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TBS Hot Corner, Day 6 or the Fashion Show

Matt Dagostino is hosting and describing the Touch fashion line done by Alyssa Milano. Kelly Cross is modeling and so is Heather Catlin. Heather mentioned her sister was modeling the clothes as well. There’s a game going on, but at this point, who wants to watch the game when you have this fashion show?

I was going to also write about how the TBS segment with Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, Frank Thomas and Cal Ripken was one of the strongest from the studio show since TBS started its postseason coverage, but who cares about that when you have the women modeling sundresses?

I was also going to write that the way TBS is giving us its online coverage to compliment its TV coverage is the future of sports, but at this point, I don’t care. We’re in the midst of a fashion show.

Anyway, that’s it for the night. I’m going to enjoy this.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 6

Can you believe this is Day 6 of TBS Hot Corner? It seems it’s been on for several weeks. With it being Monday and back to work week, the casual dress is gone and Heather Catlin looks stunning once again. Kelly Cross is back at the Instant Messenger desk. I do like Hot Corner recruiting sideline reporter Craig Sager for interviews tonight from Yankee Stadium. He talked with MLB.com’s, ESPN Radio’s and MASN’s Buck Martinez about Game 4.

Thus far, Matt Dagostino has not done anything to offend me and that’s not a bad thing. In addition, he’s trying to show a little more humor as well. He’s been stiff the first five days so perhaps he’s feeling more comfortable in the studio.

Heather is also doing a good job of hosting. The show is a very good compliment to TBS’ coverage. Matt may still be a tool, but he’s improving at the desk.

They do have a guest, Tony Abbatine from Frozen Ropes who’s showing Matt and Heather relaxation techniques on throwing and hitting. Fascinating stuff. And he’s instructing them how to swing the bat. I can watch this stuff all day.

And there will be a fashion show. I’ll be back for that later on.

Monday Links

On this Columbus Day holiday, I do have some links. It’s nice to get up a little late and not have to worry about going to work on a Monday. Nice. But I’m actually home doing some work so where’s the justice?

I also got an e-mail from Beau Estes from TBS Hot Corner. I ripped him on Saturday, saying I wasn’t impressed with him. He didn’t rip into me. I do appreciate him writing me. Perhaps this will open the floodgates for others from TBS Hot Corner to write in. Nah. I doubt it. But thanks for writing, Beau. You’re welcome to come here any time. I do mean that.

To USA Today, Michael McCarthy writes about TV studio rookies Emmit Smith, Cal Ripken, Jr., and Frank Thomas showing their nerves on ESPN and TBS, respectively.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is not happy with analysts who are contradicted by replays and don’t acknowledge they’re wrong.

Neil Best in his Newsday blog says he met TBS’ Chip Carey yesterday and despite a negative review on Sunday, Best says the meeting went well. And Best says he won’t have a Tuesday column because he wants to have a full-scale review of tonight’s ALDS Game 4 on TBS.

Ed Sherman in the Chicago Tribune says TBS is in pain not having the Cubs in the MLB postseason anymore.

Dusty Saunders in the Rocky Mountain News says the Rockies-Diamondbacks NLCS is the worst case scenario for TBS.

Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star writes in his TV Barn blog about TBS’ strategy to market Frank TV whose promos we have seen ad nauseum during the League Division Series coverage.

Bill Shea of Crain’s Detroit Business writes that sports radio has hit the FM dial in Motor City.

Are you ready to see Joe Buck every night? It’s possible. The New York Post’s Michael Shain reports Fox is considering putting Buck on a late night show. Here’s the original article from Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable magazine.

Kelly Lyell of The Coloradoan writes that fans of the Mountain West Conference can’t find the mtn. channel no matter how hard they try.

ESPN has announced the production team for its new E:60 sports news magazine.

Gene Warner of the Buffalo News writes about the return of Monday Night Football to upstate New York for the first time in 13 years.

The Norman (OK) Transcript’s John Shinn reports that ESPN’s College Gameday will be on the Oklahoma campus this Saturday.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes that Rogers Sportsnet aired a Hooters swimsuit competition instead of the Red Sox-Angels game.

