Fang's Bites

Shuffling Some Sunday Links Your Way

Let’s provide you with links on this Sunday. As I’m watching Food Network’s Giada at Home and before that, CBS News Sunday Morning, I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning.

While I try to avoid being distracted by Giada, I’ll do some links.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says MSG Network and YES lead the New York Emmy Award nominations.

Mike writes that local Comcast SportsNet talent will be supplementing NBC’s Hockey Day in America coverage.

In Variety, the Biz of Sports Network’s Maury Brown writes that the NBA could be headed to labor Armageddon after this season.

The Associated Press says the ESPN-run Longhorn Network is a gamechanger to University of Texas’ rivals.

Larry Dorman of the New York Times writes that PGA Tour players are slowly beginning to embrace Twitter to get closer to their fans.

Bob Raissman from the New York Daily News says the NBA just loves the Carmelo Anthony media tradewatch.

To Phil Mushnick of the New York Post who tells the Mets owners to stop whining about Bernard Madoff.

Laura Nachman notes that a play-by-play announcing summer camp returns to Philadelphia.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner talks with Versus’ Brian Engblom about today’s Hockey Day in America coverage.

Dustin Long from the Greensboro (NC) News & Record talks about ESPN’s documentary on the only African-American to win a NASCAR race.

From the Dallas Morning News, Barry Horn says Fox is trying to spruce things up for its NASCAR broadcasts this season.

Joe Rexrode of the Lansing (MI) State Journal talks about ESPN’s College GameDay visit to Michigan State yesterday.

Mike Freeman of the San Diego Union-Tribune says Cox Communications has yet to forge a deal with satellite providers and rival AT&T to put Padres games on their systems.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says there’s nothing like seeing a game in L.A. without star gazing.

Sean Myers at the Calgary Herald says the NHL is hoping to lure US viewers to tonight’s Heritage Classic.

Dan Fogarty at SportsGrid notes that Philadelphia 76ers analyst Eric Snow actually fell asleep during a game.

The Sports Media Watch has its weekend ratings predictions.

SMW looks at the first half NBA ratings across its national platforms.

That’s going to end our links for today. I hope you enjoy your Sunday.

Giada!

In honor of the premiere of Giada De Laurentiis’ new show, “Giada at Home“, I give you some video clips of Giada DeLaurentiis in action. No description needed.

Highlights of Season 1 of “Giada’s Weekend Getaways”

Giada on a Jet Ski

Did I ever say I love Giada DeLaurentiis?

Five Women Who Can Make Me Stop Flipping The Remote – 2008

Last year, I had an entry, Five Women Who Can Make Me Stop Flipping The Remote. Every once in a while, I notice people doing a Google search for the women on that list will stop on that page and look at what I came up with. If you don’t want to click on the link above, the list from last year is as follows:

1. Giada De Laurentiis – Food Network
2. Erin Andrews – ESPN
3. Tina Cervasio – formerly of NESN, now of MSG Network
4. Nigella Lawson – Food Network
5. Stacey Dales – ESPN/ABC

A very strong list. But I figured it was time to revise the list after watching some college football and the Food Network today. It’s a completely new list so there are no carryovers from last year. As I did in 2007, I go in reverse order.

5. Trenni Kusnierek – FSN Wisconsin

Trenni is looking like she’s smirking here. I don’t know the circumstances behind the pic, but it’s what I could find because she’s not listed at the FSN Wisconsin website. She’s the sideline reporter for the Milwaukee Brewers games and also does freelance work for the Big Ten Network. Her work is quite strong and she’s well liked by BTN to possibly do some work during college basketball season. We certainly hope we see more of her.

4. Aida Mollenkamp – Food Network

Who can resist that smile? The host of Ask Aida on Food Network answers questions on recipes, ingredients, food, you name it. Get rid of her tool tech guru on the show and it would be perfect. The show is great to watch and she can certainly whip up Pasta Bolognese in no time. And I’m getting hooked on the show every Saturday. And it’s just before Everyday Italian with last year’s number one Woman Who Can Make Me Stop Flipping The Remote, Giada!

