Fang's Bites

Breaking Out Some Monday Linkage

The last few days, I’ve been sick which limited the number of posts between Friday and Saturday. I’m still not feeling well, but I’ll be providing linkage and posts as long I’m physically able. To the links.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with NFL Network’s Melissa Stark about returning to sports television after leaving in 2008 to become a full-time mom.

Don Banks of SI looks at how NFL teams are adjusting to a full season of Thursday Night Football.

John Ourand & Michael Smith from Sports Business Journal report that ESPN is close to nabbing the college football playoff for many years to come.

John catches up with outgoing Fox Sports Media Group Vice Chairman Ed Goren who helped launch the company in 1994.

Eric Fisher at SBJ notes how MLB Advanced Media kept operating after Hurricane Sandy wiped out power in the company’s headquarters.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report looks at an unusual Comcast SportsNet Chicago documentary which went to Cambodia to tell a compelling story.

Kurt Badenhausen from Forbes explains how ESPN is the cash engine that drives Disney.

Joe Levine of SportsGrid tells us that Fox NFL Sunday had some technical issues during one of its halftime updates.

Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age says Century 21 will return to advertising in the Super Bowl in February.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post doesn’t understand the bubble screen.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has NBC Sports Network’s college basketball announcing teams.

Don Laible talks with former WNBC-TV sports anchor Len Berman here and here.

Dave Zoren of the Delaware County Daily Times says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia and The Comcast Network team up for almost 70 college basketball games this season (scroll down).

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks about waking up with NFL AM.

The Charlotte Observer talks with CBS’ Jim Nantz.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times looks back at the weekend in sports television.

Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel says a fourth sports radio station launches in the local market today.

Christine Lee of NBC Dallas says ESPN is teaming up with the Irving Chamber of Commerce to attract businesses to the local area.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle has DirecTV’s CEO complaining about Comcast SportsNet Houston’s subscriber fees.

Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman reviews the TV productions of the Oklahoma and Oklahoma State games from Saturday.

John Vomhof, Jr. of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal says a Fox Sports North reporter is leaving for a similar position at Root Sports Pittsburgh.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post feels Dick Vitale is key to any college basketball season.

Patrick Finley of the Arizona Daily Star says the Pac-12 Conference will no longer have exposure issues now that with new TV contracts with ESPN, Fox, CBS and of course, the Pac-12 Network.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the SoCal sports calendar for this week.

Tom has the five things he learned from watching sports over the weekend.

Barry Petchesky of Deadspin notes that Minnesota Vikings QB Christan Ponder made a tongue-in-cheek comment about his girlfriend, ESPN’s Samantha Steele.

The Classic Sports TV and Media blog has a look at ABC’s Monday Night Football’s halftime highlights as narrated by the late, great Howard Cosell.

And that will do it for now.

College Football Viewing Picks For Week 11, 11/10/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule Courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live on board the USS San Diego — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 8:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 10 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Sunday)

noon
Louisville at Syracuse — ABC (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)
Miami at Virginia — ABC (Tom Hart/John Congemi)

Cincinnati at Temple — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Purdue at Iowa — Big Ten Network (Josh Lewin/Chris Martin/J Leman)

Arkansas at South Carolina — CBS (Tim Brando/Steve Beuerlein/Marty Snider)

William & Mary at Old Dominion — Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Houston/Mid-Atlantic/New England/Philadelphia)

Northwestern at Michigan — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Wisconsin at Indiana — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Niki Noto)
Army at Rutgers — ESPNU (Joe Beninati/Peter Najarian/George Smith)

Kansas at Texas Tech — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WLVI/KICU (Joe Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
St. Francis (PA) at Monmouth — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Paul Dottino/Steve Levy)
Southeast Missouri State at Eastern Illinois — Fox College Sports Pacific (Bob Belvin/Kevin Ingram)

Iowa State at Texas — Longhorn Network (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)/ABC (Iowa only) (Mark Neely/Ray Bentley)

Williams at Amherst — NESN (Tom Caron/Steve DeOssie/Katy Fitzpatrick)

Harvard at Penn — NBC Sports Network (Randy Moss/Ross Tucker/Marshall Harris)

Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. (Mike Morgan/Chris Doering)
Missouri at Tennessee — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. (Dave Ware/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

Princeton at Yale — YES

12:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech at North Carolina — ACC Network

Colgate at Lehigh — CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan/Todd Christensen/Evan Washburn)

1:30 p.m.
Colorado at Arizona — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)

3 p.m.
Oregon State at Stanford — Fox (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
Wake Forest at NC State — Fox Sports Net (regional) (North Plus/South/Southwest Plus/Prime Ticket)/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/NESN (Mike Hogewood/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)

Arizona State at USC — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

3:30 p.m.
Penn State at Nebraska — ABC/ESPN2 (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)
West Virginia at Oklahoma State — ABC/ESPN2 (Dave Lamont/Kelly Stouffer)

Minnesota at Illinois — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/Jon Jansen)

Texas A&M at Missouri — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)

Maryland at Clemson — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)

Baylor at Oklahoma — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Pacific/WLVI/WMCN/WDCA/KICU (Steve Physioc/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
South Dakota State at North Dakota State — Fox College Sports Central (Brian Shawn/Lee Timmerman/Kevin Feeney)

Air Force at San Diego State — NBC Sports Network (Ari Wolfe/Blaine Fowler)

Portland State at Montana State — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

5 p.m.
Tulsa at Houston — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Aaron Talor/Lauren Gardner)

7 p.m.
Mississippi State at LSU — ESPN (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)
Georgia at Auburn — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Allison Williams)
Vanderbilt at Mississippi — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Angela Mallen)

Kansas State at TCU — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
Southern Mississippi at SMU — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central (Ron Thulin/Dave Lapham/Desmond Purnell)
Central Florida at UTEP — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Mike Gleason/Ben Leber/Lesley McCaslin)

Louisiana Tech at Texas State — Longhorn Network (Dave Armstrong/Ray Bentley — 2 games in one day!)

Hawaii at Boise State — NBC Sports Network (Paul Bermeister/Rod Woodson)

8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Boston College — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

10:15 p.m.
Idaho at BYU — ESPNU (Joe Davis/Jay Walker)

10:30 p.m.
Oregon at Cal — ESPN (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Samantha Steele)
UCLA at Washington State — ESPN2 (Adam Amin/Tom Luginbill/Shelley Smith)

Utah at Washington — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

College Football Viewing Picks for Week 10, 11/03/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from Baton Rouge, LA — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
Fox College Football Saturday — Fox, 2 p.m.
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 10 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Sunday)
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 1 a.m. (Sunday) TURN BACK YOUR CLOCKS!!!!

Noon
Oklahoma State at Iowa State — ABC (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
Temple at Louisville — ABC (Dave Lamont/Kelly Stouffer)

Syracuse at Cincinnati — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Michigan at Minnesota — Big Ten Network

Air Force at Army — CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden/Randy Cross/Cadet Ted Kostich)

Texas at Mississippi State — ESPN (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)
Missouri at Florida — ESPN2/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Vanderbilt at Kentucky — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Allison Williams)

Houston at East Carolina — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/KICU (Rod Thulin/Dave Lapham/Desmond Purnell)
Troy at Tennessee — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Bob Rathbun/Tim Couch/Elizabeth Moreau)
Tennessee State at Murray State — Fox College Sports Pacific

Towson at Delaware — NBC Sports Network (Ari Wolfe/Anthony Herron/Carolyn Manno)

Tulsa at Arkansas — SEC Network (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Arkansas — ACC Network
Virginia at North Carolina State — ACC Network

Lehigh at Holy Cross — Fox College Sports Atlantic

New Mexico State at Auburn — CSS (Matt Stewart/Chris Doering/Angela Mallen)

Yale at Brown — YES

2 p.m.
Stanford at Colorado — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)

3 p.m.
TCU at West Virginia — Fox (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)

Washington State at Utah — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

3:30 p.m.
Nebraska at Michigan State — ABC/ESPN2 (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)
Texas at Texas Tech — ABC/ESPN2 (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)

Iowa at Indiana — Big Ten Network

Mississippi at Georgia — CBS (Tim Brando/Steve Beuerlein/Marty Snider)
Florida Atlantic at Navy — CBS Sports Network (Grant Boone/Todd Christensen/Sheehan Stanwich Burch)

James Madison at Maine — Comcast SportsNet (California/Houston/Mid-Atlantic/New England/Philadelphia)

Illinois at Ohio State — ESPN (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Lewis Johnson)
Penn State at Purdue — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)

Kansas at Baylor — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WDCA/WMCN/KICU) (Steve Physioc/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Boston College at Wake Forest — Fox Sports Net (regional)/NESN (Rich Waltz/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)
Duquense at Robert Morris — Fox College Sports Pacific

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame — NBC (Dan Hicks/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan)

Montana at Weber State — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain/Audience Network (DirecTV)

4 p.m.
Texas-San Antonio at Louisiana Tech — ESPN Plus (Trey Bender/Jay Taylor)

7 p.m.
SMU at Central Florida — CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan/Corey Chavous/Evan Washburn)

UAB at Southern Mississippi — CSS

Clemson at Duke — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Jessica Mendoza)
UConn at South Florida — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)

Oregon at USC — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)

Montana State at Sacramento State — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

8 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Kansas State — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

Alabama at LSU — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)

10:30 p.m.
San Diego State at Boise State — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Aaron Taylor/Lauren Gardner)

Arizona State at Oregon State — ESPN2 (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Tom Luginbill)

Arizona at UCLA — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

College Football Viewing Picks For Week 9, 10/27/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from Norman, OK — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
Big Ten Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
Fox College Football Preview Show — Fox Sports Net, 11:30 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
Pac-12 Football Pregame Show — Pac-12 Network, 2 p.m.
College Football Countdown — ABC, 3 p.m.
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
BTN Football Gamebreak 2012 — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 3 p.m.
ESPN Goal Line — ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
SEC Tonight — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 7 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 7 p.m.
Pac-12 Football Postgame Report — Pac-12 Network, 9:45 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, midnight
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, midnight
College Football Final — ESPN2, 12:30 a.m. (Sunday)
Pac-12 Football Postgame Report — Pac-12 Network, 1:45 a.m. (Sunday)

noon
Temple at Pittsburgh — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Indiana at Illinois — Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler/Chris Martin/Jon Jansen)

Ball State at Army — CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden/Randy Cross/Cadet Geoff Easteling)

Tennessee at South Carolina — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Iowa at Northwestern — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Lewis Johnson)
Kentucky at Missouri — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Northern Illinois at Western Michigan — ESPN Plus (Michael Reghi/Doug Graber)

Texas at Kansas — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WLVI/KICU (Ron Thulin/Dave Lapham/Desmond Purnell)
Eastern Illinois at Eastern Kentucky — Fox College Sports Pacific (Bob Melvin/Kevin Ingram)

Delaware at Old Dominion — NBC Sports Network

Mississippi at Arkansas — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. kickoff (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
NC State at North Carolina — ACC Network

Yale at Columbia — YES

1 p.m.
Southern Mississippi at Rice — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Chicago/Houston/Philadelphia)

3 p.m.
UCLA at Arizona State — FX (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
BYU at Georgia Tech — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Rich Waltz/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)

Colorado at Oregon — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

3:30 p.m.
Michigan State at Wisconsin — ABC/ESPN2 (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
USC at Arizona — ABC/ESPN2 (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Maria Taylor)

Kent State at Rutgers — Big East Network (Mike Corey/Rene Ingoglia)

Purdue at Minnesota — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Drerek Rackley/J Leman)

Florida vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, FL — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
Boise State at Wyoming — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Todd Christensen/Lauren Gardner)

Towson at Villanova — Comcast SportsNet (Mid-Atlantic/Philadelphia)

Duke at Florida State — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins/Tom Luginbill)

Texas Tech at at Kansas State — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
TCU at Oklahoma State — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Pacific/WMCN/WDCA/KICU (Joel Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Navy at East Carolina — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Adam Alexander/Gary Reasons/Lesley McCaslin)
Southern Illinois at North Dakota State — Fox College Sports Central (Brian Shawn/Lee Timmerman/Kevin Feeney)

Idaho State at Montana — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

4:30 p.m.
UTEP at Houston — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Houston)

5 p.m.
Illinois State at Northern Iowa — Comcast SportsNet Chicago
Harvard at Dartmouth — Comcast SportsNet New England

5:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Penn State — ESPN (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kussenich)

6:15 p.m.
Washington State at Stanford — Pac-12 Network (Rich Cellini/Rick Neuheisel/Curtis Conway/Jeremy Bloom)

7 p.m.
Texas A&M at Auburn — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Alison Williams)

Baylor at Iowa State — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Pacific (Mike Morgan/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
UMass at Vanderbilt — Fox Sports Net (regional)/NESN (Bob Rathbun/Tim Couch/Elizabeth Moreau)

8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Oklahoma — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

Central Florida at Marshall — CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan/Corey Chavous/Evan Washburn)

Michigan at Nebraska — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Jessica Mendoza)

8:30 p.m.
Mississippi State at Alabama — ESPN (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)

9:45 p.m.
Cal at Utah — Pac-12 Networks (Bay Area/Mountain) (Ron Pitts/Kelly Stouffer)

10:15 p.m.
Oregon State at Washington — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

