Ok, time to do the Friday megalinks. Coming at night again after shuffling between two offices and playing chauffeur. So blogging had to take a back seat for a bit.
I thank everyone who sent in questions for the Fang’s Bites mailbag. I will answer the questions this weekend. It’s my hope that the mailbag will become a regular feature on Fang’s Bites, perhaps every two or three months.
For the Weekend Viewing Picks, go here to check out what’s happening in sports and primetime TV.
Time for the links.
National
USA Today’s Mike McCarthy talks about the play about legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi heading to the Great White Way.
Mike Lopresti of USA Today discusses the ESPN Outside the Lines report that has many people buzzing about ballpark food safety.
Milton Kent of Fanhouse is confused as to why a former ESPN executive with a poor track record would be brought on by NFL Network to consult on programming.
Kevin Hench of Fox Sports writes that the spiked LeBron James story by ESPN only raises questions about its relationship with certain athletes.
David Goetzl of Mediapost says Proctor & Gamble will be seen aplenty during Olympics coverage from 2012 – 2020.
John Eggerton at Multichannel News talks about Fox’s Jay Glazer joining NFL Network to compliment his regular job.
The Sports Media Watch says the MLS All-Star Game saw a 50% ratings jump as compared to last year.
Paulsen at SMW has some various MLB ratings news and notes.
SMW has some ratings news on other sporting events.
Joe Favorito wonders if the Pac 10/12’s media blitz in the East will give the conference some juice outside of its normal footprint.
The Big Lead has a quick roundup of media reaction to the ESPN spiking of Arash Markazi’s story on LeBron James’ Boys Night Out in Las Vegas.
SportsbyBrooks notes that Rich Eisen’s contract with the NFL Network expires on Sunday.
Dave Kohl at Major League Programs explores how a radio interview with Minnesota Timberwolves President David Kahn got him fined by the NBA.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Boston Sports Media Watch’s Bruce Allen writes in SB Nation Boston about the whining by Red Sox beat writers when a player doesn’t speak with them.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says ESPN’s spiking of the LeBron James story on its website raises more eyebrows on its relationship with the Miami Heat player.
Phil Mushnick at the New York Post feels USC coach Lane Kiffin is complaining for the wrong reasons.
Pete Dougherty in the Albany Times Union reports that Time Warner Sports will produce one hour specials on the Buffalo Bills throughout the preseason.
Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette continues to shake his head on the ESPN/LeBron James relationship.
Ken McMillan at the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record has the entire NFL TV preseason schedule.
Dave Hughes of DCRTV writes in Press Box of the continued lineup changes at one Baltimore sports radio station.
Jim Williams in the Washington Examiner says New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is ready for his closeup on this season of Hard Knocks on HBO.
The great Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog discusses some changes with the Post’s beat writers.
South
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald says the Dolphins are starting a very aggressive multiplatform campaign in South Florida.
Shannon Owens of the Orlando Sentinel writes that ESPN was correct to pull the LeBron James story off its website, but not for the reasons you think.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Ray Buck says former Dallas Cowboy and current sports radio co-host Nate Newton has slimmed down. A lot.
In the Houston Chronicle, David Barron talks with NFL Films President Steve Sabol about the new season of Hard Knocks.
David has an extensive interview with ESPN’s vice president for content John Skipper on a myriad of subjects. It’s at the bottom, but Skipper notes that ESPNews’ viewership is in decline and changes could be coming both ESPN Classic and ESPNews in “30 to 60” days. Nothing like burying the lede.
Midwest
Michael Zuidema from the Grand Rapids (MI) Press talks with Ray Bentley who will be leaving ESPN2’s warm booth to become a sideline analyst for ESPN 3D’s college football productions.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business says MLB Network will have two new episodes of “The Club” on Sunday.
Ed also has his winners and losers.
Paul Christian of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Minnesota native Brad Nessler will call the 2nd game of the opening Monday Night Football doubleheader in September.
West
John Maffei at the North County Times says filming on the movie version of “Moneyball” begins this weekend.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has former ESPN’er Roy Firestone looking to get back to his old roots.
Tom explores why ESPN killed the LeBron James story.
Tom has his usual extensive media notes.
Canada
Chris Zelkovich in the Toronto Star says a new Rogers Sportsnet channel means more money for Canadians to pay on their cable bills.
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the new Rogers Sportsnet channel will allow for more live sports for Canadians.
And we’re done with the megalinks.
