Fang's Bites

Bringing Back The Friday Megalinks

It’s been too long since I’ve done a links post and why not do this with a Friday megalink post.

Your Weekend Viewing Picks have all of my sports and entertainment suggestions.

Now to your linkage.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today talks with Fox’s Erin Andrews about her being put under a bigger microscope now that she has higher profile gigs.

John Ourand & Michael Botta from Sports Business Daily handicap the bidding for the US rights to the English Premier League.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that the EPL bidding is going to a second round.

At Sports on Earth, Will Leitch makes no bones about being a Joe Buck apologist.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy looks at the ratings for three KHL airings on ESPN2.

To The Godfather, Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina who notes that in Hot Clicks, ESPN’s Samantha Steele is taken. Sorry, fanboys.

Jim Romenesko notices that ESPN.com is trying to play eye doctor.

Jane McManus of espnW looks at MLB’s new dress policy for reporters.

Sports Rantz explores the revamping of the 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter that could lead to more appearances for Lindsay Czarniak.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report talks with CBS’ Doug Gottlieb about his first job in broadcasting.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Ronnie Ramos says reporters should throw objectivity out the window when it comes to social media.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group says YES Network is finding a TV-friendly environment at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

David Goetzl of MediaPost says ESPN is trying to expand the SportsCenter brand beyond television.,

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid has today’s New York Post cover involving the Yankees.

Kristi Dosh as ESPN.com says GoDaddy’s hiring of a new ad agency could lead to the dropping of spokesperson Danica Patrick.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell says it’s good that the Chicago White Sox listened to their fans and dropped ticket prices for next season.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has the worst sports tweets of 2012 to date.

Leah Goldman of the Business Insider’s Sports Page has what you need to know about ESPN’s Samantha Steele.

Joe Favorito looks at the Battle for the Big Apple, NBA style.

Dave Kohl of The Broadcast Booth takes a look at Joe Buck’s rare NFL/MLB doubleheader on Sunday.

Bob’s Blitz talks about CBS Sports Radio giving writer John Feinstein a daily show when the network launches in 2013.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Lewiston (ME) Sun Journal and Maine Hockey Journal have formed a partnership on local sports coverage.

At the Boston Globe, Chad Finn reviews Comcast SportNet New England’s NFL Pregame Live show.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks with a former WEEI morning show personality.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says Time Inc. has tapped a Sports Illustrated web editor to head its entire sports portfolio.

In the New York Post, Phil Mushnick wants everyone to be like him.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY notes that the Yankees and Giants top the local TV ratings.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union compares and contrasts Fox and TBS in the MLB Postseason.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call notes that a local sports talk show host is no longer employed at his radio station.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com has Baltimore Ravens voice and local sports anchor Gerry Sandusky explaining why he won’t change his name.

Also in Press Box, Dave says the Washington Nationals are seeking a bigger rights fee from MASN.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the City Paper will not mention the DC NFL team by its regular name.

Dan says Fox was filming a spot regarding DC NFL team QB Robert Griffin III this week.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the Nationals’ brand is seeing more attention after its regular season success.

South

Rick Stroud at the Tampa Bay Times says Sunday’s game involving the Saints and Bucs did sell out in time.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle has some college football announcer pairings and a few local news and notes.

In his media notebook, Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman looks at Bill Simmons making the dangerous move to television.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Time Warner Cable picks up three local high school football games this weekend.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has ESPN college basketball analyst Dan Dakich handicapping the Big Ten.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says the Cubs, WGN and Comcast SportsNet will quickly decide on a replacement for Bob Brenly who left and took his talents to the Southwest.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch wonders why the Sun-Times would hire Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy to be a columnist.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that the local Fox TV station had to juggle severe warning alerts while airing the Cardinals in the NLCS.

West

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the Diamondbacks have named their new TV broadcasting team.

John Maffei of the North County Times writes on a former San Diego Charger who’s deciding whether he wants to play in the CFL or pursue broadcasting full-time.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star explores the cast changes to ESPN’s NBA Countdown pregame show.

In his media notebook, Jim says the Pac-12 Network can be found online for subscribers of participating cable and satellite providers.

Jim has his Weekend Viewing Picks.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News is fed up of cable carriage disputes.

Tom has some stuff that didn’t make it into his column.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail talks with former NHL coach and TV analyst Mike Keenan on how to survive the lockout.

The Toronto Sports Media Blog has some of the local sports radio ratings.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog says MLB got a rare ratings win over the CFL last Friday.

And that will conclude the megalinks. Enjoy the sports weekend.

CFL Finally Has A US TV Contract; Games Air On NBC Sports Network

After starting the season without a US TV partner, the Canadian Football League had to resort to streaming games on ESPN3. For the past three seasons, NFL Network had aired games, but never any of the CFL’s postseason games.

With a new partnership with NBC Sports Network, the CFL will have a US partner that will air regular season games in August unlike NFL Network, the playoffs unlike NFL Network, and the Grey Cup unlike NFL Network. It’s about time the CFL was served correctly.

The 14 game schedule will begin on August 27 with the Edmonton Eskimos taking on the Toronto Argonauts.

Like NFL Network, these games will be simulcasts of TSN’s coverage.

Here’s the NBC Sports Network press release.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR 14 CFL GAMES IN 2012

Live Coverage of The 100^th CFL Grey Cup To Air on NBC Sports Network Sunday, November 25

NEW YORK – July 20, 2012 – NBC Sports Network will telecast 14 CFL games in 2012, including the CFL semifinals, finals and the 100^th edition of the Grey Cup. Coverage of the CFL on NBC Sports Network begins Monday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the Edmonton Eskimos host the Toronto Argonauts. The season will conclude with the 100^th Grey Cup on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

The 2012 schedule also includes the defending Grey Cup Champion BC Lions vs. the Montreal Alouettes at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 31; Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Eskimos at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 7; and Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 1.

NBC Sports Network’s 2012 CFL schedule (all times ET):

Date	Opponent	Time
Aug. 27	Edmonton vs. Toronto	7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31	BC vs. Montreal	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 3	Toronto vs. Hamilton	1:00 p.m.
Sept. 3	Edmonton vs. Calgary	4:30 p.m.
Sept. 7	Calgary vs. Edmonton	9:00 p.m.
Oct. 5	Hamilton vs. Edmonton	9:00 p.m.
Oct. 19	Edmonton vs. BC	10:00 p.m.
Nov. 1	Hamilton vs. Toronto	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2	Calgary vs. Edmonton	9:00 p.m.
Nov. 11	Semifinals	4:30 p.m.
Nov. 11	Semifinals	11:00 p.m.
Nov. 18	Finals	4:30 p.m.
Nov. 18	Finals	11:00 p.m.
Nov. 25	Grey Cup	6:00 p.m.

That’s it.

Some 4th of July Sports Media Thoughts

On this 4th of July holiday, let’s do some All-American sports media thoughts. They’re in bullet form as always.

• The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir gave us some food for thought in his latest column this week on the MLB rights negotiations. Richard raised the possibility of MLB awarding the entire broadcast contract to one network, having the company air all five jewels, the All-Star Game, Wild Card Playoffs, League Divisional Playoffs, League Championship Series and the World Series. However, that is highly unlikely. MLB has had one broadcaster in the past to air all of its showcases, NBC from 1965 through 1975 and CBS from 1990 to 1994.

  In this current contract, ESPN and Fox share All-Star Game Week, TBS has the Wild Card Playoffs, TBS and MLB Network have the League Division Series, Fox and TBS split the League Championship Series and Fox carries the World Series.

  With NBC extremely interested in getting back into baseball needing programming for NBC Sports Network, ESPN hoping to regain a piece of the postseason, TBS and Fox wanting to keep their present packages or even expand them (Fox does have plans to launch its own cable sports network) and MLB looking for more inventory for MLB Network, this negotiation looks to be a big battleground among the networks. Someone is going to leave the bargaining table very disappointed when all is said and done.

  No matter what, Major League Baseball is bound to get very rich from the networks. As Sandomir reports, MLB currently receives $711 million per year from ESPN, Fox and TBS. Expect that to possibly reach or even surpass $1 billion when the dust settles.

• On Tuesday, Erin Andrews did what many ex-ESPN’ers do, make her first national appearance as an ex-ESPN’er on the Dan Patrick Show. While Erin didn’t trash her former employer, she did make some news by stating that she’ll be roaming the sidelines for NFL games in addition to hosting Fox’s college football studio and having a role on Fox’s MLB Postseason coverage.

  Some have speculated that Erin might replace Pam Oliver on Fox’s NFL “A” team with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. That is not going to happen. Can you imagine what would happen to the Fox executive who had to tell Pam that she was booted from the NFL on Fox? Pam takes crap from no one and is willing to fight anyone at any time. That executive’s limbs would be ripped from his/her joints, so no, Pam Oliver is not going anywhere.

  And let’s think about this realistically. Erin will host the College Football studio from Los Angeles. It would not be conducive to have Erin travel cross country especially when the Fox college football game will most likely end after 11:30 p.m. ET Saturday and then be on the sidelines for a potential 1 p.m. game on Sunday. Yes, she’ll work some NFL games, but if she does a back-to-back, it’ll be on the West Coast.

  It will be nice to have Erin on the NFL.

• Is there any way for Fox Soccer Plus to sublicense some Australian Rules Football games to ESPN2? It doesn’t seem right not to have some Aussie Footy on basic cable.
• Some of you have asked and there is still no US TV for Canadian Football League games. The 2012 season started last week and the only US outlet was ESPN3 online. NFL Network had picked up CFL games in the past, but never went beyond the regular season and never aired the Grey Cup. Unless a cable network steps up, it appears the only way to see the CFL in the US is ESPN3. If anything changes, I’ll let you know.

Enjoy your 4th.

Some Back To Work Tuesday Linkage

Back to work for many of you after the Memorial Day holiday. Because of my crazy schedule, I didn’t get to enjoy it, but you don’t care about that. Let’s do links.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal reports that Cox Communications has dropped the New Orleans Hornets allowing Fox Sports to swoop up the rights.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News takes a look at the US TV coverage of the French Open.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter writes that UK’s Channel 4 plans extensive coverage of the 2012 London Paralympics which will be held two weeks after the Summer Olympics.

Tim Nudd of Adweek reviews the latest WatchESPN spot.

Alex Weprin of TVNewser reports that HBO’s Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel will co-host Live with Kelly next week.

Evan Weiner at Examiner.com explains how NBC’s huge rights fee effectively ended Qatar’s bid for the 2020 Olympics.

Ed Sherman from The Sherman Report interviews legendary sportswriter Frank Deford.

Ed writes that USA Today’s Sports section is changing its reporting strategy.

Media Rantz remembers the Marv Albert arrest 15 years later. Disclosure: I’m quoted in this very well-researched article.

Will Brinson at CBSSports.com writes that Showtime/NFL Films has quietly dumped Warren Sapp from “Inside the NFL”, however, he remains on NFL Network.

Evan Sporer of SportsGrid has the great video of a soldier home from Afghanistan surprising his daughters at Sunday’s Minnesota Twins game. It has nothing to do with sports media. I’m just a huge sucker for reunion videos.

Chadd Scott at ChuckOliver.net explores how TV money has led to the “Wal-Martization” of college football.

Joe Lucia at Awful Announcing notes that former ESPN college football crackpot Craig James is running below “Undecided” in the Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary. Always a good place to be when trying to run a successful campaign.

Bob’s Blitz says former Miami sports radio talker Sid Rosenberg has a new gig.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick actually heaps praise this morning. And he does it to Hall of Fame hockey voice Mike Emrick.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says Time Warner Cable will air some local high school lacrosse playoff games.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that the NBA Draft Lottery will air from New York’s Times Square for the first time ever.

Ken McMillan at the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record writes that apparently NFL Network will no longer air CFL games.

Ken adds that there’s no New York City radio home of the 2012 Olympics as of yet.

Ken provides the Compass Media college football schedule for the 2012 season.

And Ken has the Sports USA college football schedule as well.

Tom Jones from the Tampa Bay Times looks back at the weekend that was in sports television.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes that embattled South Florida sports radio talk show Sid Rosenberg is about to start a new gig.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says a local sports radio station is about to acquire a rival FM station.

Jerry Garcia from the San Antonio Express-News says TNT’s Shaquille O’Neal spent some time talking to a local TV station and defending his co-hort Charles Barkley.

Roy Bragg of the Express-News says the Chuckster was glad to meet the peeps in San Antonio on Monday.

Paul M. Banks at Chicago Sports Media Watch has some linkage of his own to provide.

Scott D. Pierce at the Salt Lake Tribune talks with Utah Jazz TV voice Craig Bolerjack.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post looks at the mtn.: The Final Days.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that a hockey primer from 1993 still holds true today.

Steve Ladurantaye from the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that Rogers and TSN are smelling blood and plan to bid for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada package.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Globe and Mail says Rogers Sportsnet has snatched IndyCar rights away from TSN.

