Fang's Bites

A Few Saturday Links

Unfortunately, I was not able to do the Friday megalinks as I was traveling in between two offices and had to hit a couple of places in between. And when I got home, I wasn’t in the mood to do links. But I may incorporate some Friday stories here in the links. Let’s take a look at what we have.

From the Wall Street Journal, Sam Schechner has a story where networks are angry with Time Warner Cable for providing their programming on iPads. This is going to be an interesting battleground because if Time Warner wins, the networks will have no control over their content on tablets. Keep an eye on this as sports is involved as well. Thanks to John Daly of The Daly Planet NASCAR blog for the link.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter says despite network protests, Time Warner Cable is forging ahead with its iPad app.

Andrea Morabito from Broadcasting & Cable notes that the NCAA Tournament’s ratings continue to soar on CBS and Turner.

Joel Stein from Bloomberg Businessweek takes a look at some of the fashion faux pas made by various sports broadcasters. Yes, there’s a slideshow that goes with it.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says ESPN2 and Tennis Channel will be all over the Sony Ericsson Open starting today.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says Nasty Boy Rob Dibble has found a new radio home.

Brad Cohen from SportsGrid has the too-steamy-for-TV ad featuring Serena Williams.

The Nielsen Wire blog notes that the two most marketable MLB players are New York Yankees.

Newsday’s Neil Best has ESPN’s Jay Bilas standing by his anti-VCU comments from before theNCAA Tournament. This story came out before VCU won last night.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has your NCAA Tournament Regional Final tip times for the weekend.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner notes that the IndyCar racing season gets underway on Sunday.

Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald says Charles Barkley has added some much needed humor into the NCAA Tournament studio.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times reviews the Sports Emmy Award nominations.

At the Grand Rapids (MI) Press, Michael Zuidema discusses how ESPN’s MLB analysts see the Detroit Tigers faring this season.

John Kiesewetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer talks with Bearcats and Pawtucket Red Sox voice Dan Hoard about his very busy schedule.

In his blog, John says some of Dan’s professional goals now surprise him.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley gets responses from ESPN’s Jay Bilas and Fran Fraschilla to shots taken at them by former URI and Texas coach Tom Penders.

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

Dan Caesar at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that former Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark is back on the air in the Gateway City.

John Maffei of the North County Times has enjoyed the CBS/Turner coverage of the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News is not a fan of Charles Barkley on the NCAA Tournament. I disagree.

Tom has his extensive media news and notes.

Matt Clapp from Awful Announcing has video shot from my Twitter pal YankeeMegInPHL of Charles Barkley taking a swig of some mystery liquid on the CBS/Turner set last night.

Lou Clinton of 38 Cliches notes that his arch-nemesis, Florida Marlins announcer Glenn Geffner is now on Twitter.

I think we’ll end it there for this Saturday.

The Mid-Week Links

It’s Wednesday. The All-Star Game is over, thank goodness. I stayed up to watch every single pitch and out until 1:30 a.m. ET. What could have been another embarrassing tie ended up with the American League winning 4-3.

Now that the Mid-Summer Classic is over, we can now focus on the Open Championship which begins tomorrow. Later tonight, I’ll post the sites where you can watch live streaming coverage while at work.

And once the Open Championship is finished on Sunday, our next focus in the sporting world will be on the Summer Olympics in Communist China and that is a theme in today’s links.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand looks at the NBC announcing assignments for the Olympics.

Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News has the complete list of announcers and analysts for the Olympics.

In the Houston Chronicle, David Barron hails fellow Chronicle soccer columnist Glenn Davis who will be part of the NBC Olympics soccer announcing team.

From the Hollywood Reporter, Paul J. Gough says NBC went with experience and plenty of medal winners for its Olympic announcing team.

Chris Preimesberger of eWeek has a technical article on NBC’s ambitious plans to bring the Olympics online and to your cell phone.

Michael Learmonth of Silicon Valley Insider says while NBC is putting the Olympics online, it’s not sharing the Games with its Hulu video site.

Digital Home Canada laments the fact that NBC’s online coverage of the Olympics won’t be made available to Canadians.

However, Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter reports that CBC will offer 1,500 hours of online coverage of the Olympics.

CBC Sports announces that its entire 282 hours of TV coverage of the Olympics will be broadcast in HD. TSN says its 150 hours of coverage of the Beijing Olympics will also be in HD.

Rob Longley of the Vancouver Sun says CBC’s cameras will be able to take live shots of Tienamen Square.

Newsday’s Neil Best who seems to be grumpy now that his vacation is over says there won’t be any surprises when NBC formally announces the announcing assignments today. Neil also applauds the NFL Network decision to name New York Giants radio announcer Bob Papa as its announcer on Thursday and Saturday Night Football. And this is a first as far as I know. Neil will take part in a live chat today at 1 p.m. ET. In his special Wednesday column, Neil says Fox Sports had an up and down All-Star Game. In his blog, Neil takes Fox to task for waiting until the 11th inning to pay tribute to the late Bobby Murcer.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says Mariano Rivera had the defining moments of the All-Star Game on Fox.

From the Chicago Tribune, Ameet Sachdev writes that a Cubs-only cable channel is a distinct possibility when the team’s rights with Comcast SportsNet expire in 2019.

MLB says Fox and TBS Sports are collaborating on a massive pitch for the playoffs.

Awful Announcing says Howard Stern Wack Packer High Pitch Eric solicited ESPN’s Erin Andrews to appear on the Stern show.

The Sports Media Watch says ESPN drew great ratings for the Home Run Derby.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball says the Home Run Derby is the highest rated show of the year to date on cable.

Bob Smizik from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the local ESPN Radio affiliate dropped the All-Star Game in the bottom of the 10th inning and never went back.

Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recaps MLB Walking Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig’s appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Monday.

Surely by now, you’re aware of the New York Daily News taking Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon’s statements about finishing the All-Star Game out of context. The Sox & Dawgs blog takes the New York media to task for overblowing Papelbon’s comments. And Sox & Dawgs says the sensationalism put Papelbon’s wife at risk.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Josh Hamilton will start getting endorsements. Darren also talks with MLB’s Executive Vice President of Business Operations on the launch of the MLB Network.

Joe Favorito says Vitamin Water hit a big marketing home run during All-Star Game weekend.

The 38Cliches blog links to an interview with former Red Sox announcing hack Glenn Geffner.

Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post writes that Billy Packer has had more than just “One Shining Moment”. And Michael Wilbon of the Post says Packer was a pro’s pro on TV.

In his Over the Top blog, Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star writes about Bob Papa taking the NFL Network play-by-play gig. Also from the Star, Aaron Barnhart says the NFL Network went with the safe route when it should have selected ESPN’s Pam Ward.

Bruce Allen from the Boston Sports Media Watch says WEEI has officially announced that former Boston Herald writers Rob Bradford and Michael Felger are joining the company to report for the radio station’s website.

Michael Buteau of Bloomberg writes that without Tiger Woods, the Open Championship will have lower ratings and a wide open field.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune looks forward to the next NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on NBC.

The DC/Baltimore Examiner’s Jim Williams asks if Baltimore wants a minor league hockey team.

Tim Lemke from the Washington Times writes that two rival MMA pay per view events take place this Saturday.

Kevin Downey of Media Life Magazine says NASCAR has rebounded in the ratings, but not in ad revenue.

A lot of links today. I’ll have more stuff later.

Some More Wednesday Links for You

I’ll give you an evening update here. I wasn’t planning on it as I was at an event in East Greenwich, RI, but I got back earlier than expected.

One observation, Marv Albert’s toupee really looks unnatural tonight. If you’re watching the NBA Western Conference Finals on TNT, you know what I mean. What is that thing on his head? A raccoon?

From Neil Best of Newsday, he writes that Yankees radio voice John Sterling might be hinting that the Bronx Bombers are a bad team. Neil also gives a suggestion to Mets manager Willie Randolph the next time he thinks of spouting off to the media. And Neil links to an interview Randolph did with WFAN apologizing for his remarks.

The Sports Media Watch says the NHL Stanley Cup Final will be a hit, but perhaps not in the first two games as they will be on Versus.

NBC Sports gives us highlights of a conference call previewing the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette writes in his blog that the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday drew its highest ratings ever on ESPN.

Darren Rovell of CNBC looks at NBA Commish David Stern’s comments about the OJ Mayo investigation before the NBA Draft Lottery. And Darren goes behind the marketing of “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble”, the famous phrase made famous by ring announcer Michael Buffer.

Michael David Smith of the AOL Fanhouse blog notices that Bill Simmons continues to take shots at his ESPN.com editors on his own personal blog.

Charles Warner in the Huffington Post blog says it’s a bad idea for media conglamorates to own sports teams.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says Jim Nantz of CBS Sports is in town to promote his new book, but it’s also a chance for him to visit his father who has Alzheimer’s Disease.

John Consoli of Mediaweek goes in-depth on the new CBS College Sports Media which will be an interactive ad network.

Bobbie Whiteman of Variety says Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports will share rights to England’s FA Cup.

Awful Announcing has the penalty kick phase of the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea.

CBS Sports previews the Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial, the next stop on the PGA Tour.

LC over at 38Cliches is wincing at the notion that Glenn Geffner is trying to stir up memories of calling Clay Buchholz’s no hitter last season.

The Sox & Dawgs blog has the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

That’s it for tonight.

1st Anniversary of Fang’s Bites – A Look Back at the Last 12 Months

I won’t be able to give you the Saturday links as usual this morning. I’m currently away and have had to leave the house early for a get-together. I’ll give you the links later today.

As I celebrate the one year anniversary of the re-launch of this blog, I think back to some of the bigger stories of the last 12 months.

I’ll count them down in reverse order:

11. Alycia Lane’s pictures being e-mailed to Rich Eisen and having them intercepted by his wife.
10. Bethanie Mattek showing her cleavage to a ball boy at the US Open and dressing as a French Nanny.
9. The Red Sox firing Jerry Trupiano from the radio booth and using the combination of Dave O’Brien and the inexperienced Glenn Geffner to replace him in 2007 leaving Red Sox fans in despair whenever Glenn was on the air.
8. Turner Sports successfully debuting TBS Hot Corner during the MLB playoffs, mixing live coverage on TV and on the internet.
7. The NBA reups with ESPN and TNT for another 8 seasons.
6. Dan Patrick leaves ESPN Radio and then goes missing …. errrrr…. I mean, signs a weak radio syndication deal and then joins Sports Illustrated.
5. Kelly Tilghman of the Golf Channel was suspended for making a racial slur earlier this year and subsequently apologized upon her return.
4. Debut of the Big Ten Network to a miniscule audience.
3. NFL Network vs. Cable.
2. Media buyouts leaving newspapers and TV stations with skeleton staffs.
1. The Buzz Bissinger vs. Will Leitch segment on Costas Now.

