Fang's Bites

ESPN Unveils 2012-13 College Football Announcing Teams

For the upcoming college football season, ESPN has made a few changes to its announcing teams. The main team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit for ABC’s Saturday Night Football will remain the same, however, there’s still no official replacement for Erin Andrews who left for Fox. The Big Lead has reported it will be Heather Cox, but she has told the Los Angeles Daily News that her contract with ESPN has expired so we’ll have to wait to see who replaces Erin.

As for the other teams, ESPN has created a new team for a package of primetime games, Joe Tessitore who had called Friday Night Football moves to Saturday night with Matt Millen. The sideline duties will be divided among Jessica Mendoza, Shannon Spake or Shelley Smith.

For the ESPN on ABC Saturday afternoon regional games, Sean McDonough remains on the top game, but he’ll be joined by once and now-present partner Chris Spielman. Mike Patrick and Ed Cunningham will form another team and Bob Wischusen and Danny Kanell will be the third team and be joined by new sideline reporter Maria Taylor.

ESPN’s Friday Night Football team will have one holdover, Rod Gilmore and he’ll have Carter Blackburn as his play-by-play man and Jamele Hill coming out of the First Take studios and to the sidelines.

We have the ESPN press release.

Multiple New Roles Highlight ESPN 2012 College Football Commentator Assignments

ESPN’s 2012 college football telecasts will be highlighted by commentators working in new roles and the addition of former Ohio State standout receiver Joey Galloway. In addition, Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit will return for their seventh season together on the ABC Saturday Night Football series while Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe will continue to work the Saturday ESPN College Football Primetime telecast.

New assignments include:

• Three new commentator teams will call ABC Saturday afternoon broadcasts:

• Chris Spielman, an analyst on ESPN’s Saturday noon telecast, will pair up with Sean McDonough and reporter Quint Kessenich this season. Spielman and McDonough previously worked together on Saturday and Friday games from 2006-08.
• Ed Cunningham, a Saturday afternoon game analyst for four years before taking on ESPN2’s Saturday night game last year, will work with Mike Patrick and reporter Jeannine Edwards.
• Danny Kanell will move from an ESPNU night game to work with announcer Bob Wischusen, who returns to the ABC Saturday afternoon game, and new reporter Maria Taylor.

• ESPN’s Thursday and Friday night games will also have familiar faces in new roles:

• Analyst David Pollack and reporter Samantha Steele will join returning announcer Rece Davis and analyst Jesse Palmer on ESPN’s Thursday night game.
• Carter Blackburn will move from Saturday games to call the weekly Friday series with returning analyst Rod Gilmore and new sideline reporter Jemele Hill. Hill has been an ESPN.com national columnist where she has also appeared on ESPN television programs since 2006.

• Joe Tessitore and Matt Millen will serve as the announcers for a new package of additional Saturday night games, primarily on ESPN. Shannon Spake or Shelley Smith will report from the sidelines. Tessitore previously worked Friday night games with Rod Gilmore while Matt Millen was the analyst on Saturday afternoon ABC games with Sean McDonough.
• Each of the ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU Saturday noon telecasts will include new pairings:

• Brian Griese and reporter Jenn Brown will join returning commentator Dave Pasch on ESPN’s noon game. Last year, Griese was the analyst on the ESPNU Saturday night telecast and Brown was the reporter on the Thursday ESPN College Football Primetime series.
• New analyst Joey Galloway, a former Ohio State and NFL veteran wide receiver, will call ESPN2’s weekly noon series with returning commentator Beth Mowins.
• The new announce team of Tom Hart and analyst John Congemi will work the ESPNU noon telecast. Congemi previously called ESPN Regional Television’s BIG EAST Network games and Hart is new to ESPN.

• ESPN2 and ESPNU Saturday night telecasts will include analysts in new roles:

• Brock Huard, who worked select ESPN and ABC Saturday games last season, will pair up with Mark Jones on a weekly ESPN2 prime-time game.
• Matt Stinchcomb, an ESPNU studio analyst last year, will move to the ESPNU prime-time game with Clay Matvick and reporter Allison Williams.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Regional Television Game Announcer Pairings

Note: Additional commentators will contribute throughout the season.

Game Telecast	Play-by-play	Analyst	Reporter
Saturday Night Football (on ABC)	Brent Musburger	Kirk Herbstreit	TBA
ESPN College Football Primetime (Saturday)	Brad Nessler	Todd Blackledge	Holly Rowe
ESPN Saturday Prime Time	Joe Tessitore	Matt Millen	Jessica Mendoza, Shelley Smith or Shannon Spake
ESPN2 College Football Primetime (Saturday)	Mark Jones	Brock Huard	Jessica Mendoza or Shelley Smith
ESPNU Saturday Prime Time	Clay Matvick	Matt Stinchcomb	Allison Williams
ESPN College Football Primetime (Thursday)	Rece Davis	Jesse Palmer and David Pollack	Samantha Steele
ESPN and ESPN2 Friday	Carter Blackburn	Rod Gilmore	Jemele Hill
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Sean McDonough	Chris Spielman	Quint Kessenich
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Mike Patrick	Ed Cunningham	Jeannine Edwards
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Bob Wischusen	Danny Kanell	Maria Taylor
ESPN College Football (Saturday afternoon)	Dave Pasch	Brian Griese	Jenn Brown
ESPN2 College Football (Saturday afternoon)	Beth Mowins	Joey Galloway
ESPNU Saturday Afternoon	Tom Hart	John Congemi
ESPNU Saturday Afternoon	Anish Shrof	Dan Hawkins
ESPNU Thursday (HBCU)	Joe Davis	Jay Walker
ESPNU Late Saturday (HBCU)	Joe Davis	Jay Walker
ESPN Radio	Bill Rosinski	David Norrie	Joe Schad
SEC Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games)	Dave Neal	Andre Ware	Cara Capuano
BIG EAST Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games)	Eamon McAnaney	David Diaz-Infante	Paul Carcaterra

More later.