The Canadian Sports Media blog looks at the silly PR hockey wars being conducted by Rogers Sportsnet and TSN.

Sports Media Watch gives us the overnight ratings for the Indianapolis 500 on ABC.

Steve Lepore at SB Nation’s Puck The Media predicts the ratings for this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

Joe Favorito says things are looking good at NBC Sports.

Jordan Golson at MacRumors talks with ESPN’s NASCAR pit reporter Dave Burns about using an iPad for his reports.

That’s going to do it for now.

Our Mid-Week Linkage

Time for some sports media links for today. Let’s get to them without further delay.

Let’s start with USA Today and Michael Hiestand who looks at the record online numbers for the first live legal stream of the Super Bowl.

Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated lists the best and worst NFL announcing teams.

Over to Mike Farrell of Multichannel News who writes that the MSG Network/Time Warner Cable dispute could last a long time and there’s no end in sight.

Eriq Gardner of the Hollywood Reporter says a magistrate judge has blocked an attempt by several former athletes wanting access to NCAA TV contracts in a dispute over EA Sports using their likenesses for video games.

Lacy Rose of the Reporter writes that actor/director Clint Eastwood is spearheading the launch of a new golf TV network.

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable reports that the FCC has refused to reverse a decision against Comcast requiring it to carry Tennis Channel.

Tim Baysinger of B&C notes that Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl received a lower viewership than last year.

Adweek has all of your Super Bowl ads in 2 minutes.

Andrew Gauthier of TVSpy says an Old Milwaukee Beer spot with Will Ferrell that ran on Super Bowl Sunday in the 2nd smallest market of the country, is getting some of the biggest buzz this week.

Erin Gloria Ryan at Jezebel notes that ESPN had a section for commentors to complain about female announcers. ESPN has taken it down and issued a statement.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group says NBC missed obscuring the now-infamous M.I.A. middle finger in the Madonna Super Bowl halftime show by less than on second.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says USA Network will air an inspirational NFL Films documentary on Friday.

TVNews Check has WCBS-TV claiming an NYC ratings victory for its coverage of Tuesday’s New York Giants Super Bowl parade.

Jerry Barmash at Fishbowl NY says WNBC-TV won the New York ratings for last week thanks to the Giants playing in Super Bowl XLVI.

Laura Nachman says the Philadelphia 76ers’ ratings on Comcast SportsNet are way up over last year.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle notes that Doritos and M&M’s were TiVO’s most watched Super Bowl ads for this year.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman writes about NBC’s ratings for Super Bowl XLVI.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a Great American Ballpark scoreboard operator will represent the Reds in MLB Network’s Baseball IQ game show.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers pleased with his guest analyst stint on NBC Sunday.

Robert Feder from Time Out Chicago notes a local sportscaster who has a side gig with a podcast on science fiction and pop culture.

To Crain’s Chicago Business and Ed Sherman who says this year’s Super Bowl ratings in the Windy City were down significantly from last year.

Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union-Tribune says a local sports radio talk show host was fired after calling a women’s college basketball analyst for the mtn. not just one but several derogatory terms.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that Hall of Fame Dodgers voice Vin Scully won’t be calling Spring Training games until the team returns from Arizona.

Michael Passanisi of Fenway West is not a fan of the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy. Not many of us are.

Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes here and here.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog compares NFL to CFL ratings in the Great White North.

Mike Silva in Sports Media Watchdog looks at Mad Dog Radio’s Dino Costa ranting about teams removing media credentials.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has video of MSG Network host Al Trautwig pounding the table after the New York Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils after a no goal call on Tuesday.

And Tim Ryan has a photo of NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posing with the dainty Zooey Deschanel? It’s not sports media, but I’ll take any excuse to post a link to a Zooey Deschanel pic.

Ok, we’re done. Enjoy your Wednesday and the college basketball games tonight.

Some Black Friday Sports Media Links

I hope you survived the Black Friday experience if you went out today. If you decided to shop online, better to do that than wait outside in the cold especially in the Northeast where the temperatures dropped below freezing overnight. No fun.

Anyway, I’ll provide the links. The Weekend Viewing Picks are here.

To the linkage.

National

At USA Today, Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate whether it’s appropriate to mention religion and faith in sports television.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News writes that HBO will give viewers a 12 minute sneak peek on its new NHL-themed 24/7 series tonight.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has the picture of Thanksgiving Day in which a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader got the start of her 15 minutes.

Tom Lorenzo at SportsGrid has a funny vidcap of a kid fast asleep during the Miami-Dallas game. Too much turkey, I guess.

Joe Favorito says hockey hopes to fill a void left by the NBA.

Sports Media Watch has the ratings for all NASCAR Sprint Cup races this season.

SMW notes that ESPN’s Monday Night Football saw a ratings increase for Chiefs-Pats.

SMW says NBC’s Sunday Night Football suffered a rare ratings and viewership drop in Week 11.

And SMW writes that last week’s Thursday Night Football gave NFL Network some early Thanksgiving treats.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the ratings of CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada to date.

The Awful Announcing staff lists the announcers it’s thankful for.

Overseas, BBC Sport, once a UK powerhouse, is now cutting back and it’s only doing half a schedule of one of its signature sports, Formula 1. It explains how it’s covering Formula 1 in 2012.

Owen Gibson of the London (UK) Guardian says BBC has won back the rights to the IAAF World Athletic Championships, an event it lost for the first time this year.

Jackie Pepper writes about a Kansas City Royals MLB.com beat reporter who received a life-saving transplant and then went to cover every single game this past season.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes that NBC is looking to carve out a Thanksgiving niche for the NHL with a new Black Friday game.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post actually gives praise today! Stop the presses!

Justin Terranova of the Post has 5 questions for Sirius XM college football analyst Eddie George.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says ex-coaches don’t always make for the best broadcasters.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun thoroughly enjoyed NFL Network’s coverage of last night’s 49ers-Ravens game.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with an NHL official about its new “Thanksgiving Showdown”.

South

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle waxes poetic about losing the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry.

Chris Baldwin at CultureMap Houston says ESPN reminded Texas A&M fans why the school’s rivalry with Texas is ending when it promoted the Longhorn Network.

Midwest

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that Ndamukong Suh’s stomp on Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith got plenty of play on Fox yesterday.

Paul Christian of the Rochester Post (MN) Bulletin also writes about the TV reaction to Suh’s stomp.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says embattled Cardinals TV voice Dan McLaughlin might be returning next season after all despite two arrests for DWI.

West

The Salt Lake Tribune’s Brian T. Smith says the Utah Jazz’s glory days can be seen on TV as fill for the NBA Lockout.

John Maffei at the North County Times reports that the San Diego Padres still have yet to sign a TV deal for next season.

Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star notes that LSU is playing another big game today on CBS.

Bill Shaikin from the Los Angeles Times says Fox is asking a judge for the Dodgers to throw in the parking lots in the team’s sale price rather than try to boost it and block its bid for the team’s media rights.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at some of the most dubious moments in sports media this year.

Joshua Myers of the Seattle Times notes that NBC is tapping Sounders voice Arlo White to be its MLS announcer.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail says a new TSN documentary on the 20th anniversary of the Argonauts winning the CFL Grey Cup shows how far the team has sunk.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog goes inside the numbers of TSN’s coverage of this Sunday’s Grey Cup.

A Few Thanksgiving Eve Links

Let’s do a few links for you on this day before Thanksgiving. And my best to you. Be safe in your travels.

We begin with John Ourand of Sports Business Daily who convenes a roundtable of fellow SBD writers to look at ESPN’s new NFL studio shows.

Mason Levinson of Bloomberg News says ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer will not work Saturday’s Ohio State-Michigan game on ABC to avoid being a distraction over stories that he’ll be the next Buckeyes coach.

Michael Hiestand from USA Today writes that NBC Sports had no problems in switching Versus’ NHL scheduled Monday game from Bruins-Canadiens to Islanders-Penguins to air Sidney Crosby’s season debut.

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writes in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center that there are still questions behind ESPN’s most recent executive shuffle.

Emma Bazilian of Adweek explores Disney’s machinations moving ESPN Dictator George Bodenheimer out of day-to-day operations and handing them to Executive Vice President John Skipper.

At ESPN’s Front Row blog, PR man David Scott looks at a new Quinnipiac University course on ESPN. Yes, ESPN.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News reports that a mediator will be hearing the dispute between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Fox Sports over the team’s media rights.

Mike says regional sports networks are seeking rebates from lost NBA games due to the lockout.

David Goetzl from MediaPost says ESPN and whiskey maker Jameson’s both share blame in the sponsorship of the documentary “Unguarded” which depicted Chris Herren’s struggles with addiction.

Stuart Levine of Variety says the NHL is teaming up with Paramount Pictures for the league’s first movie promotional tie-in.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid says Canadian rock group Nickelback responds to fans who are petitioning them to be removed from the halftime performance during the Green Bay-Detroit game.

Karen Hogan at Sports Video Group says TSN will be all over the CFL Grey Cup this Sunday.

Ryan Durling at Bostinnovation has a Boston viewing guide for the Thanksgiving football games.

Newsday’s Neil Best says incoming ESPN President John Skipper is a noted soccer fan.

Neil previews an upcoming Bob Costas MLB Network interview with former YES analyst Jim Kaat.

Neil notes an upcoming HBO documentary on former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath.

Neil says MLS’ New York Red Bulls are booting the media from the best seats in Red Bull Arena and making them accessible to ticket holders.

And Neil is happy to see that Marv Albert will be calling this Sunday’s Jets game on CBS.

In the New York Daily News, Bernie Augustine says Sunday’s MLS Cup on ESPN shown live Sunday nigh was beaten in the ratings by the taped English Premier League game on Fox.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the Week 13 college football TV schedule.

Crissa Shoemaker Bree of the Philly Burbs newspapers says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and her company have signed a deal to exchange coverage on Philadelphia professional and high school sports coverage.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says the NFL Network is treating tomorrow’s San Francisco-Baltimore games as one of its biggest in its short history.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau is still a bit perturbed almost a year later on how HBO Sports portrayed Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma in the 24/7 series.

Rachel George of the Orlando Sentinel has ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer again denying reports that he’s signed a 7 year, $40 million contract to coach Ohio State. Whatever. We know he’s going to Columbus, it’s just a matter of time.

Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Bengals have already announced that Sunday’s game against the Browns has been blacked out. Oof!

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has his Thanksgiving winners and losers in sports business and media.

Jeff Call of the Deseret (UT) News notes that the BYU-to-the Big East courtship is now dead with the school’s media contract with ESPN being the main sticking point.

Peter Johnson of the Great Falls (MT) Tribune says fans of Montana and Montana State are pleading with ESPN to put their Football Championship Subdivision playoff games on TV instead of on ESPN3.com.

Fritz Neighbor of the Missoula (MT) Missoulian says Montana Grizzlies fans are scrambling to find an internet feed of Saturday’s playoff game.

Meg James at the Los Angeles Times says ESPN has a new Skipper in charge of the network’s day-to-day operations.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your Thanksgiving weekend football schedule.

SoCal Tech reports that NFL Network has signed a deal with a tech company to provide news and game highlights to 12,000 gas pumps across the country.

Joshua Meyers of the Seattle Times blogs that Sounders announcer Arlo White might be a candidate to call MLS on NBC Sports Network next season.

Paul Gardner at Soccer America feels ESPN got rid of the wrong soccer announcer when it chose to drop John Harkes.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has last week’s sports TV ratings.

And I’ll end it there.

Let’s Get Back To The Linkage

I owe you some links having not been able to do them either Monday or Tuesday.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about the ratings for LSU-Alabama not being as high as the previous #1 vs. #2 college football Game of the Century.

The great Richard Deitsch at Sports Illustrated has his Media Power List for this month.

Richard talks with the Executive Producer of ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption. The show is celebrating ten years on the air. Has it been THAT long?

Alex Sherman at Bloomberg News says Time Warner might be interested in bidding for the media rights for the Los Angeles Dodgers possibly going battle with Fox.

Michael Smith at Sports Business Journal says the Pac-12 Conference is buying back third tier TV rights from its member institutions to fill out Pac-12 Network programming.

Bill King of SBJ says Fox is throwing its promotional muscle at its first UFC broadcast.

Terry Lefton and Michael Smith from SBJ write that insurance company, The Hartford, will no longer sponsor the NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner.

Greg Doyel of CBSSports.com introduces us to Penn State football coach (for now) Joe Paterno’s son, Scott, who has become the ultimate media whore since the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke.

SportsGrid notes that Fox Business News anchor Chris Cotter will be going back to his sports roots with ESPN.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that ESPN pulled big numbers for Monday Night Football this week.

Mike writes about Bob Costas’ new show on NBC Sports Network premiering next year.

Brandon Costa at Sports Video Group writes that CBS saw a record number of video streams for LSU-Alabama last Saturday night.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Penn State University gets a big FAIL for its handling of the sex scandal crisis.