It has been a good 12 months. I’ve enjoyed doing the links and I’ll continue doing them as long as I’m able. And thanks to the people who have sent kind words over the last 12 months including Neil Best, Ken Schott, David Scott, Richard Deitsch, Joe Favorito, Bruce Allen, Bob Glauber, Chris Pursell, Beau Estes, Vince Wladika, Darren Rovell, Andy Gresh, Curt Chaplin, Christopher Byrne, Andrew Siciliano, John Ourand, Dave Weekley, John Crowe, Rick Lacroix, Amazing Race Asia Executive Producer Michael McKay and anyone who has sent comments anonymously both good and bad. I appreciate your patronage and I hope you continue to visit over the next 12 months and beyond. This has been lots of fun.

Wednesday Night Links

I’ll give you some linkage this evening.

Earlier today, I was listening to the Red Sox-A’s game through MLB Gameday Audio and noticed that Joe Castiglione was broadcasting solo for the first two innings. Because partner Dave O’Brien was working the Blue Jays-Yankees game for ESPN2, this was one of the games where the Shaw’s WRKO/WEEI Red Sox Radio Network was to use either Dale Arnold or Jon Rish when Dave was not there. However, both Arnold and Rish were in Boston and Joe went solo with special guest appearances from two Red Sox beat reporters. LC from the 38 Cliches blog wonders how this happened. This cannot happen again.

And we already have reaction from South Florida on Glenn Geffner who’s now butchering Marlins games as badly as he did Red Sox games last season.

Neil Best of Newsday reports in his blog that the Yankees season opener scored well for YES as did the Mets for SNY.

Earlier tonight, I had a press release from Fox Sports in which Executive Producer Ed Goren talked about the bullish ad sales for the All Star Game at Yankee Stadium. Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable has more of Goren’s comments about the Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week.

MSNBC’s David Sweet says CBS and the NCAA are cashing in on the Final Four.

John Consoli of Mediaweek writes that ESPN has seen a 43% increase in the ratings for the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News says Bryant Gumbel will interview Democratic Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (IL) on this month’s edition of Real Sports.

Stuart Levine of Variety says Tuesday night will be movie night on ESPN2 starting April 22 as the network will air various documentaries produced by the ESPN Films unit.

Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable says SoapNET has picked up the steamy CBC series, MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says parents can now test their kids for steroids.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks about Jose Canseco’s interview with Howard Stern on Sirius Satelllite Radio as well as The Masters on CBS.

USA Today picks up an article written by the Associated Press’ Doug Ferguson about The Masters showing more of its coverage online and going global thanks to ESPN.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune says watching an entire Blackhawks season on TV and in HD becomes reality in the fall.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News talks with ESPN’s Julie Foudy about David Beckham playing in the Galaxy’s home opener tomorrow.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks with Bob Lobel who was ousted from WBZ-TV in Boston this week. Amy Derjue of Boston Magazine’s Daily Blog has her reaction to the cuts at WBZ.

That will do it for tonight. See you in the morning.

Another Friday Update

I’ll give you a few more links before moving onto the Viewing Picks for college basketball and the weekend.

First, Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner says Comcast SportsNet and MASN are experiencing HD growing pains.

Newsday’s Neil Best has a preview of this Sunday’s New York Times Play magazine in which Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner tries to stomp on Red Sox Nation. And Neil says Bobby Mercer’s work schedule on YES will be curtailed as he undergoes a biopsy for a brain tumor this Monday.

Darren Rovell of CNBC chronicles his experience playing the Harlem Globetrotters at Madison Square two weeks ago. Darren also reveals himself wearing “Semi-Pro” gear. And Darren talks about Sprint being the big loser at the Daytona 500 two weeks ago.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes in his Best Seat in My House blog about ESPN profiling the son of Dave Hanson, one of the Hanson brothers in Slap Shot. Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has more about Christian Hanson who plays hockey himself at Notre Dame.

Chris Pursell of TV Week writes in his Pressbox blog about the increased ratings for last Saturday’s Tennessee-Memphis on ESPN.

Todd Spangler of Multichannel News says Verizon Fios hopes to offer MLB’s Extra Innings PPV package to its subscribers.

Evan Benn of the Miami Herald has a story on ex-Red Sox and current Florida Marlins announcer Glenn Geffner and Friend of Fang’s Bites, LC from 38 Cliches is quoted in the article. LC has his reaction in his 38 Cliches blog. Geffner is pictured in the article giving a fist pump. What he’s doing exactly is unknown.

I’ve been meaning to link to this story, but I keep forgetting. XM Satellite Radio subscribers can listen to Spring Training Grapefruit League and Cactus League games all throughout March. The Orbitcast blog has details.

That does for now. I’ll have more coming up.

Your Saturday Linkage

Before I begin, it’s nice to have some live sports this morning. While watching match play golf isn’t the most appealing thing in the world, it’s assuring to wake up and have the WGC Match Play Championships on the Golf Channel. I’m certainly enjoying having his on my TV this morning instead of the silly infomercials that dot the cable TV landscape. And NESN has live coverage of Red Sox Spring Training as well. Seeing the Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin in the morning is very appealing also. And if I really wanted a stretch, I could turn to Fox Soccer Channel to get a glimpse the English Premier League. If the networks could somehow convince MLB or some college conference to have one early morning game a week, I would be a happy man.

To your links.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dan Caesar says a feud is brewing between Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and a sports radio talk show host.

Jerry Garcia in the San Antonio Express-News talks about HBO’s documentary on Joe Louis which premieres tonight.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says the Joe Louis doc is truly must-see TV. Horn also talks with the very opinionated sports anchor Dale Hansen of WFAA-TV who doesn’t spare any barbs for ESPN’s Stuart Scott and Chris Berman.

Completing the Texas trifecta, Ray Buck of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says HBO’s documentary on Joe Louis kicks off a big night of boxing tonight.

Guy Limbeck of the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says a local sportscaster will be involved in a marathon day of callling hockey.

Scott Wright of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN will follow the Oklahoma basketball team leading up to the NCAA Selection Sunday for the men’s basketball tournament.

Mike Boone of the Montreal Gazette writes TSN is going to have marathon coverage of the NHL Trading Deadline on Tuesday.

The Arizona Daily Star has a Match Play Championships notebook and included is a blurb on NBC Sports golf producer Tommy Roy who scouted camera and tower positions for the tournament.

The Winston-Salem (NC) Journal reports that ISP Sports has signed a long term agreement with Notre Dame to produce its football games on radio. ISP replaces Westwood One which had carried Notre Dame football dating back to 1968.

Chip Malafronte of the New Haven (CT) Register writes about Chris Kotsopoulos, a former Hartford Whaler, who’s doing TV work for Quinnipiac College hockey games.

Michael C. Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune says the journey for the mtn. to get on DirecTV was a long, uphill climb. Sean Duff of the Daily Coloradoan says Colorado State University is happy to have its games on a national platform.

Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Scouting Combine on the NFL Network is hardly compelling TV.

The Sports Media Watch has its weekend ratings predictions.

The Eye on Sports Media blog has the winners of US Basketball Writers Association Best Writing Contest for 2007.

The 38 Cliches blog wonders if a story on Glenn Geffner in the Miami Herald was spiked.

That’s going to do it today.

Our Sunday Linkage

Let’s give you some links for today.

We’ll start off with Newsday’s Neil Best, but before that, let me me gaze at Giada De Laurentiis on Everyday Italian for a moment.

Ok, Rachel Ray is on. That’s where I draw the line.

Where was I? Oh yes, Neil Best of Newsday has a column celebrating the 100th birthday of the late, great Hall of Fame announcer Red Barber, who still has an influence on announcers today. In his blog, Neil notes that he’s doing another historical piece for next Sunday. And Neil also says that he’s cutting back on posting during the weekends. He’s made this announcement before, so let’s see if he sticks with it this time.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman says when TNT’s Kenny Smith is doing games on MSG, he’s sounding like he’s making a pitch to become the coach of the Knicks.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post picks a strange battle here, defending Big East referee Bob Donato for making a gutsy (and wrong) call in the Villanova-Georgetown game last Monday.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has a post in his blog about some Black History Month programming and books.

Shannon J. Owens of the Orlando Sentinel says ESPN’s Suzy Kolber should get a better gig now that her role has been reduced on Monday Night Football.

Jeff Rabjohns of the Indianapolis Star looks at the atmosphere in Bloomington, IN when ESPN’s College Gameday crew descended upon Assembly Hall yesterday. And Rabjohns writes the crowd was plainly against embattled Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson during College Gameday’s live show.

Steve Wiseman of The State in South Carolina says CBS Sports has begun promoting its online March Madness on Demand service.

The Washington Post has a laundry list for NASCAR’s TV partners to improve upon this season.

Eric Ransom of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes about former canoe gold medalist Joe Jacobi doing work for NBC during the Summer Olympics in Communist China this August.

The Sports Media Watch gives the weekly ratings predictions. And we have the ratings for the Daytona 500 and NBA All Star Game over the last four years.

Joseph Whip of TVPredictions.com asks Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia to provide more programming in HD.

Good friend, Joe Favorito writes in his Sports Marketing and PR blog about sports leagues’ global expansion and the English Premier League’s plans to go overseas.

The 38Cliches blog has some people who look back on the Glenn Geffner era in Red Sox broadcasting in anger.

That’s it for now.

Another Late Tuesday Night Update

I just can’t seem to stop blogging today.

By the way, I’ve been watching the re-broadcast of Super Bowl XXXVI, the game which started the Patriots Dynasty. Besides seeing what is in essence the start of the Patriots’ rise in the NFL over the last 7 years, the highlight for me was watching the performance of U2 in the halftime show. To me, it’s the best musical performance in a Super Bowl ever. I’ve seen most of them including Up with People, the creepy Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson (who didn’t see that?), Paul McCartney, etc., etc., etc. The banner of those who died in 9/11 was emotional just seeing it unfurl over the stage and all of the songs from Beautiful Day to The Streets Have No Name were done brilliantly. It was tremendous to watch.