Some Quick Monday Links

My apologies for not bringing you links over the last week. It’s been a crazy time for me. Some linkage now.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that NBC’s Rowdy Gaines doesn’t believe that Michael Phelps won’t be swimming competitively four years from now. And Hiestand reports that Matt Millen will ruin your college football viewing experience during primetime this fall.

John Ourand and Tripp Mickle at Sports Business Journal’s Olympics site find what former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol is doing in London during the Games.

Ourand talks with Comcast CEO Brian Roberts about the Olympics being a guinea pig for new media.

Ourand writes that NBC execs are feeling bullish on the Olympics after a very good start.

Mickle says a change in strategy has led the International Olympic Committee to increase its take in rights fees from global TV partners.

Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp writes that NBC saw a slight bump from Sunday’s Olympic Primetime from Beijing.

Tim Baysinger from Broadcasting & Cable says last night’s Olympic ratings were down from last Sunday.

Jeanine Poggi of Advertising Age says we can complain all we want, NBC is still laughing all the way to the bank with its increased Olympic TV ratings.

Media Life notes that NBC’s Today Show is back on top of the morning show ratings thanks to the Olympics.

A former GM of an NBC affiliate tells Chuck Ross of TV Week what the network can learn from the BBC in televising the Olympics.

Ed Sherman at the Sherman Report chastises NBC for not showing Usain Bolt’s gold medal-winning run in the 100 meters live yesterday.

Speaking of Bolt, BroBible has video of him stopping a post-race interview with a Spanish reporter as Sanya Richards-Ross was getting her gold medal at the Olympics.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group notes how the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium downsized its operation for London as compared to its huge undertaking in Vancouver.

Jason looks at BBC’s preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Ty Duffy of The Big Lead says NBC’s handling of the London Olympics pales in comparison to the BBC in the UK.

Also from The Big Lead, Jason McIntyre notes that the increasingly bitter Phil Mushnick of the New York Post has set his sights on Olympic gymnasts wondering why they’re so tiny and don’t have any breasts. C’mon, Phil.

Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has video of the BBC track & field studio crew off-camera openly rooting for Mo Farah when he won his gold medal in the 10,000 meters and then again the following day for Usain Bolt in the 100 meters.

Peter Kafka of All Things Digital reports that the long-rumored Turner Sports purchase of the Bleacher Report for an estimated nine figures will finally close today.

John Koblin of Deadspin has the entire Twitter discussion between ESPN tome co-author James Andrew Miller and ESPN’s Darren Rovell from earlier today.

Glenn Davis of SportsGrid has video of NFL Network’s Mike Mayock singing during last night’s Hall of Fame preseason game.

Jane Kellogg of the Hollywood Reporter writes about NBC’s rights extension for the French Open.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek says the NFL season hasn’t officially begun, yet CBS is close to being sold out for Super Bowl XLVII.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes that US judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison got to meet Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers at the NBC Olympic studios in London where he’s the studio analyst for basketball.

Phil Mushnick in the New York Post goes after MLB today.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun says NBC is attempting to ride the Michael Phelps gravy train for as long as possible.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has video of the new Subway ad starring DC NFL Team QB Robert Griffin III.

Dan has a look at the DC NFL Team’s preseason TV schedule.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says NBC has not been hurt by tape delaying Olympic events.

Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times writes about last week’s debut of the new local sports radio station.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Friend of Fang’s Bites Trenni Kusnierek will be leaving her radio gig at the end of the month to become an anchor/reporter for Comcast SportsNet New England. In effect, Trenni replaces Nicole Zalmouis who left for NFL AM on NFL Network.

At Chicago Sports Media Watch, Paul M. Banks says outgoing Comcast SportsNet reporter Sarah Kustok got a rousing sendoff from White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski the other night.

Sarah has a picture of the sendoff at her Twitter account.

Jerry Barmash of Fishbowl NY tells you where Sarah is going.

Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post looks at the Broncos’ radio and TV and other related broadcasts.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has your sports calendar for this week.

Sports Media Watch notes that NBC’s Olympic daytime ratings are up.

And I’ll end it there for now.

Some Rare Sunday Linkage

It used to be that I would be able to provide linkage all seven days of the week, but my schedule has been crazy lately especially on the weekends. My apologies for not being able to provide more weekend content.

But as I’m free right now, let’s not dilly-dally any longer and here are some links for you on this Sunday.

Christoper S. Stewart of the Wall Street Journal looks at NBC’s massive undertaking to provide online content for NBCOlympics.com.

Eddie Kim of Variety says it’ll be consumers, not the television networks who will decide how second screen usage in sports viewing will evolve.

Michael Malone of Broadcasting & Cable writes that NBC’s owned-and-operated will be sending reporters to cover the 2012 Olympics in London.

At The Sherman Report, Ed Sherman says ESPN Radio and Big Ten Network failed in covering the Louis Freeh report on Penn State and Joe Paterno.

Ed hears from fired San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan who landed on his feet in Louisville.

The excellent ESPN.com college basketball writer Dana O’Neill has a response to those who feel female sportscasters must be hot in order to be on television, knowledge in sports be damned. Thanks to Trenni Kusnierek of WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee for the link.

The Associated Press has announced its Olympic coverage plans.

At the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Ronnie Ramos looks at some of the more interesting ideas in sports and social media.

Sports Video Group has looks at the Olympic venues that we’ll be seeing over the 16 days of competition starting on July 27. Actually a couple of days earlier if you count the Soccer Tournament. Here’s Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

Joe Favorito looks at the return of the New York Cosmos.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe notes that despite a .500 season, NESN still drew viewers in the first half of the 2012 campaign.