Darren writes an open letter to Penn State coach Paterno.

Marcus Henry at Newsday writes that HBO will pay tribute to the late Joe Frazier this week by re-airing its great documentary, “Thrilla in Manila”.

Marcus writes that former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl has picked up a broadcasting gig.

At Fishbowl NY, Jerry Barmash talks with some former Big Apple sportscasters on covering the late Joe Frazier.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the Week 11 college football TV schedule.

And Pete provides us with the Week 10 NFL TV schedule for the Capital Region of New York.

Keith Groller from the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that Chris Herren, the subject of ESPN Films’ “Unguarded” documentary, will be speaking in the local area next month.

Zach Wilt of the Baltimore Sports Report says a Pittsburgh TV station failed to pay up on a bet made with a local TV channel in regards to Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers game.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg writes that Wizards TV voices Steve Buckhantz and Phil Chenier will be calling some college basketball games during the NBA Lockout.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle talks about the big ratings for LSU-Alabama for CBS.

Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman says Oklahoma outrated Oklahoma State in the local TV ratings last weekend.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports big ratings for the local CBS affiliate thanks to the Bengals.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business says today is a big day for the NBA Lockout.

Scott D. Pierce at the Salt Lake Tribune enjoyed Ian Darke’s call of the MLS playoffs over the weekend.

Bill Shaikin at the Los Angeles Times says a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge is promising Fox Sports a fair shake at the hearing to determine the new owners of the Dodgers.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says big ratings drops for the CFL on TSN have to be a concern for both parties.

Sports Media Watch looks at the NFL overnight ratings for Week 9 on Fox, NBC, CBS and ESPN.

SMW notes that Colts-Patriots in Week 13 has been flexed out of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says San Jose-New York Rangers failed to draw well for Versus with the country’s biggest market blacked out.

Joe Favorito says don’t discount the power of the gaming market.

And I’ll end the linkage there for today.

The Recovering After Irene Links

Yesterday at 8:30 a.m., I lost power at my house and as of this post, I still don’t have it. The northern part of my town has power, but I live in the southern part and there’s nothing. That’s not good. And RI did not get hit that hard by Irene so I don’t know how we could lose power for so long. Anyway, it appears that my office never lost electricity as the clocks appear to be on time so I’m blogging from work. Hopefully, I won’t be without power for that long.

Here are your links.

Michael Smith of the Sports Business Journal writes that UPS and MillerCoors are looking to become very aggressive sponsors of college sports.

Eric Fisher of SBJ says a new site has launched to cover digital fan marketing.

Terry Lefton of SBJ speaks with a sports marketer who believes stadium naming rights work.

Mimi Turner of the Hollywood Reporter says the BBC will air every hour of every single event at the 2012 London Olympics. That’s quite ambitious.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says with Hurricane Irene out of the way, New York can focus on the U.S. Open for the next two weeks.

Mike says Tennis Channel will reach 50 million homes for the Open.

ESPN Ombudsman Kelly McBride from the Poynter Institute says there’s nothing wrong with ESPN airing the Little League World Series to which I ask her, are you crazy?

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says reporting on suicides and speculating why they happen as in the case of former Baltimore Orioles pitcher and broadcaster Mike Flanagan demonstrate the need for due diligence by news organizations.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says a short two days after Vin Scully announced his return to the Dodgers, so did Spanish voice Jaime Jarrin.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid notes that Houston Texan RB Arian Foster is not a fan of ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowhack. Really, who is?

Zombie Journalism has a problem with ESPN’s social networking policy that bans its reporters from breaking news on Twitter.

TMZ reports that wrestler Ric Flair is contemplating a lawsuit against Captain Blowhard-led Grantland.com for a long article on him that was published last week.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir speaks with Fox Sports’ Joe Buck about his ailing voice.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick decides that he’s a man of the people, which probably couldn’t be further from the truth.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with CBS college football host Tim Brando about his radio show being aired on CBS Sports Network.

Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times looks at the weekend in sports television including a poor local broadcast of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason games.

Sean Pendergast in the Houston Press says the Longhorn Network doesn’t have enough content to be successful.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN’s Chris Spielman picks Wisconsin to win the Big Ten title.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dan Caesar writes that Missouri’s new football analyst has a football background, but also one in intelligence. As in CIA. Yup.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post is amazed at the media controversy swirling around Broncos third-string quarterback Tim Tebow.

Andrew Malcolm from the Los Angeles Times says ESPN has warned golf analyst Paul Azinger over his tweet criticizing President Obama.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News speaks with Olympic swimmer Janet Evans who turned 40 on Sunday. Wow.

Tom writes about Dodgers Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin’s return for next year.

Tom also has your sports calendar for this week.

Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star says the lockout doesn’t seem to be effecting the NBA.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail advises us not to look for Rogers Sportsnet to wrest the CFL rights away from TSN in the next bidding.

The Toronto Sports Media Blog says the Maple Leafs are close to hiring a new announcer.

Sox & Dawgs has a look at the UConn Radio Network for the 2011-12 season.

Mike Shields at DigiDay notes that ESPN’s College GameDay will really sink its teeth into social networking this season.

Ryan Yoder of Awful Announcing is critical of the ESPN Ombudsman for letting ESPN off the hook for airing the Little League World Series.

Joe Favorito feels the World Fire and Police Games taking place in New York are brand and activation opportunities for potential sponsors.

And lastly, here’s a video I made last night driving down the main road of my town showing how dark it was. Definitely no fun without power.

That’s all. Back later.

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.

Bringing Out Some Saturday Linkage

While I’m at work on this Saturday, I’ll do some linkage for you.

Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser notes that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson used a gay slur to berate a caller on a Sirius XM radio show last week.

At The Grio, Marcus looks at the legacy of the train wreck that’s known as “The Decision” a year later.

According to The Wrap, ESPN Classic will become the home of the recently wrapped “Friday Night Lights” series.

Newsday’s Neil Best looks at the record viewership for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on ESPN.

At the Buffalo News, Greg Connors reviews HBO’s documentary on Curt Flood.

In the New Jersey Newsroom, Evan Weiner has written a FAQ on the NBA and NFL lockouts.

From the Baltimore Sun, Matt Vensel writes that a local sports radio talk show host is on the streets looking for a new gig.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg notes that Capitals voice Joe Beninati and John Feinstein will call Kastles World Team Tennis matches this summer.

The St. Petersburg Times tells readers not to expect the NFL Network on Bright House cable systems anytime soon.

The Dallas Morning News’ Barry Horn says the incident from Thursday’s Oakland-Texas game where a fan died trying to catch a ball tossed into the stands by Josh Hamilton was greatly mishandled by both of the networks covering the contest.

Andrew Ferraro of the Houston Chronicle writes that an exhibition NHL game scheduled for Reliant Stadium in September has been canceled and Fox Sports Southwest is now looking for another way to get the Dallas Stars into the Houston market.

Berry Tremel at the Daily Oklahoman says the Longhorn Network taking a Big 12 Conference game from Fox Sports Net is opening a can of worms for fans.

Rick Noland from the Elyria (OH) Chronicle-Telegram says we should forget about celebrating any anniversary of “The Decision.”

Steve Watkins of the Cincinnati Business Courier says the ratings for the Reds on Fox Sports Ohio are up significantly from last season.

Dave Lubach of the Sheboygan (WI) Press recaps an appearance by CBS/Golf Channel personality David Feherty at a charity golf event.

Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says Fox Sports North will be airing a Minnesota Wild reality show over the next few months.

Tavis Govindjie of the Marin (CA) Independent Journal gives us this profile of a Comcast SportsNet Bay Area graphic designer.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Oakland A’s TV voices Glen Kuiper and Ray Fosse have come under fire for being insensitive during the incident in Arlington that killed a fan. In their defense, they did not know how far the fan fell nor did they know his condition. It’s easy to sit here and criticize, but at the time, they did not know how serious the situation was.

Cam Inman of the Oakland Tribune talks with former ABC/CBS/NBC NFL analyst John Madden about the lockout and the Madden NFL ’11 video game.

The Hamilton Spectator in Canada notes that some recently found CFL footage discovered in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has been digitized and put online.

Derek Zona of SB Nation ranks all of the NHL TV broadcasters from top to bottom.

Mike Silva’s New York Baseball Digest didn’t think the Bob Costas-Al Michaels mashup for last night’s Mets-Giants game was anything special. I disagree.

Dave Kohl in Major League Programs explains why ESPN went all in for its Wimbledon bid.

World Cup Buzz says ESPN is doing the Women’s World Cup right this year.

EPL Talk has the US TV schedules for the English Premier League “friendlies” that will take place this month.

Quite a few links today which is good to see after working into the wee hours of this morning on the Megalinks. I’ll be back tomorrow with more linkage.

Bringing Out Some Saturday Links

I started to do the Megalinks last night, but I fell asleep at my computer while doing them. I was out for most of the Friday so it prevented me from sitting down and pounding out the linkage yesterday. I’ll do it now to get you going for the 4th of July weekend. There’s a lot of sports happening so the Weekend Viewing Picks provides you with the programming that you may want to watch.

Let’s do the linkage.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with multiple network tennis analyst John McEnroe on how to spice up tennis’ ratings.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek writes that an extended NBA lockout will hurt TV partners ESPN and TNT.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk didn’t like Jon Gruden’s gushing over former Ohio State quarterback Tyrelle Pryor during ESPN’s QB Camp.

Brooks Peck of Yahoo’s Dirty Tackle blog notes that ESPN.com lifted some of his fictitious quotes over Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi.

At Baseball Digest, Jerry Milani profiles MSG Network’s and Friend of Fang’s Bites Tina Cervasio.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser notes that a Southern California radio host’s firing from the Anaheim Angels was racially motivated.

Dave Levy from SportsGrid looks at the future of the Pac-12 Conference.

Adam Watson of Yahoo’s The PostGame talks with Renée Herlocker who will be the sideline reporter for the Nathan’s International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group notes that TSN wants to bring CFL viewers even closer to the game.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group says distributing Wimbledon in 3-D to movie theaters shows the need for one standard for the format.

Beth Healy of the Boston Globe writes that the newspaper’s parent company, the New York Times has sold part of its 17% stake in the Red Sox for a sizable profit.

Taryn Luna of the Globe says watering holes in the vicinity of the TD Garden are worried about losing business in the wake of the NBA lockout.

Newsday’s Neil Best notes that sports radio talk in New York actually turns 90 years old today.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has Lindsay Czarniak saying when she’ll be moving to ESPN and what her duties for the Alleged Worldwide Leader will be.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune notes that the Big Ten Network came to fruition thanks to an ESPN lowball bid back in 2004.

And Jessica Guyin and Dawn C. Chmielski of the Los Angeles Times look at Google’s potential bid to buy Hulu which has NFL Films videos.

Sports Media Watch has news and notes on some media personalities.

SMW notes that Nike has re-signed Michael Vick.

I’m going to end it there.

Some Thursday Linkage

Let’s provide a few links on this Thursday. Another rainy day in Southern New England. What joy.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News reports that HBO Pay Per View has signed Floyd Mayweather to his next fight in September.

Anthony Crupi at Adweek writes that the NBC Sports Group will make GolfChannnel.com into a more ad and social media-friendly site.

Bill Cromwell of Media Life says the NFL’s TV partners are hopeful in hearing that a new agreement is close between the league and its players association.

Ben Axelrod of SportsGrid has video of a Marine on Fox Sports Midwest playfully calling for the death of Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay. At least I hope so.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at what’s going on with the NFL collective bargaining talks.

All Access reports that a San Francisco radio station will flip to ESPN Deportes on Friday.

Michael Starr of the New York Post says there’s an online petition circulating appealing to Fox to have Vin Scully have a role at one last World Series. I can support that and will! You can go here to add your name to the petition.

Newsday’s Neil Best recaps the sometime contentious Mike Francesa-Tiki Barber interview that took place on WFAN on Wednesday.

Neil talks with ESPN Women’s World Cup analyst Mia Hamm.

Neil notes the influx of Fordham alums calling New York sports on TV and radio.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says get ready to see more of the CFL on NFL Network in the early part of the season.

Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers some thoughts after seeing a replay of Game 7 of the 1971 World Series on Root Sports.

Paul Farhi of the Washington Post reports that popular DC sports anchor Lindsay Czarniak is leaving the local NBC affiliate to become an anchor for ESPN.

At the Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg has video of some of the best moments in Lindsay’s time in DC.

Dan notes that DC is certainly an ESPN breeding ground.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner says local and national media will be all over the first round picks for the Wizards during tonight’s NBA Draft.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer gives us inside look at how Yankees voice John Sterling does his “Yankees win!” catchphrase.

At the Milwaukee Sentinel, Bob Wolfley talks with a fired local sports talk show host.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business says Cubs TV voice Len Kasper received a much deserved contract extension.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has an e-mail interview with Captain Blowhard about Grantland.