Those are the links for now. Back later with an update.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 5

Now that the online portion of TBS’ coverage is in its 5th day, this show is coming along rather nicely. The lovely Heather Catlin has hit her stride in being the Traffic Cop in the studio. Co-host and tool Matt Dagostino is providing some good baseball knowledge and background (see Matt? I can be nice to you). The third person on the main set, Chris Dimino from an Atlanta sports radio station is a guy who has a lot of facts stored in his head and he can bring them out at a moment’s notice. He’s quick and knows his baseball. And the lovely Kelly Cross continues to monitor the IM’s and pass them along to the trio on the set.

By the keyword searches that are coming into Fang’s Bites, I can see that you’re watching this show from all over the globe. I’m getting hits from the UK, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and of course, all over the US. Most are seeking information on Heather or Kelly. I’m sorry, other that what you guys are seeing online, I really can’t provide you with you any background. And I’m sure both women would prefer it that way. And I think I’ve received only one query on Matt over these past five days. That’s the way it is.

The unfortunate thing is that three series including both National League Division Series have ended in sweeps. The Yankees will extend its series with Cleveland to Monday and that sigh of relief you hear is coming from the CNN Center in Atlanta where TBS is located. I do wish that Cubs series had gone longer, but it wasn’t meant to be.

I do have to say that Brian McRae on Hot Corner was a welcome sight. He was a joy to watch when he was with ESPN and he’s been doing work on RSTN with the Royals and he’s been on MLB.com every once in a while. Nice to see him again today in Anaheim.

I’m glad that with the Yankees win tonight that we’ll have at least one more LDS edition of Hot Corner on Monday.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 4 or Ganging Up on Matt

On this Day 4, we’re finding that without a second guy in the studio at TBS Hot Corner, we find that Kelly Cross in the Instant Message corner wears some hot shoes. Co-host Heather Catlin walked over to her and asked Kelly to show them off. They were very nice shoes, by the way.

All this as the Diamondbacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Cubs, early in Game 3. I did decide to ask a question to Heather and her co-host Matt Dagostino through AOL Instant Messenger (add “tbshotcorner” to your buddy list). Kelly does answer the questions. I did type “… what did Heather and the Tool with her (LOL) think of Manny’s pose at the plate last night when he hit the game winning home run?” And right off the bat, I was asked if I was the blogger who called Matt a tool. I said I was and Kelly told me that the guys in the studio do read this blog. I know from my Statcounter that someone Turner has been logging into the site, I just didn’t know it was from Hot Corner. Welcome over and feel free to comment, even you, Matt.

And I have noticed that Heather and Kelly have been ganging up on Matt today without another guy in the studio. It’s actually been quite funny.

But do know that if you ask a question to Hot Corner, Kelly does answer your questions online and relays them to Heather and Matt.

That’s it for now. I’m heading out. I’ll have NFL Picks later tonight.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 4 or Who Are These Tools?

Checking out TBS Hot Corner today at MLB.com, Saturday seems to be Casual Dress Day along with it being National League Division Series Day. The lovely Heather Catlin and Matt Dagostino are in jeans today as opposed the previous three days. Kelly Cross is back in the Instant Message corner and we’re all in favor of that.

At Wrigley Field, the TBS Hot Corner reporter is Beau Estes who is not impressive at all. Yes, he’s another tool. Matt is a tool, but I probably will grow accustomed to him as we get into the National League Championship Series.

That’s it from here. Not much of a post as I logged in late.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 3, Late Night

Checking out TBS Hot Corner at 11:15 p.m., the guys at TBS are getting a bit punchy as they go into their third day and night of coverage of the League Division Series.

Heather Catlin, Tool Matt Dagostino, Kelly Cross and a 4th partner whom seems to go unidentified every time I see him are in the TBS Hot Corner studio. They go back and forth the MLB.com studios which feature former Red Sox and Yankee catcher John Marzano. And as I mentioned earlier, Heather looks stunning tonight in blue. And I know she’s becoming popular based on the Google searches and the hits coming into this blog. I’ve seen hits coming from Australia and the UK entering here based on the mentions. And from my web counter, just tonight, 20 hits have come into Fang’s Bites based on Heather alone. I know someone from Turner Sports reads this blog. Let Heather know that she’s gaining global notoriety.