Chad also has the Boston radio ratings for the Spring Arbitron book.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes about baseball stadia increasingly putting out the welcome mat for soccer exhibition games to generate new revenue.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post says the Freeh Report on Penn State shows that football was above the law.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that the local NBC affiliate has a conflict with the Olympics and the New York Giants preseason opening game.

Pete has NFL Network’s extensive preseason game schedule.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says Giants fans will have to do a little searching for the team’s preseason games in August.

Ken has the Olympic Basketball Tournament viewing schedule.

Greg Connors of the Buffalo News looks forward to hearing the dulcet tones of Peter Alliss on the Open Championship this week.

Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner recaps the local reaction to the release of the Penn State report.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times wonders if the future of talk radio lies with sports rather than politics.

Stephen F. Holder of the Times writes that the Buccaneers will adhere to the new NFL TV blackouts bucking what the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans had already announced.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Sentinel writes that the MLB All-Star Game received its lowest local ratings since 2005.

Back to Ed Sherman, he has an article in today’s Chicago Tribune on NBC’s new thinking about presenting every Olympic event live online.

Eric Zorn of the Tribune remembers a blind sportscaster who did his job so well, many listeners had no idea he was sightless. Thanks to Ed Sherman for the link.

The Reno Gazette-Journal talks with ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News notes that reports of Heather Cox replacing Erin Andrews on the sidelines for Saturday Night Football may be premature.

Sports Media Watch has a look at Fox’s primetime MLB ratings over its eight week span.

SMW says Detroit leads all local markets in the MLB ratings.

Paul M. Banks at the Sports Bank wonders if it’s time for Matt Millen to leave ESPN.

Media Rantz looks at the NFL teams deciding not to adhere to the new TV blackout rules.

EPL Talk has the schedule for some of exhibition soccer games on TV over the next few weeks.

And that’s going to complete our links for today. I hope to have another post for you later. I hope time will allow me to do so. It’ll be good, I promise.

A Few Sunday Sports Media Thoughts

Let’s provide a few sports media thoughts on this Sunday. They’ll be in bullet form.

• Last Thursday’s release of Louis Freeh’s report on Penn State University’s conduct in the Jerry Sandusky scandal was the sports media’s version of the Obamacare Supreme Court decision. Unlike the Obamacare decision, no media outlet made errors in reporting. But there were a couple of errors in judgment in the aftermath.

  First was allowing Matt Millen to go solo on SportsCenter to spout freely to defend Joe Paterno and his legacy. ESPN should have had one of its legal experts like Roger Cossack to discuss the contents of the reports. To let Millen go on to defend Paterno right after the report’s release was irresponsible. If ESPN was going to have Millen on, it needed to have an opposing viewpoint accompany him. Bad decision by ESPN.

  Second was crackpot Bill James originally stating on his own site and then again on ESPN Radio’s Doug Gottlieb Show on Saturday that the Freeh Report had somehow exonerated Paterno. James currently works for the Boston Red Sox in an advisory role and while he did not make those statements representing the team, they have a conundrum knowing that the calls for James’ firing have already begun. Someone should have corralled James before he went on ESPN Radio and embarrassed himself. How James could believe the report that report exonerated Paterno is beyond belief. The Red Sox will have to take action on James. And no, this is not a First Amendment issue. Under an organization’s employe, that organization can fire someone for actions or statements it deems offensive or contrary to its values.

  The Paterno story and its effects on Penn State will be going for a while, I’m afraid.

• I’m a fan of HBO’s boxing coverage from Jim Lampley to Larry Merchant, Emanuel Steward and Harold Lederman, but when it comes to Max Kellerman, the man is abrasive, obnoxious and a charlatan. Often, he repeats what Jim Lampley has already said. Larry Merchant is much better in the third analyst role. How Kellerman has worked for ESPN, Fox Sports Net and HBO is beyond me.
• After watching a few MLS and US Soccer games on NBC Sports Network, I’ve become a fan of how Arlo White and Kyle Martino call contests. With White in the traditional commentary box and Martino down on the field, the two have very good chemistry. I look forward to having them call Olympic Soccer in the UK at the end of this month.
• If I’m on a baseball team playing on a Fox Saturday Baseball game that’s being called by Kenny Albert, I’m calling in sick. In 2010, Kenny called two marathon games, a 20 inning affair between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals and a 13 inning contest between the Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. Then on Saturday, Kenny had another 13 inning game, this time between Detroit and Baltimore. Kenny is truly a baseball Marathon Man.

That will conclude the thoughts for today.

Some Back To Work Tuesday Links

On this day when many of you head back to work after the lazy holiday season, let’s provide some links as we get into the New Year.

I’m still saddened today by the passing of Turner Sports and PGA.com essayist Jim Huber. Reading the tributes on Twitter from those who knew him and those who did not, the man was widely well-liked. Jim gave us the facts, was willing to let the events come to him and never was one to call attention to himself. And when you finished reading or watching one of Jim’s essays, you felt the richer for having seen it.

Some links for you.

Scott Michaux from the Augusta (GA) Chronicle says Jim Huber’s passing was so sudden.

Michael Schulder, an Senior Executive Producer at CNN writes at SI.com, that Jim was not only a great writer, he was also a poet.

Ryan Ballengee at Golf Channel mourns Jim’s passing.

John Kim at PGA.com has an obit.

Carla Caldwell at the Atlanta Business Chronicle also has an obituary.

And the Turner Sports-run NBA.com has a story plus a video tribute to Jim Huber.

Other sports media links.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch says ESPN has responded to a column written by The Oregonian’s John Canzano saying the network has bought access to the Rose Bowl while sacrificing journalism.

John Ourand & Michael Smith from Sports Business Journal report that Oklahoma University will have plenty of its sports programming seen in the Sooner State as well as Texas thanks to a new deal signed with Fox Sports.

