Fang's Bites

The Thursday Linkage, Finally

Finally getting to some linkage. Had some work to do first and of course, that takes precedence. Lots of stuff to get to.

First from John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal/Sports Business Daily, he reports that Monday Night Football reporter Michele Tafoya is leaving ESPN and most likely heading to NBC in an unspecified capacity.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today reports that ESPN.com has announced the name and roster for Captain Blowhard’s new sports and pop culture website. Kill me mow.

Lesley Goldberg of the Hollywood Reporter says Fox has tapped a new man to lead Fuel TV.

At Multichannel News, Mike Reynolds says the NBA Playoffs on TNT are scoring in the ratings and with affluent viewers as well.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel notes that Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia scored record ratings for Game 7 of the Buffalo-Flyers series.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek writes that TNT’s highest ratings in the playoffs are for teams from the two biggest markets.

Toni Fitzgerald at Media Life tells us that both the NBA and NHL are seeing red hot ratings for their postseasons.

Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal wonders what if ESPN covered the Royal Wedding.

Sheldon Spencer at ESPN Front Row talks with members of ESPN’s NFL blogging network on their approach to covering this year’s NFL Draft.

Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy goes over what ESPN was offering the NHL before NBC/Versus came and topped it.

We have the transcript of CNBC’s Darren Rovell interviewing embattled Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt about Major League Baseball taking operation of the team.

Andy Fixmer and Beth Jinks of Bloomberg recap McCourt’s appearance on Bloomberg Television.

At the Biz of Baseball, the great Maury Brown has McCourt blasting MLB for meddling after Fox agreed to give him a $30 million advance as part of a 20 year media rights deal.

Back to Bloomberg, Laurel Brubaker Calkins writes that Golf Channel officials are denying any knowledge of a Ponzi scheme run by an indicted financier who paid money to the network for sponsorships.

Cam Martin of Sports Newser writes that a new play on the late Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell, authored by Mitch Albom, will premiere tonight in the Motor City.

Cork Gaines of the Business Insider’s Sports Page reviews two nights of ESPN SportsCenter and breaks down how it covers sports news.

Emerson College Journalism Professor Mark Luccese writing in Boston.com discusses the surplus of sports coverage in Beantown.

98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston had an interview with NESN’s Jack Edwards in which he discusses the Canadiens, diving and a few other things.

Kirk Minihane of WEEI.com is not a fan of Jack Edwards.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times says Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum now has a new name.

Newsday’s Neil Best says New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter isn’t too happy over a new book written about him.

Jerry Bossert of the New York Daily News looks at the new voice of the Triple Crown on NBC.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the TV schedule for the 2nd round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Pete also has the NBA Playoff schedule through this weekend.

Bob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Post-Tribune says the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed a new deal with Root Sports keeping the team on the network for at least 18 more season.

John Feinstein takes out his computer keyboard and proceeds to hit DC NFL Team owner Daniel Snyder over his head with it.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the NBA’s ratings winning streak continues into the postsesaon.

Jim says NFL Draft coverage has turned into a marathon.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business says Comcast SportsNet ended its NBA and NHL postseason coverage with a bang.

Derrick Gold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman refuted statements made by Houston Astros radio announcer Milo Hamilton.

Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal says extended NBA and NFL lockouts would have adverse effects on the local economy and advertising market.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times talks with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen about this week’s Draft coverage.

Fight Hype says ESPN.com boxing reporter Dan Rafael could be moving to HBO in a much different capacity.

Joe Favorito says US sports teams need to get on the ball with social media in a way that their European counterparts have totally embraced.

Dave Kohl at Major League Programs has a look at various local sports radio ratings.

And we’ll end it there for today.

A Mid-Week Linkage Day

This being Wednesday, it means that we’re about to go past the mid-week mark and then the weekend will be getting closer. Time for some links.

paidContent’s Staci D. Kramer has Fox Sports El Presidente por Vida David Hill says sports leagues will cut off their noses in spite of their faces if they continue to keep certain rights for themselves.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says boxer Floyd Mayweather is a pay per view star.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says the Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight was the second highest grossing non-heavyweight pay per view fight.

The Wall Street Journal picks up a story from Durga Raghunath in India Real Time that YouTube’s India Premier League cricket channel is a big success. 

Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Comcast will pick up ESPN 3D when it launches in June. 

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the NBA Playoffs have steered TNT to its third straight win in the cable primetime weekly ratings.