And I mentioned the studio is getting a little punchy. Earlier, they showed a photoshop image of Heather with a beard. It was pretty funny. She said last night, the guys in the control room put Ernie Johnson’s head on her body and vice versa. The control room after working so many hours straight are definitely finding ways to amuse themselves.

If there are ways to push Matt off the set, let me know here. I’ll have NFL picks coming up tomorrow.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 3

Checking out TBS Hot Corner once again. Tool Matt Dagostino is there once again talking way too much and Heather Catlin is looking rather stunning today. I’m sure Matt is a nice guy and is trying hard to make Hot Corner work. And for the first time, I get to see Kelly Cross in the Instant Message corner. Let’s see more of her and less of Matt. Alyssa Milano has a feature about working inside the scoreboard at Fenway Park. Not bad.

Ed Randall is the reporter for TBS Hot Corner in Cleveland and he’s much more tolerable than Tim Singer in Philadelphia the past two days.

What I’ve seen thus far, the show is moving nicely and the pace is getting better. So for today, we learned that Kelly Cross is working your instant messages at TBS Hot Corner. Heather Catlin looks fantastic and Matt is still a tool.

We might have an update on TBS Hot Corner tonight.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 2

Here we are on Day 2 of the League Division Series and we have three games today. We’ll have Game 2 of the Phillies-Rockies, Game 1 of Yankees-Indians and Game 2 of the Cubs-D’Backs.

The TBS Hot Corner is back at it today. Heather Catlin is back and looks lovely as usual. Her tool of a co-host, Matt Dagostino (I finally got his name, but he’s still a tool), is back also.

Previewing Game 2 of the Phillies-Rockies, TBS used Tim Singer of MLB.com whom I have really grown to dislike. Yesterday, my feelings were neither here nor there about him. Today, I’m wondering what pictures he had in order to get his job. Earlier, he spoke with Peter Tork of the Monkees who will sing “God Bless America” at Citizens Bank Park. I remember the Monkees, but I know younger people might not. Way to reach the younger demographic. It appears Tim is just a warm body to fill a role. That’s not good.

TBS is also using Baseball Channel host Casey Stern for its Hot Corner and he’s very good. Keep Casey on the interview beat, but put Tim in a pot of boiling water. That’s harsh, but Tim is getting close to reaching the Antichrist level that Big Ten Network host Mike Hall has all to himself at this point.

And anytime you have the lovely Alyssa Milano, that’s a bonus.

The show is a bit better today. I chalk up yesterday’s amateurish production to first day jitters. Today’s production is much improved. But Matt’s got to go. If someone wants to start a petition, let me know.

Don’t forget, the only way to catch legitimate online streaming is from MLB.com. You can watch Hot Corner during TBS’ coverage, but it won’t be full games. The radio broadcasts from each team are available and you do have to pay to subscribe for Gameday Audio.

There is a backdoor way to watch the games online. I’m not going to give it here, but if you want to contact me, click on my profile and send me a line. If I’m in a good mood, I’ll give you a link. If I’m not in a good mood, I’ll just reply, “No speak English.”

Back later with more links.

TBS Hot Corner, Day 1

Ok, having just checked out the TBS Hot Corner stream, you can see a mosaic view, Heather Catlin and her tool co-host in one corner, the centerfield shot of the pitcher and batter in another, the score in the top right corner and a dugout cam in another.

During the game, Ernie Johnson, Jr., Frank Thomas and Cal Ripken will come in and discuss what’s happened thus far. It’s not bad. If the tool co-host can go, and TBS can find someone else, it would be much better. You can click on whichever view you want to see. It’s not a bad compliment to TBS’ coverage, but it’s probably best to watch the TV while you watch the TBS Hot Corner.

Otherwise, listen to the live audio streams through MLB.com if you’re stuck at your office.

Wednesday Afternoon Links

Ok, as I’m about to listen to MLB Gameday Audio for the playoffs while I’m here at work, I’m still sad MLB won’t allow us to watch the games online. I believe there is a backdoor way, but I’m not going to put it here.