Brian Steinberg at Advertising Age says NBC has sold out its Super Bowl XLVI ad inventory in sharp contrast to the last time it aired the Big Game when it was selling ads in the week leading up to the event.

And Brian writes that some Super Bowl advertisers are looking to make a big splash like Apple did with its famous “1984″ ad.

Alex Sherman of Bloomberg Business Week writes that NBC is getting as much as $4 million per 30 second ad for the Super Bowl. That’s a lot of money.

At the Hollywood Reporter, Georg Szalai writes about the neverending dispute between MSG Network and Time Warner Cable.

If you watched the NHL Winter Classic yesterday, you may have noticed a new ad from Bridgestone Tires with a fake press conference involving various ESPN personalities, one TNT analyst and if you’re really sharp-eyed, a reporter from Sports Business Journal. Shirley Brady of Brand Channel looks at the ad campaign that will climax at the Super Bowl.

To Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy where he laments the death of Versus.

Jeff Sonderman at the Poynter Institute looks at how Philly.com handled comments in the reporting of Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin’s alleged molestation of seven children.

Ken Kerschbaumer of Sports Video Group mourns the passing of an ABC Sports production legend.

Dan Daley of SVG looks at how Turner Sports wired its NBA broadcasts when the league returned to play on Christmas Day.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes that Time Warner Cable has put NBA TV in MSG Network’s channel slot.

Richard says HBO’s 24/7 on the NHL Winter Classic is another part of the network’s winning formula in sports documentaries.

Richard looks at the Super Bowl ads selling out and setting a revenue record for NBC.

Newsday’s Neil Best says NBC did its best to sell hockey during yesterday’s Winter Classic.

At Fishbowl NY, Jerry Barmash catches up with former WABC-TV sports anchor Scott Clark.

Will Leitch at New York Magazine wants to know what’s going on with the MSG/Time Warner Cable spat.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette tells Time Warner Cable subscribers what they’re missing tonight on MSG and MSG Plus.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that two ESPN’ers and also Capital Region natives get an on-air reunion during this week’s Orange Bowl broadcast.

Pete says Fox Sports Radio has debuted yet another morning show.

WCAU-TV in Philadelphia has announced a deal to pick up ACC Network basketball games this season.

Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has highlights of the DC NFL Team Radio Network’s season finale from Sunday.

Tom Jones of the Tampa Bay Times has some thoughts on the holiday weekend in sports television.

At the Houston Chronicle, David Barron writes that Jim Rome is promising a return to H-Town in the near future after his local affiliate dropped his radio show.

To the Daily Oklahoman where Mel Bracht says ESPN got the job done for last night’s Fiesta Bowl.

Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post is a fan of NFL RedZone.

Jason Quick of The Oregonian says Comcast SportsNet Northwest has struck a deal allowing fans without access to the channel to view Portland Trail Blazers games online. For a fee, of course.

Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times feels Fox Sports NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira should call things both ways.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says the NHL Winter Classic drew its lowest overnight rating ever.

Sports Media Watch notes that TNT is putting Charles Barkley courtside this week.

SMW notes the Rose Bowl saw its lowest overnight rating in years.

Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead says Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer is banning his players from Twitter and CNBC’s Darren Rovell is pissed.

Barry Janoff from The Big Lead looks at the aforementioned Bridgestone ad campaign.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has tweets from people angry over Matt Millen’s analysis during last night’s Fiesta Bowl. Millen was really awful last night.

Lots of good links for you today. That will do it.

Matt Millen’s Emotional Breakdown on SportsCenter

Talking about his alma mater, Penn State and his coaches Joe Paterno along with former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, Matt Millen got emotional and broke down on the set of ESPN’s SportsCenter today. Discussing the alleged incidents regarding Sandusky and several young boys, Millen broke down and tried to fight back tears while being interviewed by anchor Chris McKendry. His breakdown starts at the 4:50 mark and about a minute later, Millen talks about protecting our kids. You could see McKendry in a couple of shots looking uncomfortable.

ESPN Front Row reveals that Millen is on the Honorary Board of The Second Mile, the charity that Sandusky started. Certainly an emotional day and one that most likely marks the end of Joe Paterno’s career at Penn State.

Let’s Do Some Thursday Linkage

Today is going to be a busy day with the UFC on Fox press conference and the NHL TV schedule announcement. I figure now would be a good time to linkage and I hope I don’t get interrupted here at work.

The big news that broke late yesterday was DirecTV announcing that it would offer its NFL Sunday Ticket package to Sony Playstation 3 platforms. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News writes that the package will be offered to both non and current DirecTV subscribers.

In Sony’s official Playstation 3 blog, Philip Rosenberg explains what Playstation fans will see with the NFL Sunday Ticket offering.

Kari Lipschutz of Adweek tells us what this move means for Playstation owners.

CBS Radio continues to kill off its heritage rock stations and flip them to FM sports. It killed off rock stations in Boston and Cleveland in favor of new FM sports stations. Today’s it’s Philadelphia’s turn as long-time rocker WYSP will go by the wayside for a simulcast of WIP which was the 2nd station in the country after WFAN to go all-sports. All Access says the flip to sports will occur after Labor Day.

Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News has the full details of the format change.

The Crossing Broad blog provides its reaction to the move.

The 700 Level analyzes what this all means for the Philly sports fan.

Back to Multichannel News, Mike Reynolds writes that the University of Hawaii will launch its own regional sports network on Friday, beating the Longhorn Network’s launch by a week.

Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com says a big payday for the Big East’s TV contract could lead to major changes in the conference.

The LPGA has announced that it’s hired long-time Golf Channel anchor Kraig Kann as its chief communications officer.

Bob Cook at Forbes.com detests ESPN’s coverage of the Little League World Series.

Brandon Costa at Sports Video Group says the New York Jets will add a 1st and 10 line to its in-house game productions.