David Goetzl of Mediapost says ABC and ESPN are seeing increased upfront ad sales from last year, but the amount of money coming in still pales in comparison before the recession.

The Associated Press reports ESPN is teaming up with a New York-based writing organization on a new award.

David Whitford of CNNMoney talks with executive Steve Greenberg, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, who ran Classic Sports Network and College Sports TV before selling them for big bucks.

Parade magazine’s Hollywood Wire blog says Erin Andrews broke down over Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s stalker joke on The View last week.

And Us adds that Erin never spoke to Hasselbeck despite reports to the contrary. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes the latest two media inductees into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Pete says PBS will air Ken Burns’ sequel to his extensive Baseball documentary that originally aired in 1994 and has been reaired on MLB Network over the last two years.

Pete adds that the Yankees and YES have pulled a switcheroo over today’s day-night doubleheader.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will have a Phillies-Flyers doubleheader today.

Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post remembers Ernie Harwell.

Dan Steinberg in the Post’s Sporting Bog says MASN’s ratings for the Nationals are going up and fast. 

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the NHL needs another national TV partner.

Mitch Vingle of the Charleston (WV) Gazette says the Big East is exploring whether to launch its own television network. 

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford not appreciative of some Bobby Valentine criticism on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.

Stephen Nohlgren and Tom Jones of the Times says TV ratings for the Rays are up, but it’s Fox Sports Florida that’s reaping the benefits.

Andrew Carter at the Orlando Sentinel says the ACC hopes to finalize a new TV contract this week.

Joe Scalzo of the Youngstown (OH) Vindicator says rock group O.A.R.’s “This Town” has become a sports anthem for ESPN and Fox Sports.

Terry Foster of the Detroit News says Paul Carey says his former broadcast partner, Ernie Harwell, wasn’t appreciated across the country.

To Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business who says the Big Ten’s planned expansion has to make economic sense for the conference.

Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig scored reasonably well in an ESPN The Magazine players poll.

Michael Russo from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says Fox Sports North has signed an extension of its contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. 

Eric Young of the San Francisco Business Times says the Big 12 and Pac 10 Conferences are discussing an alliance for TV rights.

Jon Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News looks inside the new ESPN/ESPN2/ABC Pac 10 football schedule.

Brue Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail previews a CBC investigation into the whereabouts of a disgraced hockey coach.

Ed DeRosa of the Thoroughbred Times says NBC has plenty of storylines to choose from for this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

Lauren Hatch at Business Insider writes that Fox Sports is increasing its online content in an attempt to fight ESPN.com.

Radio newsletter All Access reports that Peter Gammons will appear on various Sporting News Radio affiliates across the country.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media looks at when the NHL Conference Finals could begin.

Sports Media Watch has the weekend overnight ratings.

SMW says Lakers-Jazz on Saturday did very well on ABC.

The SMW says sweeps in the NBA Conference Semifinals aren’t helping the ratings.

And SMW has Fox seeing improvements in its NASCAR ratings.

That will do it for today.

Quick Monday Linkage

I have to be at a jobsite this morning, but I’ll give you a few links before going out.

Mike McCarthy at USA Today says Tiger Woods took hits from golf analysts and reporters for dropping out of the Players Championship.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Jason Fry tells bloggers to look inside the numbers when it comes to web traffic.

John Ourand, Michael Smith and Terry Lefton from the Sports Business Journal says after losing FedEx as a sponsor, ESPN has obtained a new one for the Orange Bowl.

John writes that while MLB Network is getting critical praise, the channel’s ratings have not followed suit. 

Terry Lefton chronicles how Anheuser-Busch returned as the official beer sponsor of the NFL.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if rugby can become part of the American sports lexicon.

Darren talks with UFC President Dana White. 

Darren says teams that offer free tickets in exchange for bad play is sports marketing of the future.

Kent Gibbons of Multichannel News writes that Time Warner Cable will pick up Speed’s new broadband channel.

The great Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated has his Media Power Rankings for April.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir reviews Bill Madden’s book on Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

To Phil Mushnick of the New York Post who says the Mets’ baserunning blunders made no sense, but received no second guessing on TV.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union says Curt Menafee will once again replace Nick Charles on Showtime Boxing.

Tim Lemke says a negative Boston Globe article may have led to a Scottish soccer team pulling out of a planned US summer tour.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says Tiger Woods is unsure that he would be able to defend the AT&T National crown this year.