College Football Viewing Picks For Week 8, 10/20/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from Gainesville, FL — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 6 p.m.
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 6:30 p.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 7:30 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 11 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Saturday)

noon
Purdue at Ohio State — ABC/ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Lewis Johnson)
Virginia Tech at Clemson — ABC/ESPN2 (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)

Rutgers at Temple — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

New Hampshire at Maine — Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Mid-Atlantic/New England/Philadelphia)

LSU at Texas A&M — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Minnesota at Wisconsin — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Northern Arizona at Akron — ESPN Plus (Michael Reghi/Doug Graber)

Iowa State at Oklahoma State — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)
Tennessee State at Jacksonville State — Fox College Sports Pacific (Bob Belvin/Kevin Ingram)

Penn at Yale — NBC Sports Network (Randy Moss/Ross Tucker/Kelli Johnson)

Auburn at Vanderbilt — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. kickoff (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
Wake Forest at Virginia — ACC Network

3 p.m.
Stanford at Cal — Fox (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
Boston College at Georgia Tech — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Paul Kennedy/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)

3:30 p.m.
Nebraska at Northwestern — ABC/ESPN2 (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)
South Florida at Louisville — ABC (Mark Neely/Ray Bentley)
Texas Tech at TCU — ABC/ESPN2 (Dave Lamont/Kelly Stouffer)

Michigan State at Michigan — Big Ten Network (Matt Devlin/Glen Mason/J Leman)

South Carolina at Florida — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
Indiana at Navy — CBS Sports Network (Grant Boone/Todd Christensen/Sheehan Stanwick Burch)

James Madison at Richmond — Comcast SportsNet (Chicago/Mid-Atlantic/Philadelphia)

NC State at Maryland — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)
Pittsburgh at Buffalo — ESPN Plus (Bob Picozzi/Chris Doering)

Rice at Tulsa — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WDCA/KICU (Mike Morgan/JC Pearson/Laura McKeenan)

BYU at Notre Dame — NBC (Tom Hammond/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan)
UNLV at Boise State — NBC Sports Network (Paul Burmeister/Rod Woodson/Anthony Herron)

Montana at North Dakota — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)

6 p.m.
Colorado at USC — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

7 p.m.
Marshall at Southern Mississippi — CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan/Steve Beuerlein/Evan Washburn)

Alabama at Tennessee — ESPN (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)
Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Jessica Mendoza)
North Carolina at Duke — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Allison Williams)
Idaho at Louisiana Tech — ESPN Plus (Trey Bender/Jay Taylor)

Kansas State at West Virginia — Fox/Fox Deportes (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
Kansas at Oklahoma — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central (Joel Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Georgia at Kentucky — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Bob Rathbun/Tim Couch/Elizabeth Moreau)
East Carolina at UAB — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Steve Physioc/Ben Leber/Lesley McCann)

New Mexico at Air Force — Root Sports Rocky Mountain

8 p.m.
Baylor at Texas — ABC (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)
Florida State at Miami — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

Penn State at Iowa — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/Jon Jansen)

Central Florida at Memphis — CSS

10 p.m.
Washington at Arizona — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

10:30 p.m.
San Diego State at Nevada — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Aaron Taylor/Lauren Gardner)

Utah at Oregon State — ESPN2 (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Shannon Spake)
South Carolina State at Florida A&M — ESPNU (Joe Davis/Jay Walker) (same day coverage)

Wyoming at Fresno State — Time Warner SportsNet/Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area)

College Viewing Picks For Week 7, 10/13/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from South Bend, IN — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
College Football Uncut-Auburn — CBS, 2 p.m.
College Football Uncut-South Carolina — CBS, 2:30 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 2:30 p.m.
Onward Notre Dame: South Bend to Soldier Field — NBC, 2:30 p.m.
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN/ESPN2, 3 p.m.
ESPN Goal Line — ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 6;30 p.m.
SEC Tonight — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 7 p.m.
College Football Central — NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m.
BTN Football Gamebreak 2012 — Big Ten Network, 7:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 8:30 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, 11 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, midnight

11 a.m.
Louisville at Pittsburgh — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)

noon
Oklahoma vs. Texas at Dallas, TX — ABC (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)

Syracuse at Rutgers — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Wisconsin at Purdue — Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler/Chris Martin/Jon Jansen)

Kent State at Army — CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden/Randy Cross/Cadet Ally McKearn)

Richmond at New Hampshire — Comcast SportsNet (Mid-Atlantic/New England/Philadelphia)

Iowa at Michigan State — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Northwestern at Minnesota — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Heather Mitts)

Kansas State at Iowa State — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)
UAB at Houston — Fox Sports Net/Fox College Sports Central/WLVI/KICU (Ron Thulin/Shaun King/Desmond Purnell)

Brown at Princeton — NBC Sports Network (Randy Moss/Ross Tucker/Carolyn Manno)

Auburn at Mississippi — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. kickoff (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
Duke at Virginia Tech — ACC Network

1 p.m.
SMU at Tulane — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area Plus/Houston)

2 p.m.
Lindsey Wilson at Campbellsville — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Jim Tirey/Brian Rive)

2:30 p.m.
North Carolina at Miami (FL) — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)

3 p.m.
Utah at UCLA — Fox/Fox Deportes (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
Maryland at Virginia — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Paul Kennedy/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)

3:30 p.m.
Illinois at Michigan — ABC/ESPN (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Lewis Johnson)
Oregon State at BYU — ABC (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
West Virginia at Texas Tech — ABC/ESPN (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kussenich)

Alabama at Missouri — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
Bucknell at Harvard — CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan/Todd Christensen/Evan Washburn)

William & Mary at James Madison — Comcast SportsNet (California/Mid-Atlantic Plus/The Comcast Network)

Oklahoma State at Kansas — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WDCA/KICU (Joel Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Texas-San Antonio at Rice — Fox College Sports Pacific (Adam Alexander/Dave Lapham/Lesley McCaslin)

Stanford at Notre Dame — NBC (Tom Hammond/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan)
Fresno State at Boise State — NBC Sports Network (Paul Burmeister/Rod Woodson/Anthony Herron)

Eastern Washington at Montana State — Audience Network (DirecTV)/Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)

4:30 p.m.
Memphis at East Carolina — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area Plus/Houston/Northwest)

5:30 p.m.
Boston College at Florida State — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Maria Taylor)

6 p.m.
Florida at Vanderbilt — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Tom Luginbill)

7 p.m.
USC at Washington — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
TCU at Baylor — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central (Mike Morgan/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
Kentucky at Arkansas — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Bob Rathbun/Tim Couch/Elizabeth Moreau)

Air Force at Wyoming — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)

8 p.m.
Ohio State at Indiana — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/J Leman)

Southern Mississippi at Central Florida — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Aaron Taylor/Lauren Gardner)

South Carolina at LSU — ESPN (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

9 p.m.
Tennessee at Mississippi State — ESPN2 (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Allison Williams)
Texas A&M vs. Louisiana Tech at Shreveport, LA — ESPNU (Joe Davis/Kelly Stouffer)

10:30 p.m.
Cal at Washington State — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

midnight
New Mexico at Hawaii — Root Sports Rocky Mountain

College Football Viewing Picks For Week 6, 10/06/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from Columbia, SC — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
College Football Countdown — ABC, 3 p.m.
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN/ESPN2, 3 p.m.
BTN Football Gamebreak — Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN/ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.
Fox College Saturday — Fox, 6:30 p.m.
BTN Football Postgame — Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
SEC Tonight — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 7 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Sunday)

11:30 a.m.
Navy at Air Force — CBS (Spero Dedes/Steve Beuerlein/Otis Livingston)

noon
South Florida at Temple — Big East Network (Eamon McEnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Michigan State at Indiana — Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler/Chris Martin/Jon Jansen)

Boston College at Army — CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden/Randy Cross/Cadet Tommy Busterud)

Northwestern at Penn State — ESPN/ESPN 3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Arkansas at Auburn — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Tom Luginbill)
UConn at Rutgers — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Buffalo at Ohio — ESPN Plus/ESPN3 (Michael Reghi/Doug Graber)

Kansas at Kansas State — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)
Boise State at Southern Mississippi — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WLVI/KICU (Joel Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Albany at Bryant — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Cox Sports RI/Time Warner Cable Albany (Paul Dottino/Steve Levy)

Mississippi State at Kentucky — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. kickoff (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech at North Carolina — ACC Network

1 p.m.
Towson at James Madison — NBC Sports Network (Randy Moss/Anthony Herron/Carolyn Manno)

3 p.m.
Arizona at Stanford — Fox/Fox Deportes (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)
Virginia at Duke — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Paul Kennedy/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)

3:30 p.m.
Illinois at Wisconsin — ABC/ESPN2 (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)
Oklahoma at Texas Tech — ABC/ESPN2 (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)

LSU at Florida — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
Tulsa at Marshall — CBS Sports Network (Brad Johansen/Doug Chapman/Tammy Blackburn)

Maine at Delaware — Comcast SportsNet (California/Chicago/Mid-Atlantic Plus/New England/Northwest/Philadelphia)

Georgia Tech at Clemson — ESPN (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
Wake Forest at Maryland — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)

Iowa State at TCU — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Pacific/WDCA/KICU (Mike Morgan/JC Morgan/Laura McKeeman)

Montana at Northern Colorado — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain/Audience Network (DirecTV)

4 p.m.
Michigan at Purdue — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/J Leman)

6 p.m.
Washington State at Oregon State — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

7 p.m.
North Texas at Houston — CSS/Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area Plus/Chicago/Houston/Mid-Atlantic)

Georgia at South Carolina — ESPN (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)
Texas A&M at Mississippi — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Angela Mallen)
UNLV at Louisiana Tech — ESPN Plus/ESPN3 (Trey Bender/Jay Taylor)

West Virginia at Texas — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)
Vanderbilt at Missouri — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Bob Rathbun/Tim Couch/Elizabeth Moreau)
Rice at Memphis — Fox College Sports Central (Steve Physioc/Ben Leber/Lesley McCaslin)

Montana State at Cal Davis — Root Sports (Northwest/Pittsburgh/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

7:30 p.m.
Miami (FL) vs. Notre Dame in Chicago, IL — NBC (Tom Hammond/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan)

8 p.m.
Nebraska at Ohio State — ABC (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)

Hawaii at San Diego State — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Todd Christensen/Lauren Gardner)

Florida State at North Carolina State — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Shelley Smith)

10 p.m.
UCLA at Cal — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

10:30 p.m.
Washington at Oregon — ESPN (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Lewis Johnson)
Southern at Alcorn State — ESPNU (Joe Davis/Jay Walker) (same day coverage)

College Football Viewing Picks For Week 5, 09/29/2012, All Times Eastern

Schedule Courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Pregame & Studio Shows
College GameDay live from East Lansing, MI — ESPNU, 9 a.m./ESPN, 10 a.m.
BTN Football Pregame — Big Ten Network, 11 a.m.
ACC Blitz — ACC Network, noon
College Football Countdown — ABC, 3 p.m.
BTN Football Gamebreak 2012 — Big Ten Network, 3 p.m.
College Football Today — CBS, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 3 p.m.
College Football Scoreboard — ESPN2, 6;30 p.m.
SEC Tonight — CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
Inside College Football — CBS Sports Network, 11:30 p.m.
The Final Drive — Big Ten Network, midnight
College Football Final — ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (Saturday)

noon
Buffalo at UConn — Big East Network (Eamon McAnaney/David Diaz-Infante/Paul Carcaterra)

Indiana at Northwestern — Big Ten Network (Kevin Kugler/Chris Martin/Jon Janesen)

Stony Brook at Army — CBS Sports Network (Ben Holden/Randy Cross/Cadet Linc Bradham)

Penn State at Illinois — ESPN/ESPN3D (Dave Pasch/Brian Griese/Jenn Brown)
Minnesota at Iowa — ESPN2 (Beth Mowins/Joey Galloway/Lewis Johnson)
NC State at Miami (Florida) — ESPNU (Tom Hart/John Congemi)
Ball State at Kent State — ESPN Plus/CSS (Michael Reghi/Doug Graber)

Baylor at West Virginia — FX (Justin Kutcher/Eric Crouch/Darius Walker)
Missouri at Central Florida — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Central/WLVI/KICU (Ron Thulin/Shaun King/Desmond Purnell)
Middle Tennessee State at Georgia Tech — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Mike Hogewood/Riley Skinner/Elizabeth Moreau)
Central Connecticut Stat at Sacred Heart — Fox College Sports Atlantic (Paul Dottino/Steve Levy)
Eastern Kentucky at Tennessee-Martin — Fox College Sports Pacific (Kevin Ingram/Bob Belvin)

Penn at Dartmouth — NBC Sports Network (Randy Moss/Ross Tucker/Carolyn Manno)

Arkansas at Texas A&M — SEC Network, 12:21 p.m. kickoff (Dave Neal/Andre Ware/Cara Capuano)

12:30 p.m.
Duke at Wake Forest — ACC Network

2 p.m.
Nevada at Texas State — Longhorn Network (Dave Armstrong/Kelly Stouffer)

3:15 p.m.
Marshall at Purdue — Big Ten Network (Eric Collins/Derek Rackley/J Leman)

3:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Michigan State — ABC (Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Heather Cox)

Tennessee at Georgia — CBS (Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson/Tracy Wolfson)
San Jose State at Navy — CBS Sports Network (Grant Boone/Todd Christensen/Sheehan Stanwick Burch)