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times writes that Fox will not support Dodgers owner Frank McCourt if he takes legal action to try to keep the team.

Sam Farmer of the Times says a former player with the USC Trojans and a later a Times writer admitted to taking money when he was in school.

Valerie Hauch of the Toronto Star says the Vancouver Riots Kissing Couple has hired an agent for possible endorsements.

The Toronto Sports Media Blog notes that a local sports talk radio host has been given the heave-ho.

Paul Lebowitz has several questions on Wednesday’s Mike Francesa-Tiki Barber interview.

Sports Media Watch has some news on some various personalities.

SMW says ratings for the NASCAR Nationwide Series on ESPN are up this season.

Now that the NHL’s 2011-12 schedule is out, Steve Lepore at Puck The Media speculates as to how next season’s NBC schedule will shape out.

And Steve does the same for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada schedule.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing wants you to sign the Vin Scully World Series petition.

Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball says Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is interested in buying the Dodgers.

Ryan Lambert at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy gives his best and worst of last night’s NHL Awards.

I guess I’ll end it there for today.

Let’s Do Some Wednesday Linkage

On this rainy Wednesday in Southern New England, let me do some links. I hope the weather where you are is dry and sunny.

I’ll start today off with John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal who says Comcast may have appeared to have overbid for the Olympics, but it may pay off in the long run.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with Dick Enberg who’s calling his final Wimbledon this year.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid has video of Dick Enberg discussing “bloody blue balls” at Wimbledon and his on-air partner, Chris Evert making the perfect response.

SportsGrid also has the HBO Real Sports segment with Tiki Barber that was quite compelling TV.

Patrick Rishe of Forbes says Mark Cuban owning the Los Angeles Dodgers needs to happen soon.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans from the St. Petersburg Times writes that Barber is on a media redemption tour while David Feherty is learning the ropes in another manner.

Kirk Honeycutt of Reuters reviews the ESPN Films documentary on transsexual tennis player Renee Richards. The film was shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival and will premiere on ESPN in the fall.

Lacey Rose at the Hollywood Reporter writes that HBO has assembled some All-Star production talent to develop a new drama based on the early life of Mike Tyson.

Andrea Morabito of Broadcasting & Cable says CBS Sports Network has signed a multiyear deal with the Patriot League for various sports.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek says the NFL’s TV partners are hopeful after hearing negotiations to end the league’s lockout are making substantial progress.

One thing to come out of the talks between the NFL and the Players Association is a full 16 week Thursday Night Football schedule that could begin in 2012. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains what that means for the players and fans.

Jeff Fedotin at the National Football Post claims this guy, Jon Gruden of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, has the potential to be this generation’s John Madden. That remains to be seen.

Eric Spanberg of the Christian Science Monitor reviews the ESPN book.

The Lost Letterman blog has video of ESPN’s Erin Andrews confronting a fan at last year’s College World Series. I like Erin’s spirit in this and the guy was being an asshole.

Congratulations to ESPN.com baseball writer Jonah Keri who will be writing the quintessential history of the Montreal Expos.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times says there are plenty of marketing opportunities surrounding the 3,000th hit of Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

Jack Bell of the Times talks about legendary women’s soccer star Mia Hamm joining espnW to provide analysis on the Women’s World Cup.

At the New York Observer, Kat Stoeffel talks with ESPN Radio New York’s Jared Max about his decision to come out.

Matthew Margolis from the East Hampton (NY) Patch writes that a young actor got to do some voiceover work for ESPN’s Little League World Series coverage.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that Jimmer Fredette’s YouTube channel has a big following.

Mark Wogenrich at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call explores the new deal between CBS Sports Network and the Patriot League for four sports.

Jack Bogaczyk of the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail feels it was smart of the Big East to turn down ESPN’s $1 billion offer to get a feel for the marketplace.

The Naples (FL) Daily News reports that locally, the U.S. Open scored well in the ratings.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that a local sports radio morning drive host has been let go.

Doug Moe at the Wisconsin State Journal speaks with Randall Mell of the Golf Channel.

Sandra Guy in the Chicago Sun-Times looks at the new street-level studios for ESPN Radio Chicago.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks about Dick Enberg’s final fortnight at Wimbledon.

Matthew Fleischer of Fishbowl LA writes that ESPN WNBA analyst Rebecca Lobo tweeted about her plane’s emergency landing while heading to SoCal this week.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail notes that Americans will get a nice dose of the CFL on the NFL Network.

George Dickie of zap2it talks with David Feherty about his new Golf Channel show.

Sports Media Watch says the CONCACAF Gold Cup has been a ratings hit for Univision and its sister network, Galavision.

SMW says the NHL Winter Classic goes back to primetime on January 2.

The Big Lead says Friend of Friend’s Bites Michelle Beadle is single once again. Sorry, Michelle, I had to put this one in.

The Sports Tube has an appreciation of Dick Enberg who’s making his final rounds at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.

That will do it.

NFL Network Announces Early CFL Schedule

Based off its success airing it last season, NFL Network has announced a new agreement with the Canadian Football League to air more games for 2011, deciding to show two games a week during the regular season. Some weeks, NFL Network will air TSN’s Saturday night doubleheader, other weeks, NFL Network will a game on Thursday and on Saturday. In addition, NFL Network has the option in case of an NFL lockout to air CFL playoff games and the Grey Cup championship game. We have the press release from NFL Network.

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE BACK ON NFL NETWORK

New Deal Calls for Two CFL Games Per Week on NFL Network in 2011

Two Canadian Football League games per week will be broadcast on NFL Network in the United States this season, the Canadian Football League and NFL Network announced today.

NFL Network’s telecast of 2011 CFL regular season games is a part of a new agreement with the CFL.  The network also has the option to show additional games in the regular season, the CFL Playoffs and the Grey Cup championship game.

“This is very positive news for our CFL fans living in the United States,” said Michael Copeland, Chief Operating Officer of the CFL. “And it’s a very positive development for our football operations as it will continue to expose our product to prospects across the U.S.”

Last season, NFL Network carried 14 CFL games featuring the fast-paced, wide open Canadian game which included numerous players familiar to Americans who follow U.S. college football. Additionally, the CFL continues to lay the foundation for some of the NFL’s current standouts. Miami Dolphins LB Cameron Wake, a former BC Lions standout in 2007 and 2008, ranked 3^rd in the NFL in sacks and was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2010.

“We are pleased to offer more football to our fans with more CFL action this year,” said Lawrence Randall, NFL Network’s Director of Programming. “Delivering live games from all levels of football is part of our commitment to our passionate viewers who want football 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

The games will be produced by TSN, the leading sports broadcaster in Canada. NFL Network subscribers in Canada will get alternate programming due to TSN’s exclusivity.

This year’s CFL season kicks off June 30^th when the British Columbia Lions, quarterbacked by former Montana State star Travis Lulay, visit the defending Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes and their head  coach Marc Trestman, whose extensive coaching resume includes successful stints as an NFL offensive coordinator in Cleveland, San Francisco, Arizona and Oakland. The 99^th Grey Cup game will be played in Vancouver on November 27^th.

Canadian football has a history spanning more than a century. The Grey Cup is annually one of the most watched television events north of the border. Home to eight teams, all in Canadian cities, the league features three downs instead of four, 12 men aside instead of 11, unlimited motion before the snap of the ball, and a bigger playing field that measures 65 yards wide and 110 years long, with end zones 20 yards deep.

Some of its most recognizable alumni include former NFL quarterbacks Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Joe Theismann, Jeff Garcia and Joe Kapp and legendary coach Bud Grant. Moon and Grant have the unique honour of belonging to both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The first five weeks of CFL matchups featured on NFL Network are listed below. Additional matchups on NFL Network will be announced at a later date.

2011 Canadian Football League Schedule on NFL Network
(Through first five weeks)

Week 1
Thursday, June 30 — British Columbia @ Montreal, 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, July 2 — Toronto @ Calgary, 8:00 PM ET

Week 2
Saturday, July 9 — Montreal @ Saskatchewan, 4:00 PM ET
Saturday, July 9 — Hamilton @ Edmonton, 7:00 PM ET

Week 3
Saturday, July 16 — Saskatchewan @ Hamilton, 4:00 PM ET
Saturday, July 16 — British Columbia @ Edmonton, 7:00 PM ET

Week 4
Saturday, July 23 — Edmonton @ Calgary, 7:00 PM ET
Sunday, July 24 — Saskatchewan @ Montreal, 7:00 PM ET

Week 5
Thursday, July 28 — British Columbia @ Winnipeg, 8:00 PM ET
Saturday, July 30 — Calgary @ Saskatchewan, 9:30 PM ET

And that does it.

The Mid-Week Links

Let’s do your mid-week linkage. I’m stuck at the home office in Rhode Island so while I’m waiting on a few things, I’ll give you links.

Looks like Jay the Rat might have escaped charges as the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is declining to press charges against Jay Mariotti. The Big Lead links us to the Beverly Hills Courier which reports that the case has been referred to the LA City Attorney’s Office. Mariotti was arrested last month on charges he allegedly beat up his girlfriend. He has not written for Fanhouse and not appeared on ESPN since then.

SportsbyBrooks explains that Mariotti can still face charges. 

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that Fox NFL Sunday’s studio analysts will be making cameo cut-ins on game broadcasts.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times lectures the WaPo’s Mike Wise on his failure to understand the new age of online journalism. Very good article.

Milton Kent at Fanhouse says NFL Commish Roger Goodell isn’t happy with Jets coach Rex Ryan’s language on Hard Knocks, but won’t go so as far to fine him.

Milton has a short blurb on Rich Eisen’s new duties at NFL Network/NFL.com. 

To Press Coverage where Dan Levy likes the idea of Rich Eisen doing a weekly podcast for NFL.com.

Brian Lowry at Fox Sports feel announcers ramp up the hyperbole way too much. 

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says NESN is launching a national version of its channel to Time Warner Cable systems in the Carolinas and is looking to add more markets.

Mike Shields from Mediaweek writes that ESPN and YouTube have teamed up to encourage fans to upload their own highlights that could be aired on SportsCenter.

Louisa Ada Seltzer of Media Life Magazine says Monday’s Boise State-Virginia Tech game garnered strong ratings for ESPN beating all programming on both cable and network TV.

TV Technology says Sony will sponsor an ESPN 3D college football series.

The great Darren Rovell of CNBC says Boise State continues to hit the marketing jackpot as its football continues to grow in stature.

In Digital Spy, Andrew Laughlin says ESPN UK has hired a new executive to head its channel. 

From All Media Scotland, we find that a Scottish sports reporter is heading across the Atlantic to work for ESPN International in the US.

Michael Bodley of The Australian notes that ESPN International is airing Monday Night Football down under.

All Access reports that Fox Sports Radio’s Tony Bruno and Bay Area sports radio host Gary Radnich will front a new weekly show for Comcast SportsNet California.

Bruce Allen at Boston Sports Media Watch calls out the Curly-Haired Boyfriend, Dan Shaughnessy.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir says the director of the 30 for 30 documentary on George and Hal Steinbrenner bit off more than she could chew.

Ken Belson at the Times notes that while some sports arenas and stadiums are just memories to sports fans, their debt remains very much alive to taxpayers.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has the NFL Week 1 TV schedule with the games shown in the Capital Region.

The Myrtle Beach (SC) Sun-News’ Coastal Carolina Home & Lifestyle profiles South Carolina native Wendi Nix of ESPN. 

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times doesn’t appreciate a Cleveland Plain-Dealer writer making fun of Tampa.

John Bedell of the South Lake (FL) News-Sun looks at several upcoming film and stage projects on the late Vince Lombardi.

Mark Lorando of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says tonight’s premiere of America’s Game on the Saints’ Super Bowl XLIV win will not disappoint fans. 

In the Dallas Morning News, Barry Horn has the NFL TV Week 1 schedule for the Metroplex.

Richard Olive of the San Antonio Express-News notes a local resident is part of the new Big Break: Dominican Republic that will start airing on Golf Channel later this month. 

The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal says the local Fox affiliate has found its sports anchor.

Robert Feder also writes about the Fox Chicago move.

Over to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where Bob Wolfley tells us that many prognosticators are picking the Green Bay Packers to do well this season.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune begins a new partnership with Fox Sports North for high school sports coverage. 

Helene Elliot at the Los Angeles Times notes that all but one of the Anaheim Ducks games will be available on local television.

Bruce Dowbiggin at the Toronto Globe and Mail says it’s time for the CFL to start building new stadiums.

William Houston at Truth & Rumours returned from a summer hiatus to announce that he’s shutting down. For now. Nice, William.

SportsNewser says NBC News and the National Science Foundation will be teaming up to produce an educational series on the Science of the NFL.

Sports Media Watch notes that ESPN on ABC’s Saturday Night Football got off to a rough ratings start.