I will say the TBS Hot Corner is streaming a live 90 minute online pregame show starting at 1 p.m. ET with the lovely Heather Catlin and some tool who’s absolutely forgettable. Then at 2:30 p.m., it streams TBS’ pregame show with Ernie Johnson, Jr., Cal Ripken, Jr., and Frank Thomas which is nice. The online pregame show is awful right now and I hope it improves.

A few links for you before I listen to Rockies-Phillies, Game 1.

Neil Best of Newsday says the Mets collapse was good for ratings in NY.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says merchandise for South Florida is red hot.

Stephanie Kang of the Wall Street Journal talks with David Levy, president of Turner Sports, about TBS coming into the MLB postseason party.

Todd Zolecki and Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer write that Phillies fans are upset with the 3 p.m. starts today and tomorrow.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today says TV viewers are set for a great October.

Paul Gough of the Hollywood Reporter writes that the NHL has renewed its Center Ice PPV package with DirecTV, Dish Network and the cable TV operators, and an NHL channel is about to launch this week.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail has a story on CBC’s Don Cherry whose contract with the network allows it to fire him at any time without consequence.

Enjoy the games tonight.

More Tuesday Linkage

Let’s give you some more links today. It’s just so hot in my office, I’ve got to finish this set and I’m getting out of there.

I mentioned in the first set of links today that Bud Collins has been hired by ESPN. Here’s the statement from ESPN itself. And here’s the Press Release.

In his Watchdog blog, Newsday’s Neil Best says it’s nice to have Mike and the Mad Dog back together again on WFAN. They’ve been apart due to their vacations since June.

Over to the Sports Media Watch blog where we find out that The Content Factory has apparently hired former ESPNer Michael Irvin who was inducted into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame this past weekend. Irvin joins Dan Patrick who has already been hired to do a show for the company. The question is, can Irvin carry his own show? I was not a fan of his work at ESPN where Michael seemed to yell every time Chris Berman went to him on NFL Countdown. I hope Michael won’t be yelling on his radio show.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Tiger Woods is worth the price of endorsement for some companies including American Express which is actually dumping him in. Tiger does make a lot of money, but Rovell questions if Woods has enough bang for the big bucks he’s being paid.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times looks at the radio and TV calls of Alex Rodriguez’ 500th homer and Barry Bonds’ 755th home run. Sandomir praises former Pawtucket Red Sox announcer Dave Flemming who called Bonds’ homer on KNBR and current Red Sox announcer Dave O’Brien who had the call on ESPN2. Jim Williams in his Watch This! blog in the DC/Baltimore and San Francisco Examiners says Frank Robinson will be on hand representing MLB during the Bonds Watch tonight.

TBS Sports has announced a new online broadband channel on MLB.com called “The Hot Corner”. This starts in September in anticipation of TBS’ extensive postseason coverage. It will include a pre-game show for the playoffs. And Paul Gough of the Hollywood Reporter has written a story on this new channel.

Starting Thursday, PGATour.com will offer broadband coverage of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, OK. For the first and second rounds, the website will have simulcasts of TNT’s coverage, plus coverage of select groups of players. On the weekend, CBS’ coverage will not be available online, only the coverage of select groups. The site for online coverage is here.

R. Thomas Ulmstead of Multichannel News reports on a very interesting clause in the NHL’s contract with Versus. Both parties can pull out after this coming season if the channel doesn’t reach certain distribution levels. Ulmstead says it appears Versus isn’t interested in ending its deal and will continue with a planned three year extension into the 2010-11 season. We’ll see how this develops.

From the Oakland Tribune, Andy Altman-Ohr writes that the Bay Area media will have Friday’s Bill Walsh memorial service covered like a blanket.

Keith Jarrett of the Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times says while conferences like the ACC and SEC are paid handsomely by the TV networks to air their football and basketball games, smaller conferences like the Southern Conference (SoCon) have to pay to get their games broadcast.

Doug Smith of the Toronto Star has a suggestion for the CBC when it comes to airing Raptors games (scroll down). Hire Fang’s Bites fav, Stacey Dales (yes, she’s Canadian).

Those are your links for now. Primetime and Late Night Viewing Picks coming up