Fang's Bites

Our Mid-Week Links

I don’t think I’ll be blogging as much as I did yesterday, but we’ll keep an eye on developments from the Super Bowl. If anything happens, we’ll put it here. In the meantime, your links for today.

USA Today’s Michael McCarthy talks about the incessant coverage of Tom Brady by both the sports and entertainment media.

David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch writes about the departure of Tina Cervasio from NESN.

Here’s ESPN’s schedule for Super Bowl programming on radio and TV from Arizona today.

Newsday’s Neil Best writes that Giants coach Tom Coughlin looked like he was enjoying Super Bowl Media Day. Neil writes in his blog that he tried to get a Super Bowl pick from former American Idol participant Kellie Pickler. Neil says Ines Sainz whom I thought was the one asking questions in a wedding dress was at Media Day as well. And as a follow up to his column today, Neil says Coughlin aced his first media test this week.Finally, Neil has Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman stating that he’s not biased against the Giants despite what Big Blue Nation thinks.

Jon Friedman of Marketwatch talks to ESPN’s Chris Berman about how the New York Football Giants could beat the Pats in the Super Bowl. Before the Patriots fans get up in arms, Friedman clearly states he’s a Giants fan so don’t kill him.

Barbara Yost from the Arizona Republic sets the scene of ESPN’s Super Bowl command post at SouthBridge. Yost also writes that there are plenty of chances for fans to get on TV during Super Bowl week.

Karen Crouse of the New York Times writes about Tom Brady having to deal with the Paparazzi.

David Bauder of the Associated Press says the ratings for the Super Bowl could set a record.

Karl Greenberg of Mediapost says Taco Bell plans to unveil a new meal deal during the Super Bowl.

The Buffalo News’ Alan Pergament talks about hack Ryan Seacrest hosting the red carpet portion of the Fox Super Bowl pregame show.

The Cherry Hill (NJ) Courier Post picks up a story from Mike Hughes of the Gannett News Service describing what Fox will air on Super Bowl Sunday.

David Thomas from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talks about yesterday’s Super Bowl Media Day.

Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch talks about CBS and ESPN adding Ohio State basketball games to their schedules.

Jeff Eisenberg from the Press-Enterprise in California says ESPN’s telecast of the USC-Arizona game this Saturday is not a precursor for the Worldwide Leader to get into the Pac 10 long term.

Morgan Unger of the Marshall University student newspaper writes that the date of the rivalry football game between Marshall and West Virginia has been changed to accommodate ESPN.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell asks what does the internment of Barbaro’s ashes at Churchill Downs means for the track.

Nancy Stockdale of the Des Moines Register writes that NBC Sports and several companies are trying to get on the train of world champion gymnast Shawn Johnson who’s expected to do well at the Olympics in Communist China this summer.

There you have it for now. More later.

Thursday Night Links

I’m such a political junkie, I’m glued to CNN and MSNBC watching the results of the Iowa Caucuses. Don’t worry, this won’t become a political blog, this will always be a sports media blog first, followed by the Amazing Race and anything else, but the anything else won’t be politics. But I do enjoy watching the election results as they come in. If you’re watching on TV or the internet, you know who’s winning, I won’t link or put them here because you can find your own trusted sources for the results.

Ok, on to some links.

On Sunday, CBS’ 60 Minutes will have the first interview with Roger Clemens since he was named in the Mitchell Report last month. While teammate Andy Pettitte who was also named has admitted taking steroids during his rehab, Clemens remains steadfast in denying ever taking them. It will be interesting how Clemens comes off with Mike Wallace.

Newsday’s Neil Best wonders if Clemens is actually telling the truth.

One blog that we haven’t been linking to and should be regularly is the Best Seat In My House blog written by sports media writer Pete Dougherty of the Albany (NY) Times Union. I’ve linked to his stories in the paper here and there, but after reading his blog today, I’ve not only decided to add him to the blogroll, but start regularly linking to him as well. He’s got some good stuff. Today, Dougherty talks about CBS taking over CSTV’s business operations.

Curtis Eichelberger of Bloomberg writes that CBS taking over CSTV will allow the network to sell advertising on the channel. And Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says CBS will now take over the reins of CSTV. Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable says CSTV founder Brian Bedol will no longer have a day-to-day role in the channel and will serve as an advisor.

The Sports Media Watch blog has been busy over the past week and today is no exception. First, Paulsen looks at the final ratings for the NFL regular season and Fox remains the Sunday afternoon ratings winner, but CBS has reasons to be proud as well. And ratings for the BCS on Fox are down from last year.