3. Robin Meade – CNN Headline News

Host of Morning Express with Robin Meade, mornings on CNN Headline News, this is the show I turn on every morning before I go to work. She just doesn’t make me stop the remote, she’s the first face I see as I get ready to leave my house. And it’s not a bad thing at all. The news is presented very well on Morning Express and whenever Robin is on vacation or is on assignment, the very capable Christi Paul substitutes for her so the show doesn’t miss a beat. In my opinion, Morning Express is the best morning news program on TV.

2. Heidi Watney – NESN

Sideline reporter on NESN for Red Sox games, Heidi replaced the lovely Tina Cervasio this year after the Jersey girl decided to return home. While Heidi hasn’t made Red Sox Nation forget about Tina yet, she is very lovely and when she’s on with Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe on the NESN multi-sponsored pregame show, ratings for their segment go up (ok, I have nothing to base this on, I’m just saying). There are rumors that NESN will cut her loose after this season, but I certainly hope she’s given at least another year.

1. Charissa Thompson – Big Ten Network/Fox Sports/FSN

I keep using this picture for Charissa, we really need a new one, but that’s ok, it will suffice. Charissa’s star is rising at Fox. Last year, she hosted the FSN Baseball Report and did the sidelines for the Big Ten Network. I still maintain that Fang’s Bites was one of the first blogs to sing her praises before she began to get notices. And this year, Fox made her as one of the hosts on Best Damn Sports Show Period and added NFL sideline duties to her resume. She’s getting more notice and for good reason, being compared to Erin Andrews. I’ll be honest, I think she’s better than Erin and I feel that by the end of next year, she’ll surpass Erin in popularity. You heard it here first.

And that’s the list for this year.

A Saturday Morning Thing

As I watch the Food Network and “Jamie at Home“, I’ll give you some links. If you’ve been a regular reader of Fang’s Bites, you’ll know I watch Food Network on the weekends and I have a massive crush on Giada de Laurentiis and she was #1 in my list of The Five Women Who Can Make Me Stop Flipping the Remote. Usually, weekend programming is devoid on the regional sports networks, local channels, ESPN and the news channels, so the Food Network or HGTV is appointment viewing on Saturday and Sunday mornings. By the way, don’t get me started on Sandra Lee of Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee when she starts a salmon recipe. Watching her sprinkle pepper can be quite hot as well.

Ok, enough of me talking Food Network for now. I got sidetracked. Perhaps I’ll do a post on the Women of Food Network, but that’s later. Let’s get to your links.

We continue on the breaking news that came out late Friday night/early Saturday that NBC Sports and the NFL will stream Sunday Football online this season.

Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable writes that the announcement came as a surprise.

Meg James of the Los Angeles Times says the NFL is taking a big step forward in digital rights.

Rafat Ali of paidcontent.org writes that the NFL’s other TV partners are unhappy about not being approached to stream their games.

Moving to other news, the Detroit Free Press picks up a story from Mike Hughes of the Gannett News Service who says NBC is supersizing its presentation of the Olympics.

The Associated Press says network news coverage of the Olympics has been left to NBC as the other networks will have a minimal presence.

Dan McGowan of the Canwest News Service says the Summer Games in Communist China will be well covered whether they are on TV or on other platforms.

Bill Hunt of the Daily Gleaner in Canada says 1996 Olympics swimming silver medalist Marianne Limpert will be part of CBC’s coverage.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail is not enjoying listening to TSN’s announcers for the Rogers Cup tennis tournament.

Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News discusses radio coverage for University of Buffalo and Syracuse football for the upcoming season.

Dan Casear of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks about some sports radio moves in the market.

Jerry Garcia in the San Antonio Express-News looks at the extensive media coverage of Cowboys training camp.

The Dallas Morning News’ Barry Horn wonders if this week’s WNBA brawl between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks will translate into viewership.

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times is traveling with Seattle Mariners voice Dave Niehaus who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY tomorrow.