Tom Jones in the St. Petersburg Times looks at how Sun Sports treated Sunday’s perfect game pitched by Oakland’s Dallas Braden against the Tampa Bay Rays.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that former Reds shortstop Barry Larkin will be part of the MLB Network announcing team calling this Saturday’s Civil Rights Game in the Queen’s City.

Gene Myers of the Detroit Free Press conducted the final interview with Ernie Harwell last year and was published this week. Here’s part one. Part two is here. Part three will be posted on Tuesday.

In Crain’s Chicago Business, Ed Sherman writes that Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz is not a fan of Versus.

Kansas City sports radio station WHB is reporting that the Big Ten is extending invitations to four schools including two Big 12 teams, Notre Dame and Rutgers.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post says Ernie Harwell made quite the impression on him.

Los Angeles Times TV critic Robert Lloyd reviews ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary, “Straight Outta L.A.”

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has this week’s sports calendar in SoCal.

Tom also reviews “Straight Outta L.A.”

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says hockey could learn a thing or two from soccer. 

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes that CBC’s Bob Cole has found the play-by-play magic once again.

William Houston in Truth & Rumours has some Canadian sports TV ratings news and notes.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Dan Patrick will host NBC’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals, something that Dan has been talking about on his radio show.

Steve also does a takedown of William Houston who has become a bitter little hedgehog since leaving the Toronto Globe and Mail.

The Sports Media Watch says ABC garnered strong ratings for the two NBA playoff games it carried this weekend.

SMW says Yankees-Red Sox failed to live up to its past ratings on Fox. Don’t forget that the game finished on FX due to rain delays and a NASCAR commitment.

SMW notes that Fox did do well with the Southern 500 on Saturday.

And SMW says a Tiger Woods-less Players Championship on Sunday led to a huge ratings drop for NBC.

Over at Boston Sports Media Watch, I post a couple of hockey notes including one regarding the ratings for the NHL on Versus in Boston.

EPL Talk has BBC Sport’s very good promo for the World Cup.

And now are done with all of the links for Monday.

Friday Megalink Action

I haven’t been able to provide links since last Thursday so it’s time you get some linkge. I’ve been busy with end of April/beginning of May stuff so it’s cut back on my blogging, but I think I’ll be back to a normal schedule after the weekend.

As usual, you can plan your sports and entertainment viewing with the Weekend Viewing Picks. Now to your links.

Ernie Harwell

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post remembers a story involving the late Ernie Harwell and the late Howard Cosell.

Tim Lemke talks about Ernie Harwell and the legacy that he and other great broadcasters have left behind.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner also pays tribute to Ernie Harwell.

David Mayo in the Grand Rapids Press writes that the love for Ernie Harwell cannot be measured in words.

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News says the Tigers became consolers to fans as they said their goodbyes to Harwell at Comerica Park.

Lynn says thousands of mourners passed Harwell’s body as it lay in repose at Comerica.

Jim Lynch of the News talks with Tigers fans about Ernie Harwell.

The Detroit News has a complete section devoted to Harwell on his life, career and personal tributes.

The Detroit Free Press says Fox Sports will pay tribute to Harwell during its MLB coverage on Saturday.

Drew Sharp from the Free Press says Ernie would have liked seeing the people who came to pay their respects.

And the Free Press also has a special section on Harwell as well.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Harwell was beloved by his fellow broadcasters as well.

Bob Mayhall from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says the Cardinals broadcasters have fond memories of Harwell. 

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says there was more to Ernie Harwell than baseball. 

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times gets area broadcasters to talk about Harwell.

National

Starting with USA Today, sports media reporters Michael Hiestand and Michael McCarthy debate whether politics has a place on sports television. You can weigh in on the topic right here.

Tripp Mickle of the Sports Business Daily writes that cable TV fees helped to bring Madison Square Garden into the black in the first quarter of this year.

Stuart Levine of Variety writes that Fox Sports is preparing to make a concerted bid for the 2014/2016 Olympics, contradicting earlier reports to the contrary. Thanks to Steve Dittmore for the link.

Bill Cromwell of Media Life Magazine handicaps the Olympics US TV bidding, although I disagree with his frontrunners. 

Paul J. Gough at the Hollywood Reporter says ESPN and Univision are hoping for big ratings for the World Cup.

Claire Atkinson of Broadcasting & Cable writes thanks to the Super Bowl, CBS is seeing an ad revenue bump.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News reports that Comcast SportsNet Chicago scored with Game 3 of the Vancouver-Blackhawks series on Wednesday.