Clemson at Boston College — ESPN2 (Bob Wischusen/Danny Kanell/Maria Taylor)
Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati at Landover, MD — ESPNU (Anish Shroff/Dan Hawkins)
URI at Bowling Green — ESPN3 (Greg Franke/Tom Cole)

Houston vs. Rice (at Reliant Stadium) — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Atlantic/WMCN/WDCA/KICU (Mike Morgan/JC Pearson/Laura McKeeman)
Idaho at North Carolina — Fox Sports Net (regional) (Paul Kennedy/Keith Jones/Jenn Hildreth)
West Chester at California (PA) — Fox College Sports Pacific (Stan Savern/John Sanders)

Atlanta Football Classic
Florida A&M vs. Southern — NBC Sports Network (James Verrett/Anthony Herron/Rashan Ali)

Montana State at Southern Utah — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

4 p.m.
Arizona State at Cal — FX (Craig Bolerjack/Joel Klatt/Petros Papadakis)

6 p.m.
Florida State at South Florida — ESPN (Sean McDonough/Chris Spielman/Quint Kessenich)

UCLA at Colorado — Pac-12 Network (Ted Robinson/Adam Archuleta/Yogi Roth)

7 p.m.
Georgia State at William & Mary — Comcast SportsNet (Bay Area/Chicago/Mid-Atlantic/Northwest)/CSS

South Carolina at Kentucky — ESPN2 (Mike Patrick/Ed Cunningham/Jeannine Edwards)
Towson at LSU — ESPNU (Clay Matvick/Matt Stinchcomb/Allison Williams)

TCU at SMU — Fox Sports Net (national)/Fox College Sports Atlantic (Joel Myers/Brian Baldinger/Jim Knox)
Texas Tech at Iowa State — Fox College Sports Central (Mike Gleason/Dave Lapham/Lesley McCaslin)

Montana at Eastern Washington — Root Sports (Northwest/Rocky Mountain)/Audience Network (DirecTV)

7:50 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma State — Fox (Gus Johnson/Charles Davis/Julie Alexandria)

8 p.m.
Wisconsin at Nebraska — ABC (Brad Nessler/Todd Blackledge/Holly Rowe)

Louisville at Southern Mississippi — CBS Sports Network (James Bates/Aaron Taylor/Lauren Gardner)

9:15 p.m.
Mississippi at Alabama — ESPN (Joe Tessitore/Matt Millen/Jessica Mendoza)

10 p.m.
Oregon State at Arizona — Pac-12 Network (Kevin Calabro/Glenn Parker/Ryan Nece)

10:30 p.m.
Oregon vs. Washington State at Seattle, WA — ESPN2 (Mark Jones/Brock Huard/Shelley Smith)
Grambling State at Alabama A&M — ESPNU (Joe Davis/Jay Walker) (same night coverage)

Attempting A Friday Megalink Post

This week has been hellish for me and I apologize for not being able to post as much as I would like. I’ve been away from my computer for most of the day and by the time I get home, I’m tired and don’t want to update the blog.

Well, with me already done my errands for today, I’ll give you some linkage that has been seriously lacking this week.

Of course, there’s the Weekend Viewing Picks which you can peruse.

National

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Jim Rome is hoping to make a splash as he prepares to launch his new daily show on CBS Sports Network.

Reid Cherner of USA Today’s Game On! blog says perpetually angry ESPN college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb is throwing his hat into the Kansas State coaching ring.

The Associated Press was on hand to witness Root Sports Northwest’s production of the Seattle Mariners-Oakland A’s regular season openers in Japan without actually traveling to the Far East.

Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim has more thoughts on the numerous conflicts of interest in tennis broadcasting.

Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has Fox Sports’ statement on its carriage dispute with Time Warner Cable over Fox Sports San Diego.

John profiles legendary sports television producer Don Ohlmeyer.

Around the Rings has the press release regarding the European Broadcasting Union obtaining the rights to the World Cups in 2018 and 2022.

ESPN Ombudsman Jason Fry of the Poynter Institute says college basketball analyst Bob Knight should not be allowed to live by his own rules when he’s on TV.

Scott Soshnick and Steven Church of Bloomberg Businessweek says the Los Angeles Dodgers sale was sparked by media rights.

Alex Ben Block of the Hollywood Reporter says former Sony Pictures head Peter Gruber who’s part of the new Los Angeles Dodgers ownership group could bring a new attitude towards marketing the team.

Jon Lafayette of Broadcasting & Cable has Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott calling rights fees for college football are undervalued.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says NESN National is being launched in Indianapolis.

Tim Nudd at Adweek says Chrysler is unveiling four new follow ups to its “Halftime in America” Super Bowl spots during various events this weekend including the NCAA Final Four and Mad Men.

Adweek’s Mike Shields writes ESPN.com is partaking in Facebook’s Open Graph, but with some restrictions.

Jason Del Ray at Advertising Age notes that CBS/Turner brought in its highest sales revenue ever for March Madness Live.

Ronnie Ramos at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says March Madness has been enhanced by social media and the digital experience.

The Brothers Yoder at Awful Announcing cast the upcoming Anchorman sequel using ESPN’ers. This is good.

Ben Koo at AA is not a huge fan of the overhead shots employed by CBS/Turner for the NCAA Tournament.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid says the Los Angeles Times feels there’s one person who could spoil the new ownership for the Dodgers.

Ahmed Yussuf at EPL Talk gives a first-hand account of following the English Premier League from Australia.

Sports Media Watch says last weekend’s rain-shortened NASCAR on Fox event did not do well in the ratings.

Joe Favorito asks if ‘The Hunger Games” could give archery a boost in time for this summer’s Olympics.

Jason McIntyre at The Big Lead reports that Joe Posnanski is leaving Sports Illustrated.

Ty Duffy at The Big Lead says the potential Fox cable sports network may not knock down ESPN, but could give it a run for its money.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks about two rival Hollywood agencies representing Tim Tebow simultaneously.

Bob’s Blitz says WFAN’s Craig Carton browbeat former Tiger Woods swing coach Hank Haney to the point where he hung up.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group says CBS returns to New Orleans where it began its Final Four journey 30 years ago.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says ESPN MLB analyst Curt Schilling is facing hypocrisy calls after he criticized his former Red Sox team this week.

Chad adds some thoughts on Schilling and on NESN’s Jenny Dell that didn’t make his column.

Bruce Allen of Boston Sports Media Watch writes in SB Nation that a Tiger Woods in contention is good for The Masters^® and its TV partners.

Bob Tedeschi of the New York Times reviews this year’s edition of the MLB At-Bat app.

Richard Sandomir from the Times examines the Dodgers sale.

Anthony Riemer of Newsday looks at Jeremy Lin’s lunch with the sacked ESPN.com editor who unwittingly made a racial slur last month.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels Fox Sports’ Jimmy Johnson should not be advocating violence. I don’t think he did, Phil, but continue to hate everything, ok?

Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for former Tennessee and current Sirius XM analyst Bruce Pearl on the Final Four.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty has the ESPN MAC football schedule.

Pete has CBS excited about this year’s Final Four.

Jane Kwiatkowski of the Buffalo News says this is a tough time for the local TV sportscast.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call looks at a local PBS documentary on the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Laura Nachman says Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is ready for Phillies baseball.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the Fox sitcom “Raising Hope” gave another of many Capitals references.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with MLB Network’s Mitch “Wildi Thing” Williams.

South

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle writes that the Houston Open should be helped by a lot of interesting storylines.

David says Jim Rome is getting ready for his CBS Sports Network closeup.

David writes that Texans running back Arian Foster is taking his show to the team’s radio flagship station.

In The Oklahoman, Mel Bracht has ESPN’s MLB analysts predicting the upcoming season.

Mel says there will be plenty of baseball available in the Oklahoma City market.

Mel reports a local radio station has flipped to being a full-time ESPN Radio affiliate.

Mel writes that a local radio sports director has been laid off thanks to Clear Channel.

Midwest

Elton Alexander of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer says New Orleans has provided CBS with plenty of Final Four excitement.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a local TV station plans to ride the Kentucky train for as long as possible.

John says a couple of long-time local radio veterans got the ax due to Clear Channel cost cutting.

John writes that a radio documentary on late Cincinnati Reds voice Waite Hoyt airs this weekend.

The Indianapolis Star says Butler coach Brad Stevens will be a guest analyst for CBS on the Final Four.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the Brewers have extended their radio rights deal with their long-time flagship station.

Bob says a local sportscaster is back to work after a long illness.

Bob tells us that Marquette coach Buzz Williams will also be a guest analyst on CBS this weekend.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes that CBS loves New Orleans at Final Four time.

Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says 20 Cardinals games won’t be seen by AT&T U-Verse subscribers this season.

Dan writes that the defending champions Cardinals will be in the national spotlight quite a few times this season.

West

Jay Posner at the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that Fox Sports San Diego is not optimistic of getting a deal with two cable providers in time for Padres opening day.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star has ESPN’s MLB analysts praising Magic Johnson’s presence with the Dodgers.

Jim was surprised that Kentucky-Louisville wasn’t the nightcap for the Final Four.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says Lakers fans are enjoying having guest analysts on radio broadcasts this season.

Tom talks with Jim Rome about his CBS Sports Network show.

Tom has more on Rome in his blog.

Canada

The usually uninformed Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says CBC Sports appears to be rudderless as it heads into a new NHL negotiation.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has the viewership numbers for Canadian sports television from last week.

And that will conclude the megalinks.

MLB Network To Air Japan Opening Series on Tape Delay

Later this month, the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland A’s will play the 2012 regular season opening series in Japan. MLB Network will air the two games on March 28 and 29 on tape delay. The games will air at 9 a.m. ET both days and MLB Network will pick up the Root Sports Northwest feed. Dave Sims will be calling the games off a monitor in the Root Sports studios.

As a result, MLB Network’s feed will be blacked out in the Northwest, however, because Comcast SportsNet California is not airing the games in the Bay Area, MLB Network will be seen in the A’s home region. We have the press release from MLB Network for you.

MLB NETWORK TO AIR JAPAN OPENING SERIES 2012 FEATURING THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS AND SEATTLE MARINERS

Secaucus, N.J., March 22, 2012 – MLB Network will televise Japan Opening Series 2012, Major League Baseball’s season-opening series, on March 28 and 29. The two-game set will be played between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners at the Tokyo Dome.

MLB Network will televise both contests on tape delay, with the first game airing on Wednesday, March 28 at 9:00 a.m. ET/6:00 a.m. PT and the second game on Thursday, March 29 at 9:00 a.m. ET/6:00 a.m. PT. In addition, each game will re-air the same day at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. MLB Network will televise ROOT Sports’ feed of both games, which will be available on MLB Network in the Athletics’ home television territory. The games will be blacked out on MLB Network in the Mariners’ home television territory.

Japan Opening Series 2012 will mark the fourth time Major League Baseball will open its season in Tokyo, Japan and the first time since the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics played at the Tokyo Dome in 2008.

That’s all.

College Basketball Viewing Picks for 02/04 & 02/05/2012, All Times Eastern

Men’s Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports on TV

Saturday, February 4

College GameDay live from Columbia, MO — ESPNU, 10 a.m./ESPN, 11 a.m./ESPN, 8 p.m.

11 a.m.
South Florida at Georgetown — ESPNU

noon
LaSalle at St. Joseph – A-10 Network: CSS/The Comcast Network
Seton Hall at UConn — Big East Network: Bright House/MASN/SNY
Syracuse at St. John’s — ESPN
Detroit at Butler — ESPN2

1 p.m.
Virginia at Florida State — ACC Network
Wake Forest at North Carolina State — ACC Network
Marquette at Notre Dame — CBS
Vanderbilt at Florida — CBS
Boston College at Georgia Tech — ESPNU
Xavier at Memphis — Fox Sports Net (national)

Women’s: St. Joseph’s at Richmond — CBS Sports Network

1:30 p.m.
Baylor at Oklahoma State — Big 12 Network
Arkansas at LSU — SEC Network

2 p.m.
Delaware at James Madison — CSS/The Comcast Network
Ohio State at Wisconsin — ESPN
Temple at URI — ESPN2

Women’s: Providence at Villanova — Big East Network: Comcast SportsNet New England/SNY

3 p.m.
Penn State at Iowa — ESPNU
Arizona at Stanford — Fox Sports Net (national)

Women’s: San Diego State at TCU — CBS Sports Network

4 p.m.
Rutgers at Louisville — Big East Network: Bright House/MASN/SNY
Texas A&M at Kansas State — Big 12 Network
Clemson at Virginia Tech — Fox Sports Net: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus/Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports North Plus/Fox Sports South/NESN
New Mexico at Boise State — NBC Sports Network
Auburn at Mississippi State — SEC Network
UNLV at Wyoming — the mtn.

5 p.m.
Air Force at Colorado State — CBS Sports Network
Old Dominion at George Mason — ESPNU
UCLA at Washington State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Root Sports Northwest
Creighton at Northern Iowa — Fox College Sports Central/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Midwest

Women’s: Central Florida at Memphis — Fox Sports Net (national)

6 p.m.
Kentucky at South Carolina — ESPN
Iowa at Oklahoma — ESPN2

7 p.m.
DePaul at Cincinnati — Big East Network: Bright House/MASN/SNY
Indiana at Purdue — Big Ten Network
Northeastern at VCU — Comcast SportsNet New England/CSS/The Comcast Network
Richmond at Duquense — ESPNU
Texas Tech at Texas — Longhorn Network

Women’s: Wyoming at UNLV — the mtn.