SMW also has more college football ratings news.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that former New Jersey Devil Bobby Holik will be a regular analyst on NHL Network’s On The Fly.

Jared Smith at Awful Announcing can’t believe that there’s another ESPN segment featuring arguing sportswriters.

Brian Packey at AA noticed a boob grab at last night’s Marlins-Phillies game.

Ok, I’ve done all I can to find links. Gotta work. Gotta look productive. Back later.

Mixing The Thursday Links

I’ll give you some Thursday linkage while I can. Waiting on an appointment, but while I’m free I’ll do the links for you. Lots of stuff to get to so let’s not keep you waiting.

Jack Carey of USA Today notes that ESPN was a major factor in Brigham Young University declaring independence from the Mountain West Conference.

Cynthia Littleton and Tom Lowry of Variety note that the negotiations between Time Warner Cable and Disney continue today.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that Disney networks will continue to be carried on Time Warner systems even though the current deadline has passed. 

John Eggerton of Broadcasting & Cable says NFL Network has made carriage agreements Cable One and Knology.

Alex Weprin of SportsNewser writes that Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio will be expanding his empire to the Sunday Night Football postgame show.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid loves ESPN’s Michelle Beadle so it’s only natural that he has the video of her appearance on Late Show with David Letterman.

At CBS Sports.com, Will Brinson informs us that rival NFL owners Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder have filmed a Papa John’s pizza ad.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that Maria Sharapova is playing with a tennis racket that appears not to be the brand that she’s supposed to endorse.

Speaking of rackets, Darren tells us about rising brand Babolat.

Ann Donohue of Billboard says ESPN will use Atlantic Records artists during its college football coverage. 

In the Boston Herald, Jessica Heslam writes that Comcast and NESN are squaring off with rival style shows. Let’s just stick to sports, ok?

Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe goes after WBZ-TV for its cozy relationship with the New England Patriots. Stop being bitter, Dan.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says the son of boxing promoter Bob Arum is missing.

In the New York Examiner, Evan Weiner says the media and the public just loves to feed off Tiger Woods’ misery. 

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says Time Warner Cable has released its high school football schedule for the Capital Region.

Pete has the college football TV schedule for this week.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV looks at the firing of MASN analyst Rob Dibble from Washington Nationals games and other Baltimore-Washington sports media news.

I love this next name. J. Freedom duLac of the Washington Post writes about Dibble’s firing.

The Post’s Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog has Dibble’s statement about his firing on Sirius XM this morning.

Dan has Dibble weighing on last night’s Nationals-Marlins basebrawl.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the Nationals brought Dibble in to be opinionated and that’s what he was. 

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times talks about the new NFL Network documentary series on the top 100 players of all-time.

George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel writes that despite being retired from the broadcast booth, John Madden still has the power to pitch products.

Jon Solomon from the Birmingham (AL) News says the SEC and ESPN are pleased with their new marriage, but both parties would like more. 

Eva Ruth Moravec of the San Antonio Express-News writes that a local sports promoter and public address announcer for various sports teams has been charged with harassing a TV reporter online.

Mel Bracht at the Daily Oklahoman says Oklahoma University usually fares well when football games are put on pay per view. 

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Bengals, Big Brother and Cris Collinsworth dominate the local airwaves tonight.

John would like to have a local sports morning show instead of syndicated programming so he can listen to Reds talk.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew are bullish on the Green Bay Packers.

Phil Rosenthal at the Chicago Tribune says the WaPo’s Mike Wise didn’t use his noodle when he triggered off a Twitter firestorm.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks about the return of the Cardinals to Midwest radio powerhouse KMOX-AM.

Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune says ESPN’s money and Notre Dame’s prestige will help BYU’s football independence.

Dick Harmon from the Deseret News notes that ESPN presence was too big to ignore for BYU.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reads the ramblings in USC football voice Pete Arbogast’s blog so you don’t have to.

Cam Inman of the Oakland Tribune has ESPN’s Jon Gruden singing the praises of his former Raiders team. 

Chris Zelkovich at the Toronto Star notes that CFL dominated the Canadian TV ratings.

The great Amanda Rykoff, a.k.a. the OCD Chick, a.k.a. my Twitter Trophy Wife, tells us about the new Capital One Cup which rewards college athletic excellence with school scholarships.

Sports Media Watch says the ratings dropped for the season finale for ABC’s “Shaq vs.”

Joe Favorito says UFC continues to reinvent its brand.

The Big Lead says Andy Roddick may have lost his 2nd round match in the US Open, but it means more looks at Janko Tipsarevic’s wife, Biljana Šeševi?.

Matt Clapp over at Awful Announcing notices that Screamin’ Gus Johnson’s voice is on a Buffalo Wild Wings ad.

Matt Boutwell at the Central Maine Sports Blog appeals to NESN to stop treating Boston as if it represents all of New England.

Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball notes that the MLB At Bat mobile app is being offered at half price for the rest of the season.

Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski tells us how much the NHL Center Ice package will cost us this season.

Tony Farinella of 411mania talks with former ESPN’er Sean Salisbury about his new internet radio show.

And we will end the links there for today.

Your Thursday Links

Let’s do the Thursday links as I have to leave early to avoid Patriots traffic ahead of their preseason game against the Saints tonight.

Onto the links.

Steve Elling of CBSSports.com reports about a confrontation between Golf Channel’s Jim Gray and Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin over a quote Gray reported earlier this week. 

Stephanie Wei of the excellent Wei Under Par golf blog is reporting on the PGA Championship for the Wall Street Journal and she examines the whole Gray/Pavin shouting match which occurred after a press conference on Wednesday.

Mike Buteau of Bloomberg says Tiger Woods falling play and golf’s falling ratings could lead to more PGA Tour stops going to cable in the next TV contract. 

Golf Digest takes a tour of Golf Channel host Kelly Tilghman’s hometown of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Radio Ink Magazine reports that former CBS Sports personality/Access Hollywood/Entertainment Tonight/The Insider anchor Pat O’Brien is now joining Fox Sports Radio as a co-host of an afternoon drive show. I wonder if Betsy will be there (NSFW).

John Walters of Fanhouse says ESPN’s Pat Forde has transformed from Twitter hater to Twitter lover.

Chris Botta at Fanhouse spoke with NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins about NHL Network and other matters.

Georg Szalai in the Hollywood Reporter says Verizon will produce the first NFL game in 3-D TV in just a couple of weeks.

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable says Samsung is teaming with ESPN to produce an app for “smart TV’s”.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes about a new three year deal between ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel to air English Premier League games on ESPN2.

Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek reports that when the new expanded SportsCenter begins on ESPNews at the end of this month, it will have fewer ads so more content can be aired.

Ryan Berenz at Channel Guide has the outlets airing this week’s PGA Championship. 

Andrew Laughlin of Digital Spy UK says ESPN is launching an iPhone app which will provide video of all English Premier League goals scored within minutes after they occurred.

Robert Andrews in paidContent talks about ESPN’s English Premier League mobile and streaming rights in both the UK and the US.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog wonders if a “Hard Knocks”-type program would work for the NHL.

Bob Ryan in the Boston Globe writes about colleague Jackie MacMullen who’s being honored by the Basketball Hall of Fame tonight. 

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at Fox Sports Wisconsin going commercial-free for a Milwaukee Brewers game to raise money for charity.

Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union notes the passing of former Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Nellie King.

Pete says SNY’s Ron Darling will be honored by Little League Baseball.

Pete also has ESPN’s MLB schedule through Sunday, August 22.

Robert Dvorchak and Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette remember the late Nellie King.

Ron Fritz in the Baltimore Sun has enjoyed listening to Fang’s Bites fave Michelle Beadle subbing on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning.

Jamison Hedley at the Sun notes that the Ravens have formed a TV network that has similar reach to what MASN gave the team.

Fred Bowen in the Washington Post feels women’s sports is getting the shaft on the networks.

Ryan Sharrow writes in the Washington Business Journal notes that Ravens have added DC affiliates to its radio network.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the Ravens have pieced together a new TV network after talks with MASN broke down earlier this month.

Jim says Fox picks up this Saturday’s Orioles-Rays game.

Ben Goessling of MASN says the Washington Nationals will be giving away DVD’s of Stephen Strasburg’s Major League debut during tonight’s game against the Marlins. 

Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times says the NHL Network will air the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup clinching game from 2004 on Friday.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says the Texas Rangers set another ratings record on Fox Sports Southwest which will probably be broken very soon.

Also from the Morning News, Mike Heika reports that Fox is dropping out of the bidding for the Dallas Stars. 

Steve Watkins in the Cincinnati Business Courier says the Reds drew great ratings on Tuesday for its brawl with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

John Kieswetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer says Fox Sports Ohio will air three University of Kentucky exhibition games in Canada next week.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business notes that the bank wants to seize memorabilia from the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Ed says Bulls fans who want to get their LeBron/Miami Heat fix can also go to Milwaukee to see them.

In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bob Wolfley notes that Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers gave playing tips on the Whistling Straits golf course to ESPN Radio. Whistling Straits is where the PGA Championships is being played this week.

Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel looks at Turner Sports’ 3-D coverage of the PGA Championship.

Benjamin Wideman of the Sheboygan (WI) Journal goes behind the scenes with Turner Sports on its 3-D coverage of the PGA Championship.

Dan Caesear of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Tuesday’s brawl between the Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds led to record ratings for Fox Sports Midwest.

St. Louis’ KMOV-TV has formed a partnership with the ESPN Radio affiliate. 

The Los Angeles Times has a reporters roundup of opinions regarding the whole Jim Gray/Corey Pavin argument.

Dave Boling of The Olympian says Ken Norton, Jr. was plucked from NFL Network to be Seattle Seahawks linebackers coach.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star notes that MLS is not striking a chord with Canadian viewers.

Bruce Dowbiggin in the Toronto Globe and Mail says TSN could take a ratings and advertising hit if the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats move from its English-speaking to French-dominant Quebec.

At Puck The Media, Steve Lepore wants a Hard Knocks edition for the NHL.

Joe Favorito says baseball really needs to become more global.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann remembers his friend, former Pirates announcer and pitcher Nellie King.

The great Maury Brown at the Biz of Football notes that the Madden NFL 11 video game will be made available for the iPad and iPod Touch.

That’s going to end it for us today. Lots of good links.

Your NFL Network Programming Through Next Week

You have the NFL Network schedule over the next seven days. It includes a Canadian Football League game on Saturday. Let’s take a look at what’s on tap.

NFL NETWORK PROGRAMMING NOTES (7/7-7/13)

CFL FOOTBALL FEATURES CALGARY STAMPEDERS VS. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM ET

NFLTA “All-Access” Features Rod Woodson in Film Room with Mike Singletary, Bengals OLB Keith Rivers’ Weight Room Workout and Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe Training Routine

Numbers 10 Through 6 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ Revealed on NFL Total Access

Alabama Vipers & Orlando Predators Meet on Arena Football Friday at 8:00 PM ET

CFL Action Continues on NFL Network with Calgary vs. Hamilton Saturday at 1:00 PM ET

The debut of CFL games on NFL Network got off to a roaring start last week with the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeating the Montreal Alouettes 54-51 in overtime. The action continues this week with the Calgary Stampeders taking on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday at 1:00 PM ET.

Calgary stands at 1-0 in the West division after one week, while Hamilton is 0-1 in the East division.  Stampeders RB Joffrey Reynolds rushed for 116 yards vs. Toronto week 1 and is a force to be reckoned with, having been a West division All-Star every season since he joined the league. Hamilton is led by RB/KR Marcus Thigpen, who earned the CFL’s Special Team Player of the Week honors after returning both a kickoff and missed field goal for touchdown vs. Winnipeg.

Alabama and Orlando Battle on ‘Arena Football Friday’ at 8:00 PM ET

‘Arena Football Friday’ begins its 15^th week with a game between the Alabama Vipers and the Orlando Predators.

In the teams’ last matchup, Orlando (5-7) came away with a 48-31 victory, despite Alabama (6-6) having the homefield advantage. The two teams are nearly identical in AFL stats, with the Predators averaging only 0.4 more points per game than the Vipers.

Fran Charles has the call, with analysis by Brian Baldinger. 