If you missed any part of Super Bowl Media Day, you can read the live blog done by SI.com which includes the comments of Richard Deitsch.

Steven Zeitchik of the Hollywood Reporter writes that cable will have plenty of options for you to watch opposite the Super Bowl halftime show.

The Daily News Tribune (MA) reports that a church in Pembroke, MA will not air the Super Bowl on a 55 inch TV screen as planned due to potential copyright violations. No NFL game can be aired in public on a screen larger than 50 inches. This is true. And a very silly rule.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that the NHL All Star Game on Versus saw a slight uptick in the ratings as compared to last year.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that a proposed CBC amateur sports channel in Canada faces several hurdles including objections from TSN and Rogers Sportsnet.

Joe Favorito has some thoughts on the Kelly Tilghman, Dana Jacobsen and Rick Majerus incidents.

Awful Announcing has a look at funny censorship over at Foxsports.com.

The 38Cliches blog laments the end of the Glenn Geffner era in Boston (kidding!).

CBS Sports gives us a preview of the PGA FBR Open which it will cover this weekend. And CBS tells us what college basketball games it’ll be airing.

Here’s ESPN’s press release on its partnership with Domino’s Pizza.

If you’re wondering what games the NHL Network will carry next month in the US, you can click here.

That’s it. Good night.

Time for Friday Megalinks

Last night I took a break from the blog and my computer and watched my URI Rams inexplicably lose to St. Louis, the same team that scored just 20 points against George Washington a week ago, then watched some Australian Open coverage.

I am happy to see Tennis Channel pick up early evening coverage at 7 p.m., then hand off to ESPN2 whenever the Worldwide Leader is ready to pick up after its commitments. It makes for better comprehensive coverage of the first Grand Slam of the Year. Perhaps when Tennis Channel picks up more cable systems, it can get the entire tournament instead of just two to three hours a night. It’s been enjoyable.

Ok, let’s get to your Friday links now.

First, from the “This Is Not A Surprise” Department, Golfweek has replaced Dave Seanor, the editor responsible for putting a hangman’s noose on the cover of this week’s issue in regards to the Kelly Tilghman controversy. I had a feeling this was going to be incendiary and it was.

Next, USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes about how CBS analyst Phil Simms’ advice during a 2005 radio interview still resonates with Brett Favre today.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that Under Armour is seeing a huge stock price fall today after news about its Super Bowl ad was released.

East and Mid-Atlantic Region

Let’s go East to South and then head West today. Starting with Nancy Marrapese-Burrell of the Boston Globe, she says local TV stations will be rolling out the cameras for pregame coverage for the AFC Championship this weekend.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says NFL analysts Troy Aikman, Boomer Esiason and Dan Marino can all relate to Eli Manning’s maturity as a quarterback. And Sandomir writes about the controversial Golfweek magazine cover.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News who has been in a rotten mood for the first three weeks of 2008 informs us that the NFL cares about ratings and not about “ideal playing conditions.” He says the NFC Championship should be played in a dome. So we never would have had the 1967 Ice Bowl if Raissman had his way. Whatever.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post remembers former New York Met Don Cardwell who died earlier this week. The Post’s Justin Terranova has five questions for ESPN’s Keyshawn Johnson. And he talks with former Giants coach and current Westwood One Radio analyst Jim Fassell about the change in the team throughout the season. In his blog, Terranova writes that a Wisconsin TV station will pre-empt its normal airing of Seinfeld so Eli Manning won’t be able to watch his favorite show the day before the game.

Neil Best always has a bunch of stuff for readers on Fridays and today is no exception. Let’s start with his column in Newsday which focuses on Fox Sports’ Pam Oliver who made the comment in Week 2 that the Giants defense was listless on the sidelines. Neil also has a story on the Golfweek cover. From his blog, Neil adds a couple of paragraphs that were dropped from his column. And he adds a few things about Pam Oliver including her comments that she’s not speaking to Eagles QB Donovan McNabb after he threw her under the bus earlier this season.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes in his Best Seat in My House blog about the healthy dosage of coverage for the Australian Open this year.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has a news and notes column starting with the Eli Manning-Seinfeld story.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner writes in his blog that Ravens fans have forgotten about Jason Garrett and are now focusing on Martyball.

South Region

From The State in South Carolina, Doug Nye has some TV news and notes.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald talks about the hiring of former Red Sox radio announcing hack Glenn Geffner by the Florida Marlins.

Dave Darling in today’s Orlando Sentinel writes about Deadspin’s Will Leitch who’s new book is being released on Tuesday.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says the NFL playoffs are the 800 lb. gorilla of the airwaves.

Midwest Region

Ed Sherman of the Chicago Tribune writes that Golfweek’s cover only exacerbates the Kelly Tilghman controversy.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Fox Sports’ Troy Aikman is surprised with the NFC Championship matchup.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Judd Zulgad says the CBS and Fox production crews are preparing for cold weather this Sunday.

West Region

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) Morning News writes that Fox is getting up to $3 million per 30 second ad for the Super Bowl.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Chargers could really foul things up and be a Super Bowl spoiler for Fox. Here are the ratings for the last weekend in San Diego. Note the ratings for the Chargers-Colts game.

In the North County Times, John Maffei writes about the cold weather preparation for the network crews in the AFC and NFC Championship games.

The Ventura County Star’s Jim Carlisle says Packers QB Brett Favre is always fun to watch.

In her Sound and Vision column, the Los Angeles Times’ Christine Daniels previews the viewing weekend including the NFL Conference Championships.

The Los Angeles Daily News’ Tom Hoffarth says the networks would love to see snow in the Conference Championship games. And he has a healthy helping of media notes in his Farther Off the Wall blog today.

Canada

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the Patriots’ pursuit of perfection is the main storyline for the AFC Championship.

The Toronto Star’s Chris Zelkovich says boxing is picking itself off the canvas as a viable television sport.

Blogs

The Sports Media Watch has the story that Golfweek has fired editor David Seanor over the noose cover. Paulsen has some various notes as well.

The 38Cliches blog has reaction to Glenn Geffner going to Florida to butcher four innings a game for the Marlins this coming season.

Awful Announcing notices that Versus is going to have The Karate Kid movies on this weekend.

The Biz of Baseball notes that veteran writer Hal Bodley will be covering the sport for MLB.com.

John Crowe of The Crowe’s Nest blog (and Executive Producer of 790/99.7 The Score in Providence) has some Friday musings.

And Joe Favorito has some tips for those wanting a job in sports marketing and PR.

That’s it. We have more things to do today so keep it here.

BREAKING NEWS: Boston’s One Year Nightmare Is Over

The 38Cliches blog says Glenn Geffner is leaving the Boston Red Sox radio booth and heading to Miami to become the number two announcer for the Florida Marlins.

In fact, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that the Goofster beat out 146 applicants for the job (?). Glenn will work next to legendary announcer Dave Van Horne who is one of the best in the game. Unfortunately, Marlins fans will be subject to Goofie for four innings which is the same amount that Red Sox fans had to endure last season.

Here’s the official press release from the Marlins.

And South Florida baseball fans will have to deal with Goofie for the entire season unlike in Boston where he called an estimated 120 games including the World Series (unfortunately Glenn is on the 2007 World Series DVD’s).

But for Red Sox fans, this is great news. So long, Glenn.

Sunday Links

I know these are late, but because I was out for the day, I wasn’t able to get to them, but better late than never.

We start with Newsday’s Neil Best who writes about former NFL player Bo Eason who has a one-man play off-Broadway. And Neil adds some stuff from his column in his blog.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick says the Knicks keeping the news of his father’s death from Stephon Marbury is par for the course for Madison Square Garden.

Bob Raisssman of the New York Daily News says the NFL should offer the Patriots-Giants game in Week 17 free of charge to everyone. And how should they accomplish this, Bob?

I don’t know if this is a theme, but Richard Sandomir of the New York Times has a story on the NHL store, two days after Neil Best had one. And Sandomir has a story of two amateur filmmakers who have the 1956 World Series perfect game thrown by Don Larsen.

The Sports Media Watch blog has the predictions of the mostly completed sports events on TV.

The 38Cliches blog notes that a West Coast-based sports blog has extended its claws on former Red Sox public relations man, Dr. Charles Steinberg and by extension, Red Sox announcing hack Glenn Geffner.

From the DC/Baltimore Examiner, Jim Willliams writes in his Watch This! blog that Redskins fans can scoreboard watch and Ravens fans can keep an eye on the Steelers before tonight’s Sunday night game.

Matt Doyle of the Tulsa World says fans of Oklahoma State and Indiana may not be able to see the Insight Bowl as the NFL Network will carry it on December 31.

LaMond Pope of the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette writes that of the first 13 games of the Big Ten regular season, only 3 have been available on outlets other than the Big Ten Network thus shutting fans out of most of the games.

I don’t think I’ve ever linked to the Financial Times, but I will today. Matthew Garrahan writes that ESPN is interested in gaining the rights to the English Premier League when the rights become available in 2009 .

Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes that the new NHL Players’ Association Executive Director is urging the NHL to get his membership more exposure. Like on ESPN.

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes that ESPN has indeed apologized for a crass poll put up on its website.

Jenn Abelson of the Boston Globe reports that the New England Patriots and CBS are partnering on a theme restaurant. And Greg Gatlin of the Herald has another edition of that story.

Larry Dorman of the New York Times writes that NBC and the US Golf Association are teaming up on a reality show focusing on amateur golfers trying to get into the US Open. Really.

That’s it. The Amazing Race is coming on. See you later.

It’s a Tuesday Night Linkfest

Let’s check out the linkage for tonight.

Starting out with Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner in his Watch This! blog, he reviews the local coverage on radio, cable and local over the air TV of the Sean Taylor story.

A couple of things from Newsday’s Neil Best in his blog. First, he tells us that Mets radio announcer Tom McCarthy is leaving after two years to return to the Phillies radio booth. And he goes over the very poor commentary from Mike Francesca and Chris Russo on WFAN today on Sean Taylor.

Over on his Farther Off the Wall blog, Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News goes over the alternatives for NFL fans without the NFL Network to catch the Green Bay-Dallas game this Thursday. Meanwhile, fans in Green Bay will be able to watch the game on the CBS affiliate in town.