8 p.m.
Mississippi at Alabama — ESPN2
South Alabama at Western Kentucky — Fox College Sports Atlantic
Georgia at Tennessee — Fox Sports Net: Fox Sports Houston/Fox Sports North Plus/Fox Sports South/Fox Sports Southwest

8:30 p.m.
Portland State at Northern Arizona — Fox College Sports Pacific

9 p.m.
Kansas at Missouri — ESPN
Cal-Santa Barbara at Cal State-Fullerton — ESPNU
Oregon at Cal — Fox College Sports Central/Root Sports Northwest

10 p.m.
BYU at Portland — BYU TV
Indiana State at Wichita State — ESPN2
TCU at San Diego State — the mtn.

11 p.m.
USC at Washington — Fox Sports Net (national)

Sunday, February 5

11 a.m.
Women’s: Dayton at Xavier — ESPNU

noon
West Virginia at Providence — Big East Network: Altitude/Bright House/Cox Sports RI/Cox Sports Television/CSS/MASN/SNY

Women’s: UTEP at Rice — Fox Sports Net (national)

1 p.m.
Minnesota at Nebraska — Big Ten Network
Michigan at Michigan State — CBS

Women’s: DePaul at Notre Dame — ESPNU
Women’s: Wake Forest at Boston College — Fox Sports Net (regional): Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Fox Sports Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports South/NESN

2 p.m.
Villanova at Pittsburgh — ESPN

Women’s: Missouri at Texas Tech — Fox Sports Net (national)
Women’s: Auburn at Tennessee — SEC Network

3 p.m.
Northwestern at Illinois — Big Ten Network
Miami (FL) at Duke — ESPNU

Women’s: Georgia at Alabama — Fox Sports Net (regional): Fox Sports Florida/SportSouth

4 p.m.
Women’s: Washington at USC — Fox Sports Net (national)

The Mighty Monday Links

I don’t know why they’re mighty, but they’re here. Let’s get to them.

USA Today’s Mike McCarthy looks at Super Bowl Media Day which will be covered from all angles on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Preston Bounds from Sports Business Daily lists the top 11 most marketable NFL players. Your humble blogger is quoted in the story.

At the Poynter Institute, Kelly McBride takes both the New York Times and Yale Daily News to task for their handling of the Patrick Witt alleged sexual assault story.

Michael O’Connell of the Hollywood Reporter writes that the NFL Pro Bowl gave NBC a Sunday primetime win over weak competition.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek notes that marketers and star players are for the most part, a winning combination.

Tim Nudd from Adweek looks at the advertiser rundown for Sunday’s Super Bowl on NBC.

Tim loves the extended Honda Ferris Bueller-themed Super Bowl ad.

Back to Crupi who delves into the April launch of Univision Deportes.

Adweek talks with Jim Rome about his move from ESPN to CBS.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times says social media campaigns can enhance and also detract from the Super Bowl viewing experience.

The Nielsen Wire blog looks at the spending trends for Super Bowl ads over the last five years.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group notes that NFL Network is gearing up for a very busy Super Bowl Week.

Patrick Burns of Deadspin breaks down ESPN SportsCenter’s coverage from last week.

At All Things Digital, Peter Kafka says it’s ESPN that’s weighing down your cable bill.

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe writes that NESN has made additions to its Red Sox broadcast team.

Here’s a rarity, Phil Mushnick of the New York Post giving praise and today he’s dishing it out to Knicks radio voice Spero Dedes.

Bob’s Blitz has caught WFAN’s Mike Francesa in a lie regarding his Super Bowl XLVII prediction.

From the Albany Times Union, Pete Dougherty notes that former Indianapolis Colts GM Bill Polian has signed with SiriusXM to co-host some radio shows.

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

Cleveland Plain-Dealer ombudsman Ted Diadun discusses the reassignment of Browns beat writer Tony Grossi after a private tweet about Browns owner Randy Lerner went public.

The Waiting for Next Year blog looks at the Plain-Dealer decision.

Also from the Plain-Dealer, Bill Lubinger writes about how local TV rights money is playing a huge role in baseball free agency signings.

Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post notes that MLB Network has plucked Root Sports’ Alana Rizzo for a national gig.

Tom Hoffarth at the Los Angeles Daily News has the sports calendar for this week.

Friend of Fang’s Bites Jackie Pepper is heading to the Super Bowl.

John Daly of the Daly Planet looks at NASCAR taking over operation of its website from Turner Sports.

John also looks at the future of NASCAR’s Nationwide Series on ESPN.

Sports Media Watch has the overnight ratings of the NHL All-Star Game and Australian Open finals.

Joe Lucia at Awful Announcing says UFC on Fox’s ratings may have gone down from its November debut, but they’re still good in the desired demographic.

That will do it.

Doing Some Friday Megalinks

With a rainy day in Southern New England, it’s time to provide you with some media links. Lots of them on a Friday.

You can check out the Weekend Viewing Picks for the sports and entertainment programming suggestions.

Now to the links.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with NBC’s Al Michaels about calling his 8th Super Bowl and 2nd for NBC.

Mike Ozanian from Forbes says NFL TV rightsholders will be able to reap financial benefits while non-rightsholders end up holding the bag.

Sam Mamudi of Marketwatch.com says you can follow along the USA Today Super Bowl Ad Meter results in real time thanks to a new Facebook app.

Michael O’Connell from the Hollywood Reporter has a sneak peek at some of the Super Bowls ads.

Kelly McBride of the ESPN Poynter Review Project looks at why ESPN made so much of Tim Tebow.

Alex Klein at Romanesko looks into why the Yale Daily News sat on a story for several months and how it took the New York Times to report on former quarterback Patrick Witt’s alleged sexual assault on campus. You may remember that Witt was a candidate to become a Rhodes Scholar but then skipped his interview. Now we know why.

Todd Spangler at Multichannel News says ESPN will let viewers see additional highlights and material from the Winter X Games via the Shazam mobile app.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel writes that NBC Sports Network goes into the NHL All-Star Weekend with increased ratings for the games.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Daily also has a story on the increased NHL ratings for NBC Sports Network.

Gabriel Beltrone from Adweek says Coke will have a Super Bowl microsite where its famous polar bears will react to the game and ads in real time.

David Gianatasio of Adweek writes one local Super Bowl spot will urge you to pee during its commercial.

E.J. Schultz at Advertising Age has Anheuser-Busch’s Super Bowl plans.

Matt Hardigree at Jalopnik says he’s solved the mystery behind the advertiser behind the Ferris Bueller-themed Super Bowl spot.

Adam Jacobi, the college football writer at CBSSports.com, who put the link to Onward State’s erroneous tweet about Joe Paterno’s death last Saturday has been fired. Jacobi says he understands the decision and has apologized to the Paterno family for his mistake.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group says NBC will take a lighter approach for Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

Harry A. Jessell at TV NewsCheck notes that while the national TV ratings for the NFL are good, go inside the local numbers and they’re even better.

ESPN PR man Bill Hofheimer gives you an inside look at the network’s Super Bowl studios in Indianapolis.

Sports Media Watch says college basketball ratings are up on both ESPN and ESPN2.

SMW has some news and notes on some various people in the sports media.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing goes into some of the on-screen typos on TV this week.

Jeff Pearlman gets vindication from Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.

Steven Crist from the Daily Racing Form feels returning the Breeders Cup to NBC can only help horse racing.

All Access says a Hartford, CT FM station has flipped to all-sports.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says NESN has selected the replacement for Heidi Watney on its Red Sox broadcasts.

Chad says of all of the local TV outlets, Comcast SportsNet New England will have the largest contingent covering the Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

Johnny Diaz from the Globe says Boston DirecTV subscribers will see the Super Bowl after all.

Bill Doyle from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks with NBC’s Rodney Harrison about Super Bowl XLII and how some present New England Patriots still remaining from the game want revenge.

Stuart Elliot at the New York Times says some Super Bowl advertisers are returning buyers.

Richard Sandomir of the Times has Joe Namath’s reaction to the HBO/NFL Films documentary on his career that premieres tomorrow.

Richard adds that Namath is right now estranged from his former team, the New York Jets.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post says the Namath documentary for the most part is good.

Justin Terranova of the Post speaks with NBC NHL charlatan Pierre McGuire.

Mike Silva at Sports Media Watchdog wonders why Kim Jones left YES.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says a local sports talk show will broadcast live from the Super Bowl next week.

Pete talks with the host of that talk show who also wears other hats in the Albany market.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says NYC residents will be able to hear the local and national radio calls of the Super Bowl next Sunday.

The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News notes the firing of a CBSSports.com writer for falsely reporting Joe Paterno’s death.

DCRTV’s Dave Hughes at Press Row has media notes from the Baltimore-DC area.

South

The Tallahassee (FL) Democrat writes that a local sports talk show host who left his former station this week will be back on the air at another station later this year.

Billy Cox of the Sarasota (FL) Herald Tribune says ESPN’s Dick Vitale will be the subject of a profile produced by ….. ESPN!

Josh Bowe of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says Fox Sports Southwest will stream Lone Star Conference football games and a highlight show over the internet.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with a retiring local sports anchor who looks back at the 2011 Texans rather fondly.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman reviews the HBO/NFL Films documentary on Joe Namath.

Mel says ESPNU will be all over National Signing Day.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer talks with former Bengal Artrell Hawkins who is now co-hosting Fox Sports Radio’s national morning show.

Jeff Moss of the Detroit Sports Rag looks into the new program director and on-air host of a local sports radio station.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Wisconsin sports teams did well in the national TV ratings last year.

Dan McGrath of the Chicago News Cooperative notes the 20 year anniversary of sports talk radio in the Windy City.

Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says new Minnesota Twins radio voice Cory Provus has big shoes to fill.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks with Bob Costas about returning to host his familiar town hall format next week.

West

Thomas Harding of MLB.com says Root Sports Rocky Mountain’s Alana Rizzo is leaving the network’s Colorado Rockies broadcast team and heading for MLB Network.

John Maffei at the North County Times says HBO’s documentary on Joe Namath is on par with previous efforts.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star also reviews the documentary.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with Kings radio analyst Daryl Evans and also lists his best/worst LA broadcast analysts.

Tom has more on Evans in his blog.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says it’s time to play the NHL All-Star Game outdoors.

And that will do it.

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 01/28 & 01/29/2012, All Times Eastern

Men’s schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports on TV

Saturday, January 28

College GameDay live from Tucson, AZ — ESPNU, 10 a.m./ESPN, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

11 a.m.
Ball State at Ohio — ESPNU

noon
Wake Forest at Clemson — ACC Network
Hofstra at Northeastern — Comcast SportsNet New England/MSG Plus/The Comcast Network
St. John’s at Duke — ESPN
Marquette at Villanova — ESPN2

Women’s: Notre Dame at St. John’s — Big East Network: MASN/Root Sports Pittsburgh/SNY

12:30 p.m.
Women’s: Kansas State at Oklahoma State — Fox Sports Net (national)

1 p.m.
Texas at Baylor — CBS
West Virginia at Syracuse — ESPNU
George Washington at Fordham — YES

Women’s: St. Bonaventure at LaSalle — CBS Sports Network

1:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Missouri — Big 12 Network
Arkansas at Alabama — SEC Network
Mississippi State at Florida — SEC Network

2 p.m.
St. Louis at UMass — A-10 Network: Comcast SportsNet New England/CSS
James Madison at George Mason — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
Delaware at Drexel — The Comcast Network

2:30 p.m.
Virginia Tech at Maryland — ACC Network

3 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at Morehead State — ESPNU
Tulsa at SMU — Fox Sports Net (national)

Women’s: Purdue at Iowa — Big Ten Network

3:30 p.m.
Wyoming at Boise State — the mtn.

4 p.m.
Oklahoma State at Texas Tech — Big 12 Network
William & Mary at Old Dominion — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet New England/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/CSS
Georgetown at Pittsburgh — ESPN
Purdue at Northwestern — ESPN2
Colorado at UCLA — Fox College Sports Pacific/Fox Sports Prime Ticket
San Diego State at Colorado State — NBC Sports Network
Kentucky at LSU — SEC Network

5 p.m.
Colgate at Holy Cross — CBS Sports Network
Northern Iowa at Illinois State — ESPNU
Washington State at Arizona State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Root Sports Northwest/Fox Sports Arizona

Women’s: Rice at Houston — Fox Sports Net (national)

5:30 p.m.
Women’s: Western Kentucky at Florida International — Fox College Sports Central

6 p.m.
Cincinnati at Rutgers — Big East Network: Altitude/Fox Sports Ohio/MASN/SNY
Auburn at Tennessee — ESPN2
TCU at New Mexico — the mtn.

7 p.m.
URI at Dayton — Cox Sports RI
Washington at Arizona — ESPN
Butler at Wisconsin-Green Bay — ESPNU
Xavier at Charlotte — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Ohio
South Carolina at Mississippi — Fox Sports Net (regional)

Women’s: Oregon at Oregon State — Fox Sports Net (national)

7:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky at Florida International — Fox College Sports Central

8 p.m.
Louisville at Seton Hall — Big East Network: MASN/SNY
Illinois at Minnesota — Big Ten Network
Virginia at NC State — ESPN2
UNLV at Air Force — the mtn.

