Well, it’s been a long day. And “It’s a Wonderful Life” is on NBC. I shouldn’t be watching it because the ending gets me every time, but it’s a classic and unlike the 1980’s when it used to be on every single channel, it’s only on once a year.
Anyway, it’ll be background noise as I give you the Friday links.
Starting with Michael Hiestand of USA Today who reviews ESPN’s coverage of the Mitchell Report release. USA Today also has the listings of the sporting events on TV this weekend.
We’ll do our links going from East to West today.
David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch also looks at the Mitchell Report coverage.
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe writes about the Bruins going up on the media pecking order with their recent success.
Phil Mushnick of the New York Post writes that a collectibles company is apologizing for capitalizing on the Mitchell Report. Also from the Post, Justin Terranova has five questions for Cris Collinsworth.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman wonders why ESPN didn’t put its own analyst Fernando Vina on its five hour special after he was named in the Mitchell Report. Maybe it was due to the fact that he might have wanted to talk to a lawyer first, Bob?
Neil Best of Newsday also reviews the Mitchell Report coverage. In his blog, Best tells us that Tampa Bay Rays radio announcer Andy Freed has turned down the Mets gig. Best points out that Tom Hammond who called last night’s Broncos-Texans game on the NFL Network in place of Bryant Gumbel would be a fine replacement for Gumbel.
Laura Nachman profiles new 76ers TV analyst Bob Salmi.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun writes that Ravens coach Brian Billick used his radio show to break injury news.
From The State in South Carolina, Doug Nye says he has mixed feelings about Bowl season. Nye also has some TV and radio notes. And Nye’s Best Bet is tonight’s NCAA Football Championship Subdivision final.
Dave Darling of the Orlando Sentinel has his first of a three part look at the Best and Worst of the Sports Media in 2007 and this week looks at sports commercials.
David Barron in today’s Houston Chronicle has a story on MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann calling Houston “Steroids Central”.
Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune says the race to get the story on the air first leaves a lot of information on the floor.
Bob Wolfley in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks with Fox Sports’ Daryl Johnston who will call this Sunday’s Packers-Rams game with Kenny Albert and Tony Siragusa.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the Minnesota Vikings are about to become primetime darlings.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin writes about a local TV station hiring a sports anchor right out of college.
Scott D. Pierce in the Deseret Morning News writes that ESPN’s Jesse Palmer has no respect for the Mountain West Conference.
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Jay Posner criticizes the President of the local CBS affiliate for not choosing last week’s Patriots-Steelers game over the Chiefs-Broncos game. And here are the ratings for last week.
John Maffei in the North County Times writes that there won’t be TV or radio coverage of a local high school football championship game.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News in his weekly column writes about the new NBA policy of miking coaches. And Hoffarth has more media notes in his Farther Off the Wall blog.
Up to Canada and the Toronto Star. Chris Zelkovich writes about City-TV’s Kathryn Humphreys who was unceremoniously dumped last month only to make a triumphant return this month with a new contract and increased responsibilities.
And William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail writes about a shakeup at the Score TV network.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks with MLB President and COO Bob DuPuy.
The Sports Media Watch blog gives the weekend ratings predictions. It appears that the WNBA and Indy Racing League will get additional exposure on ABC next year. And Paulsen looks at the front pages of the nation’s newspapers in the wake of the Mitchell Report. Finally, the blog wonders why ESPN gave Roger Clemens the benefit of the doubt yesterday while Barry Bonds did not.
Those are your links. Some other regular Friday stuff coming up.