And here’s an NFL Media press release on the web feature on NFL.com allowing fans to see live cut-ins of the Green Bay-Dallas game this Thursday.

“NFL.COM LIVE: THURSDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL”

FEATURES “LIVE LOOK-INS” OF NFL NETWORK GAMES

First-Ever Widely Available Live Online and Wireless

Video NFL Game Coverage in U.S. on NFL.com and Sprint

NFL Network’s Packers-Cowboys Game Thursday at 8:00 PM ET

For the first time ever, NFL.com and NFL Mobile on Sprint offer all fans live online and wireless video coverage of NFL Network games, it was announced today.

This Thursday night’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys on NFL Network at 8:00 pm ET will be featured on NFL.com Live: Thursday and Saturday Night Football presented by Sprint, offering NFL fans a unique way to experience NFL games.

For fans who don’t have NFL Network, the live broadband broadcast covers the game from all angles. NFL.com Live: Thursday Night Football will be anchored by a live, originally produced video program, complimented by various interactive applications, giving fans a look at NFL Network games (NFL Network game schedule below) and programming.

NFL.com Live is also available to fans on the go via NFL Mobile on Sprint, which will stream NFL.com’s video coverage.

The video program consists of live look-ins, a live studio show, and featured NFL Network programming:

· “Live Look-Ins” – Fans will get a live look at NFL Network game action at :15 and :45 past each hour and during select action in the “red zone” (inside 20-yard line). The NFL Network halftime show will also be shown on NFL.com.

· Live In-Studio Programming – Includes game highlights, analysis and previews of the NFL games ahead that week, in-studio guests, conversations with NFL Network talent on-site at the game, and answers to questions submitted by fans on NFL.com.

· Featured NFL Network Programming – Segments of NFL Network programs reviewing the previous weekend’s games and previewing upcoming action.

NFL Network’s DERRIN HORTON, JAMIE DUKES and ROD WOODSON quarterback the live NFL.com video coverage of NFL Network games from the network’s Culver City, CA studios.

Additional interactive features will enhance NFL.com’s live video program:

· Submit a Question – Select fan questions submitted on NFL.com will be answered by NFL Network analysts.

· Live Statistics – Real-time statistical updates accompany the video program.

· “Call the Play” – Fans can match their play calls with the teams, by “predicting” the upcoming play.

· Live Blogging – NFL.com and NFL Network experts – including those on-site at the game – provide live analysis and commentary.

· “Get NFL Network” – Allows users who want to get NFL Network to find information on how to get it.

“Our coverage complements the complete game telecast on NFL Network and will showcase everything NFL Network has to offer,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Digital Media BRIAN ROLAPP. “

As for all other NFL games, NFL.com will include live statistics and drive charts in Game Center, highlights, and extensive editorial coverage of NFL Network games.

NFL.com, the most popular sports league website, is produced by the NFL.

Andrew Krukowski of TV Week has a feature on the new NFL Network ads featuring former 49er great, Joe Montana.

Friend of Fang’s Bites, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch talks with the outgoing Red Sox Director of Public Relations, Dr. Charles Steinberg, who’s leaving for a similar post with the Los Angeles Dodgers. One side note in his story, Scott speculates on the fate of Red Sox announcing butcher and Fang’s Bites target, Glenn Geffner. And another Friend of Fang’s Bites, LC over at 38Cliches wonders what the Steinberg move will mean for Goofner. Personally, I don’t think Goofie would go to LA right away as the Dodger radio booth is full for now (Vin Scully, Charley Steiner and Rick Monday), but as former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Joaquin Andujar once said, “youneverknow”.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell looks at the Alex Rodriguez contract with the Yankees and wonders if the team could ever collect its money back as A-Rod gets closer to Barry Bonds’ home run record.

Gina Keating of Reuters reports from the Reuters Media Summit that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NASCAR Chairman Brian France feel ESPN has much to improve upon.

The Baltimore Sun’s Ray Frager in his Medium Well blog looks at a poll conducted by the Sports Business Journal of its readership on its favorite sportscasters and sports shows. The results may surprise you.

And that’s it for tonight. See you tomorrow.

The Friday Megalinks, Finally

I was at a jobsite all day and didn’t get home until after 4:30 p.m. so you didn’t get them at your regular time, but better late than never.

Starting off with a couple of posts from David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch. He first wrote Wednesday about dueling press releases from Comcast SportsNet and NESN in regards to their World Series coverage. Next, Scott has some odds and ends in his regular Friday post.

John Powers of the Boston Globe writes about the different starting times for the World Series on Fox.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes about Fox preparing for its NFL broadcast in London and what ESPN is doing to pump the Breeders’ Cup.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times isn’t enamored with the product placement in the World Series.

Bob Raissman in the New York Daily News says Hank Steinbrenner is a chip off the old block.

Phil Mushnick in the New York Post is in a hating mood. He rails against Yankees President Randy Levine and Fox Sports’ Matt Vasgerian.

Newsday’s Neil Best gives praise to SNY for its Yankees coverage, but notes that ESPN SportsCenter outrates the channel in New York. And we give you some blog posts from Best from last night into today. First, Best reports that UFC has renewed its contract with Spike TV. Best has an addendum to his column about the newsgathering operations for WFAN and 1050 ESPN Radio. Neil notes that Tennis Channel has removed “The” from its name. And Best showing his Yankees bias says Red Sox fans are the most annoying on earth. It’s the other way around, Neil.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell talks about the ridiculous World Series Taco Bell promotion that was overplayed on Fox the last two nights. And Darren writes about the reach of Allstate Insurance with its advertising on college football through the BCS and the netting behind the goalposts.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun has a bunch of stuff in his Friday column including comments on Rick Reilly leaving Sports Illustrated for ESPN and Joe Torre’s overall popularity. In his Medium Well blog, Frager wonders why the World Series doesn’t get more play on Baltimore radio.

From The State newspaper in South Carolina, Doug Nye has some TV notes. His weekend TV Best Bet is South Carolina at Tennessee on ESPN. And Nye’s Friday column talks about Gamecock fans being angry at ESPN’s choosing not to show the South Carolina-Arkansas game on November 3.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson writes about the tough obstacles facing WQAM in the wake of losing the Dolphins and the soon-to-be-departed Hank Goldberg.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel picks up an Associated Press story about the challenges Fox Sports is facing by televising the first NFL regular season game in London which of course, involves the Dolphins.

Cary Estes of the Orlando Sentinel writes about the SEC college basketball media day on Thursday in which the coaches complained about a lack of TV exposure (what?). And Dave Darling of the Sentinel also writes about the “trade” of Rick Reilly for Dan Patrick between ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

From the Houston Chronicle, David Barron writes that there was more interest this year in Game 1 of the World Series than last year.

To the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley who gives us some of the things that will be shown during ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast involving Packers and Broncos.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Judd Zulgad says the Twins couldn’t be happier with first year radio flagship staion, KSTP.

Dusty Saunders of the Rocky Mountain News says Game 1 of the World Series was a hit for Fox both nationally and in Denver.

Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) Morning News says the Mountain West Conference could have had a deal to put the mtn. on Dish Network in the seven states that encompass the conference’s market, but decided to hold out for a national deal and now, it’s not on Dish, DirecTV or Comcast.

Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune has three stories today. One we now know is outdated, but I’ll link to it anyway. Posner writes that the Texans-Chargers game would be televised into the San Diego no matter where it’s played and we now know it’ll be at Qualcomm Stadium this Sunday. Posner says the USC-Oregon game will be on FSN Prime Ticket, a channel not available to San Diego cable subscribers. And as usual, Posner gives the ratings for last weekend in San Diego.

John Maffei of the North County Times writes that San Diego sports reporters turned over to news to help report on the megafires this week and Maffei also reviews the news coverage as well.

In the Los Angeles Times, Christine Daniels has her Sound and Vision column which attacks Fox for its silly virtual ads during the World Series.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News profiles FSN’s Andrew Siciliano who does a great job anchoring the DirecTV Red Zone Channel which is part of the NFL Sunday Ticket’s Superfan service. And Hoffarth gives us a story on the NHL Network which is finally making its debut in the US on Comcast, DirecTV, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable, Cox and other subscription TV services.

Jim Carlisle from the Ventura County Star writes that Fox traded out less MLB postseason games in its latest TV contract and it’s paid off with hgher ratings. And in his notebook, Carlisle writes that the Lakers will open the NBA season on TNT.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail has a story on the top paid Canadian sportscasters. And Houston says Leafs TV ignored a big developing story involving the Maple Leafs. Finally, Houston writes that Greg Zaun is doing a good job analyzing the MLB Postseason on Rogers Sportsnet.

And Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes about Dan Schulman picking up NBA play-by-play work on ESPN which means he will drop Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN Radio which is unfortunate.

Over to the 38Cliches blog and LC says the petition requesting WRKO and the Red Sox to dump Glenn Geffner is still going strong.

To the Sport Media Watch blog and it states that while Game 1 of the 2007 World Series had a huge ratings jump from last year, it still is low compared to other Games 1. And Paulsen notes that with Game 2 in the books, the numbers for the World Series are still trending low.

Yet, with the lower ratings for Game 2, Fox still won the night.

The Biz of Baseball website says that Comcast is extending its hours in Boston so customers can pick up HDTV boxes for the World Series.

The Orbitcast blog which covers the Satellite Radio industry says that Sirius will pick up the audio from World Championship Sports Network for the World Cup Skiing Season.

That’s it for now. The Megalinks are up and I’m happy. I’ll give you Saturday links and NFL Picks tomorrow.

A Tuesday Afternoon Update

Well, I found some linkage for this afternoon. Let’s get to them.

Good friend, LC of the anti-Glenn Geffner blog, 38 Cliches, has the news that regular listeners of the Red Sox Radio Network outside of Boston won’t be able to hear Goofner during the World Series unless they log on the internet. ESPN Radio has national exclusivity except in the home cities so only flagship station, WRKO in Boston will carry the call of Joe Castiglione and Goofie. MLB.com will also have the WRKO call through its Gameday Audio service. Everywhere else will have to listen to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan and I think that’s an upgrade even with Morgan doing the analysis.

Maury Brown from the Biz of Baseball website reports that MLB has reached an agreement to broadcast the World Series in China.

In ESPN.com’s Tuesday Morning Quarterback, Gregg Easterbrook goes after the Patriots once again and puts the Colts in iconic status. This will anger Pats fans to no end, but in every other NFL city, give fans a laugh.