At SportsGrid, Timothy Burke has the audio of USA Today’s Danny Sheridan backing off a promise to name the money provider in the Cam Newton scandal and then he attacked bloggers. Not a good way to go, Danny.

To CNBC’s Darren Rovell who wonders why the NFL Players Association settled for as little as it did with the NFL.

At the Business of College Sports, the SportsBizMiss, Kristi Dosh goes over why the SEC did not formally invite Texas A&M to join its conference.

Tim Walker of the Independent in the UK explores the launch of ESPN.com’s Grantland and praises the site.

Jessica Heslam of the Boston Herald says former WEEI personality Pete Sheppard resumes his duties at Patriots.com next month.

Joe Drape at the New York Times says NBC Sports will air horse racing from the Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky in October.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has a look at the ACC Network schedule.

Laura Nachman notes that Vince Papale won’t be hosting Eagles Confidential this season.

Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Root Sports will change its night for high school football programming where it can show most of it live.

Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wants to know who should be added to the Miami Dolphins radio broadcast team.

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that the Grizzlies will be changing radio stations when the NBA returns from lockout.

B.J. Bethel of the Dayton Daily News says ESPN is part of the problem with college football.

James Jahnke of the Detroit Free Press says Lions fans won’t be heckling Matt Millen as he’s been taken off ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown show.

The Holland (MI) Sentinel reports that Fox Sports Detroit will increase its high school football coverage this fall.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that NFL Network will air the 2010 Packers edition of America’s Game the night before the NFL regular season opener.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business notes that a new book on the late Walter Payton will be published in October.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News reviews an HBO Real Sports segment comparing and contrasting the Brothers McEnroe’s opinions on how to revive American tennis.

Tom talks with two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Danielle Kang.

Gary Lycan of the Orange County Register writes about the New York Jets being heard on Southern California radio this season.

Sports Media Watch notes that the first preseason Monday Night Football game received lower ratings from last year’s opener.

SMW has some various ratings news and notes.

Joe Favorito wonders if the NBA’s D-League can benefit from the NBA lockout.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing looks at ESPN’s reluctance to cover the Miami payment scandal that was uncovered by Yahoo! Sports this week.

Scott Christ at Bad Left Hook takes a look at boxing’s TV ratings this year to date.

I’m going to end the links there. It’s going to be a busy day here. Keep your RSS and Twitter feeds updated. The posts could get fast and furious this afternoon.

ESPN’s College Football Announcing Teams For 2011

With so many college football games not just on Saturdays, but on Thursdays, Fridays and sometimes even Tuesdays, ESPN needs a lot of announcing teams on its networks. You have 22 announcing teams that span ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 3D, ESPN Radio, ESPN Regional Television, Big East Network and SEC Network. That’s a lot of networks to fill and ESPN has managed to do it with contracts with the ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, BYU, C-USA, MAC, Pac-12, SEC and the WAC. There aren’t too many changes. The main team remains Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews for Saturday Night Football on ABC.

Poor analysts Craig James and Matt Millen return. James calls two games a week, Thursday Nights on ESPN with Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and Jenn Brown and again on ABC with Mike Patrick. Millen will be teamed again with Sean McDonough on the main ABC Saturday afternoon game.

Former Florida coach Urban Meyer works games for the first time and will be teamed with Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman for ESPN Saturday afternoon contests. Analysts Ed Cunningham and Brian Griese will be given primetime slots on ESPN2 and ESPNU, respectively. And Beth Mowins will work the ESPN2 early afternoon games with Mike Belotti. Got it now? There will be a test later.

Let’s take a look at how the teams shape up this year.

ESPN 2011 College Football Commentator Assignments

What’s New: Urban Meyer on Saturday afternoons; Cunningham & Griese in prime-time roles; Mowins & Bellotti on ESPN2 noon; Hawkins Joins; and Wischusen & Davie on ABC afternoon

Returning: Musburger & Kirk Herbstreit on ABC Saturday Night Football; Brad Nessler & Todd Blackledge on ESPN Saturday in prime time; Davis, James, Palmer & Brown on Thursdays; and McDonough & Millen on ABC Saturday afternoons

The addition of two-time BCS National Championship coach Urban Meyer and several returning commentators in new roles highlight the lineup of announcer pairings for college football game telecasts across ESPN platforms. Meyer, who resigned from Florida at the conclusion of last season, will work Saturday noon ET games on ESPN with commentator Dave Pasch and analyst Chris Spielman. In addition to calling ESPN’s University of Texas spring game together, Meyer was an assistant coach at Ohio State when Spielman was a player.

In addition, former Colorado and Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins has joined ESPN and will serve as the analyst on ESPNU’s Saturday afternoon telecast with returning announcer Pam Ward. Hawkins compiled an overall record of 112-61-1 at the two programs, including four consecutive Western Athletic Conference titles in his five years at Boise State.

Highlights of new assignments:

• ESPN2 and ESPNU Saturday prime-time telecasts will include analysts in new roles.
• Ed Cunningham, who called ABC afternoon games last year, will partner with Mark Jones for ESPN2’s weekly telecast.
• Brian Griese will move from ESPN2’s Saturday noon game to ESPNU’s evening game with returning announcer Clay Matvick. Allison Williams will serve as reporter.
• Beth Mowins will assume the role of play-by-play on ESPN2’s Saturday noon telecast with analyst Mike Bellotti, who worked primarily ESPN and ABC West Coast games last year.
• Analyst Bob Davie will move from ESPN2 Saturday night games to ABC Saturday afternoon telecasts with Bob Wischusen, who worked Saturday noon games on ESPN2 last year.
• Former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell, entering his second year with ESPN, will join announcer Rob Stone on ESPNU Saturday noon telecasts. Kanell worked with Pam Ward on ESPNU’s Saturday afternoon. game last year.