9 p.m.
St. Mary’s at BYU — ESPNU
Wichita State at Drake — Fox College Sports Central/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Fox Sports Midwest

9:30 p.m.
Fresno State at New Mexico State — WAC Sports Network/Fox Sports Arizona Plus

10 p.m.
Hawaii at Idaho — ESPN Plus

11 p.m.
Cal State-Fullerton at Long Beach State — ESPNU
Utah at USC — Fox College Sports Pacific/Fox Sports Prime Ticket

Sunday, January 29

noon
Notre Dame at UConn — Big East Network: Altitude/Bright House/Cox Sports Television/MASN/SNY
New Hampshire at Vermont — CBS Sports Network

Women’s: Marshall at Tulane — Fox Sports Net (national)

1 p.m.
Miami (FL) at Boston College — ACC Network
Michigan at Ohio State — CBS

Women’s: Ohio State at Minnesota — Big Ten Network
Women’s: NC State at Virginia Tech — Fox Sports Net (regional)

1:30 p.m.
Women’s: Rutgers at Georgetown — ESPNU

2 p.m.
Women’s: Charlotte at Temple — CBS Sports Network
Women’s: Iowa State at Texas A&M — Fox Sports Net (national)
Women’s: Auburn at Mississippi — Fox Sports Net (regional)

3 p.m.
Women’s: Penn State at Michigan State — ESPN2

3:30 p.m.
Women’s: Florida State at Virginia — ESPNU

4 p.m.
Women’s: UCLA at Colorado — Fox Sports Net (national)

5 p.m.
Women’s: Tennessee at Georgia — ESPN2

6 p.m.
Iowa at Indiana — Big Ten Network
Georgia Tech at North Carolina — ESPNU

6:30 p.m.
Oregon State at Oregon — Fox Sports Net (national)

8 p.m.
Indiana State at Evansville — ESPNU

8:30 p.m.
Stanford at Cal — Fox Sports Net (national)

College Basketball Viewing Picks for 01/21 & 01/22/2012, All Times Eastern

Men’s Schedule Courtesy of Matt’s College Sports on TV

Saturday, January 21

College GameDay live from Pittsburgh, PA — ESPNU, 10 a.m./ESPN, 11 a.m./ESPN, 8 p.m.

11 a.m.
Maryland at Temple — ESPNU

noon
Fordham at St. Bonaventure — A-10 Network: Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/CSS/The Comcast Network
Wake Forest at Boston College — ACC Network
Rutgers at Georgetown — Big East Network: Bright House/Cox Sports Television/MASN/SNY
Alabama at Kentucky — CBS
Purdue at Michigan State — ESPN

Women’s: Texas at Oklahoma — Fox Sports Net (national)

1 p.m.
Xavier at Dayton — ESPN2
Villanova at St. John’s — ESPNU

Women’s: St. Joseph’s at Xavier — CBS Sports Network

1:30 p.m.
Kansas State at Oklahoma State — Big 12 Network
South Carolina at Auburn — SEC Network

2 p.m.
Michigan at Arkansas — CBS
Missouri at Baylor — ESPN
Central Florida at UAB — Fox Sports Net (national)

Women’s: West Virginia at Pittsburgh — Big East Network

2:30 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Clemson — ACC Network

3 p.m.
Indiana State at Creighton — ESPN2
Cincinnati at West Virginia — ESPNU

Women’s: Wyoming at Colorado State — CBS Sports Network
Women’s: Utah Valley at North Dakota — Fox College Sports Central

3:30 p.m.
Boise State at TCU — the mtn.

4 p.m.
Oklahoma at Texas A&M — Big 12 Network
UConn at Tennessee — CBS
Kansas at Texas — CBS
Northeastern at Drexel — Comcast SportsNet New England/CSS/The Comcast Network
Towson at George Mason — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet Philadephia
URI at LaSalle — Cox Sports RI
Florida State at Duke — ESPN
UCLA at Oregon — Fox Sports Net (national)
Mississippi at Georgia — SEC Network

5 p.m.
UMass at Richmond — CBS Sports Network
San Francisco at Portland — Comcast SportsNet California Plus/Comcast SportsNet Northwest

6 p.m.
Syracuse at Notre Dame — ESPN
Arizona at Colorado — Fox College Sports Central/Fox Sports Arizona
LSU at Florida — Fox Sports Net (regional)
Colorado State at Wyoming — the mtn.

7 p.m.
Marquette at Providence — Big East Network: Bright House/Cox Sports RI/SNY
Mississippi State at Vanderbilt — ESPN2
Long Island at Wagner — ESPNU

8 p.m.
Ohio State at Nebraska — Big Ten Network
BYU at Pepperdine — BYU TV/Fox Sports West
Old Dominion at VCU — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet New England/CSS/The Comcast Network
Oakland at Oral Roberts — Fox College Sports Central

9 p.m.
Louisville at Pittsburgh — ESPN
Murray State at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville — ESPNU

10 p.m.
New Mexico at UNLV — CBS Sports Network
Air Force at New Mexico State — the mtn.
Fresno State at Nevada — WAC Sports Network

10:30 p.m.
USC at Oregon State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Prime Ticket/Root Sports Northwest

11 p.m.
Long Beach State at Cal-Santa Barbara — ESPNU

Sunday, January 22

noon
NC State at Miami (FL) — ACC Network
Penn State at Indiana — Big Ten Network

Women’s: URI at St. Louis — CBS Sports Network

1 p.m.
Women’s: North Carolina at NC State — Fox Sports Net (regional)

1:30 p.m.
Women’s: South Carolina at Vanderbilt — ESPNU

2 p.m.
Wisconsin at Illinois — Big Ten Network
Lehigh at Lafayette — CBS Sports Network

2:30 p.m.
Women’s: Texas Tech at Iowa State — Fox Sports Net (national)

3 p.m.
Women’s: Iowa at Penn State — ESPN2
Women’s: Arkansas at LSU — Fox Sports Net (regional)

3:30 p.m.
Women’s: Maryland at Duke — ESPNU

4 p.m.
Northwestern at Minnesota — Big Ten Network

4:30 p.m.
Women’s: Colorado at Arizona — Fox Sports Net (national)

5 p.m.
Women’s: Louisville at Georgetown — ESPN2

6 p.m.
Virginia Tech at Virginia — ESPNU

6:30 p.m.
Women’s: Washington State at Cal — Fox Sports Net (national)

8 p.m.
Drake at Northern Iowa — ESPNU

8:30 p.m.
Women’s: Memphis at UAB — Fox Sports Net (national)

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 01/14 & 01/15/2012, All Times Eastern

Men’s schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports on TV

Saturday, January 14

College GameDay — ESPN2, 10 a.m./ESPNU, 11 a.m.

11 a.m.
UConn at Notre Dame — ESPN2

noon
Villanova at Cincinnati — Big East Network/Cox Sports Television/MASN/SNY
Hofstra at Old Dominion — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/Comcast SportsNet New England/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/CSS/MSG Plus
Kentucky at Tennessee — ESPN
St. Bonaventure at Xavier — ESPNU

Women’s: Army at Navy — CBS Sports Network

1 p.m.
NC State at Wake Forest — ACC Network
Michigan at Iowa — Big Ten Network
Texas at Missouri — ESPN2

1:30 p.m.
Kansas State at Oklahoma — Big 12 Network
Texas Tech at Texas A&M — Big 12 Network
Mississippi at Auburn — SEC Network

2 p.m.
St. Louis at Charlotte — A-10 Network/Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia/CSS
Rutgers at West Virginia — Big East Network/Cox Sports Television/MASN/SNY
Duquense at URI — Cox Sports RI
North Carolina at Florida State — ESPN
Pittsburgh at Marquette — ESPNU
UAB at Southern Mississippi — Fox Sports Net (national)

2:30 p.m.
Army at Navy — CBS Sports Network

3 p.m.
Michigan State at Northwestern — Big Ten Network
Oklahoma State at Baylor — ESPN2
Virginia Tech at Boston College — Fox Sports Net (regional)

3:30 p.m.
Oregon at Arizona — CBS
New Mexico at Wyoming — the mtn.

4 p.m.
DePaul at Louisville — Big East Network/Cox Sports Television/MASN/MSG Network
Iowa State at Kansas — Big 12 Network
Ohio at Akron — ESPNU
Colorado at Stanford — Fox Sports Network (national)
UNLV at San Diego State — NBC Sports Network
Alabama at Mississippi State — SEC Network
Georgia at Vanderbilt — SEC Network

Women’s: South Florida at Seton Hall — Big East Network/Root Sports Pittsburgh/SNY

4:30 p.m.
Women’s: Colorado State at TCU — CBS Sports Network

6 p.m.
Providence at Syracuse — Big East Network/Cox Sports RI/MASN/SNY
Tennessee Tech at Murray State — ESPNU
Air Force at Boise State — the mtn.

7 p.m.
Temple at Richmond — CBS Sports Network

8 p.m.
Santa Clara at BYU — ESPNU
Oregon State at Arizona State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Arizona/Root Sports Northwest

8:30 p.m.
Montana State at Northern Arizona — Fox College Sports Pacific

9 p.m.
Memphis at Houston — CBS Sports Network
LSU at Arkansas — Fox Sports Florida/Fox Sports South
TCU at Colorado State — the mtn.

Sunday, January 15

noon
Georgetown at St. John’s — Big East Network/MASN/MSG Network

Women’s: Minnesota at Michigan — Big Ten Network
Women’s: Syracuse at Georgetown — ESPNU

12:30 p.m.
Kansas at Missouri — Fox Sports Net (national)

1 p.m.
Women’s: Georgia Tech at Boston College — Fox Sports Net (regional)

2 p.m.
Women’s: Iowa at Purdue — Big Ten Network
Women’s: Temple at Dayton — ESPN2

2:30 p.m.
Auburn at Arkansas — Fox Sports Net (regional)
Baylor at Texas — Fox Sports Net (national)

3 p.m.
Women’s: Hofstra at Old Dominion — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus/Comcast SportsNet New England/SNY

3:30 p.m.
Women’s: Miami at Florida State — ESPNU

4 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Maryland — ACC Network
Minnesota at Penn State — Big Ten Network

Women’s: Ohio State at Michigan State — ESPN2

4:30 p.m.
Indiana at Ohio State — CBS

Women’s: Cal at Utah — Fox Sports Net (national)

6 p.m.
Nebraska at Wisconsin — Big Ten Network
Duke at Clemson — ESPNU

7 p.m.
Washington State at Washington — Fox Sports Net (national)

8 p.m.
Wichita State at Indiana State — ESPNU

9 p.m.
UCLA at USC — Fox Sports Net (national)

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 12/31/11 & 01/01/12, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports on TV

Saturday, December 31, 2011

noon
St. John’s at UConn — Big East Network (SNY/MASN)
Louisville at Kentucky — CBS
Virginia Tech at Oklahoma State — ESPN2
Austin Peay at Morehead State — ESPNU
South Carolina Upstate at South Carolina — Fox College Sports Central/SportSouth
Boston University at Quinnipiac — NESN

1 p.m.
Iowa at Wisconsin — Big Ten Network

2 p.m.
Providence at Georgetown — ESPN2
Yale at Florida –ESPNU
Florida International at Western Kentucky — Fox College Sports Atlantic
Samford at Maryland — Fox Sports Net (regional)
Rice at Texas — Longhorn Network

Women’s: Arizona at Arizona State — Fox Sports Net

3 p.m.
Michigan State at Nebraska — Big Ten Network

4 p.m.
Illinois at Purdue — ESPN2
North Dakota at Kansas — ESPNU

5:30 p.m.
Arizona State at Arizona — Fox College Sports Central/Fox Sports Arizona

6 p.m.
San Diego at BYU — BYU TV
Ohio State at Indiana — ESPN2
Creighton at Wichita State — ESPNU
Oregon State at Washington State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Root Sports Northwest
USC at Stanford — Fox College Sports Pacific (CSS/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Fox Sports West)
Saint Louis at New Mexico — the mtn.