THIS WEEK ON NFL TOTAL ACCESS:

Wednesday, July 7

• #10 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ revealed

Thursday, July 8

• All-Access from the Bengals weight room with OLB Keith Rivers
• #9 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ revealed

Friday, July 9

• All-Access from the Vikings training facility with TE Visanthe Shiancoe
• #8 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ revealed

Monday, July 12

• #7 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ revealed

Tuesday, July 13

• Rod Woodson goes All-Access in the film room with 49ers head coach Mike Singletary
• #6 of ‘32 Teams in 32 Days’ revealed

THIS WEEK ON NFL.COM: Chat with Giants S Kenny Phillips, Raiders WR Louis Murphy and Vikings WR Sidney Rice

Thursday, July 8

• CHAT: Bucky Brooks (2:00 PM ET)
• CHAT: Giants S Kenny Phillips (5:30 PM ET)

Friday, July 9

• CHAT: Raiders WR Louis Murphy (1:30 PM ET)
• CHAT: Vikings WR Sidney Rice (2:30 PM ET)

DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (all times listed are ET)

Wednesday, July 7

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 4 (HD)

Thursday, July 8

1:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 4 (HD)

2:00 PM – America’s Game: 1999 St. Louis Rams (HD)

3:00 PM – America’s Game: 2000 Baltimore Ravens (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XVI – San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

5:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 4 (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Team Turnarounds

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

9:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performers

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

11:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performers

 

Friday, July 9

1:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

2:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Snakebitten Franchises

3:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performers

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XVII – Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins

5:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Upsets

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – Arena Football Friday: Alabama Vipers vs. Orlando Predators (HD) – LIVE

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Arena Football Friday: Alabama Vipers vs. Orlando Predators (HD)

Saturday, July 10

10:00 AM – NFL Follies: NFL Talkin’ Follies

11:00 AM – NFL Follies: NFL TV Follies

12 NOON – America’s Game: 1999 St. Louis Rams (HD)

1:00 PM – CFL Game: Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (HD) – LIVE

4:00 PM – America’s Game: 2000 Baltimore Ravens (HD)

5:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Snakebitten Franchises

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Single-Season Performers

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review (HD)

8:00 PM – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

11:00 PM – NFL Total Access: Week in Review (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Super Bowl Classics: Super Bowl XXX – Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Sunday, July 11

9:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: One-Shot Wonders

10:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Coaches Who Never Won a Championship

11:00 AM – NFL’s Top 10: Traditions

12 NOON – NFL’s Top 10: Backfield Tandems

1:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

2:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

4:00 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Weekly Countdown: 2009, Week 16 (HD)

7:30 PM – Sound FX: 2009, Week 16 (HD)

8:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 1 (HD)

9:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 2 (HD)

10:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 3 (HD)

11:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 4 (HD)

12 MIDNIGHT – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

 

Monday, July 12

6:00 AM – Sound FX: 2009, Week 15 (HD)

6:30 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts (HD)

8:00 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles (HD)

9:30 AM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (HD)

11:00 AM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 1 (HD)

12 NOON – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 2 (HD)

1:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 3 (HD)

2:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 4 (HD)

3:00 PM – Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals – 2009, Episode 5 (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Real-Time (HD)

5:30 PM – NFL Replay: 2009, Week 16 – Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (HD)

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Classic Games: 1994 – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

11:30 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

Tuesday, July 13

10:00 AM – NFL Classic Games: 1994 – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos

1:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XXIX – San Francisco 49ers vs. San Diego Chargers

2:00 PM – Game of the Week: 2006 – Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Giants (HD)

3:00 PM – Game of the Week: 2006 – Indianapolis Colts vs. Denver Broncos (HD)

4:00 PM – Around the League (HD)

4:30 PM – NFL Film Session: Super Bowl XVIII – Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins

5:00 PM – NFL Weekly Countdown: 2009, Week 16 (HD)

5:30 PM – Sound FX: 2009, Week 16 (HD)

6:00 PM – NFL’s Top 10: Weather Games

7:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

8:00 PM – NFL Follies: Strange But True Body Shapes

9:00 PM – NFL Follies: Legends of the Follies

10:00 PM – NFL Total Access (HD)

That’s it.

Our Mid-Week Linkage

Another day, another scorcher. It’s hot. But you know that. It’s summer. It gets hot. Nothing more need be said about it.

Let’s get to linkage.

Robert Klemko of USA Today has the ratings of some of the weekend TV events.

Even before ESPN announced that LeBron James would make an announcement on where he was going on Thursday on ESPN, Fox Sports’ Brian Lowry announced that he’s sick of the LeBron madness.

Jim Litke of the Associated Press says our long national nightmare with LeBron James will be over soon. 

On The DL’s Dan Levy talks with Stephen A. “A is for Acrimonious” Smith about the LeBron story.

You can follow by reading the transcript at the Sporting News’ Sporting Blog.

Jon Friedman of MarketWatch says ESPN is the big winner in the LeBron James free agency sweepstakes.

Bill Cromwell of Media Life Magazine looks at the Thursday one hour special devoted to LeBron James’ announcement.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life says Wimbledon took a big hit in the ratings this year.

Toni mentions that World Cup sponsors seemed to have won over ambush marketers who tried to latch on to the event.

The Nielsen Wire blog notes that official World Cup sponsors have scored with TV ads in both the United States and in the United Kingdom.

Milton Kent of Fanhouse talks with new Fox Sports NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira.

Mike Florio in Pro Football Talk says NFL Commish Roger Goodell has given his blessing to Pereira that he can point out officials’ mistakes on Fox. 

Anthony Crupi in Mediaweek says Fox has hired a new man to head up its Cable Sports ad sales.

Eriq Gardner in the Hollywood Reporter talks about ESPN winning its round in court against Don King. 

CNBC’s Darren Rovell noticed that Wimbledon men’s finalist Tomas Berdych did not use a racket that he was paid to endorse.

TMZ reports that the Erin Andrews stalker, Michael David Barrett won’t have to foot ESPN’s bill for extra security for Erin. 

Ed Daigneault in the Waterbury (CT) Republican-American feels the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network seems to emphasizing more entertainment than sports.

Marc Berman of the New York Post looks at the LeBron James Show on ESPN.

Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times says James will use ESPN instead of social networks to make his announcement.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News says James is reaching a whole new level of absurdity.

Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union says a local sports talk show is filling out a week of guest hosts.

Pete also asks readers which YES announcers are expendable.

Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that starting this fall, West Virginia football and basketball games will be heard in the Steel City. 

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says Dwayne Wade’s child custody issues will not prevent him from re-signing with the Miami Heat.

Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that ESPN is LeBron James’ sidekick. 

LeBron James beat reporter Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer says James caught everyone including the NBA flat-footed with his ESPN announcement and social networking.  

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the new Pete Rose movie debuts today.

Lynne Marek in Crain’s Detroit Business notes that the Big Ten Network has become a cash cow. 

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tells us not to expect any changes to the MLB video replay policy.

Crain’s Chicago Business’ Ed Sherman says the Bears are premiering a new series on rookie minicamp on its website.

Ed says the White Sox’s attendance has been going up thanks to its recent winning ways.

And Ed notes that it’s not looking good for the Bulls to land Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade or LeBron James.

Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is also fed up of reading and watching news about LeBron. 

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says there are many ways to monitor where LeBron will end up next.

Tom talks about the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival.

Tom also discusses the Pete Rose film which premieres at the aforementioned film festival tonight.

The San Francisco Chronicle picks up an Associated Press article from Frazier Moore who says there’s good 3-D TV and there’s also bad 3-D TV. 

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star has the TV ratings in Canada.

The Canwest News Service says the NFL Network was happy with the debut of Canadian Football last week. 

The Winnepeg Free Press picks up a Canadian Press story on CBC’s good ratings for the World Cup quarterfinals.

Channel Canada says TSN and TSN 2 received record ratings for their coverage of NHL Free Agent Frenzy and the CFL season opener.

The Sports Media Watch continues its look at the state of the networks and today, it’s CBS and Fox.

SMW says the NASCAR Nationwide Series got a ratings bump last Friday.

SMW notes the lower ratings for Wimbledon this year.

Sox & Dawgs has NESN video of Red Sox utility man Bill Hall talking to teammates during batting practice.

Phil Kurz of Broadcast Engineering talks with a broadcast engineer on 2010 being a bellweather year for 3-D TV. 

EPL Talk speculates on what the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will look like both on TV and social networking.

Ryan Ballangee in Waggle Room would love to see a golf version of DirecTV’s NFL Red Zone Channel.

Plenty of linkage today. Good stuff. More later.

The Thursday Links

O.k. working from home, but the point is working. Here are some links for you.

The Nielsen Wire blog 1/3rd of all American viewers are watching the World Cup.

Anthony Crupi at Mediaweek says people watching at sports bars and restaurants boost the viewership numbers for World Cup games on ESPN/ABC.

Milton Kent from Fanhouse talks about Stephen A. “A is for Acrimony” Smith leaving the Philadelphia Inquirer. Again.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter writes about the NFL Network picking up 14 regular season CFL games starting with tonight’s season opener.

Ryan Berenz of Channel Guide has the World Cup quarterfinals schedule.

Steve Elling of CBSSports.com looks at CBS’ 60 year association with the PGA Tour. 

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk recognizes the one year anniversary of his partnership with NBC Sports.

Martin Kaufmann of Golfweek says current golfer Rocco Mediate will be an on-course analyst for ESPN for the Open Championship at St. Andrews this month.

Jill Seward of NESN.com says NESN and Fox Soccer Channel will air an exhibition soccer game at Fenway Park later this month.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir talks about what having LeBron James would mean for the Knicks or the Nets and their respective TV networks.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union looks at the CFL going to the NFL Network for this season.

Gus Sentementes of the Baltimore Sun says former ESPN Zone workers are saying their rights were violated when the sports-themed restaurant shut down in June. 

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says University of Maryland sports has a new radio home in the District. 

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner writes that former Baltimore sports talk radio host Anita Marks is part of a new Sirius XM channel.

Ryan Wood in the Charlotte Observer profiles an ESPN Regional Television employee who went back to his native South Africa to help cover the World Cup for the Mothership. 

Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says Miami and South Florida are getting ready for NBA free agency.

John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the local CBS affiliate will air two Bengals primetime games this fall.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business talks with a long-time Sun-Times reporter who’s retiring this week.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune reports that Comcast SportsNet will air all of the Blackhawks postseason victories including the Stanley Cup clincher this summer.

The Springfield State Journal-Register notes that Comcast and Fox Sports Midwest have agreed for the cable company to carry the full slate of St. Louis Cardinals games for customers in Central Illinois.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Green Bay Packers have been ranked high an ESPN the Magazine list of all pro sports teams.

Bob Mayhall of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat writes that tomorrow’s Cardinals-Brewers game will be televised to Missouri National Guard troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star is enjoying the World Cup TV coverage. 

The Des Moines Register says Iowa State’s first three football games will be aired on TV.

Hap Fry of the Coloradoan tells us ESPN will be profiling a local high school athlete whose story touched a town earlier this year.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star looks at the CFL getting U.S. exposure on the NFL Network.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball talks about the amount of food that will be consumed at next week’s MLB All-Star Game.

Allison Waldman of TV Squad lists the most annoying hosts and that includes Bob Costas.

We’ll end it there for now.

NFL Network Picks Up 14 Canadian Football League Games

In a move that is applauded here at Fang’s Bites, it’s good to see the NFL Network pick up a slate of Canadian Football games starting Thursday night. Overall, NFL Network will air 14 games in July, September and October. No games will be aired in August as NFL Network will be airing every league exhibition game throughout the month.

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE DEBUTS ON NFL NETWORK IN 2010

 14 Game Schedule Begins Thursday, July 1 at 7:00 PM ET

TORONTO – The Canadian Football League  and NFL have agreed to a new telecast deal for 2010, it was announced today.  NFL Network will broadcast fourteen regular season CFL  games  starting with the  season opener Thursday, July 1 at 7:00 PM ET featuring the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders in a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup championship game.

“This is great news for CFL fans living in the United States, a group that includes some of our most passionate and dedicated fans,” said Rob Assimakopoulos, the CFL’s Senior Vice-President for Marketing and Commercial Assets.  “And it promises to expose our brand of football to a broad, new audience.”

NFL Network adds the fast-paced, wide open CFL football action that features familiar names from U.S. college football.

“We continue to acquire more games for our fans and look forward to CFL action kicking off on Thursday with a rematch of the Grey Cup,” said Charles Coplin, Vice President of Programming, NFL Network. “With the addition of the CFL, we now have live games from every level to deliver to our viewers who want football 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.”

The 14-game CFL schedule on NFL Network in high definition features three games on Saturday nights in July following the Thursday night debut on Canada Day. Due to NFL Network’s commitment to air every NFL preseason game in August, CFL action resumes on Friday nights in September, October and November.

The games will be produced by TSN, the leading sports broadcaster in Canada. NFL Network subscribers in Canada will get alternative programming due to TSN’s exclusivity.  

NFL Network’s programming includes live NFL regular season Thursday Night Football games, Arena Football Friday AFL games, college and high school all-star games and now the CFL.

Canadian football has a history spanning more than a century and its championship game, the Grey Cup, is annually one of the most-watched television events north of the border. Home to eight teams, all in Canadian cities, the league features three downs instead of four, 12 men aside instead of 11, unlimited motion before the snap of the ball, and a playing field that 65 yards wide and 110 yards long, with end zones 20 yards deep.-.