Dave Kindred at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center tells us that the best stories sometimes come when it appears there are none.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell doesn’t understand the NFL’s new endorsement deal with Bud Light displacing Coors as its official beer.

Darren notes that Nutrisystem has dropped former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor from its roster in the wake of the story that he allegedly raped and beat up an underaged prostitute.

Joe Favorito says a Bubblewrap PR stunt involving Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter could bring the company some mentions on Fox and ESPN this weekend.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Versus continues to rake in the ratings this week.

The Sports Media Watch says this week’s Magic blowout of the Atlanta Hawks failed to draw viewers.

SMW says Suns-Spurs isn’t popular with viewers either.

SMW has local NBA and NHL playoff ratings news.

And SMW has more NHL and NBA ratings news and notes.

Good news from Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball. Milwaukee Brewers announcer Bob Uecker has been released from the hospital after undergoing heart surgery.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn at the Boston Globe says Bruins fans are comfortable having NESN analyst Andy Brickley calling the B’s-Flyers series on Versus.

Sox & Dawgs has video of NESN’s Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy comparing hair brush sizes during last night’s Angels-Red Sox broadcast.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir is dreading this weekend’s Yankees-Red Sox series and the length of games.

Richard compares the 1978 playoff game between the Yankees and Red Sox to this day and age.

Howard Beck of the Times catches up with Bill Walton who had to retire from broadcasting due to a bad back. 

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News contends that an early elimination of the Red Sox from playoff contention is bad for the Yankees and the YES Network.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union goes after Versus for showing highlights of last night’s Montreal-Pittsburgh game that it had just aired, but for me, it worked because I did not see the game, so the highlights were what the doctor ordered.
Pete talks with an HBO Sports staffer who won an Emmy for the 24/7 Mayweather/Marquez series.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner tells us to get ready for 3-D in sports.

South

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald talks with colleague Dan LeBatard about the success of his sports radio show.

At the St. Petersburg Times, Tom Jones says the Tampa Bay Rays could throw a wrench into the MLB’s TV partners postseason plans if the team keeps winning.

David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press speculates on this fall’s SEC on CBS football schedule. Thanks to Matt Sarz of Matt’s College Sports on TV for the link.

Ray Buck at the Fort Worth Star Telegram says a group of former Cowboys got together this week to shoot a promo for Super Bowl XLV which will be held in Cowboys Stadium in 2011.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle says it’s never easy for sports talk show hosts to mix politics and sports.

Midwest

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

Jim O’Donnell of the Chicago Sun-Times says former Cub Doug Glanville is branching out by becoming an author.

Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune talks with Versus President Jamie Davis about increasing its reach and appeasing the Blackhawks.

Speaking of the Blackhawks, Phil says the team continues to rake in the viewers.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says the TPC at Sawgrass course will look spectacular in high definition during the Players Championship this weekend.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the Cardinals’ TV ratings are tops among local MLB teams.

Dan adds that there could be some upheaval in one or two of the city’s sports radio stations.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) News tells Utah Jazz fans not to get angry at TNT’s announcers for sounding “pro-Lakers”.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says Dick Enberg knows he’s been rusty during his Padres broadcasts, but he knows he’ll get better during the season.

John Maffei of the North County Times looks forward to tonight’s premiere of “Friday Night Lights”. I’ve never seen it nor do I intend to.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star has Johnny Miller’s thoughts on what Tiger Woods needs to do to win this weekend’s Players Championship on NBC.

As Mother’s Day approaches, Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News speaks with ESPN’s Colleen Dominguez who balances her job as West Coast reporter with being a single mom of two grown children.

Tom has more on Colleen plus his extensive news and notes in his blog.

Canada

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star looks into possible on-air changes with CBC Sports and Rogers Sportsnet.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail isn’t a fan of watching the national anthems on TV.

And William Houston in Truth & Rumours takes a minor shot at Chris Zelkovich, but not as bad as he did last month.

And that will do it for today.

Westwood One Radio’s Statement on Ernie Harwell

Throughout his career, Ernie Harwell worked postseason games for Westwood One Radio when it had the national contract with Major League Baseball. When Ernie was unceremoniously let go by the Detroit Tigers in 1991, he joined Westwood One to call the Game of the Week for the 1992 and continued to work for the network until 1997 when ESPN Radio took over the contract. And Ernie also worked for ESPN Radio for the postseason as well.

Here’s a statement from Westwood One.