From the NFL, we discover that it plans to move the kickoff of Monday Night Football up a half hour to 8 p.m. Eastern Time if the World Series reaches a Game 5. Don’t forget that the Red Sox-Colorado game would be played directly across the street from the Green Bay-Broncos game next Monday. But I do believe Fox would schedule the World Series for 7 p.m. ET as it did during the American League Championship Series when it went up against Monday Night Football.

And in an attempt at streamlining, the first round of the NFL Draft would be moved from noon ET to 3 p.m. and the time in between picks would be reduced from 15 to 10 minutes and for the second round, the time would be reduced from 10 minutes to 7.

Neil Best of Newsday is just nuts this afternoon blogging like crazy. I’ll give you some selected entries. First, he writes that the Jets’ Thomas Jones is very patient for putting up with Craig Carton of WFAN every Tuesday. Best mentioned this in his column today, and also puts it in his blog that ESPN’s Brian Kenny will join boxing charlatan Max Kellerman on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. And Best makes an impassioned plea for help after listening to WFAN’s Mike & the Mad Dog every day for 5.5 hours.

UPDATE AT 4:15 P.M. – Neil Best breaks the news that Max Kellerman was suspended from his 1050 ESPN Radio show Monday for an undisclosed disciplinary problem.

Frontier Airlines, based out of Denver, will show the World Series on its flights according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Christian Toto of the Washington Times speaks with Bernard Goldberg of HBO’s Real Sports. Speaking of Real Sports, Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News previews one story the show will air tonight, concerning former Cowboys Ron Springs and Everson Walls.

Susan Chandler of the Chicago Tribune has more on the Blackhawks allowing Comcast SportsNet to air home games starting this season. Ed Sherman from the Tribune says the home games on TV will revitalize a sleepy fan base. Lee Ziehm of the Chicago Sun-Times also writes on the increased amount of home games on TV. And bombastic Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti welcomes the Blackhawks to the 21st Century. William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail says the first of nine home games will air starting November 11.

So there you have it. I’ll give you the Primetime Viewing Picks next and later tonight, I’ll have my monthly real-time review of HBO’s Real Sports.

The Actual Wednesday Links

We did early morning Wednesday links today. As we’re back at work today, time to give you some real linkage.

First, the LPGA has unveiled a new logo and online pro shop. Steve DiMeglio of USA Today has the story.

Also from USA Today, Michael Hiestand says TBS will offer some new technology showing Cal Ripken, Jr. swinging at actual pitches thrown in the LDS.

The Sports Media Watch offers the TV ratings for the 2006 League Division Series, the last on ESPN and Fox, the League Championship Series and the World Series.

The Chicago Tribune’s Ed Sherman takes over the media beat from Teddy Greenstein who is covering college football now. Ed says if TBS is going to show the playoff games, it will need to offer better broadcasting teams. Sherman didn’t like NESN’s Don Orsillo and TBS Braves analyst Joe Simpson on the Wild Card playoff game. And Ed announces that *Dun… dun… dun….” Comcast Chicago will carry TBS HD starting today.

New York Daily News columnist Bob Raissman continues to be in a bad mood against TBS. He says even though there are earlier start times for the Red Sox and Yankees series, don’t be fooled because the channel wants to squeeze in more ad money.

Matthew Futterman of the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger explains why the Yankees-Cleveland series will start at 6:37 p.m. tomorrow.

Although in Chicago, Greg Couch of the Sun-Times says Cubs fans will have to burn the midnight oil to watch the Arizona series. Also from the Sun-Times, Mark Brown tells Cubs fans without cable to give a good listen to WGN Radio’s Pat Hughes and Ron Santo, although Brown himself will watch TBS. Amy Mack in the Chicago Daily Herald writes about two Cubs fans who will listen to their old 1933 radio to listen to the playoffs.

Bill Doyle of the Worcester (MA) Telegram & Gazette talks with Ted Robinson who will call the Red Sox-Angels series with Steve Stone on TBS. And Doyle gives good news to Red Sox Nation. Dave O’Brien will do the radio call of the LDS with Joe Castiglione on the Shaw’s/TD Banknorth/WRKO/WEEI/Entercom Red Sox Radio Network. But there’s some bad news too, because O’Brien has been assigned to work the LCS and World Series for MLB International, Glenn Geffner would work those series with Castig if the Sox advance that far. Horrible.

Richard Crepeau of PopPolitics.com laments the end of the Braves on TBS era.

David Goetzl of the Media Daily News reports that MLB has signed an agreement with Teletrax to monitor when TV stations across the country are running highlights of its playoff games. For instance, MLB will be able to determine if stations are running highlights while a game is in progress. You know the statement “without the expressed written consent of Major League Baseball”? That’s what this is supposed to prevent.

ESPN Radio has announced the broadcasting team assignments for the LDS.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Green Bay Packers are the fourth most popular NFL team in the country. If you’re wondering, Dallas, Indy and Pittsburgh are the top three.

In a commentary for National Public Radio, Frank Deford says having three men in the booth for ESPN’s Monday Night Football is excessive.

Jeff Karzen of the Battle Creek (MI) Enquirer says Michigan and Michigan State fans have a dilemma every week when their school is on the Big Ten Newtork.

That’s it for now.

Tuesday Night Stuff

Time for some links on this Tuesday night.

Let me say The War is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It’s compelling, the footage from the front lines taken by newsreels or by official military filmmakers is amazing. And hearing how people coped at home in four cities, Waterbury, CT; Mobile, AL; Lucerne, MN; and Sacramento, CA humanized the stories. Plus, the use of letters from soldiers and their families from home helps to give the viewer a sense of what everyone went through. It’s a device Director Ken Burns has used in The Civil War so well. Great TV. Tomorrow night, The War chronicles D-Day. Watch this when you can.

Ok, to the links.

The Sports Media Watch blog looks at the drop in ratings for ESPN’s Monday Night Football through the first three weeks of the NFL season.

Neil Best of Newsday blogs that The Daily Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson has written a reply to Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s tirade against her last Saturday.

ESPN.com’s Gregg Easterbrook has his usual Tuesday Morning Quarterback column.

Not that this comes as a surprise, but a study shows that sports websites are mostly visited by males aged 18-34.

Milwaukee Bucks fans can see 70 games on FSN Wisconsin this season.

Ray Frager in his Medium Well blog at the Baltimore Sun says Fox’ Curt Menefee made a reference to “The View” to former QB Tim Hasselbeck. His wife, Elizabeth is a panelist on the show.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Frank Fitzpatrick writes that the ratings for Phillies games on Comcast SportsNet are up this season.

Darren Rovell from CNBC writes that the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the New York Knicks will not affect them at the gate.

The 38Cliches blog looks at the comments at the petition site to remove Glenn Geffner from the Red Sox radio booth. And LC celebrates the long-awaited return of Dave O’Brien to the Shaw’s/Lowe’s/TD Banknorth/Covidien Red Sox Radio Network airwaves.

Will Leitch over at Deadspin has his take on the latest chapter of the ESPN/MLB feud.

And from the great Awful Announcing blog, apparently Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban likes to hold his rod.

Have a good night. See you Wednesday.

Saturday Morning Links

Let’s give you some links from the Saturday papers and anything I may have missed from Friday.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell has two blog entries about Texas oil tycoon Boone Pickens who has donated a lot of money towards his favorite school, Oklahoma State. I mean, a lot of money. We’re talking in the hundreds of millions of dollars for the Cowboys. The first is about Pickens’ investment not paying dividends yet. Following that, Pickens contacted Darren and the two entered into a friendly wager on today’s Oklahoma State-Texas Tech game. Keep us posted, Darren. I want to hear how Pickens reacts when his team loses again.

Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has Tony La Russa’s reaction to ESPN choosing Houston-St. Louis for Sunday Night Baseball. And Dan Caesar writes that an undefeated start to its season has Missouri football on ESPN’s and FSN’s radar.

From the San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Garcia says the Cowboys-Bears matchup on Sunday night won’t hurt NBC’s ratings.

Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News wonders why the Cowboys have been featured on Sunday Night Football two out of the first three weeks of the NFL season.

Mark Konkol of the Chicago Sun-Times writes about 10 year old Jason Krause who makes his opinions known on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes in his Morning Buzz blog that the San Jose Sharks and FSN may lift the blackout on 10 games that won’t be broadcast locally, but will be picked up by other out-of-town outlets. And Ryan reports that the Cleveland-Oakland game will be blacked out in the Bay Area because it wasn’t sold out.

The Capital Times (WI) reports that the Big Ten Network will pick up 13 hockey games including four from the University of Wisconsin. Ryan Meyer of the Chicago Sports Review says the Big Ten Network is destined to fail. I wonder what Meyer’s agenda on this is. Sounds like he works for Comcast.

Mike Klingaman of the Baltimore Sun talks with former Raven Rod Woodson who now works for the NFL Network.

Here’s what ESPN will show on both Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown.

Donna Ditota of the Syracuse Post-Standard goes behind the scenes with the Golf Channel at the Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Good friend, LC, reviews a letter from a reader of 38Cliches about the complaints concerning Red Sox broadcasting hack Glenn Geffner. Hack is as nice as I can put it.

That does it for this week. I’ll have Sunday links and Videos of the Week tomorrow.

Friday Mega Links

Here are your regular Friday links. Lots of stuff. Today, I’ll start it in the Midwest, then head South, head East and back out West.

Our usual start is Michael Hiestand of USA Today and he writes about TBS setting up its MLB postseason announcing lineup.

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Bob Wolfey writes that ESPN’s Brent Musberger and Kirk Herbstreit are road warriors for different reasons. Both will be doing the Iowa-Wisconsin game Saturday night. Herbstreit will be flying in from Tuscaloosa, AL after doing College Gameday while Musberger has to leave right after the game for NASCAR duties in Delaware the following day. ESPN should reconsider this arrangement.

Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wants Charles Barkley in the Monday Night Football booth more often.

David Barron in today’s Houston Chronicle writes that CBS’ Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcotts doing their most imporatant Texans game this Sunday.

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel asks readers where they stand in the Bright House/FSN situation. Also in the Sentinel, Dave Darling previews a new show looking at the science in sports on FSN.

Doug Nye in the State says Time Warner Cable is adding TBS in HD just in time for the MLB postseason. Nye naturally picks the South Carolina-LSU game as his best bet for the TV viewing weekend.