David Andriesen of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Niehaus is thrilled to be entering the Hall of Fame.

The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes. Paulsen also looks at some of the people who will be on your TV this weekend.

That’s all for now. I’ll have updates as they warrant.

The Orbitcast satellite radio blog says the FCC has finally, finally approved the XM-Sirius merger.

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.

Five Women Who Can Make Me Stop Flipping the Remote

I haven’t done a Hot Chick entry in a while. I figured it was time. Starting at 5 and going down to #1

5. Stacey Dales – ESPN

Doing the sidelines this season on college football broadcasts on ESPN along with her work on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, Stacey is a joy to watch. Not only does she look great, she can talk zone defenses, man-to-man, moving picks and traveling violations with the best analysts out there. She can describe a defensive rotation to me any day.

4. Nigella Lawson – Food Network

Nigella Bites is one of the best cooking shows, bar none. Every time her show is on, I have to stop and watch. I could be doing the most important thing for work or myself, but it will have to wait until the segment or the episode itself is over.

Plus, when she licks the spatula or puts her finger in her mouth to taste one of her concoctions, it’s like sex with food. I’m not kidding.

3. The extremely lovely Tina Cervasio – NESN

Her work on the sidelines for the past two seasons on Red Sox broadcasts has been nothing short of excellent. Her features have been very good, plus she has been getting information from Manny Ramirez that other reporters have not. The pictures posted below come from her website.

There hasn’t been a day where she doesn’t look good. As a subscriber to DirecTV, I can remember her work from the early days of NFL Sunday Ticket and as an update anchor on WFAN. She’s come a long way and I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets a network gig down the road.

2. Erin Andrews – ESPN

What list would be complete without Erin Andrews? I do think Tina is way better as far as reporting goes. Erin is hot, no doubt about it.

1. Giada DeLaurentiis – Food Network

Everyday Italian is one of those shows you just stop, watch and wait for Giada to make one of her classic expressions when she tastes food. Her smile is infectious. She’s gorgeous. Plus, when she spreads chocolate on a Biscotti, it’s like watching an artist at work. And of course, there’s Giada’s Weekend Getaways where we get to watch her ride a jet-ski or swim in a pool. I can go on, but let’s get to some pics.

That’s it for now.

Videos of the Week

I’m watching “Everday Italian” with my new favorite chef, Giada De Laurentiis, on the Food Network. In particular, the episode is entitled “Giada’s Bikini Ready Dinners“.

Now, this reminded me of when I saw her show, “Giada’s Weekend Getaways” and saw her swimming in a pool in a nice one piece swimsuit. The video quality isn’t the best, but seeing Giada swim laps is enough to make me forget what I’m watching.

And this video’s quality is better. Here’s Giada swimming in a hot spring.

And this is the Food Network video of highlights from the first season of Weekend Getaways.

And Giada on a jetski in a bikini. Nice.

You have your Giada fix for today. No, I’ve given myself my Giada fix and I’m very happy.

I’ll have some Sunday links coming up.

Weekend Viewing Choices Addition

For Saturday, I suggest you watch Giada in Paradise: Capri on the Food Network at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

I’m watching Giada in Paradise: Santorini. Just seeing Giada de Laurentiis swimming in a pool is enough for me. I’m enamored with her.

Back to your regularly scheduled blog.

Falling in Love with Giada De Laurentiis

Ok, I’m late to the party on this, but this weekend, I’ve fallen in love with Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis. I was watching Food Network’s All Star BBQ special as I wanted to pick up some tips for grilling (I’m a guy, I love to grill) and saw Giada for the first time. I’ve seen the others on the show, Bobby Flay, Emeril, Alton Brown, but never Gia.

I’ve seen Rachel Ray, and yes, she’s perky and I do like her Food Network shows, but I’m not impressed by her stuff as much as I am with the way Giada handles herself. I want Giada to have her own syndicated show and blow Rachel out of the water.

Yes, she’s married, but I can dream, can’t I?