Fang's Bites

Finally Getting To The Linkage

Being surprised earlier today by a sudden trip to a jobsite threw me off today so I’m late getting to the linkage, but it’ll be here. Let’s go.

First, Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute pens the first column as the ESPN Ombudsman. She and two other Poynter Institute faculty will write monthly columns, sometimes more, as the Ombudsman.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at Louisville coach Rick Pitino getting his second guest analyst gig in two weeks, this time for ESPN.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today writes about Tiger Woods’ new pricey iPhone app.

Eammon Brennan of ESPN.com says more people are watching the NCAA Tournament than ever.

Julie Jargon from the Wall Street Journal says ESPN Insider content will be available at Starbucks in-store digital wireless network throughout the country.

Tim Baysinger from Broadcasting & Cable says New York’s WWOR is set with a new 21 game Yankees schedule.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News looks at the Sport Emmy Award nominations.

Kurt Badenhausen from Forbes writes about MLB’s most valuable franchises with the teams you’d expect at 1-2.

Also from Forbes, Michael Humphrey says the NFL could learn a thing or two from March Madness on Demand.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says CBS/Turner is bringing in guest analysts for all three of its platforms for the NCAA Tournament.

Glenn Davis at SportsGrid talks about Buzz Bissinger going off on Jimmer Fredette.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life writes that Sunday night was a big night for the NCAA Tournament on cable.

Tim Nudd from Adweek examines ESPN’s new MLB Opening Day promo.

Alex Colon from PC Magazine notes that ESPN Radio will now be available on Slacker Radio mobile apps.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says a number of MLB ballparks will be serving Food Network-sponsored concessions.

Darren looks at the top MLB team jersey sales.

And Darren points out that a coach who gets hot during the NCAA Tournament can make it very difficult for a smaller school to keep him.

Dan Lewandowski of Speed.com looks at Versus’ broadcast team for IndyCar races this season.

Boston Sports Media Watch’s Bruce Allen has some suggestions for sports writers who don’t quite know how to use Twitter correctly.

Kimberly Primicerio of the Meriden (CT) Record-Journal talks about ESPN’s commitment to expand its World Headquarters in the Constitution State.

Newsday’s Bobby Cassidy points out that the courageous Nick Charles who’s been fighting cancer, will call the first fight on HBO’s Boxing After Dark card on Saturday.

Newsday’s Neil Best has the WWOR-TV Yankees schedule for this season.

At Fishbowl NY, Jerry Barmash talks with a WFAN part-timer who’s hosting an internet sports talk show.

Jerry talks with a WCBS-TV anchor who’s hosting an NCAA Tournament wrap-up show that’s been airing on CBS-owned stations.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union says Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia will appear on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Pete has MLB Network’s live game schedule for April.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times notes that ESPN’s Jon Gruden got his second Sports Emmy nomination in as many years.

Eric Deggans from the Times wonders if the NFL lockout could get into the way of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ chances to be in HBO’s Hard Knocks this summer.

Charles Hollis from the Birmingham (AL) News likes having Charles Barkley on the NCAA Tournament.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says ESPN2 HD viewers missed out on much of Sunday’s NCAA Women’s Tournament game involving the Sooners.

Mel says the NCAA Tournament is dominating the sports TV ratings.

John Kiesewetter at the Cincinnati Enquirer says fans will get to see a different side of the Reds on Sunday both in person and on TV.

John has more on the live Reds event.

John notes that two announcers with Cincinnati ties are up for Sports Emmys.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says a lineup change at the local ESPN Radio affiliate is only temporary.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says ESPN’s MLB analysts pin some high hopes on the Brewers.

Bob says CBS/Turner continues to bring in current college coaches to its March Madness coverage.

Eric Morken from the Alexandria (MN) Echo Press says Twins fans won’t be able to watch games on over the air TV anymore.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail examines the MLS ratings in Canada.

The Lost Letterman blog grades the TNT additions to the CBS/Turner NCAA Tournament staff.

Sports Media Watch says the NHL on NBC really got beat up on Sunday.

SMW says thanks to the NCAA Tournament, truTV had its most watched week.

I’ll end it there for now. I hope to do some night linkage later.

ESPN’s Michelle Beadle Makes An Appearance on Food Network

This Saturday night, SportsNation and Winner’s Edge co-host Michelle Beadle branches out from the ESPN studios to be a guest judge on Food Network. Here’s a quick blurb for you.

Michelle Beadle Makes Guest Judge Appearance on Food Network’s Tailgate Warriors

SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle will make a guest appearance on Food Network’s Tailgate Warriors series alongside popular host Guy Fieri. The show will premiere Saturday, Jan. 29, at 10 p.m. The culinary battle royale will determine the ultimate tailgate champion. The two top scoring tailgate teams, the Seattle Seahawks’ Team Blue 22 and the Chicago Bears’ Da Bus, faced off at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in November. Beadle served as a guest judge for the competition.

Maybe it’s me, but I just want to engage Guy Fieri in a fistfight. Not my favorite Food Network personality.

There you have it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.

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?