Let’s provide some links on this holiday for some of you. For others like me, I’m at work. But instead of reading my complaints about working on a holiday, I’ll put my energy into finding links for you.
Starting with the Sports Business Journal, Terry Lefton looks at how TNT’s Charles Barkley has become a very effective ad spokesman. Perhaps on a future Videos of the Week, I’ll post some of his more memorable commercials.
Also from SBJ, John Ourand speaks with former Washington Post sports media columnist Leonard Shapiro who has joined Comcast SportsNet’s Baltimore and Washington, DC websites.
Michael Hiestand of USA Today says Fox Sports didn’t come through in the final laps of the Daytona 500.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that CBC has reupped the polarizing Don Cherry for another season on Hockey Night in Canada.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News discusses how the Los Angeles Lakers’ deal with Time Warner has changed the regional sports network game.
Mike says starting this week, the synergy and rebranding of Golf Channel’s coverage with NBC begins.
David Goetzl of MediaPost notes the one year extension of Fox Soccer Channel’s current deal with MLS.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell caught up with New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokorov who actually did meet with Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony over the weekend.
Bobby Cassidy of Newsday lists his favorite Daytona 500 commercials.
Neil Best of Newsday wonders if Comcast is going to be tightening NBC’s pursestrings especially when it comes to the bidding for Olympic TV rights.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post hates everything today.
Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times reviews the sports weekend on TV.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says former Buck center Kent Benson recapped being punched by NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for a radio station interview.
I was interrupted and had to the leave the office for two hours. I’ll add more to this tonight.
UPDATE, 7:30 p.m.: Let’s give you some more links now.
Bryan Alexander of the Hollywood Reporter talks about this year’s Daytona 500 attracting its biggest audience in three years.
Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News writes that TNT received cable’s second biggest audience ever for an NBA All-Star Game.
From Adweek, Mike Shields says VEVO, the music video website owned by Universal, Sony and Abu Dhabi Media, is going to be branching into sports.
Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser gets reaction from Turner Sports’ David Aldridge to the negative reaction to his CNN.com story about “Black Thanksgiving“.
At Pro Football Talk, Michael David Smith notes that ESPN’s Mike Ditka criticized the NFL’s proposed 18 game schedule.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that Vin Scully will call the season opener on radio. Usually, Vin does not call games that are on national television as is the case of this year’s season opener. Vin usually calls both TV and radio at home and West Coast road games, provided they’re not on national TV.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes about the ratings for Daytona and the NBA All-Star Game.
At the Delaware County Times, Neal Zoren talks about a Philly news anchor who has made the transition to sports.
Shannon J. Owens at the Orlando Sentinel says the brother of ESPN NBA analyst Mark Jackson died over the weekend.
Also from the Sentinel, Hal Boedeker notes the ratings for the Daytona 500.
Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post discusses the CBS sitcom to be based on ESPN’s Mark Schlereth.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News recaps a horrific interview between TNT’s Craig Sager and the Antichrist.
The Toronto Globe and Mail’s Bruce Dowbiggin is not happy that CBC renewed Don Cherry’s contract.
The Canadian Sports Media Blog reviews CBC’s production of the Heritage Classic.
Sports Media Watch talks about the Daytona 500’s ratings increase, but tempers it as well.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media notes that Jeremy Roenick will be on Versus all this week.
Joe Favorito says the Washington Nationals are getting the most out of their mascots.
And we’ll end it there for the added links tonight.