The assignments of returning commentator pairings includes Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit calling the Saturday Night Football series on ABC, broadcast television’s only weekly primetime game (8 p.m.), for their sixth consecutive year. Erin Andrews will report from the sidelines of the broadcast for her second season. The weekly Saturday ESPN College Football Primetime telecast will pair leading play-by-play voice Brad Nessler with analyst Todd Blackledge and reporter Holly Rowe.
Additional highlights:

• For the second straight year, game and studio host Rece Davis will call the Thursday ESPN College Football Primetime series with analysts Craig James and Jesse Palmer, and reporter Jenn Brown.
• Commentator Sean McDonough and analyst Matt Millen will team up for a third season to work the marquee Saturday afternoon telecasts on ABC.
• Analyst Brock Huard and commentator Carter Blackburn will continue to work ESPN and ABC Saturday games, primarily featuring West Coast sites.
• ESPN Friday night telecasts will be called by Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore for the fourth year.
• Announcer Bill Rosinski, analyst David Norrie and reporter Joe Schad will work ESPN Radio’s weekly Saturday broadcast.

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 3D and ESPN Regional Television Game Pairings

Note: Additional commentators will contribute throughout the season.

Game Telecast	Play-by-play	Analyst	Reporter
Saturday Night Football (on ABC)	Brent Musburger	Kirk Herbstreit	Erin Andrews
ESPN College Football Primetime (Saturday)	Brad Nessler	Todd Blackledge	Holly Rowe
ESPN2 College Football Primetime (Saturday)	Mark Jones	Ed Cunningham
ESPNU SEC Saturday Prime Time	Clay Matvick	Brian Griese	Allison Williams
ESPN College Football Primetime (Thursday)	Rece Davis	Craig James and Jesse Palmer	Jenn Brown
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Sean McDonough	Matt Millen	Heather Cox
ESPN College Football (Saturday afternoon)	Dave Pasch	Chris Spielman and Urban Meyer
ESPN2 College Football (Saturday afternoon)	Beth Mowins	Mike Bellotti
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Mike Patrick	Craig James
ABC Saturday Afternoon	Bob Wischusen	Bob Davie
ABC or ESPN Saturdays (primarily West Coast)	Carter Blackburn	Brock Huard
ESPNU Saturday Afternoon	Rob Stone	Danny Kanell
ESPNU Saturday Afternoon	Pam Ward	Dan Hawkins
ESPN and ESPN2 Friday	Joe Tessitore	Rod Gilmore
ESPNU Thursday	Anish Shroff	Jay Walker
ESPNU late Saturday (WAC)	Adam Amin	David Diaz-Infante
ESPNU late Saturday (HBCU)	Adam Amin	Jay Walker
ESPN 3D (Saturday)	Joe Tessitore	Tim Brown
ESPN Radio	Bill Rosinski	David Norrie	Joe Schad
SEC Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games)	Dave Neal	Andre Ware	Cara Capuano
BIG EAST Network (ESPN Regional Television syndicated games)	Mike Gleason	John Congemi	Eamon McAnaney
ESPN Regional Television MAC Syndication	Michael Reghi	Doug Chapman

** Additional reporters to be used include Jeannine Edwards, Quint Kessenich, Shelley Smith and Tom Rinaldi

The 2011 college football season on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN 3D, ESPN3.com, ESPN Radio, ESPN Mobile TV, ESPN Regional Television and ESPN GamePlan will total more than 400 regular-and post-season games, concluding with the entire Bowl Championship Series, including the National Championship, on ESPN. The schedule will include weekly Saturday night games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, weekly ESPN and ESPNU Thursday night contests and telecasts every Friday and select Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

There you go.

Some Thursday Links

Ok starting the linkage off late again today, but I hope get a full set in before leaving work later.

Sports Business Daily notes some shuffling of personnel with the NFL TV partners.

Preston Bounds of Sports Business Daily talks about Brad Nessler saying his college football schedule with ESPN/ABC won’t be affected by his new gig with NFL Network.

Sports Business Daily discusses the machinations behind the ESPN-owned Longhorn Network.

Michael Hiestand from USA Today has some of the ratings from the weekend.

At Variety, Cynthia Littleton talks about ABC Studios developing a sitcom based on a book written by ESPN Radio morning drive co-host Mike Greenburg.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News notes that ESPN has been honored for its World Cup programming.

Anthony Crupi from Adweek says NBCUniversal’s networks are all over the promotion of the Kentucky Derby.

Wayne Friedman at MediaPost notes that Time Warner saw additional ad revenues in the 1st quarter of this year thanks to the NCAA  Tournament.

Wayne says Fox is reporting good ad revenues from the NFL in its fiscal year 2nd quarter.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo’s Puck Daddy has the video of a cameraman getting a little too close to the action before Game 3 of the Vancouver-Nashville game.

Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center notes that sports journalism is greatly lacking in diversity.

Kristi Dosh of the Business of College Sports has an excellent look at the TV contracts for all of the BCS conferences.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times notes that embattled Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is blaming MLB Walking, Talking Conflict of Interest Bud Selig for his financial troubles. Way to help your cause, Frank.

Newsday’s Neil Best says former NFL Network play-by-play man Bob Papa is taking the high road.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that thoroughbred racing from Saratoga Race Course is heading back to national television after a year’s absence.

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says Time Warner Cable will air some local high school baseball.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call writes that Matt Millen had a feeling he was going to be blown out of the NFL Network booth.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner feels the big Pac-12 contracts with ESPN and Fox could lead the Big East to a huge windfall.

Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News says the Mavericks saw their biggest ratings in more than 2 years.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that Pawtucket Red Sox and Cincinnati Bearcats voice Dan Hoard will become the voice of the Bengals this season.

John goes into some of the reasons why Brad Johansen will no longer be the voice of the Bengals.

