now been picked up.
I’ll have Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks coming up.
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