7 p.m.
Tulsa at TCU — CBS Sports Network

8 p.m.
Gonzaga at Xavier — ESPN2

10 p.m.
Oregon at Washington — ESPN2

Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!!!

noon
Rutgers at South Florida — Big East Network (Altitude/MASN/SNY)

1 p.m.
Villanova at Marquette — ESPNU

3 p.m.
Monmouth at North Carolina — ESPNU
Illinois State at Southern Illinois — Fox College Sports Central (Comcast SportsNet Chicago Plus/Fox Sports Midwest)

4 p.m.
Minnesota at Michigan — Big Ten Network

5 p.m.
Syracuse at DePaul — Big East Network (Altitude/Cox Sports Television/CSS/MASN/SNY)
Penn at Duke — ESPNU

7 p.m.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh — Big East Network (Altitude 2/CSS/Fox Sports Ohio/MASN/MSG Network/Root Sports Pittsburgh)
Penn State at Northwestern — ESPNU

9 p.m.
Evansville at Northern Iowa — ESPNU

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 12/17 & 12/18, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy of Matt’s College Sports

Saturday, December 17

Noon
American at Georgetown — Big East Network

Alabama A&M at Michigan — Big Ten Network

Ohio State at South Carolina — ESPN

Mississippi State at Detroit — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Detroit
Florida Atlantic vs. Miami (FL) at Sunrise, FL — Fox Sports Net (national)

2 p.m.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at West Virginia — Big East Network

Baylor at BYU — BYU TV

Purdue vs. Butler at Indianapolis, IN — CBS

2:30 p.m.
Temple at Texas — ESPN2

Texas A&M vs. Florida at Sunrise, FL — Fox Sports Net (national)

3 p.m.
Cal-Davis at UCLA — Fox College Sports Pacific/Fox Sports Prime Ticket

4 p.m.
Northern Colorado at Marquette — Big East Network

Arizona vs. Gonzaga at Seattle, WA — CBS
Memphis at Louisville — CBS

4:30 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Indiana at Indianapolis, IN — ESPN2

Mississippi at Southern Mississippi — Fox Sports Net (national)
Winthrop at Clemson — Fox Sports Net (regional)

5 p.m.
UNLV vs. Illinois at Chicago, IL — Big Ten Network

5:30 p.m.
Indiana State at Vanderbilt — CSS

6 p.m.
South Carolina State at Pittsburgh — Big East Network

Appalachian State at North Carolina — ESPNU

Northern Arizona at Arizona State — Fox College Sports Pacific/Fox Sports Arizona

6:30 p.m.
Syracuse at NC State — ESPN2

Boise State at Denver — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Root Sports Rocky Mountain

7 p.m.
Bowling Green at Michigan State — Big Ten Network

Quinnipiac at UMass — NESN

8 p.m.
Villanova at St. Joseph’s — CBS Sports Network

Chattanooga at Kentucky — CSS/Comcast SportsNet Bay Area/Comcast SportsNet Chicago/Cox Sports Television/YES

Houston vs. Oklahoma at Oklahoma City, OK — ESPNU

Furman at Western Kentcucky — Fox College Sports Pacific

9 p.m.
Drake at Iowa — Big Ten Network

10 p.m.
Alabama vs. Kansas State at Kansas City, MO — ESPNU

Georgia at USC — Fox Sports Net (national)

10:30 p.m.
New Mexico vs. Oklahoma State at Oklahoma City, OK — ESPN2

Sunday, December 18

1 p.m.
Holy Cross at UConn — Big East Network

Oral Roberts at Xavier — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Fox Sports Ohio
Bryant at Boston College — Fox Sports Net (regional)

women’s: Kentucky at Notre Dame — ESPNU

2 p.m.
Yale at URI — Cox Sports RI

3 p.m.
Loyola Marymount at Florida State — ESPNU

South Dakota State at Washington — Fox College Sports Pacific/Root Sports Northwest

women’s: USC at Texas A&M — Fox Sports Net

4 p.m.
Mount St. Mary’s at Penn State — Big Ten Network

5:30 p.m.
Virginia at Oregon — Fox Sports Net (national)

6 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at Northwestern — Big Ten Network

8:30 p.m.
women’s: UConn at Baylor — ESPN

10 p.m.
Portland State at Oregon State — Fox College Sports Pacific/Root Sports Northwest

College Basketball Viewing Picks For 12/03 & 12/04/11, All Times Eastern

Schedule courtesy Matt’s College Sports

Saturday, December 3

Big East/SEC Challenge
Arkansas at UConn — ESPN, 3:15 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Tennessee — ESPN, 5:15 p.m.
LSU at Rutgers — ESPNU, 7 p.m.
West Virginia at Mississippi State — ESPNU, 9 p.m.

noon
Iowa State at Michigan — Big Ten Network

North Carolina at Kentucky — CBS

1 p.m.
UMass at Miami (FL) — ESPNU

Longwood at Virginia — Fox Sports Net (regional)

2 p.m.
Georgia Tech at Tulane — CBS Sports Network

2:15 p.m.
USC at Minnesota — Big Ten Network

3 p.m.
Purdue at Xavier — ESPNU

3:15 p.m.
Gonzaga at Illinois — ESPN2

4 p.m.
Arizona State at Tulsa — CBS Sports Network

Drexel at Delaware — Comcast SportsNet New England/The Comcast Network

4:30 p.m.
Marquette at Wisconsin — Big Ten Network

Texas at UCLA — Fox Sports Net (national)

5 p.m.
Oregon vs. BYU at Salt Lake City, UT — ESPNU

Charlotte at East Carolina — MASN/YES

5:15 p.m.
South Florida at Kansas — ESPN2

6:30 p.m.
Eastern Washington at Washington State — Fox College Sports Atlantic/Root Sports Northwest
Northern Arizona at Arizona — Fox College Sports Pacific/Fox Sports Arizona

10 p.m.
Missouri State at New Mexico — the mtn.

Sunday, December 4

noon
women’s: Texas A&M at Purdue — Big Ten Network

2 p.m.
Maine at URI — Cox Sports RI

women’s: Baylor at Minnesota — Big Ten Network

2:30 p.m.
BB&T Classic, Washington, DC: George Washington vs. VCU — Versus

3 p.m.
Bowling Green at Kentucky — Fox College Sports Atlantic

women’s: New Mexico State at New Mexico — the mtn.

3:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Clemson — ESPNU

4 p.m.
Baylor at Northwestern — Big Ten Network

NC State at Stanford — Fox Sports Net (national)

4:45 p.m.
BB&T Classic, Washington, DC: Notre Dame vs. Maryland — Versus

5 p.m.
Cal at San Diego State — the mtn.

5:30 p.m.
Kansas State at Virginia Tech — ESPNU

6 p.m.
Mississippi at Penn State — Big Ten Network

8 p.m.
St. Joseph’s at American — Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic/The Comcast Network

Montana at Oregon State — Fox College Sports Pacific/Root Sports Northwest

Finally Back To Linking

The last couple of days have been tough to provide links as I was out of the office. Glad to be back linking again, although you never know if I’ll be called away again. I’ll try to do what I can.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today attended the NFL on CBS media day on Tuesday which introduced the network’s announcing teams for this season. Mike got some interesting quotage from NFL Today analyst Boomer Esiason on Denver Broncos third string QB Tim Tebow.

Mike reported earlier this week that ESPN’s Brian Kenny is leaving the network to possibly take a position with MLB Network.

Erik Brady of USA Today writes that the late Al McGuire’s granddaughter, once a basketball player at Virginia, is now an accomplished model.

John Ourand at Sports Business Journal chronicles what NBC Sports Group is doing to position Versus as a major player in sports television.

Jon Lafayette of Broadcasting & Cable says CBS Sports officials were worried about a potential NFL lockout, but continued to sell ads and carried on with its business of getting ready for this season.

Tim Baysinger of  B&C has Marv Albert pleasantly surprised to be calling the NFL on TV again.

Over to Multichannel News and Mike Reynolds who writes that the Pac-12 Conference has hired a sports media veteran to run its seven Pac-12 Networks.

Mike says Tennis Channel has signed a new deal with the National Cable Television Cooperative that takes it off sports tiers on member’s cable systems.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel says MTV2 will air some live Lingerie Football League games starting on Friday.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek writes that concerns over the NFL lockout led advertisers to turn to college football for commercial buys.

Crupi adds that NFL Network has signed up another cable provider leaving Cablevision and Time Warner as the last two major holdouts.

Gregg Rosenthal of Pro Football Talk writes that former Patriots, Dolphins and Saints running back Heath Evans will retire and join NFL Network’s large cadre of analysts.

Mike Florio of PFT says NFL owners realize that empty stadiums don’t make for exciting TV.

Marcus Vanderberg at SportsNewser writes that ESPN is hiring another WWE veteran to join its on-air staff.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid notes that ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown crew was dressed in SWAT uniforms for an promo shoot.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group says the Baltimore Ravens are successfully producing all home preseason TV games in-house rather than outsource production to a local TV or cable network.

The Big Lead’s Barry Janoff recaps the NFL on CBS Media Day.

Rich Arden at ESPN’s Front Row PR blog says you can now put the Monday Night Football schedule into your Google calendar. Seriously!

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that if it’s US Open time, then it must mean another battle between Cablevision and Tennis Channel.

Richard says after many repeated offers, MetLife is finally taking the plunge and buying the naming rights to the New Meadowlands Stadium.

Barry Bearak of the Times profiles former play-by-play announcer Dom Valentino who’s currently fighting several life battles.

Richard Huff of the New York Daily News reports that WCBS-TV sports anchor and sometimes CBS Sports reporter Sam Ryan is leaving to take a job with MLB Network.

Newsday’s Neil Best looks at MetLife slapping its name on New Meadowlands Stadium for a rather large fee.

During Tuesday’s NFL on CBS Media Day, Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union asked CBS Sports President Sean McManus about a few non-NFL related issues.

Pete says 18 years later, CBS NFL analyst Steve Tasker is still correcting those who think it was he who prevented Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Leon Lett from scoring at Super Bowl XXVII.

Ken Schott in the Schenectady Gazette says the University of Albany is shifting its football season opener to a different radio station as its flagship has a conflict.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record writes that Time Warner Cable won’t be airing any local high school football games this season.

Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel talks with ESPN College GameDay analyst Desmond Howard about his new book and his usage of social media.

Henry Unger of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution speaks with NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus about replacing the former Emperor Dick Ebersol.

Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the ESPN College GameDay crew will be in Austin to help launch the Longhorn Network.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says the Longhorn Network’s immediate future looks rather murky right now.

Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman notes that former Sooners safety Roy Williams will be a part of the school’s radio broadcasts this season.

Mel says the NFL preseason topped the local TV ratings.

Mike Baldwin of the Oklahoman says ESPN’s All-Access series on the Sooners is compelling TV.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that the Bengals garnered a huge local rating on Sunday.

John says the new Joe Morgan radio show is being heard locally.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers will appear weekly on the local NBC station.

The Provo (UT) Daily Herald notes that ESPN has released the 2011-12 West Coast Conference men’s basketball schedule.

Ryan Casey of the Denver Post tells us that Root Sports Rocky Mountain will air the state high school football and basketball championships this year.

The Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal reports NFL Network will be seen on the local cable provider this season.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes that CBC is shooting down claims that it’s biased against Western Canadian NHL teams in its new Hockey Night in Canada schedule.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog says TSN and CBC are teaming up for coverage of this weekend’s LPGA Canadian Women’s Open.

Sports Media Watch says the PGA Championship’s ratings fell to a three year low.

SMW also has some various ratings news and notes.

Daniel Feuerstein of MLS Talk feels NBC will be a big boost for Major League Soccer.

Joe Favorito writes that Fordham University has been a fertile training ground for several of NYC’s sports voices.

Last night, I had the privilege to be a guest on

The only Steeler fan I really like, Steelergurl, explains why she hasn’t been blogging lately. Get well soon, Lahne.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth looks at what NBC Sports Group is doing to improve Versus.

And that is going to finish out the links today.

The Friday Night Megalinks

I’ve been to Newton, MA and back, South Kingstown, RI and back and all over my hometown of North Kingstown, RI and all of this today. It’s time to do the megalinks and get them all done in one sitting.

There’s the Weekend Viewing Picks for your sports and entertainment programming.

National

Sports Business Daily goes over the UFC/Fox agreement that will put four live MMA events on network TV and plenty of ancillary programming on Fox’s cable networks.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes that Fox Sports Media Group El Presidente Por Vida David Hill has done an about face on airing Mixed Martial Arts.

Sergio Non of USA Today writes that UFC will revamp its shows when they move from Spike and Versus to Fox’s networks.

Sergio has those who will take part in the first UFC on Fox card in November.

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writes in the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center that the success of the UFC on Fox all depends on whether the sport can have a breakout star.

Dave Meltzer at Yahoo! says UFC President Dana White couldn’t be happier in making this deal with Fox.

Also from Yahoo!, Kevin Iole says it will be the fighters who will benefit the most from the new UFC on Fox contract.

Cam Martin of SportsNewser has Spike announcing that the new season of UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter will be the last on its airwaves, naturally.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek looks into the particulars of the UFC on Fox deal.

Bill Cromwell of Media Life Magazine writes that the Fox contract gives UFC some instant mainstream credibility.

There will be more UFC on Fox stories sprinkled throughout the megalinks. Let’s move on to other stories now.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Tim Goodman wonders if Showtime’s “The Franchise” is bringing down the San Francisco Giants this season.

Georg Szalai of the Reporter reports that Comcast has withdrawn a lawsuit against DirecTV over an ad campaign for NFL Sunday Ticket.

David Goetzl of MediaPost notes that DirecTV plans to expand its fantasy offerings for NFL Sunday Ticket.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News looks at Versus/NBC Sports Network’s new exclusive NHL night in the first year of its new 10 year contract with the league.

Andrew McMains of Adweek looks at a new inspiring web video produced for the US Olympic Committee.

All Access says the ESPN Radio affiliate in Minnesota’s Twin Cities has chosen the hosts for its midday show.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy explores which teams won and lost in the new NHL TV schedules.

Cam Martin of SportsNewser writes that former voice of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Woody Durham, will be honored for his contributions to college football.

The Big Lead wonders if Jay Bilas is the most respected voice at ESPN.

Timothy Burke of SportsGrid investigates how former 2 Live Crew leader Luther Campbell managed to appear to appear on the Dan Patrick Show and the Colin Cowherd Show at the same time.

And Tim presents the Atlanta Braves’ Shake Cam and how it can make fans a bit too excited.

Sports Media Watch says the U-20 World Cup is scoring for Galavision.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has a look at some interesting sports media typos.