We’re glad to see that Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun is well enough to write his weekly Friday columns. He’s back this week to report that Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will have an overflow channel in case of conflicting events.

Laura Nachman of the Bucks County Courier Times has a story on Ron Jaworski and Suzy Kolber returning to the Delaware Valley for Monday Night Football earlier this week.

In the New York Daily News, Bob Raissman says the NFL is on the hunt for the person who leaked the Patriots spy tape to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer.

Newsday’s Neil Best reviews WFAN’s Boomer and Carton in the Morning show. And Best says in his blog that his review is constructive criticism. Best also reports that the New Jersey Devils have rehired Sherry Ross, hockey writer for the Daily News, as their radio analyst. She did that job in the mid-1990′s, quite well I might add.

Hoo boy. The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick goes after ESPN’s Ron Jaworski for sounding like a blowhard. Harsh. I disagree. I think Jaworski is doing a good job and meshes well with Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico. The Post’s Justin Terranova has five questions for ESPN’s Steve Phillips.

Big news from the FSN New England/Celtics luncheon yesterday, long time C’s TV analyst Tommy Heinsohn will be cutting back on his schedule. He and play-by-play man Mike Gorman have worked together for 27 years, the longest of any broadcast team in the country. Former UConn standout Donny Marshall will work the games that Heinsohn will skip. The Boston Globe’s Susan Bickelhaupt has more on this story.

Boston Sports Media Watch’s David Scott reports that the Red Sox will be reducing Glenn Geffner’s role in the radio booth if not eliminate it altogether. GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

Now heading out west, Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune has CBS’ Phil Simms advising Chargers fans not to panic in the wake of the Patriots destruction last Sunday night. Simms is working the Chargers-Packers game on Sunday. Posner also gives us the ratings from the San Diego market last week.

John Maffei in the North County Times reviews the baseball TV broadcast teams across the country and says he would take the Padres broadcasters over most of them.

Jim Carlisle in the Ventura County Star writes about a local high school football rivalry game getting radio coverage. In his blog, Carlisle reviews the first Mike Tirico Show on ESPN Radio.

Tom Hoffarth in the LA Daily News writes about DodgerTalk host Bob Harvey getting into trouble with the team for voicing his opinions. Hoffarth’s Farther Off the Wall blog has the transcript of the show that got Harvey into trouble and more media notes.

To Canada and the Toronto Star, Chris Zelkovich writes about the changes in Hockey Night in Canada this season.

And the Toronto Globe and Mail’s William Houston also has a story on the revamped HNIC.

Those are your links for now. I’ll have more in the afternoon.

Monday Afternoon Links

Let’s start off with more stuff from Neil Best of Newsday who wants everyone to know he’s back. When I published my first entry today, he had 10 entries. As of 2:25 p.m. ET, he has 23. The man is a blogging machine! He did break some news with the fact that WFAN has renewed its contract to broadcast New Jersey Nets games. Neil also got former Steeler coach Bill Cowher to admit that he’s still pulling for his old team. I have to admit, it’s tough keeping up with Neil when he’s like this. LOL.

Let’s go to the World of ESPN, which as we know, it’s a world we just live in. I don’t know what that means. Anyway, Michael Zuidema of the Grand Rapids Press says that the producers of Monday Night Football look to improve the product. It does appear that there will be guests tonight as opposed to an article written by Michael Hiestand of USA Today in which he said there wouldn’t be any. Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News says ESPN is coming to Cincinnati in a big way for tonight’s Monday Night Football season opener. Dustin Dow of the Cincinnati Enquirer says ESPN is shining its spotlight on the Queen’s City tonight. And Kerry Duke of the Cincinnati Post says the city’s Chamber of Commerce couldn’t buy the publicity from ESPN.

Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln (NE) Journal Star says ESPN’s College Gameday is bringing its show to the site of the USC-Nebraska game this Saturday.

Shahnaz Mahmud of Adweek says ESPN is turning on the hype machine for the FIFA Women’s World Cup which begins today.

In the wake of the Big East announcing all of its men’s basketball games being televised, the Big Ten makes the same announcement today with all of its 235 men’s games shown on the Big Ten Network, the ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News in his Morning Buzz blog has a review of Week 1 of the NFL on the four network partners (harsh words for 10 year old Jason Krause. Harsh).

Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star in his Morning Briefing looks at how CBS’ Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcotts interpreted the Kris Wilson’s fumble which essentially handed the Houston Texans the win over the Chiefs yesterday.

Sharon Linstedt of the Buffalo News writes about NFL fantasy leagues cutting into work productivity. How about doing a story on blogging? LOL.

NBC won the last night’s ratings thanks to Sunday Night Football, but Fox’ NFL overrun and “The O.T.” and CBS’s US Open overrun and 60 Minutes beat NBC’s Football Night in America rather handily.

Sports Business Daily reports that last night’s season opener for NBC was down 7.5% (13.6) from last year. It also says late game for Fox highlighted by Chicago-San Diego earned a 14.2 rating, but still down from last year. CBS’ 1 p.m. regional coverage received a 10.6 and 23/share, up 19%. And for the first time since CBS re-entered the NFL in 1998, the NFL Today beat Fox NFL Sunday, 3.2-3.1. I can’t link to the story since Sports Business Daily requires a subscription, but you can sign up for a two week trial if you so choose. (Sports Business Daily)

NFL Films has signed a contract with Ion Media Networks to air the NFL Game of the Week and other programming. Linda Moss of Multichannel News has the story. Game of the Week had been on the NFL Network since 2003.

At the 38Cliches blog, LC makes an impassioned plea for the Red Sox to get rid of Glenn Geffner. I listened to the games in Baltimore and really feel he hasn’t improved one iota since he started doing Grapefruit League games in Spring Training. Not one bit. Remember I had an entry in May titled “Glenn Geffner is getting worse“? Well, he’s worse now than when I wrote that. Usually, you’re supposed to improve as the season progresses. Not Glenn. He’s gotten worse. Not three steps forward. More like ten steps back. And it’s not Glenn who suffers, it’s Red Sox Nation listening on radio. This has got to stop. He cannot be allowed to broadcast postseason games. Remember Naked Gun when Reggie Jackson said, “I must kill the Queen.” I must remove Glenn Geffner.

Those are the links for now.

Tuesday Updated Links

Let’s give you a few more links today.

Joseph Whip blogs about HDTV and he criticizes NBC for taking bandwidth away from its picture and thus, causing pixelation. Whip blames the Weather Plus subchannel for this.

The LA Times’ Larry Stewart talks with country star Faith Hill about recording “I’ve Been Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” for NBC Sports.

Tom Hoffart of the LA Daily News has more in his Farther Off the Wall blog on FSN picking up the re-air of the Appalachian State-Michigan game from the Big Ten Network.

Fans of WSCN will be able to access videos of its Olympic Sports coverage on FoxSports.com.

Mike Battaglino of the New York Post catches up with Bud Collins who says he’s been busier than ever since being unceremoniously fired by NBC earlier this year. Bud also said to Battaglino that in addition to doing work for ESPN for its Grand Slam tournaments, Bud will also contribute to the Tennis Channel and I find that to be good news.

Mike Reynolds of the Multichannel News outlines some of the changes coming at ESPN, some of which I have already mentioned in this blog.

LC in the 38 Cliches blog is happy to have Dave O’Brien back in the Red Sox radio booth, but he points out that with Obie out for 10 games doing various ESPN assignments, his point of references for the Red Sox is out of whack. Hopefully that changes next season and we won’t have to deal with long stretches of Glenn Geffner. No Geffner, not a little, no Geffner will go a long way with us Red Sox fans who have had to suffer with his talking incessantly off notecards, rushing through live reads of commercials and just making inane points. By the way, LC was worried that Dave would be going to China to call the FIFA Women’s World Cup later this month, and I can assure him that Dave is not going to the Far East.

ESPN has announced the relaunch of ESPN360.com that only subscribers to certain Internet Service Providers can access (including Verizon DSL and Fios).

From the Toronto Star, Chris Zelkovich writes about Canada’s first all-sports radio station, The Fan 590 turning 15 today.

Primetime Viewing Picks coming. I can’t wait for next week when I can finally select some good network fare for you.

Monday Update

I have to start out by saying the US Open has got to work with rightsholders CBS and whomever will hold the cable contract next year (USA Network, Tennis Channel, ESPN) to allow live streaming of its matches. Right now, trying to find streams from other rightsholders has been quite difficult. EuroSport from Spain and its regular English feed are available if you know where to look, but the commentary in Spanish is non-stop and is giving me a headache. USOpen.org only has highlights for the time being. It may stream a match or two sometime during this year’s tournament, but not at the current time.

Let’s go to the links. With this being the first day of the US Open, CNBC’s Darren Rovell finally admits that Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic is his current fav far outpacing Maria Sharapova. Rovell sits down with Ivanovic for an interview as well.

The recent stretch for the Boston Red Sox and their fans has been good. Going 6-1 for the first 7 games of a 10 game road trip is more than what the Doctor ordered. But the bad thing has been Glenn Geffner in the booth for all 7 games. First in Tampa Bay, he shrieked like a woman when a mouse, rat, skunk or whatever it was crawled near him last Tuesday. Then he went to Chicago where he was on hand for the entire White Sox massacre this past weekend. And it was at US Cellular Field where he continued to butcher his broadcasts and continued to give many a Red Sox fan ulcers. All of the links come from the 38 Cliches blog which does a great job in keeping up with the Goofster. Here’s hoping Dave O’Brien returns to do the Yankees series starting tomorrow.

Going to the Big Ten Network links, Adam Smeltz of the Centre (PA) Daily Times’ Centre Squawker blog says there has been an increased interest in D & E Communications in State College since it announced it would be picking up the BTN in time for the Thursday launch. Frank Rigas of the Sheboygan (WI) Press says chances of seeing BTN in his town are remote at best. Bob Wolfey in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says BTN is making a big play to get on basic cable.

Darrell Dickson of the Utah Daily Herald says the mtn. is going to be making a big marketing push asking fans of the Mountain West to call DirecTV and the cable companies demanding the channel gets carriage. Good luck.