Dave Curtis of the Orlando Sentinel says Florida coach Urban Meyer will be a guest analyst on Fox Sports’ coverage of the BCS Championship Game on Monday.

Awful Announcing tells us that ESPN has hired three analysts for the NFL playoffs this week.

NBC Sports will have the Miami Dolphins’ Jason Taylor as a special guest in its Football Night in America studio for Wild Card Saturday.

In an editorial for tomorrow’s editions, the Hartford Courant says the viewer pays in the NFL Network vs. Cable dispute.

Nellie Andreeva of the Hollywood Reporter says the networks got a boost from the NFL on Saturday and Sunday nights. The San Francisco Chronicle picks up a story from the AP’s David Bauder on the Patriots-Giants game being the most watched program of the week. Gary Levin of USA Today has another version of the same story.

Jeff Bercovici’s Mixed Media blog in Conde Nast’s Portfolio.com site has a not-so-nice entry on the NFL Network’s Bryant Gumbel.

ESPN.com’s Jim Caple has a funny article on what if the news networks covered the NFL like they did the elections.

Katy Bachman of Mediaweek looks at XM Satellite Radio picking up Dan Patrick’s radio show.

Last night we told you that NBC Sports had won an Eclipse Award for the Kentucky Derby. Today, HBO has won one for its documentary on Barbaro.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News reports that the NHL Network will rebroadcast the Winter Classic this weekend. And Reynolds writes in his blog that his New Year’s Day had two new viewing choices.

That’s it. And I’ll remind you that the Friday megalinks which I try to finish in the morning will be late tomorrow as I’ll be at a jobsite. I’ll try to get them to you as fast as I can.

Some more Wednesday Stuff

Giving you a few more bits of news today.

First, the fine blog, Sports Media Watch looks behind the poor ratings of the NHL for Games 1, 2 and 3 and what programs finished ahead of them. Saturday night’s ratings for NBC were very bad as you’re aware by now.

Newsday’s Neil Best says Chris Russo of WFAN has debuted a new feature today on NBCSports.com called “Sidelines”. Best notes that Russo waves his arms a lot on camera and it’s true. I think Mad Dog will told to stop that eventually.

How nice of NBC (sarcasm). They’re going to allow blogs like this one post video clips of news and sports programs.

The positive reviews keep coming in for HBO’s documentary on Barbaro. Here’s one from the Orlando Sentinel.

HBO’s boxing curmudgeon, Larry Merchant is without a contract, but apparently is trying to come to terms with the pay channel. According to Dan Raphael of ESPN.com, it’s a two year contract with options for more.

The nuts campaign to CBS may have paid off. For those of you who aren’t fans of Jericho, fans of the show sent 25 million tons of nuts to CBS to protest the cancellation of the show. And the Hollywood Reporter reports the campaign may lead to bringing the show back for 7-8 shows next season. The network is working out details with some of the cast, writers and show staff. An announcement is expected sometime today and that is good news. I’m a big fan of the show and enjoyed watching it last season. I’m hoping to get a resolution of the storylines that were told very well.

That’s it for now.

Wednesday Links

Time to give you some links for today.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has an interesting feature on an NFL broadcast bootcamp where 20 players will find out if they have what it takes to become a TV analyst. This will allow players to get a career after they leave the NFL.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says HBO’s documentary on Barbaro is a tearjerker.

While the NHL is not tearing up most of the country in the ratings, one place it does well is Buffalo and Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News has the story.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes about the sad ratings of the NHL.

The Mountain West Conference which formed its own network, The Mtn., is not happy with distribution.

In Boston, Comcast prepares to take over Fox Sports New England with some more local programming.

This weekend, TNT takes over NASCAR telecasts for the next six weeks. Driver Kyle Petty steps out of his car to go into the broadcast booth for that period.

Carl Kotala of Florida Today writes about the MLB Draft which will be shown on ESPN2 this afternoon.

Jim Gentry of the Daily Reflector (NC) has his thoughts on why the NHL is not doing well in the ratings.

And today is the final taping of The Price is Right for the legendary Bob Barker. People have been lining up at CBS Television City in LA to see his final show. USA Today has a reflection on the long time game show host. I grew up watching Bob. He will be missed.

More Friday Stuff

A few more links for you today.

The Oakland A’s moved to an FM station this year to satisfy fans who were complaining about a weak AM signal at night. The problem was the talk lineup that was a bit extreme for some listeners. The Contra Costa Times reports that Free FM in San Francisco is flipping to music and that should be better for A’s fans.

Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee profiles Rick Barry who’s been co-hosting a show on Sirius Satellite Radio.