Matt shows us how the Baseball Tonight crew had trouble demonstrating its new touchscreen.

Joe Favorito looks at what’s new with professional lacrosse.

Patrick Stafford of Smart Company in Australia speaks with the owner of Footytips.com about how he sold his site to ESPN.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says the limited classic programming on NBA TV during the current league lockout can only take the channel so far.

Sox & Dawgs has the video of NESN’s Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy wearing chicken hats in the booth.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes on how regional sports networks have increasing power and money to be a game changer for some professional teams.

Richard looks at the UFC on Fox deal that puts Mixed Martial Arts into the mainstream.

Dan Levin from the Times has a good story on how some athletes in Communist China are trying to buck their archaic system.

Mark DeCambre of the New York Post notes that the new Meadowlands Stadium now will have a sponsor when the new NFL season begins.

Justin Terranova in the Post looks at how Fordham University was a training ground for several NYC announcers.

Justin has five questions for SNY Jets analyst Anthony Becht.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes about Fox signing UFC for seven years.

Pete says local sports anchor Andrew Catalon’s call of tonight’s Browns-Lions game will be seen on NFL Network this weekend.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says a local radio station will air a full high school football schedule.

Ken says the NBC Sports Group is increasing its commitment to horse racing this fall.

And Ken writes that a new local sports radio talk show will be debuting soon.

To Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record who says the New York Rangers will be featured extensively on the national NHL TV schedules.

Crossing Broad has the audio of Philadelphia’s sports radio station WIP announcement that it’s taking over WYSP’s FM frequency killing off a heritage rock station.

Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News says ‘YSP staffers were melancholy about CBS Radio’s announcement killing off the station.

Jeff Wolfe of the Delaware County Times writes about WIP’s displacement of WYSP just as the rocker’s ratings were increasing.

Mike White in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says two local high school games hit the ESPN family of networks this fall.

Shelly Anderson of the Post-Gazette says the Penguins TV announcing crew will return for another season.

In the Baltimore Sun, David Zurawik explains where Ravens fans can find the team on TV and radio.

Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com writes in Press Box that the Ravens did extremely well in the ratings in both Baltimore and Washington, DC in their NFL preseason opener.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with DC NFL Team radio voice Larry Michael.

And Jim writes that the Washington Capitals will have plenty of appearances on NBC/Versus (NBC Sports Network).

Mike Madden in the Washington City Paper says the local sports anchor is becoming a thing of the past.

Keith Loria of the Fairfax (VA) Times says native Lindsay Czarniak is about to make her debut on ESPN.

South

The Charleston (WV) Gazette notes that Root Sports Pittsburgh will carry some West Virginia and Marshall programming.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Bob Griese will be joining the Miami Dolphins radio broadcast team replacing the late Jim Mandich.

Andy Kent of the Miami Dolphins website has Griese’s thoughts about joining the broadcast team and also sharing thoughts about Mandich.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times has some thoughts on the UFC/Fox deal, the Little League World Series on TV and CBS’ production of the PGA Championship.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says Yahoo! Sports does a better job of investigating college sports than the NCAA.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle notes that Saturday’s US National Gymnastics championships get a network primetime slot.

Mike Finger and Brent Zwerneman of the San Antonio Express-News says the Longhorn Network hasn’t given up on airing high school football games in one form or another.

The Daily Oklahoman’s Mel Bracht looks at UFC getting a big payday from Fox.

Midwest

John Kiesewetter in the Cincinnati Enquirer talks with NBC’s Cris Collinsworth who’s going into his third season as Sunday Night Football analyst.

George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal now knows why DirecTV was so willing to give him a free subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket after learning that the service will be offered to Sony Playstation 3 owners.

The Grand Rapids (MI) Press’ Michael Zuidema notes that a Big Ten Network analyst feels Nebraska is a perfect fit for the conference.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is amazed at ESPN’s ever-expanding army of NFL analysts and mountain of NFL programming.

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

Scott Dochterman in the Iowa City Gazette says NFL Network has picked up Mediacom for cable subscribers in the Hawkeye State.

West

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says it’s not known which network will air the October 15th contest between BYU and Oregon State.

Dick Harmon of the Deseret (UT) News speaks with BYUtv’s Executive Director in a lengthy interview. Part I of which is here. Read Part II here.

Larry Bohannan at the Desert (CA) Sun says there’s evidence of not much live golf shown in a PGA Tour telecast.

John Maffei of the North County Times weighs the pros and cons of airing the Little League World Series.

In the Ventura County Star, Jim Carlisle looks at the contrasting opinions that John and Patrick McEnroe had on the state of American tennis on HBO’s Real Sports this week.

Jim explores the UFC on Fox deal.

Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times says Fox paid a pretty penny to get UFC into the fold.

Meg James of the Times also writes about the UFC on Fox deal.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says when it came down to it, Fox didn’t have much of a choice but to sign UFC.

Tom says one sidebar to the UFC on Fox deal is the fact that Fox Sports Radio will also air MMA events.

Tom writes that former Dodgers radio voice Ross Porter has found his latest gig, calling high school sports online.

Canada

The Toronto Globe and Mail’s Bruce Dowbiggin feels TSN Radio isn’t getting the job done.

The Winnipeg Free Press notes that the Jets will get 22 games aired on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.

And the number of links today are hearken back to the first two years of this blog. Lots of links. That’s it.

Friday Megalink Action

With me not having to drive in between two offices, I’m able to provide you with the Friday megalinks during the day. And with things planned for me during the day for Saturday, it’s best to get these in now so it can tie you over while I’m gone.

The Weekend Viewing Picks provide your sports and entertainment programming for Mother’s Day and before.

To the links. Lots to get to today.

National

In USA Today, Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate whether Donald Trump should have pulled out of driving the pace car at this year’s Indianapolis 500.

Mike McCarthy broke news last night that Champion fired Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall over his tweets on Osama bin Laden’s death.

Sports Business Daily looks at the final sports TV ratings from this week.

At Sports Video Group, Carolyn Braff says the Pac-12 Network will take lessons from the Big 10 Network when it launches in 2012.

Cam Martin at SportsNewser notes a new website launch for the National Sportcasters and Sportswriters Association.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has an extensive look at whether the newest marketing plan by Gatorade can bring the company to new heights.

Cork Gaines of the Business Insider’s Sports Page notes that the new Pac-12 rights deal will immediately pay dividends for two schools.

Ed DeRosa of the Thoroughbred Times profiles Larry Collmus who is the new Voice of the Triple Crown for NBC.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the ratings for Night 22 of the NHL Playoffs.

At SportsGrid, Glenn Davis is keeping track of whether Gus Johnson will stay at CBS or go to Fox.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing also has an update on the Gus Johnson saga.

The Nielsen Wire blog has news that will make NBC really happy, the Kentucky Derby is growing in popularity.

Dave Kohl at Major League Programs looks at the college conference rights megadeals and other sports media news that occurred this week.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Pawtucket Red Sox announcer Steve Hyder is very proud of his radio partner Dan Hoard for getting the call to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says the NFL Network appears to have finally gotten its Thursday Night Football announcing booth down.

Dan Lamonthe of the Red Sox Monster blog in the Springfield Republican chuckles at the “so bad, it’s good” Sullivan Tire ad with second baseman Dustin Pedroia and pitcher Jon Lester.

Newsday’s Neil Best has New York Jets coach Rex Ryan realizing that he’s been doing too many interviews this week.

I’m not sure what Phil Mushnick is saying in today’s New York Post.

Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for SNY analyst Ron Darling.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that a local radio personality gets to take his passion for NASCAR to a national level.

Tom Luicci of the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger speaks with Larry Collmus of Monmouth Park who will call the Kentucky Derby for NBC.

Evan Weiner in the New Jersey Newsroom says sports business seems to carry on despite the sluggish economy.

Laura Nachman says Phillies radio analyst Larry Andersen has won a reader’s poll.

Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says Root Sports has a decision to make on its Penguins announcing team.

Mark Madden of the Beaver County (PA) Times also looks at the Penguins announcing situation.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun notes that MASN is seeing higher ratings for the Orioles especially among younger viewers.

Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com has a look at what’s going on in Baltimore and DC sports media in Press Box.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post says the MLS’ DC United and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic have forged a rights deal.

Jim Williams in the Washington Examiner likes how NBC and Versus are sharing coverage of the Kentucky Derby.

South

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is a fan of ESPN/ABC NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy.

Jeff Shain from the Orlando Sentinel looks at Golf Channel’s documentary on the late Frank Chirkinian of CBS Sports. It is a good documentary and airs tonight at 8 and throughout the weekend on Golf Channel.

Joe Biddle of The Tennessean notes that the new NHL TV contract with NBC/Versus gives the league stability, but hurts the younger generation with late starting times.

Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News says Alabama native Rece Davis returns to report on the recent tornadoes for ESPN and how sports is helping the region to recover.

Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre tells WDAM-TV of Hattiesburg, MS that coaching or TV is in his future. Stay away from my TV, Brett.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle attempts to catch up with two weeks worth of sports media news in one column.

Peter Lim of the Chronicle says two local boxers get their national spotlight this weekend.

Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News takes a look at the control the University of Texas has over the ESPN-owned and operated Longhorn Network.

Mel Bracht in the Daily Oklahoman profiles ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke of North Providence, RI.

Mel has various sports media tidbits in his weekly notebook.

Midwest

George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal says it was the Big 10 Conference that paved the way for the Pac 10/12 to cash in on its media deals.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer looks into why the Bengals chose to change play-by-play announcers.

Mike Zuidema from the Grand Rapids (MI) Press has NBC’s Kentucky Derby crew talking the horses in advance of Saturday’s race.

Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business has his winners and losers this week.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Kentucky Derby has lost ties to the local area with the departure of race caller Tom Durkin.

West

Bill Husted of the Denver Post writes that ESPN’s Rick Reilly returned to his alma mater in Boulder, CO to give the final commencement address to its Journalism School.

Lya Wodraska of the Salt Lake Tribune says the Pac-12 Network has the potential to give Utah plenty of exposure.

Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star gives us a peek at how the Pac-12 Network might look like when it launches next year.

John Maffei from the North County Times notes that the Pac 10/12 has hit Powerball.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says keeping ownership of its own network is key for the Pac-12 Conference.

Jim talks about Michele Tafoya joining NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times says Golf Channel will pay tribute to the late CBS golf producer Frank Chirkinian tonight.

Diane says the Pac-12 media deals show how valuable sports is to television executives.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that the Pac-12 member schools are going to be very rich under the new rights deals.

Tom looks at the very busy week in sports media.

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Pac-12 contract means more options for viewers.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail feels Rashard Mendenhall and other athletes should think before they tweet.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog has the ratings for CBC and TSN for the first games of the 2nd round of the NHL Playoffs.

The Toronto Sports Media blog has the April sports radio ratings for the local stations.

And that is going to conclude the Megalinks.

Going For Some Saturday Linkage

Time for some linkage on this Saturday.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter notes that NBC had its best opening round NHL playoff ratings in 7 years.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says ESPN’s NFL Draft ratings were down from last year while NFL Network saw a slight increase.

Mike notes that Root Sports has signed the Pittsburgh Penguins to a very long-term deal.

Mike talks about NASCAR hiring a new Vice President of Broadcasting to help the sport in the next media rights negotiation.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel says WrestleMania 27 had one million buys for its pay per view earlier this month.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks about MLB Network’s exploring of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series that tormented Red Sox fans until 2004.

In the New England Hockey Journal, Stan Fischler praises the NHL for its new deal with NBC/Versus.

David Jones from the Patriot-News can’t stand listening to homer announcers.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner talks about tonight’s NASCAR race.

Ed Miller of the Virginian-Pilot says former New York Giant and NBC Sports analyst Tiki Barber will receive a state honor tonight.

Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch has ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit talking Ohio State and its Jim Tressel troubles.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is being quite bombastic again.

Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times says now is a strange time for embattled Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to be courting the media.

Sports Media Watch has local ratings news for the Nashville Predators and Chicago Bulls.

SMW notes that the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs became the highest rated for TNT.

SMW says the first round of the NBA Playoffs also scored for ESPN.

Cork Gaines of the Business Insider’s Sports Page notes that ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr. edges out charlatan Todd McShay in predicting their mock drafts.

And that’s going to do it for today’s linkage.

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.

Some Monday Night Linkage Which Goes Into Tuesday Linkage

I was trying to post links last night and was making really good progress when, you guessed it, I fell asleep with the computer on again. That’s not good. So I’ll combine the full set of links that I found last night with this edition so you have a pretty good set of stories to sift through. That’s good for you. So let’s give you a lot of links today.

Joe Posnanski has a very thoughtful post on Tara Sullivan’s ordeal at The Masters, plus the really sexist and ignorant comments left at her story at NorthJersey.com.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid notes that former Boston Globe columnist Jackie MacMullen weighed in on the Tara Sullivan controversy during ESPN’s Around the Horn.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today reports that Charlie Rymer of Westwood One was kicked out of Augusta National Golf Club while he was covering The Masters for violating a rule on cell phone usage.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today says the NFL Network will have extensive coverage of the NFL Draft later this month.

To John Ourand at Sports Business Journal who writes that the NHL has three strong bids for the US TV rights including a surprising one from Turner Sports.

At MediaPost, David Goetzl writes that ESPN was wise to take a wait-and-see attitude on iPad advertising for its app.