Remember Philadelphia local news anchor Alycia Lane? When I restarted this blog in May, the story of her e-mailing her own bikini pics to NFL Network host Rich Eisen became fodder. Well, Alycia apparently has begun an affair with New York local news anchor Chris Wragge. Why do we care? Because Chris is married to former Playboy playmate Victoria Silvstedt and Chris was spotted walking out of Alycia’s house while Victoria is in Europe. Now unless there’s a smoking gun, this proves nothing, but it allows me to mention Alycia again. And I still want to see those bikini pics!

That’s it for now. Primetime and Late Night Viewing Picks coming up.

It’s Tuesday or Day 2 of the D & C Lockout

I turned on WEEI this morning to see if the contract dispute between the radio station and morning show hosts Dennis & Callahan had been settled and in D & C’s place were John Rooke and Larry Johnson. I’ve worked with Rooke and he’s good as usual. There’s a reason why Larry is usually on the weekends. Anyway, there’s apparently no end to this in sight and if this continues, parent company Entercom will be looking for a new morning show to anchor the sports radio station.

As usual, Bruce Allen and David Scott are keeping track of the story at Boston Sports Media Watch. Scott says advertisers are wary of paying for a show that doesn’t include D & C. And Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald continues the advertiser theme. Heslam does get a quote from her collegue, Callahan. We’ll continue to monitor the story.

Over to the 38Cliches blog which continues to press the issue of Glenn Geffner, a Red Sox corporate officer, doing the games on the radio. This is something that is not going to go away. Geffner broadcast last night’s game on radio and again, was a conflict of interest. If he’s a corporate officer, there’s no way he should be broadcasting games. It would be like having Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino himself working on NESN or WRKO. With Joe Castiglione and Dave O’Brien, you know you have a modicum of objectivity. Geffner is not only a bad broadcaster, but he’s also spouting the company line. The Red Sox should resolve this now.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times notes that Fox’ Joe Buck called his last baseball game for the network this season until the playoffs. With a 26 game schedule, Buck will have called 8 overall. And he’s supposed to be the #1 announcer? If he’s only going to work less than half the season, isn’t it time for Fox to find someone else to work on the #1 team with Tim McCarver?

Neil Best of Newsday talks with Dan Patrick who’s doing his last shows for ESPN Radio this week. And in his blog, Best expands on some stuff from his Patrick interview that didn’t make it into his column.

Eric Lacy of the Detroit News says even though the Big Ten Conference doesn’t have hockey as a sport, the Big Ten Network will televise games involving member schools. George M. Thomas from the Akron Beacon Journal says time is running out for BTN to gain carriage on cable.

Tim Tucker in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says ratings for Braves games on Sports South, FSN South and TBS are up.

The Boston Globe has an editorial criticizing the NFL’s policy on limiting video on the web.

Phil Swann in the TV Predictions website says DirecTV will carry 180 NFL games in HD.

That’s it for now.

Your Monday Update

Let’s give you a few links here.

Starting with CBS Sports and its ratings for the PGA Championship, the network received the 5th highest rating for the tournament since 1986. The other four? They all had Tiger playing for the win as well. CBS has had the rights for the PGA Championship since 1991. And here’s the official announcement from CBS Sports.

Paulsen from the Sports Media Watch blog looks at the overnight ratings for the sporting weekend. The PGA Championship did well and MLB on Fox went down for the 7th straight week.

Neil Best in his Newsday blog gives a couple of sports related programming highlights for HBO in the next two days.

From CNBC.com, Darren Rovell says the longer David Beckham continues to be on the sidelines with his injury, the less of an impact he’ll have on MLS. And I talked to one local vendor whose business is located less than a mile from Gillette Stadium. He told me fans came down from Canada to see Becks only to find out that he would not play in last night’s LA Galaxy-NE Revolution game. That’s not good.

The 38Cliches blog continues to investigate exactly what Glenn Geffner’s position is with the Boston Red Sox. He’s discovered that Goofie is actually an officer in the Red Sox chain of command, a VP of Communications. Is it right for an officer of the Red Sox to broadcast its games? In the past, this would be considered to be a conflict of interest, similar to when Dave Gavitt as Commissioner of the Big East conference would be the analyst for TV broadcasts syndicated by the Big East. So should Geffner be taken off the broadcasts? I think so.

Here’s one story from the weekend that I somehow missed. Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune profiles former Twin Cities news anchor Inga Hammond, now of the Golf Channel.

James Gandolfini’s first project since The Sopranos will be a movie for HBO about former Nike shoe executive Sonny Vaccaro who brokered all types of deals for athletes and coaches.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News writes in his Morning Buzz blog that he feels the cable companies will eventually win the battle vs. the NFL Network. The Consumerist blog wonders if the two sides will ever get together.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star gives his good, bad and ugly of the TV sports weekend.

Jim Williams in the DC/Baltimore Examiner says for the first time in two years, he was able to actually listen to a Washington Redskins broadcast on terrestrial radio. And Williams writes that the Baltimore Ravens’ in-house TV production unit will be ready for tonight’s Ravens-Eagles game.

Those are the links for now. Primetime and Late night viewing picks coming up.

Sunday Night Linkage

Late with the links tonight, but I’ll give you some before giving you Videos of the Week.

Phil Mushnick in the New York Post goes after a hair replacement ad on the YES Network.

In his Sunday column, Bob Raissman in the New York Daily News feels USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightengale may have used some dirty tricks to get quotes from Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.

Newsday’s Neil Best looks at the sports menu from this same week 35 years ago.

David Mayo in the Grand Rapids Press says the Big Ten Network and Comcast really need to get on the same page.

In the Fresno Bee, Rick Bentley says both ESPN and NBC made some lineup shuffles in their NFL studio shows.

Larry Ott of the Buffalo News says ESPN has returned to NASCAR with a big bang.

Chris Zelkovich in the Toronto Star writes about the ESPN Classic documentary on Barry Bonds.

From the Daly Planet blog, Motorsports TV critic John Daly (no, not the golfer) says the ESPN production for the Watkins Glen race was much improved over its last effort.

There’s a rumor in radioland that WRKO isn’t happy with Glenn Geffner’s work on the Shaw’s Red Sox Radio Network and wants to get rid of him. Right now. My friend, LC, in the 38 Cliches blog is all over it. I hope it’s true.

The Sports Media Watch blog says there’s a dangerous blurring of news and entertainment with ABC News doing a five week series this month on NASCAR. Of course, ABC’s parent company, Disney, signed a huge deal with NASCAR for ESPN so this synergy is a bit dangerous in my mind.

Phil Swann in his TVPredictions.com website says there’s no sign that Time Warner Cable will add the NFL Network in HD to its lineup. And the article from the Corpus Christi (TX) Caller Times that Swanni refers to in his latest entry is here.

I’ll have Videos of the Week coming up.

Some Sunday Links

Hello on a scorching Sunday. Hot here in the Northeast, but it’s hot everywhere in the US as well, so I hope you’re running the air conditioner or at least heading to the beach today. Let’s give you some links so you don’t have to do a lot of physical activity (but don’t get stuck to your seat).

Neil Best of Newsday talks with Keith Hernandez who has managed to become of the better local MLB analysts. His work on SNY during Mets games is getting notices.

Bob Raissman in today’s New York Daily News lobbies for Tony Kubek to gain entrance to the Broadcasters’ Wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. I have to agree. Kubek did excellent work with NBC, TSN and MSG as both an analyst and play-by-play. I feel his best work came in the late 1970′s-early 1980′s when he was first teamed with Joe Garagiola then Bob Costas.

In the New York Post, it looks like Phil Mushnick wrote this particular column in a bad mood. He says if the NFL wants to clean up its image, it had best start with its own NFL Network.

Today is Baseball Hall of Fame inductions in Cooperstown, NY where Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken will see their plaques for the first time. Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes about the woman who has been responsible for making those plaques since 1995.

And today is finally the day when ESPN returns to airing Nextel Cup races for NASCAR. If you click on your TV sometime before 1 p.m. ET today, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews and ESPN Classic have all been hyping the return and it’s to the point where you want to avoid the channels. Anyway, despite this ridiculous hype, Paulsen in the Sports Media Watch blog points out the ratings for NASCAR have been in a slump over the past year. Larry Stewart in the Los Angeles Times says the Draft Track feature that will be unveiled today was named out of thin air.

Two entries from Jim Williams in the DC/Baltimore Examiner. First is on the bells and whistles ESPN will offer in the NASCAR race today. Second is a guide on where to watch and listen to today’s Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

The 38 Cliches blog has been quiet this weekend. That’s because Glenn Geffner is not doing the Red Sox radio broadcasts and Dave O’Brien is leading to joy all over Red Sox Nation. LC does have a funny entry from Friday on what Dave was doing while Glenn was broadcasting 15 Red Sox games in a row.

Big Ten fans will be able to see the conference’s annual media day live on ESPN this Tuesday.

Fang’s Bites fav, Natalie Gulbis has won her first LPGA title in France. To celebrate, we offer one of her hotter pictures from her FHM shoot.

Ok, I don’t think we can do any more today. Enjoy your Sunday.

Thursday Links

Been out and about today, but I’ll give you a few links here.

The return of ESPN to NASCAR is this weekend. If you haven’t watched ESPN lately, you’re lucky not to have seen the many promos which have flooded all of the Alleged Worldwide Leader’s programs. Anyway, John Sturbin of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram looks forward to the return. Payton Towns III of the Dublin (GA) Courier Herald also looks forward to ESPN returning to NASCAR. From the Daly Planet blog which follows TV coverage of motorsports, John Daly dreads ESPN’s re-entry into the NASCAR market. Mike Mulhern of the Winston-Salem Journal says while ESPN was great for NASCAR when it covered the races in the 1980′s and 1990′s, he shares the same concerns as Daly.

And the bashing of the Alleged Worldwide Leader continues. Mario Sarmento of the Boca Raton (FL) News says ESPN is doing a big disservice to fans.

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle writes about the town meeting ESPN conducted last night concerning Barry Bonds. John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News says there was one voice heard loud and clear at the event.

Pierce Huff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says Arena Football League officials are happy in its first year of a five year contract with ESPN.

Mike Cronin of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the not guilty plea of John Duffy of ESPN Radio in the Steel City has led to problems for another John Duffy who has also worked for ESPN Radio, Pittsburgh. Weird.

Fans of Steve Stone will get to see him back on WGN-TV again, but working on a White Sox game.