Bob Wolfley from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at Mike Mayock becoming the new analyst for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business notes that WGN will have a special on Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

Paola Boivin from the Arizona Republic takes a look at the Pac-12 media rights agreements and what it means for member schools.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times writes about Brad Nessler coming in to call NFL Network Thursday Night Football.

SportsbyBrooks profiles the US Assistant Attorney General whose looking into the BCS.

Sports Media Watch notes that in Boston this week, the Bruins beat the Celtics in the ratings, but not head-to-head.

SMW says Lakers losses are leading to lofty ratings.

Steve Lepore, the hardest working blogger in the business, says NBC saw a double digit ratings jump last Sunday.

Steve also has the ratings for Night 21 of the NHL Playoffs.

Awful Announcing notes that announcers Victor Rojas and Mark Gubicza understandably went a little goofy as the Angels-Red Sox game went form Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

Keggs ‘n Eggs notes the irony of Urban Meyer’s daughter complaining about him working for ESPN as he was supposed to spend retirement from Florida with his family.

I’ll end the links there. Finally finish these at 9:50 p.m. Thursday. Lots of things to do on the blog.

NFL Network Announcing Teams Since 2006

The upheaval in the NFL Network Thursday Night Football booth has been well documented. Now that Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock are officially the new announcing team, we look at the people NFL Network have assembled over the years. Let’s hope that this team can remain in place through the end of the current NFL TV contract.

2006 – Bryant Gumbel/Cris Collinsworth
2007 – Bryant Gumbel/Cris Collinsworth
2008 – Bob Papa/Cris Collinsworth
2009 – Bob Papa/Matt Millen
2010 – Bob Papa/Matt Millen/Joe Theismann/Alex Flanagan
2011 – Brad Nessler/Mike Mayock/Alex Flanagan (I’ll say Alex returns this year)

So you can see there has been hardly any consistency in the booth with changes coming practically every year but 2006-07. Here’s hoping that this year’s version of Thursday Night Football will work for NFL Network. I’m rooting for Brad and Mike.

Doling Out Tuesday Linkage

Got to work early so I figure that I’ll do linkage early and then do some what I have to do at the office.

Let’s begin with a look at some of the ratings from the weekend via USA Today’s Michael Hiestand.

Michael notes that the Cam Newton saga at the NFL Draft could bring viewers to the table for ESPN and NFL Network despite ongoing lockout drama.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today says Fox’s Howie Long blasted the NFL Scouting Combine in a taping of a Big Lead/The Experts Network Draft Special. Disclaimer: Fang’s Bites is a member of Big Lead Sports, but is an independently owned and operated blog.

A couple of interesting op-ed pieces today. First, NFL Commish Roger Goodell in the Wall Street Journal claims the end of the league as we know it if there’s no collective bargaining agreement with the players.

Next in the Washington Post, Washington DC NFL Team owner Daniel Snyder explains why he’s suing the Washington City  Paper and it certainly doesn’t help his argument.

If you want to help the Washington City Paper in its fight against Snyder, go here and lend your support.

To the Sports Business Journal and John Ourand who says ESPN’s new endorsement guidelines are just a small ointment to a bigger problem.

John writes that NBA Draft prospect Jimmer Fredette has authorized a production company to follow him for a potential documentary on his experience leading up to the Draft.

Daniel Kaplan from the SBJ says NFL teams and sponsors are getting ready for the NFL Draft.

And Terry Lefton at the SBJ notes that Michael Vick’s image is at the point where he can endorse products again.

Tom Van Riper at Forbes is in favor of Major League Baseball expanding its playoffs.

Tim Baysinger from Broadcasting & Cable notes that Comcast SportsNet Chicago garnered record ratings for Canucks-Blackhawks Game 6 on Sunday.

Mike Reyolds at Mulitchannel News says NESN received its third highest ever ratings for a Boston Bruins playoff game on Saturday.

Dan Fogarty of SportsGrid has ESPN/ABC’s Mark Jackson calling out ESPN The Magazine for publishing an anonymous NBA player’s column.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser says despite first round ousters, the Knicks and Rangers drew very good TV ratings in New York.

Also from SportsNewser, Cam Martin notes that a documentary on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is in the works.

And Alex Weprin of SportsNewser talks with ESPN personality Stephen A. (A is for Angry) Smith.

Bill Mann of Marketwatch.com says the NBC/Versus deal with the NHL will have a ripple effect in Canada.

Ken Kerschbaumer at Sports Video Group looks at NFL Network’s production preparation for the NFL Draft.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says all Judge Susan Nelson did in overturning the NFL lockout was to lead to massive confusion among the league and the players.

The Boston Globe notes that local athletic shoe company, Saucony is launching a new ad campaign that will air on ESPN and other sports networks starting this week.

Paul Devlin of the New Canaan (CT) Patch profiles local resident and ESPN Dictator George Bodenheimer.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union has the NFL Draft programming for both ESPN and NFL Network.

Pete says the New York Knicks delivered killer ratings for both ABC and MSG Network.

Pete has the updated NBA Playoffs TV schedule.

From the New Jersey Press, David P. Willis looks at the new Cablevision iPad app which allows subscribers to watch TV programs on their Apple tablets.

In the New Jersey Newsroom, Evan Weiner wonders why politicians aren’t speaking out against the NFL lockout.

Zach Berman from the Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger has five questions for NFL Network Draft guru Mike Mayock.

Mike Jensen from the Philadelphia Inquirer profiles native Mike Mayock of NFL Network.

Joseph Santoliquito of the Marple Newtown (PA) Patch profiles Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia host Michael Barkann who is a longtime resident of the community.

At the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg notes that former DC NFL Team executive Vinny Cerrato will now co-host a nightly radio show in Baltimore.

The Spartanburg (SC) Herald Journal reports that the local ESPN Radio affiliate will pick up high school football games this fall.