Some of its most recognizable alumni include: former NFL quarterbacks Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Joe Theismann and Joe Kapp and legendary coach Bud Grant. Moon and Grant are members of both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

2010 Canadian Football League Schedule on NFL Network

Date                                               Teams                                       Time             

Thursday, July 1                 Montreal @ Saskatchewan              7:00 PM ET

Saturday, July 10                Calgary @ Hamilton                         1:00 PM ET

Saturday, July 17                Edmonton @ Saskatchewan           4:00 PM ET

Saturday, July 24                Edmonton @ Winnipeg                    6:30 PM ET

Saturday, July 31                Hamilton @ Saskatchewan              6:30 PM ET

Friday, Sept. 10                   Calgary @ Edmonton                       9:00 PM ET

Friday, Sept. 17                   Calgary @ Saskatchewan                9:00 PM ET

Friday, Sept. 24                   Montreal @ Winnipeg                       8:00 PM ET

Friday, Oct. 1                      Montreal @ Calgary                           9:00 PM ET

Friday, Oct. 8                      Edmonton @ Hamilton                      7:30 PM ET

Friday, Oct. 15                    Hamilton @ Toronto                          7:30 PM ET

Friday, Oct. 22                    Montreal @ Hamilton                        7:00 PM ET

Friday, Oct. 29                    Montreal @ Toronto                          7:00 PM ET

Friday, Nov. 5                     Calgary @ Winnipeg                         8:00 PM ET

Tuesday Evening Links

We have some links to provide this evening. And since I’m in the final days of not having a TV, I can concentrate on them without distractions.

Starting with Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, he looks at what Versus would look like under NBC’s watch.

Stuart Levine of Variety says ESPN has set a launch date for its Los Angeles-centric website.

Writing for USA Today, WUSA-TV sports anchor Brett Haber is disgusted by the media coverage of Tiger Woods.

Hal Bodecker of the Orlando Sentinel looks at the TV coverage, both local and national, of the Tiger Woods story.

Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press is at Tiger’s tournament, the one he’s not attending, and he says the talk is all about Woods.

The AP reports that an ESPN executive is on the bid committee to bring the World Cup to the US either in 2018 or 2022.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that ESPN2 will have coverage of the World Cup Draw on Friday.

David Goetzl of MediaPost says Audi is commissioning a film on the US Ski team that will be aired on three NBC networks leading up to the Winter Olympics.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell gives three predictions for sports business and media in 2010.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says the NFL could face some pressure for additional outlets for the Cowboys-Saints game in Week 15 as the game is on NFL Network.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com says Chip Caray could find himself as the every day TV voice of the Atlanta Braves once again.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has some various TV and radio notes.

Pete also has the college football bowl schedule.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says a local radio station picks up the SEC Championship this Saturday.

The Washington Times’ Tim Lemke and the great Maury Brown from the Biz of Sports websites talk about various issues including the Yankees, sports stadia and steroids.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer would like to see the late Reds announcer Joe Nuxhall be inducted into the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the college football TV schedule.

Tom writes that NFL Week 13 begins in Canada and ends in Green Bay.

Tom says Vin Scully is back for another year with the Dodgers.

Tom looks at the new Versus reality show featuring Junior Seau doing odd sports jobs.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says the Grey Cup topped the ratings in Canada.

The Sports Media Watch notes that college football on ESPN beat the NFL on NFL Network on Thanksgiving night, but there’s a good reason for that.

SMW has some NBA ratings news and notes.

SMW looks at various college football ratings.

SMW has more ratings news and notes.

SMW says Fox had a strong number for its late NFL doubleheader game last Sunday.

And SMW writes that Sunday Night Football experienced a ratings bump.

The Big Lead is perplexed that Steven A. Smith is once again at odds with the Philadelphia Inquirer shortly after the newspaper took him back.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says CBC’s Ron MacLean should shoulder some of the blame for the verbal fisticuffs on the Hotstove on Hockey Night in Canada.

Steve notices that the person in the middle of those verbal fisticuffs, analyst Mike Milbury, will not be on the Hotstove panel this week.

John Daly of the Daly Planet NASCAR blog engages readers on what should be the fate of the long-in-tooth This Week in NASCAR program.

Sarah Spain at Chicago Now notices a controversy a brewin’ over who’s really Chicago’s Sexiest Athlete.

Matthew Coller at the Biz of Football wonders if after one season the UFL is already on life support.

We’re done. Press releases are coming next.

Some Really Late Night/Early Morning Links

We have some late news for you. Let’s provide a few links.

First, it appears that a Comcast purchase of NBC is getting closer. Tim Arango and Bill Carter of the New York Times report that General Electric has come to an agreement on a purchase price of the 20% of NBC Universal that is owned by Vivendi. This was the main sticking point for Comcast to buy a majority stake in NBCU. Now that this hurdle has for the most part been cleared, this paves the road for Comcast to buy into NBCU. There are regulatory hurdles for Comcast, but for all intents and purposes, the path is clear for NBCU to be sold.

Also from the Times, Richard Sandomir writes that our long national nightmare is over. Chip Caray will part ways with Turner Sports. He will no longer call the Atlanta Braves for Peachtree TV and it also means he won’t be calling MLB games on TBS including the postseason. Caray had come under controversy for miscalling plays and for his constant “FISTED” references.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable also writes about Caray’s departure from TBS.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says in essence, Caray was given the boot by Turner Sports.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News certainly isn’t sad to see Caray go.

This means there won’t be someone from the Caray family calling games on TBS for the first time since 1976 when the station was known was WTCG.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that ESPN The Magazine’s The Body issue was a financial success.

Sean Leahy of USA Today’s The Huddle blog noticed that Patriots coach Bill Belichick interrupted Suzy Kolber’s interview of Saints QB Drew Brees after New Orleans win over New England on Monday Night Football.

Matthew J. Darnell of Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner blog lists his 10 biggest professional football flops of the last ten years and they include two sports media issues.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty says to no one’s surprise, the NFL kept Eagles-Giants in primetime for Week 14.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes that Texas-Texas A&M scored for ESPN on Thanksgiving night.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle has some local ratings news in regards to football.

John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Bengals continue to garner high ratings.

Jeff Korbelik and Ken Hambleton of the Lincoln (NE) Journal Star write that a local sports talk show was taken off the air on Monday with no advanced warning.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star has some additional thoughts on TSN’s coverage of the Grey Cup that didn’t make it into his Monday column.

William Houston of the Truth & Rumours blog says TSN set a viewership record for the Grey Cup.

Joe Favorito gives praise to the Canadian Football League for staying true to its brand.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media says the Sports Information Director of Idaho State apparently scooped the world on the Charlie Weis story.

From the Sports Media Watch, we learn that CBS fared well for Florida State-Florida on Saturday.

SMW says Black Friday college football scored for CBS, but not for ABC.

The SMW notes that the last game for Charlie Weis as coach of Notre Dame gave ABC its highest college football ratings in a month.

SMW says both CBS and Fox did well on their Thanksgiving Day NFL games.

Steelers-Ravens scored for NBC.

SMW says Brett Favre drew good ratings for Fox in the late afternoon slot on Sunday.

But SMW notes that CBS saw a ratings drop for its regional NFL coverage.

SMW has some ratings news and notes.

Lastly from the SMW which was quite busy on Monday, disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy will be interviewed Sunday on 60 Minutes.

EPL Talk says ESPN is heavily promoting this Friday’s World Cup draw and what will be known as the Group of Death.

Ok, it’s late or very early depending on your point of view. Time for me to sleep and I’ll be back with you later for the viewing picks and even more linkage.

A Windy Friday Megalinks

Here in the Northeast, we’re expecting that huge storm that’s hovering off the North Carolina coast and dumping lots of rain on Virginia. I’m just waiting for it as I’ve cleaned out my yard, my gutters, and made sure my basement won’t get flooded. This is going to be a washout at least for Saturday.

Anyway, let’s provide the sports media stories for today. But first, for the weekend sports including college football, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, various other sports and primetime TV, check out the Weekend Viewing Picks.

Now to the links.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with CBS college football analyst Gary Danielson who lobbies for the SEC over teams from other conferences.

Jim Chairusmi from the Wall Street Journal talks with Andre Agassi about his autobiography.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Kevlar can revolutionize sports.

Darren looks at LeBron James discussing a number change and how that could affect jersey sales.

James Hibberd of the Hollywood Reporter writes that Spike TV is going to launch a new series involving sports personalities and their cars.

Georg Salazai of the Reporter says the NFL is happy with its current TV deals including one with DirecTV.

Rick Kissell of Variety the sluggish economy has led to higher ratings for the NFL.

Alex Weprin of Multichannel News looks at ESPN snagging the South American TV rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.

Sports Business Daily has highlights of NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol’s speech at the FSA Sports Media & Technology Conference.

In the Sporting News, Dan Levy of On The DL looks at this Sunday’s NFL games on TV.

CBS College Sports’ play-by-play man Tom Hart writes a guest column for the Eye on Sports Media on the importance of a good statistician in the booth.

The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes.

SMW says the SEC package on CBS is paying off with high ratings.

SMW says get ready for another primetime finish for next year’s U.S. Open golf tournament.

And SMW says Versus is seeing ratings gains for the NHL and college football despite being dumped from DirecTV.

The Big Lead speculates how much money the woman who sparked the Steve Phillips affair would seek from ESPN.

Maury Brown has highlights of an interview MLB Network’s Bob Costas conducted with Ernie Harwell.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has suggestions for programming on Versus.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks with former Fox25 sports anchor Butch Stearns who signed off for the last time last night.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette says Holy Cross College is putting interviews and highlights of its greatest athletes on its new website.

Kristine Leahy has today’s version of The Five on WEEI.com.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times speculates on the future of Versus and Golf Channel if NBC Sports’ Dick Ebersol gets to run them under a Comcast-NBC umbrella.

Stuart Elliott of the Times writes that the NFL has put the kybosh on a guerrilla ad campaign involving players and donating money to charity.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says the finish of the Giants and Jets this season will directly affect the sales of their Personal Seat Licenses for their new stadium.

Phil Mushnick in the New York Post criticizes Derek Jeter for attempting to gouge his fans.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty talks with Siena radio voice Robert Lee.

Speaking of Siena, Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says Siena’s radio network adds a station.

Paul Farhi of the Washington Post profiles the public relations henchman for DC NFL team owner Daniel Snyder.

Tim Lemke from the Washington Times wonders why the NBA out-of-market broadband package costs more than MLB.TV.

South

Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times says South Florida fans are angry that the local ABC affiliate won’t showing next week’s game against Louisville in favor of Ohio State-Michigan.

Sarah Talalay from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel talks about the rumors that surfaced yesterday that The Who is going to play the Super Bowl halftime show.

Ray Buck in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes about some former college football coaches getting their acting bug in a new movie starring Sandra Bullock.

The Star-Telegram has a video of ESPN’s College Gameday setting up at the TCU campus in town.

To the Dallas Morning News and Evan Grant who says the Texas Rangers and TV voice Josh Lewin are now talking about a new contract.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says a local sports radio station went against the grain and hired an outsider for its morning show.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman tries to scrape up ten college football games to watch this week.

Mel profiles ESPN/ABC’s college football analyst Craig James who’s happy to be out of the studio and calling games involving his son.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that local college basketball games are being bumped off Fox Sports Ohio in favor of the Cleveland Cavs and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Michael Zuidema in the Grand Rapids (MI) Press feels a one week suspension was proper punishment for ESPN’s Bob Griese. Zuidema is incorrect when he mentions Griese returns this week, he returned last week after being suspended for one game.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says NBC’s Tony Dungy is giving high praise to his successor at the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Caldwell.

On to Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business who has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.

Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Patriots-Colts will be quite special for NBC on Sunday.

Scott Dochterman of the Iowa City Gazette says Iowa fans will have to find a way to watch basketball and football on Saturday as the Hawkeyes’ games overlap.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says fans are angry at Fox for its handling of NFL games in the market.

Dan writes about a sports radio talk show host who is now taking operation for most of the station’s daytime programming.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) News is surprised at the sudden ESPN love for the Mountain West Conference.

Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic writes that the high school football championships may not be televised statewide due to a dispute between the state’s governing body and Cox Communications.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune talks with Fox Sports’ Brian Billick who’s enjoying his time on television.

Over to the North County Times and John Maffei who writes about a local sports radio host who returns to the air after suffering a heart attack.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says Pats-Colts gets the national spotlight this week.

Jim writes about a local resident who will be showcased on CBS’ presentation of the Arete Awards on Sunday.

Jon Weinbach of the Los Angeles Times looks at the increasing role of the league-owned TV networks walking that fine line of providing and potentially taking away content from other TV partners.

Diane Pucin of the Times says NBC’s Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison have personal interest in Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game.

To the Los Angeles Daily News and Tom Hoffarth who talks with NFL Today host James Brown.

In his blog, Tom has more with JB about his new book and other subjects.

Kelly Johnson of the Sacramento Business Journal looks at a new online companion to the Kings’ game TV broadcasts.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says it’s almost the end of the line for the 55 year career of a CFL radio announcer.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes there’s more college sports available online for Canadians.