From Mark Snyder’s Big Ten blog in the Detroit Free Press, it appears the battle between the Big Ten Network and various cable and satellite companies isn’t going away anytime soon. And the Big Ten Network says the move by Echostar to classify the channel as a Regional Sports Network is a “brazen ploy”. The Columbus Dispatch looks at the 24 classic Big Ten football games that will be aired on the network. And Bryce Miller of the Des Moines Register says the Big Ten Network is looking for other events to televise, not just football and basketball.

Dusty Saunders of the Rocky Mountain News reports that Denver will get another sports radio station.

From the 38Cliches blog, LC notes that Glenn Geffner has been torturing Red Sox radio listeners for 14 straight games?????!!!!!! The prisoners at Abu Gharib weren’t subjected to that.

That’s it for now.

The Wednesday Night Update

Good evening. Barry Bonds isn’t playing tonight so there’s no need to watch the Braves-Giants game on TBS. So instead, I’m watching Ninja Warrior on G4. Very entertaining indeed.

The Sports Media Watch blog has a good entry today on the NBA referee gambling scandal. While some media pundits feel this spells the end of the league, Paulsen says it’ll take more than this to doom the NBA.

LC has more on the fool that is Glenn Geffner. Tuesday night was the 100th game of the season as pointed out by the Goof. Plus, LC publishes an e-mail from one reader. I can’t stand listening to a Red Sox game as long as Goofie is on the mike. I feel he is an affront to all of Red Sox Nation.

USA Today picks up a story from a fellow Gannett newspaper, the Des Moines Register, saying that the Big Ten Network has conference officials looking to add a 12th team, possibly as soon as next year. I can tell you it won’t be Notre Dame. You knew this was coming. In addition to the games it will televise this season, BTN will air 24 “Classic” football games. From the Herald Times (IN) online blog about Indiana University sports, Doug Wilson and Chris Korman give the scoop on the Big Ten Network and what it means for Hoosier fans.

ESPN will unveil what it calls “Draft Track” during its NASCAR debut on Sunday. John Andretti will part of the radio team broadcasting the Brickyard 400. And SI.com picks up an Associated Press story on ESPN’s return to NASCAR.

Broadcasting & Cable’s John Eggerton says The Radio and Television News Directors Association (of which I used to be a member) has lodged a protest with the NFL in regards to its silly 45 second video rule for websites.

And Eggerton also writes about TBS.com having streaming video of every Barry Bonds at-bat until he breaks Hank Aaron’s home run record.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner gives us an article about how Cal Ripken successfully created his own brand.

Those are your links for tonight. I will probably have links later tomorrow.

The Tuesday Links

Good morning.

Time for some links. First, a couple of links from the 38 Cliches blog. First, Dave O’Brien and Glenn Geffner worked the Toronto – Red Sox series over the weekend. For some reason, the Red Sox allowed Joe Castiglione to take the first series after the All Star Game off. So, LC chronicled the entire series which is synopsized here. I did listen to bits and pieces of their work. Dave was the lead throughout the series with Geffner taking the Jerry Trupiano role. I believe Dave did the best he could to engage in conversation with Goofner, but because the Goofster reads his info from his notecards, it’s hard for him to ad lib. O’Brien’s work at ESPN has helped him engage in conversation with his partner, but Goofie is just stiff and any attempts at humor come off as forced. And in today’s entry, LC notes that his blog received some visits from the Red Sox. LC, do you think that the Sox are listening to the complaints?

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at the weekend sports ratings including the ESPY’s which fell from last year.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner reminds readers that David Beckham is coming to the US to save the MLS, not soccer itself. Williams says soccer in the US is actually in good shape.

Neil Best in his Newsday blog notes that Nick Faldo of Golf Channel and CBS will be playing at the Open Championship at Carnoustie. It could be two days or four depending if Faldo makes the cut.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir looks at the WWE’s drug testing policy in the wake of Chris Benoit’s murder-suicide of he and his family. By the way, Benoit’s toxicology results will be known later today so we’ll find out if steroids were in his system at the time of his death.

In the New York Daily News, Bob Raissman says the Mets could be nicer to Ralph Kiner by giving him more broadcasting work. Kiner was honored by the Mets last Saturday by naming its new press box at Citi Field in his name.

Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says residents of the Steel City should not expect to see the Big Ten Network any time soon.

Tracy Turner of the Columbus Dispatch writes that the Big Ten Network and NFL Network are competing with BBC World (a competitor to CNN) to get space on the city’s cable system.

The Minnesota Vikings have announced their broadcast team for its exhibition games on TV.

Jeff Jones of the KPC Media Group in Indiana says he doesn’t watch ESPN as much as he used to.

The Big East Conference has announced its TV schedule for the upcoming season.

The Chicago Daily Southtown paper has an editorial taking ESPN to task for forgetting about the White Sox in a recent poll.

Gary West in today’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram says ESPN is doing more harm than good these days.

The AOL Fanhouse sports blog reports that while Dan Patrick hasn’t been hosting his show since making his announcement that he’s leaving ESPN Radio, he is coming back for his final week of shows.

As I reported last night, Steve Goldstein becomes the Florida Panthers’ TV play-by-play voice. Barry Jackson and George Richards of the Miami Herald have the story. Steve Gorten of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has his version of the story.

That’s it for now. Maybe an update later.

Tuesday Musings

First, let me start by discussing the Home Run Derby cablecast on ESPN. Once again, Chris Berman was doing the play-by-play, Joe Morgan did the color and joining them this year, was former Giants and Cubs manager Dusty Baker. I guess the only reason Baker was there was that he had managed in AT&T Park. Other than that, all three were lackluster. Berman’s play-by-play is extremely weak. Morgan doesn’t add anything and Baker just exclaimed when a long home run was hit.

Berman continues to make these stupid exaggerations using local references, “That one was hit to Sausalito!” or “That was hit to Alcatraz!” or “That one was hit to the Coit Tower!” These add nothing especially when home runs land in the crowd. A ball going out of the stadium, I can see, but ones that land in the crowd? No. All this proves is that Berman as a play-by-play announcer is a decent studio host. His play-by-play is terrible whether he’s doing baseball or golf. Rather than describe the action, he seemed to be more worried if his pick to win the Home Run Derby would survive to the final round rather than call the action or discuss the fact that the twilight caused trouble for hitters in the first round.

Plus, Berman likes to yell thinking if his decibel level increases, then he can convey the excitement of the action. The crowd cheering is enough. It’s not all about you, Chris. It’s too bad TBS could not have wrested the rights for the Home Run Derby to compliment its coverage of the postseason in its new contract. I know Jon Miller prefers to have the All Star Game off rather than be involved in the coverage, but ESPN would be better served by having him in the booth rather than have Berman.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Baseball Tonight was in the studio instead of being at AT&T Park. Because ESPN had broken an embargo on the All Star Game roster selections, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig would not allow the Alleged Worldwide Leader to have a set at the stadium as in the past. So reporters were allowed inside, but ESPN was not allowed to have a presence with Baseball Tonight so Karl Ravech, Steve Phillips and John Kruk were in Bristol, CT while Peter Gammons, Tim Kurkjian and others were inside the park. It was strange to see the guys do their thing from the studio, but to be honest, ESPN didn’t lose anything. But it was nice to see ESPN get punished for not adhering to MLB’s rules. Here’s hoping that the next violation leads to MLB revoking its rights to show games altogether.

I’ll give ESPN a C minus for its coverage, mostly because of Berman, Morgan and Baker. Fox’s big albatross in the booth is Tim McCarver, but he’s canceled out by Joe Buck. I’ll have a review of Fox’s coverage tomorrow.

Let’s get to the links now.

The Dan Patrick announcement was the big story for bloggers. I have heard rumors that there’s more to meet the eye on Dan’s announcement that he’s leaving ESPN, but all have been unsubstantiated and I don’t think they’re true. In any event, Reid Cherner of USA Today has a story on the announcement made yesterday on Dan’s show. In USA Today’s sports blog, it noted that Dan’s entry in Wikipedia was updated almost immediately, but with some silly information. Richard Sandomir in the New York Times has a quick hit on Patrick’s departure including some critical words for the ESPY Awards. Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News is back from vacation and the first thing he does is speculate if Patrick will go to WFAN, but as we found out yesterday from Neil Best in Newsday, that will not happen. Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune who had sources telling him last week that Patrick was going to leave says the next thing for Dan could be satellite radio. Now that’s something we haven’t heard. The fact that Greenstein was the first to get confirmation instead of speculating what could happen tells me that the satellite radio thing might be credible. David Barron of the Houston Chronicle spoke to Patrick after his show and got a tidbit that Patrick had been considering leaving for 2 and a half years. Larry Stewart of the LA Times also talked with Dan. Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner also is on the Dan Patrick-to-WFAN bandwagon, but again, that dog won’t hunt as Dan Rather used to say.

Sandomir also has a story on ESPN breaking the MLB All Star Game announcement embargo.

Bob Raissman says tonight’s MLB All Star Game is damaged goods due to falling ratings and the steroids issue. Hint to Bob, the rating has gone down since 2001, but the game still wins the night and gets the demographics Fox desires. In a 500 channel universe, I don’t think events like the All Star Game or the NBA Finals are going to get real blockbuster ratings. The only sporting event that will draw monster ratings is the Super Bowl.

Fox Sports will have what it’s calling “Multi-platform” coverage of tonight’s All Star Game. And John Consoli of Mediaweek says starting tonight, MLB will hype the postseason, the earliest it has ever done so.

Just like Red Sox beat writers giving their midseason grades for the team, good friend LC in the 38 Cliches blog has his midseason assessment of the Red Sox radio broadcast team. I totally agree with his grade for Glenn Geffner.

The Big Ten Network launches a new ad campaign called “This is Big Ten Country”. Is John Mellencamp going to be singing on the commercial?

John Feinstein in the Washington Post gives thanks to Bud Collins.

Chris Zelkovich in the Toronto Star has praise for NBC’s coverage of Wimbledon.

Tom Jones of the St. Pete Times gives his best and worst of the sporting TV weekend.

Alex Bleth of SI.com says if you want to get a sense of the 1977 Yankees, the focus of “The Bronx is Burning” on ESPN, there are DVD’s to buy and rent. And due to the Home Run Derby, the premiere of the mini-series began an hour late and Mike Malone of Broadcasting & Cable takes the Alleged Worldwide Leader to task for it.

I had more links than I expected. I’ll have an update later if it’s warranted.