Westwood One Mourns the Passing of Ernie Harwell

Ernie Harwell’s legendary voice reached beyond the borders of Detroit to a national audience as he called play-by-play for Westwood One’s coverage of Major League Baseball from 1992-1997. Executive Producer of Westwood One Sports Howard Deneroff worked closely with Harwell during that time.

“Westwood One is deeply saddened by the news of Ernie Harwell’s death and we mourn his passing with his immediate family, and also his extended family, Tiger nation,” said Deneroff “Harwell’s southern charm and unique style graced our (CBS Radio) national airwaves for 6 seasons in the early 90′s and we feel honored to have been able to work with him, and allow the rest of the country to hear and understand why fans in Michigan were enraptured for decades. Ernie liked to say ‘he was a part of all of those that met him’, but we are the lucky ones for having met him, and for having listened to him for so long. The warmth of his voice was only matched by the warmth of his heart and personality. He was a legend both on and off air, and he will be missed greatly.”

More later.

We’ll Miss You, Ernie

Even though we knew that Ernie Harwell’s passing was coming, it doesn’t make the sadness go away any quicker. For a man to be so beloved not only in his adopted hometown of Detroit, but around the country shows how well he was liked. Ernie told MLB Network’s Bob Costas in his last interview that he wasn’t bitter about the cancer that would eventually take him away from us, “I knew God was in charge and whatever happens, happens for the best. I really have a lot of serenity and great support from my wife family and friends. It’s been so far a fairly easy task to accept it.”

I still hearken back to the days when I was a kid and would listen to the radio to see what stations I could find. In fact, I mentioned this on Twitter on Saturday. During hot summer nights, I would listen to the Red Sox with Ned Martin and Jim Woods, then find the New York stations to listen to the Yankees broadcasts with Phil Rizzuto, Frank Messer and Bill White. If I couldn’t hear the Yankees, I’d go to the Mets to hear Lindsay Nelson, Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy call the games. Then I would hear the Orioles broadcasts on WBAL with Chuck Thompson and Bill O’Donnell. Sometimes, I could hear WSB and pick up the Braves broadcasts with Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Ernie Johnson, Sr. (yes, EJ’s dad) and John Sterling. There would be nights I could hear the Cleveland Indians on 3WE and the Reds with Marty Brennaman on WLW. When the Phillies went to the old WCAU Radio, I could listen to Harry Kalas, Andy Musser, Richie Ashburn and Chris Wheeler rotate innings for the Philadelphia team.

On humid nights, signals from Chicago would come in strong and I could listen to Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall call the White Sox and Jack Brickhouse call the Cubs on WGN.

But the one constant that I could pick up was WJR out of Detroit, clear as a bell on 760 AM. And I would listen to Ernie Harwell and Paul Carey call the games from Tiger Stadium. The press box was so close to the field, you could hear the ball hit the bat so clearly.

Ernie just had this manner of description that made the game come to life. He had a friendly voice and you felt he could be one of your neighbors. With the announcers calling every game on your radio, it was if they were part of your family. Familiar voices coming on the same time every night from the same station, it was no wonder that when Ernie was inexplicably fired by the Tigers and Bo Schembechler in particular in 1992, fans practically revolted. The wrong was righted a year later when Ernie returned, but Tigers fans never forgave Bo for the deed.

My love for baseball was enhanced by listening to games on the radio and hearing the great announcers boom into my room on the 50,000 watt stations from across the country. Their signal could reach 38 states and go into Canada.

There aren’t many of the old school baseball announcers left, those who have spent most of their careers with one team and have spanned multiple generations. Vin Scully of the Dodgers comes to mind and interestingly enough, Vin joined the Brooklyn Dodgers to replace Ernie who went to the New York Giants. There’s Marty Brennaman still calling games for the Reds on WLW. Dave Niehaus has been with the Seattle Mariners since their inception in 1976. Jerry Coleman is still with the San Diego Padres, however, he’s on a reduced schedule and only doing color analysis. Jerry Howarth of the Toronto Blue Jays like Niehaus has been with his team since 1976.

And in this century, we’ve lost Jack Buck, Chuck Thompson, Harry Kalas, Skip Caray and now, Ernie. Thank goodness, we still have some of their best calls immortalized on tape and Tigers fans can hear Ernie’s call of the 1984 World Series in perpetuity.

MLB.com has created a tribute page for Harwell that contains stories, tributes and videos.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal shares some of his thoughts on Ernie’s passing.