Toni Fitzgerald from Media Life says The Masters pulled decent ratings despite having a no-name winner.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk says Fox NFL Sunday co-host Terry Bradshaw says he is feeling the effects of the six concussions and numerous blows to the head from his playing days in the 1970′s.

Mike goes over the Jenn Sterger interview on Good Morning America and she doesn’t come off too well.

Mike talks about how a potential owner of a Los Angeles NFL team is predicting a huge TV rights windfall for the league in the next network negotiation.

To Yahoo’s Puck Daddy and Greg Wyshynski who writes that NBC/Versus have some heavy competition for the NHL TV contract.

Sports TV Jobs interviews YES Network host Nancy Newman about her experiences moving from Canada’s TSN to CNN Sports to YES.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if golf’s popularity has truly returned with Tiger Woods out of contention of many tournaments.

Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald says Tom Brady cries over the memory of his sixth round pick by the New England Patriots in a new ESPN/NFL Films documentary.

Newsday’s Neil Best says YES will produce postgame shows for all Yankees games no matter which network airs them.

Neil writes that the NBA’s TV partners are happy to see the Knicks in the playoffs.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times notes that The Masters saw some ratings slippage.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says MSG Network has set its studio and game announcers for Knicks playoff games.

Ken Schott at the Schenectady Gazette talks about The Masters’ TV ratings.

Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Root Sports will have the entire Penguins-Lightning series.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic has chosen its top story in the last ten years of local sports reporting.

Dan with the help of Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic recaps the last Capitals-Rangers playoff series in 2009.

Dan says one local DC radio personality is mocking the Washington Nationals’ radio deal.

Rusty Ray from the Pee Dee (SC) Morning News says a big crowd turned out for a live appearance by ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike.

David Barron and Joseph Duarte from the Houston Chronicle report that the Texas Bowl has a new sponsor.

Blair Kerkhoff from the Kansas City Star talks about a few college sports issues including the NCAA Tournament on CBS/Turner and the new Big 12 TV contract.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune says a local sports anchor doesn’t understand the distinction of an event airing on a local CBS affiliate while not being a network program.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News says once the Pac 12 TV contract is done, Commissioner Larry Scott will look to sign deals overseas, especially in Asia.

At Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Matt Maiocco says new 49ers radio analyst Eric Davis will have big shoes to fill.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says TSN Radio is debuting with guns locked and loaded.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail also talks about TSN Radio’s debut.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog notes that TSN received good ratings for curling.

Sports Media Watch says NASCAR in primetime on Fox scored well.

To Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says NBC ended the NHL regular season on an upnote.

Steve also has the local rightsholders which will carry first round NHL Playoff games.

Joe Favorito says cricket is gaining in popularity not just worldwide, but also in the US.

Plenty of links today. Lots of good stuff. I hope you have time to look over all of the links.

A Friday Megalink Post

I’m going to try to post some of the Friday megalinks. This won’t be an entire post. Unless something happens, I should be able to get most of them in.

Of course, you can find the Weekend Viewing Picks for your sports and primetime programs.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate whether ESPN’s harsh criticism over VCU’s selection to the NCAA Tournament was sour grapes over losing the games to CBS/Turner.

Mike McCarthy says ESPN has pulled NBA analyst Jalen Rose off the air following last month’s arrest on DUI charges.

Bob Velin of USA Today notes that boxing returns to network television on Saturday in the form of a new Showtime reality series on the Manny Pacquaio-Sugar Shane Mosley fight.

This being April Fools’ Day, we hearken back to 1985 and one of the greatest April 1 sports media pranks, The Curious Case of Sidd Finch, written by George Plimpton of Sports Illustrated which fooled many fans back in the day.

And Christopher Borelli of the Chicago Tribune has found the man who posed as Sidd Finch for SI, a retired Chicago-area schoolteacher.

Phil Orlins, coordinating producer of ESPN 3D, writes in ESPN Front Row about how watching The Masters^® in the third dimension is an experience unlike any other.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that SNY has been pulled by Dish Network in the latest dispute among regional sports networks and a content provider.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says ESPN Radio hack Colin Cowherd has set his target again on Washington Wizards rookie guard John Wall.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if nutrition chain GNC is a good stock buy as it went public today.

Darren has an extensive look at how going paperless could change the ticket industry.

At Digital Spy UK, Andrew Laughlin says ESPN Classic has obtained the BBC Sport archives.

The Big Lead speculates on the replacement for Josh Elliot at the morning SportsCenter anchor desk.

The metgrrl blog is the latest to take MLB to task for catering to the lowest common denominator at its Fan Cave.

The Sports Media Watch has various ratings news and notes.

And SMW has some sports media news as well.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn talks with Red Sox radio announcer Dave O’Brien about signing a new multiyear contract extension.

At the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Bill Doyle interviews NESN Red Sox voice Don Orsillo.

ESPN Boston says it will be launching an internet radio show next Friday.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post for all intents and purposes calls Kentucky’s John Calipari and UConn’s Jim Calhoun crooks.

George Willis of the Post remembers former boxing trainer and CBS/MSG/HBO analyst Gil Glancy who died this week.

Justin Terranova of the Post has five questions for CBS college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says YES and DirecTV have a midnight deadline to keep the regional sports network on the satellite provider.

Pete says baseball should embrace technology to help make calls and speed up the game.

Tim Schooley of the Pittsburgh Business Times looks at FSN Pittsburgh making the transition to a new name.

Gary Haber of the Baltimore Business Journal says radio host Jen Royle is suing a competing radio station for defamation.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes of DCRTV.com also looks at Royle’s lawsuit as well as other DC-Baltimore sports media news.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says the Nationals were the butt of Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue last night.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks with CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus about this year’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament.

Jim says MASN is making a couple of programming changes.

South

Mitch Vingle of the Charleston (WV) Gazette says the ESPN lawsuit against Conference USA bears watching.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recaps the Sports Business Journal’s World Congress of Sports that took place in South Florida this week.

Laken Litman at the Dallas Morning News says ESPN will air Texas’ spring football game this weekend.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle talks with CBS Sports director Bob Fishman about the Final Four’s he called from the production truck.

David has a story on ESPN’s lawsuit against Conference USA.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman talks about the expanded announcing crews at the Final Four thanks to CBS/Turner collaboration for the NCAA Tournament.

Midwest

George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal says STO is ready to air the Cleveland MLB team’s season opener today.

Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids (MI) Press has CBS/Turner’s crew surprised about the VCU run during the NCAA Tournament.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says this year’s Final Four will be called by a three man booth as opposed to two over the last 29 on CBS.

Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel says MLB has unveiled an unconventional epic ad campaign.

Paul Christian at the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes about the Twins going all-cable this season and for the foreseeable future.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Fox Sports Midwest screwed up the Cardinals’ Opening Day ceremonies for the second year in a row.

Evan Binns from the St. Louis Business Journal says the Cardinals season opener was the most watched ever on Fox Sports Midwest.

West

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune has CBS/Turner’s Steve Kerr excited about calling his first Final Four tomorrow.

John Maffei of the North County Times says MLB’s national TV partners aren’t giving the Padres any respect.

Jim Carlisle at the Ventura County Star writes that this year’s NCAA Tournament has been a different viewing experience.

Jim has his sports media notebook which includes news about ESPN’s Josh Elliot’s departure for Good Morning America.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News gets comments from other announcers on the great Vin Scully.

Tom also handicaps the Pac 12 media rights negotiations.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News says the Pac 12′s rights are now up for grabs as the conference let its exclusive window to negotiate with Fox expire last night.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times says FSN Northwest may have changed to Root Sports, but will be found on the same place on the cable dial.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says TSN has fired its first shots in its new sports radio war with Rogers.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog also talks about the TSN/Rogers Sportsnet radio war.

And that is all for today.

Your Root Sports Logo

On Friday, April 1, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain and FSN Northwest will be no more. They’ll change their brand and logos to a new name, Root Sports. The owner of all three regional sports networks, DirecTV Sports decided to take the channels on a different route, no longer employing the Fox Sports Net name although the new networks will still be affiliated with FSN and take its national programming.

The name “Root” is partially taken from “rooting for the home team” and also establishing more of a local presence on the channels.

Root Sports Pittsburgh will have the local rights to the Pirates and Penguins.

Root Sports Rocky Mountain will maintain the rights to the Colorado Rockies and the Utah Jazz.

Root Sports Northwest will air the Seattle Mariners as well as the MLS’ Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers.

With MLB Extra Innings on a free preview from April 1-12, it will be noted how each of the new channels ingratiate themselves with the local sports fans, and if they go over the top in promoting their local connections.

Bringing Out the Wednesday Links

Ok, let’s do the Wednesday linkage. Quite a few things to get to.

We begin with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal who when we last saw him during the World Series last October, was wearing a bowtie despite his protests to management. Well, we find that Ken will continue wearing a bowtie this season, but rather willingly and for a very good cause.

Craig Calcaterra of NBC’s Hardball Talk applauds Ken for making this true fashion statement.

Now back to Ken, he writes at FoxSports.com that Major League Baseball has to do more to promote its game to a very tech-savvy fandom.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today has a few sports media observations in the Game On! blog.

Also in USA Today’s Game On! Steve Coogan writes that Jennifer Hudson is out from CBS’ One Shining Moment NCAA Tournament final montage.

One more from Game On! Mike McCarthy reviews Charles Barkley’s comments on truTV. It was a joke, people.

I had no idea that the former bassist for Guns ‘N Roses, Jane Addiction and Velvet Revolver, Duff McKagan had his own column at ESPN.com. Well, this is a very touching and well-written column on the late Seattle Mariners voice Dave Niehaus.

ESPN’s corporate blog, Front Row, has now launched and has been churning out pictures since midnight to show “A Day in the Life” at its various offices around the world. I have to say it’s quite fascinating. The pictures will continue to be published until late tonight.

Marisa Guthrie and Lindsay Powers at the Hollywood Reporter discuss ESPN’s Josh Elliot moving to ABC’s Good Morning America replacing the always lovely Juju Chang.

Tim Baysinger of Broadcasting & Cable writes about ESPN’s latest pickup for Baseball Tonight.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says ESPN Films will air a documentary on Jack Nicklaus’ iconic 1986 win at The Masters^®.

The great Ryan Ballengee of NBC’s Pro Golf Talk says The Masters^® iPad app will stream all four days of live TV golf coverage next week. That is very cool.

Jack Neff of Advertising Age says Vaseline Men will be unveiling an ad campaign for the NFL Draft.

In Mediaweek, Anthony Crupi says ad buyers are looking for alternatives as the NFL lockout goes longer.

Doron Levin at Fortune notes that Cadillac has quietly returned to sponsoring golf tournaments.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell examines whether the Chicago Cubs made the right call for their public address announcer.

Darren looks at the MLB Fan Cave that has two men watching every single regular season and playoff game this year.

And Darren goes inside the numbers of college football.

All Access says a Muncie, IN radio station is dropping ESPN in favor of Fox Sports Radio.

All Access also discusses Trenni Kusnierek joining a Milwaukee radio station full-time.

Richard Huff of the New York Daily News writes about ESPN’s Josh Elliot leaving SportsCenter to move to Good Morning America.

Newsday’s Neil Best takes a look at Yankees and Mets ticket prices on the resale market.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union looks at former Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer joining ESPN.

Ken McMillan of the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record has Fox’s Tim McCarver thoughts on the Mets and Yankees.

Conor Orr at the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger says ESPN’s Jay Bilas is a man of many talents.

Neal Zoren of the Delaware County Times notes that Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia is ready to cover the Phillies this season.

Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog at the Washington Post is amused with a new Pimlico Raceway ad that acknowledges the infield debauchery during the Preakness Stakes.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that ESPN will be airing a prestigious high school basketball tournament live from the DC area.

Brandon Marcello of the Jackson (MS) Clarion Ledger says Mississippi State University now has the announcers who will replace legendary voice Jack Cristil who retired after the basketball season.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman discusses ESPN shaking up its Sunday Night Baseball announcers and adding a new twist to Baseball Tonight.

Doug Zaleski of the Muncie (IN) Star Press notes that a Ball State-Indiana football matchup could end up on ESPN on Labor Day weekend.

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Fox Sports Wisconsin will add some bells and whistles to its Brewers game productions.

Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha (NE) World-Journal says the Kansas City Royals won’t be heard on local radio this season.

Dusty Saunders of the Denver Post looks at FSN Rocky Mountain changing its name as of Friday.

Lya Wodraska in the Salt Lake Tribune says the University of Utah is open to moving its football games to Sunday in case of an NFL lockout.

Scott D. Pierce of the Tribune looks at FSN Rocky Mountain’s change of name.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times says FX’s plans to carry college football this fall might be part of a larger scheme to increase subscriber fees.

Mike DiGiovanna from the Times says while Fox Sports tested a new overhead camera during last night’s Dodgers-Angels exhibition game, players were concerned that it might be too intrusive.

Mark Hester from The Oregonian notes that ESPN is chock full of spring college football games.

Gretchen Holzang of the Portland Business Journal writes about FSN Northwest’s rebranding on Friday.

To the Toronto Globe and Mail where Bruce Dowbiggin talks with Rogers Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst Greg Zaun.

Sports Media Watch says NASCAR on Fox hit a ratings low for the first time this season.

The Big Lead critiques CBS/Turner’s coverage of the NCAA Tournament.

And we’ll end it there today.