That concludes the megalinks. Press release posts will go up later tonight. See you then.

Time for the Monday Linkage

Let’s do linkage for today. Lots of stuff to get to.

My back is killing me today. I slept on my side the other night and now, my upper back is hurting like an MF’er. I couldn’t sleep last night and I just got up at 5 a.m. No choice.

Doing your links now.

Reid Cherner of USA Today says the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies could have used a time limit.

Forbes Magazine conducts an interview with New York Daily News publisher Mort Zuckerman who talks about the newspaper industry and suggests that sports betting be allowed at newspaper websites.

Incoming ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter pays tribute to SI’s Peter King on his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s writers wing.

SportsbyBrooks reports that Jay The Rat Mariotti will join the Chicago Tribune on September 1.

Phil Mushnick from the New York Post can’t get enough of steroids mentions when it comes to David Ortiz.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell is going to be closely watching a horse sale that’s taking place at Saratoga tonight and tomorrow.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says Jets fans will be able to see all of the team’s exhibition games this month.

Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal says the Big East is looking to eliminate the byes from its basketball tournament to attract ESPN. The network did not air the first day due to the byes for the first four teams.

Iliana Limon of the Orlando Sentinel says Conference USA’s upcoming TV negotiations will be key to the conference’s survival.

Rodney Page of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the weekend in televised sports.

The Dallas Morning News’ Barry Horn offers a Happy Anniversary to local sports personality Norm Hitzges.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business wonders if advertising on practice jerseys is just the beginning of more revenue streams for the NFL.

Dusty Saunders in the Denver Post says the local CBS affiliate sold plenty of advertising for its Broncos-centric programming.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star likes the CFL on TSN studio crew.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says TSN should have delved further into the concussion issue during a CFL game on Saturday.

David Tanklefsky of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Twitter can help the media, but also scoop it as well.

The Rookies blog wonders about Linda Cohn constant Tweeting and blogging despite ESPN’s new social networking policy.

The Sports Media Journal’s Keith Thibeault didn’t like Deadspin’s publishing the Josh Hamilton pictures over the weekend.

From the Sports PR blog, Christy Hammond looks into how Twitter made the news with ESPN and the NFL last week.

The Arena analyzes what ESPN should do and will do when it comes to Twitter.

The Sports Media Watch reviews what happened last week in a very good video.

Steve Dittmore from the University of Arkansas isn’t too keen on Tulsa bidding for the 2020 Olympics.

Here’s the latest edition of The Five hosted by Kristine Leahy on WEEI.com.

That’s all for now.

A Sunday Link Day

Let’s give you some links on this Sunday.

I’ll start with Phil Mushnick of the New York Post. He likes the upcoming HBO Ted Williams documentary and he feels last week’s Chris Russo tirade was fake.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says MSG Network has picked up TSN’s Friday Night CFL package. Ken writes that SNY will air the entire 1969 World Series pitting the Mets and Orioles over the next two months.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with MLB Walking Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig about the All-Star Game format.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks with ESPN’s Joe Morgan about the All-Star Game.

Ed Sherman from Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers from last week.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News writes about UFC reaching its 100th big pay per view event.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star feels sorry for local native John Saunders who’s hosting The Superstars on ABC.

We get the weekend ratings predictions from the Sports Media Watch. The SMW has a very good interview with Atlanta Hawks TV voice Bob Rathbun.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media notes that only one person from the Raycom SEC broadcasts survived to ESPN Regional Television’s syndicated package. Chris writes that two CBS College Sports mainstays are moving to ESPNU for SEC football. And Chris has the field for the Women’s Preseason NIT.

The great Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball says the All-Star Game will truly be a global television event. Maury says the official announcement of the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park comes later this week.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says the Boston Herald’s John Tomase, the reporter who came into question after the Patriots Spygate scandal, has been replaced on the Pats beat by a new reporter coming from Alabama. Thanks to Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch for the link.

The Sox & Dawgs blog has the video of Brock Lesnar beating up Frank Mir at UFC 100. Then check out Lesnar’s postfight interview. It has to be seen to be believed.

One more thing from Sox & Dawgs. Kudos to Ian Bethune for getting a photoshopped image of Dennis Eckersley onto the NESN airwaves last night.

That’s it for now. I’ll have my review of the HBO Ted Williams documentary coming up later today.

Some Tuesday Linkage

Let’s give you links for today.

Starting with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand who looks at the ratings of Wimbledon, MLB and the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Here’s a story that bears watching. Beth Ann Baldry of Golfweek reports that a group of top LPGA players are calling for commissioner Carolyn Bivens to resign.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Staples will see a lot of exposure during the Michael Jackson funeral today.

I wrote a story for the Fang’s Bites at Boston Sports Media Watch page about Boston Globe Celtics beat writer Marc Spears leaving for Yahoo! Sports.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that NBC is setting up at the nearby Saucon Valley Country Club for this week’s U.S. Women’s Open.

A couple of stories from Tim Lemke of the Washington Times. He writes that Tiger Woods was a big draw to the AT&T National both in person and on TV. Tim also looks at the temporary stadium built for the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis.

Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post is amazed at the subject matter on commercials that run on sports television.

Dan Steinberg of the WaPo’s DC Sports Bog talks about Wizards TV voice Steve Buckhantz’s signature call.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business tells us what the Cubs sale means for the team’s fans.

George Castle of the Northwest Indiana Times profiles MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac.

Tim Ellerbee of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the SEC’s new contract with ESPN will put many of the conference’s football games into primetime.

Mel Bracht of the Oklahoman says CBS is going into the vaults to replay a 1963 golf duel between Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes about a local sports radio station juggling its lineup. Barry also looks at the latest person ousted from 4th and Long.

Penny Parker of the Denver Post talks with outgoing Fox Sports Net President Bob Thompson.

The Toronto Star’s Chris Zelkovich says a regular season CFL game beat out the Wimbledon men’s final in the ratings.

Kate Holton of Reuters says ESPN is going to launch a new channel in the UK to carry English Premier League games as well as some of its US programming.

A.J. Daulerio of Deadspin gets on the Kansas City Star’s Jason Whitlock for the character assassination of Serena Williams.

A bunch of links to the Sports Media Watch now. The ratings for the Wimbledon men’s final were down from last year, but still strong. The AT&T National beat Wimbledon in the ratings. A boring Wimbledon’s ladies final trailed last year’s all-Williams affairs. Manny Ramirez’s return to the Dodgers failed to bring any juice to Fox’s MLB ratings. SMW has some more ratings news and notes.

Joe Favorito talks about the mixing of summer sports to help build a brand.

That’s going to do it for now.

A Back To Work/Still Holiday Weekend Links

Some of you may have gone back to work today. Some of you might have extended your holiday weekend today. Whatever situation you’re in, linkage doesn’t stop so we get some today. I’m in a bit of withdrawal from having morning tennis over the last two weeks and with Howard Stern still on vacation at Sirius XM, I’m a bit lost for morning listening today. So I delve further into the linkage for you.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand went to the AT&T National this weekend to see the small army CBS Sports employs for a PGA Tour event.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks to Andy Roddick’s Mojo (remember the American Express ads?) to see if indeed, he has it back.

Phil Mushnick over at the New York Post praises Tim McCarver for speaking out against Fox’s cutting to Manny Ramirez’s at-bats on Saturday.

Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News also gives McCarver some love for his anti-Manny statements.

Members of the Philadelphia Inquirer feel Fox Sports ripped off Phillies fans with the Manny cut-ins on Saturday.

Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com writes in Press Box that a Baltimore radio station has picked up a Sunday afternoon NFL package.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the 4th of July holiday weekend had a distinct European flavor on sports television.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times looks at the weekend in television sports.

Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News previews tonight’s 4th and Long episode.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business warns of the return of Jay “The Rat” Mariotti to the Windy City in some capacity.

Thomas V. Bona of the Rockford (IL) Register Star writes about NFL Network and ESPNU joining Comcast’s digital tier at the end of this month.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post writes that John McEnroe was a man of few words during yesterday’s Wimbledon’s men’s final.

However, Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star feels John and his partner, Ted Robinson spoke too much!

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail goes over Wimbledon and a host of others subjects.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable reports Golf Channel and Donald Trump are talking about a new documentary on his efforts to build a huge golf course and resort in Scotland.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News looks back at the Wimbledon men’s final.

Mike Farrell of Multichannel says the sale of the Montreal Canadiens could give an unexpected boost to Cablevision, the owner of MSG Network and the New York Rangers.

Mark Newman of MLB.com says Yankees online in-market streaming starts on Wednesday.

Phil Villarreal of the Consumerist blog says getting the NFL Network on Comcast systems may still cost you extra.

Shane Bacon of the AOL Fanhouse blog tells us that ESPN/ABC won’t show next week’s Open Championship in HD!

Joe Favorito says the CFL and the UFL fought to get attention.

And that’s going to do it for the links for now.

A Mid-Week Linkfest

Let’s do some linkage today. Then I’ll do a massive press release post or two.

Starting with Jon Show of the Sports Business Daily, he writes that DirecTV will have three dedicated channels to the U.S. Open complimenting the ESPN and NBC coverage for all four rounds.

Austin Karp of the SBD says five of the top six rated network TV programs this year to date are sporting events.

Tripp Mickle of the SBD reviews what happened in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix regarding the possible Coyotes move to Southern Ontario and the setting of a relocation fee to the NHL.

The Sporting News picks up a Sports Business Journal story from Daniel Kaplan stating that NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol is countering company claims that the network lost money on the Super Bowl.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says MLB Network will begin its own reality series this Saturday (I’ll have more on this series coming up later).

The USA Today Game On! blog says Selena Roberts’ book on Alex Rodriguez is not selling well after initially debuting on the Best Sellers List in its first week of publication.

Neil Best of Newsday writes that last night’s Super Tuesday of Sports certainly lived up to the hype. Neil says Game 3 of the NBA Finals beat out baseball and hockey in the New York ratings last night.

The New York Post says ESPN’s Rick Sutcliffe has cleared the air with Yankees Mark Texeira and Alex Rodriguez after he said A-Rod was tipping pitches for Texeira.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell goes over some of the more marketable names from last night’s MLB Draft. Darren says the Bodog sportsbook stands to lose a lot of money if the Lakers win the NBA Finals.

Keith O’Brien of the Boston Globe says the New York Times is looking to sell the Globe.

From the “What the Hell?” Department, Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch has a headscratcher of a press release from NESN stating that a morning personality from a Boston urban radio station will join the network’s Red Sox postgame show to read comments and e-mails. What? Couldn’t host Tom Caron do this? Talk about a waste of money.

On the other hand, NESN is actually airing something that might do some good. Frederick Ellis Dashiell, Jr. of the Bay State Banner says NESN will pick up a series of episodes from Northeastern University’s Sports in Society center.

Laura Nachman says there’s cause for concern over the health of a popular Philadelphia sports TV anchor.

Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post wants to institute some new rules in sports broadcasting.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner has part two of his series on how the Lakers went Hollywood.

Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot says ACC football fans will overdose on a lot of games on TV during the first three weeks of the season.

Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wonders how ESPN can keep getting the Brett Favre story wrong.

Jeff Woods of the Nashville Scene feels ESPN is engaging in “Gotcha” journalism with Lane Kiffin and the University of Tennessee.

Evan Grant from “D” Magazine writes that Texas Ranger radio voice Eric Nadel has been given the go ahead to return to work after having retinal surgery. Thanks to Barry Horn for the link.

Barry has the overnight ratings from the Metroplex for the sports action.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business talks to the President of the MLS Fire who went to a game incognito as a fan to learn what the paying customer has to endure. Mad props to him.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the video of the Angels’ Ervin Santana telling Fox Sports West, “Fuck it! Let’s pitch!”

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes that TSN hopes to add some color to its CFL studio show.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says the AVP Beach Volleyball Tour has signed rights deals with Comcast and Universal Sports.

The Radio Business Report reports that the MLS’ FC Dallas soccer team will have its games broadcast on the local ESPN Deportes radio affiliate.

Radio Online says CBS Radio plans to flip WJFK-FM in Washington from talk to all-sports in July.

The BBC reports that Setanta Sports has stopped taking subscriptions.

The Sports Media Watch says Game 3 of the NBA Finals drew strong numbers last night, but are still off from last year. SMW says Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals drew its high overnight ratings of the series, but are still down from last year.

Steve Lepore of Puck The Media says Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals drew decent numbers against Game 3 of the NBA Finals last night.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog says despite the good numbers, NBC is blaming the NHL for bringing down Conan O’Brien’s ratings against David Letterman last night.

Bob Mantz from the great Bob’s Blitz blog writes that the NHL.com store jumped the gun by declaring the Detroit Red Wings the winners of the Stanley Cup.

That’s going to do it for now. Lost of good linkage for you today.