Vin Scully remembers Ernie as only he can.

MLB Network broke into regular programming to run this segment on Ernie.

Justice B. Hill at Real Clear Sports gives thanks to Ernie.

Michigan native Tim Cary says Ernie helped to fill his summers.

The Detroit News has statements from Tigers ownership and management on Ernie Harwell.

John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press says Tigers manager Jim Leyland was saddened to hear of Ernie’s death.

John has reaction from all over Michigan, the baseball community and beyond.

Rob Neyer of ESPN.com recalls his one encounter with Ernie.

I’m sure there will be more stories and tributes to Ernie on Wednesday. I’ll be sure to bring them to you.

One last note, MLB Network will re-air Bob Costas’ interview with Ernie Harwell conducted last November. It will be seen Wednesday at 4 p.m. East/1 p.m. West.

The highlights of the interview include the following:

ON HIS HEALTH

Back in July, the doctors gave me six months to live, give or take a few months. I’m hoping to reach my birthday on January 25 but I’m pretty sure I won’t make the baseball season. But you never know as the Lord works wonders.

I’m not overwhelmed by the circumstances. One of the doctors said, “If you were my father, I’d say, don’t do anything, just relax and wait for the inevitable.” But I had great peace about that and closure to it and I knew God was in charge and whatever happens, happens for the best. I really have a lot of serenity and great support from my wife family and friends. It’s been so far a fairly easy task to accept it.

On Returning to Comerica Park on September 16

That was a great event for me. First of all, I addressed the team, which was a real honor. Jim Leyland had the whole team around. And after a couple innings, they sent me out there with a microphone and I said a few words of farewell. It was very heartwarming for me to see the way people felt about me.

The old voice hasn’t changed that much in 50 years and I thank mainly the genes, the good health the Lord gave me, and the fact I enjoyed the job so much. I never looked at it as work. It was something I got great pleasure out of; Getting to know the people in baseball, traveling with them, and being a part of that great Major League Baseball fraternity.

ON SUPPORT FROM FANS

I don’t think there’s any reason for this response except that I was the Tiger announcer. I showed up and did the best I could. I tried to be myself and my whole philosophy was the game was the main thing and don’t ever interfere with the game. People tune in to what the Tigers are doing. No matter whose doing the game, they’re going to tune in.

ON BEING A LOCAL MLB ANNOUNCER

I do feel like those people out there were my friends and I hope I was their friend. It is a unique association that you have with your listener. I really appreciate the fact that they’ve taken interest in me. I don’t know that I deserve that. All I tried to do was be myself. I wanted to broadcast the game that I thought I’d like to hear as a listener. I tried to give the score as often as I could. I let the play take over and fill in with anecdotes or historical information that maybe nobody else came up with. There were going to be some people who like you and some who don’t like you and you have to accept that when you start out. 

On moving from the segregated South to Brooklyn in 1948

It was a little strange seeing a black man play against white competition. I accepted it and Jackie Robinson became a very good friend of mine. I played cards with him, played golf with him, rode the train with him. It’s the most exciting and most eventful thing that’s happened in sports history, the breaking of the color line by Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey.

On leaving Baltimore IN 1960 and taking THE job WITH THE DETROIT TIGERS

So I made the jump and it was probably the best move I ever made because the people in Michigan have really been super. They’re great fans, it’s an original franchise, and they have a great passion for baseball.

RIP, Ernie. You will be missed.

Ernie Harwell, 1918-2010

Tonight, we learned that legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell has died at the age of 92. Last year, Ernie revealed he had bile duct cancer and that he had months to live and he would not delay the inevitable. Ernie would live for about one more year after his reveal. During a ceremony last September at Comerica Park in Detroit, Harwell said goodbye to the Tigers fans who had come to love him over a 42 year broadcast career in Motown.

Harwell started his broadcasting career in Atlanta in the 1940′s. He made the trip to the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948 via a trade, the only broadcaster ever traded from team-to-team. Then after changing teams for a decade, he landed in Detroit in 1960 where he stayed until 2002 with the exception of 1992 when he was inexplicably let go.

Tom Gage of the Detroit News has Ernie’s obituary.

John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press looks back at Ernie’s amazing life.

Steve Kornacki of the Michigan Newspapers says he’ll have nothing but good memories of Ernie.

We’ll have more on this story as reaction continues to come in. Ernie exuded class and dignity throughout his life and also in death. He will be missed.