This weekend marks the beginning of the Women’s College World Series. ESPN will have Beth Mowins as the lead play-by-play announcer and Eric Collins being the other announcer. Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman writes that the Alleged Worldwide Leader had to scramble this year to find analysts after Lisa Fernandez and Stacey Nuveman left for various reasons.

The Boston Herald profiles the General Manager of ESPN Radio in Boston, Jessamy Tang, one of the few women leading a sports radio station in the country.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin reports on a new play-by-play voice for the town’s Minor League Baseball team nicknamed …. the Honkers. Doncha love Minor League Baseball?

Laura Nachman of the Bucks County Courier Times has a story on ESPN’s Jayson Stark who has a new book just out. She also gives her overrated and underrated list of Philly sportscasters.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star has a look at HBO’s documentary on Barbaro. You may recall NBC aired one after the Kentucky Derby last month. HBO’s effort will air next Wednesday night.

Doug Nye of The State (SC) has a quick blurb on Yankees-Red Sox on Fox tommorrow. Nye has also has a story on how the NBC station in Columbia isn’t thrilled about having the Stanley Cup Finals in primetime.

Rob Brodie of Slam! Sports in Canada writes about how TV crews go conservative when it comes to broadcasting the Stanley Cup.

Tom Hoffarth of the LA Daily News says it was All-Kobe Bryant All The Time on Wednesday when he kept going on various radio talk shows in New York, LA and nationally to announce he wanted to be traded from the Lakers, then recanted, then said he wanted to be traded again, then to say he wanted to retire as a Laker.

A Fang’s Bites fav, Amber Theoharis of MASN, is the subject of another feature, this time in the Frederick News-Post.

We’ll have primetime and weekend viewing choices coming up.

More Friday Stuff

As I enjoy listening to 1st Wave on Sirius.com, time to give you some media columns from across the country. Let’s go from East to West shall we?

First, from the New York Times, Richard Sandomir profiles the Voice of HBO Sports documentaries, the smooth Liev Schreiber who has narrated more than 30 for the pay cable network. Over to the Times’ crosstown rival, the New York Daily News where Bob Raissman has some harsh words for HBO. Not for their documentaries, but for not coming to terms with long-time boxing analyst Larry Merchant. There are rumors abound that HBO wants to replace Merchant with charlatan Max Kellerman. While Larry may have lost a bit on his fastball over the years, he has forgotten more boxing than Kellerman will ever know. Does anyone remember, I Max on Fox Sports Net? I didn’t think so.

The New York Post has a plethora of media stories on Fridays. Pat Reichart has three stories. First has him asking 5 questions to Jim Lampley about the Floyd Mayerweather-Oscar De La Hoya fight tomorrow. The second story is more of a general media column, but the main focus is on Mike & Mike of ESPN Radio gaining momentum in NYC. Reichart’s third story deals with the Kentucky Derby, also this Saturday. Gary Stevens is doing work for NBC this weekend and Reichart asks him what to watch for in this year’s edition of the Run for the Roses.

Newsday’s Neil Best asks if the sales for the De La Hoya-Mayerweather PPV bout will match the hype.

Jim Williams of the Baltimore Examiner usually has good stuff in his columns. He’s one writer who has actually worked in TV so he knows of what he speaks. Williams writes about the NBC documentary on Barbaro who passed away last year. Some skeptics wonder what the fuss was all about when Barbaro died, but to many who follow the horses, he was something special. He also has a preview of what NBC has in store for viewers for the Derby including a Red Carpet show. Whatever. Finally, Williams also has a story on Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder wanting to increase the signal on his radio stations.

Susan Bickelhaupt of the Boston Globe also has a story on NBC’s coverage of Saturday’s Derby.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune gives his picks for weekend viewing.

Down to Texas and the Houston Chronicle, David Barron has a breakdown of the ratings for the Houston sports radio stations from the Winter Arbitron book.

Out west, Larry Stewart of the LA Times also wonders with Newsday’s Neil Best if the action in the De La Hoya-Mayerweather fight can match the hype. And Stewart has his news and notes column which includes a preview of the Derby on NBC.

And from Toronto, Chris Zelkovich of the Star writes about the innovation to put a small camera in the net for hockey telecasts. As puckheads will tell you, that innovation along with the overhead cameras at the goal line have done nothing but to enhance the broadcasts as well as give officials an extra tool to determine goals. I haven’t thought about it, but Zelkovich notes that the netcam first made its appearance in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Can’t believe it’s been 13 years since its inception.

If there’s anything to add, I’ll update the blog, but that appears to be it for now.