Mel Bracht from the Daily Oklahoman notes that TNT’s Mike Fratello got the job done during last night’s Denver-Oklahoma City NBA playoff game.

Bill Haisten from the Tulsa (OK) World says local native Dari Nowkhah of ESPN almost quit TV for teaching until a sudden call from Bristol, CT came his way.

Jamie Samuelsen in the Detroit Free Press says Matt Millen should expect a less-than-warm welcome to Ford Field when he makes his first return there with the Monday Night Football crew this fall.

Robert Snell of the Free Press says NFL Network’s Marshall Faulk owes the IRS a big chunk of change.

Cole Manbeck of the Manhattan (KS) Mercury says Kansas State is expecting a huge cash payment from the new Fox/Big 12 TV deal.

Jeff Wolf of the Las Vegas Journal-Review says baseball fans in town are fed up of being blacked out of six teams that claim the market as their territory.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog goes after Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail for not doing his homework.

Sports Media Watch notes that NBA ratings in Boston and Chicago are way up from last year.

SMW also looks at the local NHL ratings in various markets.

And SMW has some more NHL ratings for us.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has the ratings for nights 9 and 10 of the NHL Playoffs on Versus.

And I think we’re done now. Back to work now.

Let’s Do Some Friday Megalinkage

Last week, I could not do the megalinks as I was traveling in between two offices. Yesterday, I seemed to get that out of the way so it appears that I’m free to do the megalinks today. I hope I can give you a full set.

As usual, there’s a full set of Weekend Viewing Picks for sports and primetime programming. You can take them or leave them. Choose wisely.

Now to the linkage.

National

At USA Today, Michael Hiestand and Mike McCarthy debate ESPN’s new endorsement policy. New guidelines on ESPN reporters and anchors endorsing products were issued this week.

The St. Petersburg Times’ Eric Deggans writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center applauds the new ESPN policy.

Jessica E. Vascellaro and Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal report that Comcast wants to become a bigger player in cable sports through its NBC division.

Emma Bazilian of Adweek says NBC Universal’s new CEO wants to make Versus a true challenger to ESPN.

Austin Karp of the Sports Business Journal notes that the NHL’s ratings on Versus are making gains as the playoffs begin.

A story from Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated grabbed a lot of buzz yesterday. Richard reports that NFL Network’s Draft guru Mike Mayock would replace analysts Joe Theismann and Matt Millen in the Thursday Night Football booth and Gus Johnson might replace play-by-play man Bob Papa.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says having both the Knicks and Rangers in the postseason should raise the profile of MSG Network this Spring.

ESPN’s Front Row blog looks at the network’s preparation for the NBA Playoffs.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser notes that ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose returns from his suspension this Saturday.

CNBC’s Tom Rotunno says interest in the New York Knicks in the NBA Playoffs is driving the secondary ticket market.

All Access notes that a San Francisco country station has flipped to FM sports talk.

Alan Bastable of Golf Magazine talks with CBS’ Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo about last Sunday’s exciting final round of The Masters^®.

To the Biz of Baseball where the great Maury Brown says MLB’s revenues have grown significantly from 1995 through 2010.

Bob’s Blitz has the video of Comcast SportsNet New England’s Joe Haggerty pushing a Canadiens fan out of camera range during a live shot after last night’s Habs-Bruins game.

The Crossing Broad blog isn’t a fan of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia superimposing ads behind the goal during the Sabres-Flyers series. I noticed Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic doing this too during the Rangers-Caps game on Wednesday.

The great Steve Lepore from Puck The Media likes NHL Network’s pregame efforts for the playoffs, but notes they could do better.

Sports Media Watch says Versus had good ratings for the opening night of the NHL Playoffs.

SMW tells us that Versus hit an all-time viewing high for the 2010-11 NHL regular season.

SMW says NBC had a mixed bag for its NHL regular season viewership.

SMW writes that ESPN will update its graphics and opening theme for the NBA playoffs.

Elie Mystal from Above the Law rips ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson for his thoughts of the Barry Bonds trial. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.

Joe Favorito explains why he’s no longer writing for The Huffington Post. I’ve been hearing strange dealings going on there since it started a relationship with AOL earlier this year.

Brian Packey at Awful Announcing says the voices of the Sacramento Kings gave a tearful goodbye as they signed off following what could be their last game in California’s capital.

Dave Kohl at Major League Programs talks about MLB celebrating Jackie Robinson Day today.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe writes on how 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich scored a big coup by getting Charlie Sheen on their station after his Boston show earlier this week.

Bill Doyle from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette talks with Boston Bruins radio voice Dave Goucher.

Richard Sandomir from the New York Times discusses the new endorsement guidelines for ESPN personalities.

Stuart Elliot from the Times says ESPN and MasterCard are teaming up to produce a series on soccer that will be show in Latin America.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post continues his vitriol against everybody and everything in sports television.

The Post’s Justin Terranova has five questions for MSG New York Rangers analyst Joe Micheletti.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union talks with MSG Rangers voice Sam Rosen.

Pete says the Rangers’ playoff opener on Wednesday scored well for MSG Plus.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes that Versus and NHL Network will air the IIHF World Hockey Championships.

Laura Nachman notes that a local sports radio personality will jumping on board with Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia for a midday gig.

Peter Van Allen of the Philadelphia Business Journal writes that Saturday is going to be a big day for the Delaware Valley sports fan.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that the Capitals got big ratings in their playoff opener.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner also talks about the record ratings for the Caps.

Jim says with higher expectations for the Nationals, MASN’s ratings for the DC MLB team should rise with them.

South

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times rightfully criticizes Pittsburgh personality John Steigerwald for his horrific column on Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan who was beaten into a coma by two Los Angeles Dodgers fans earlier this month.

Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald says by ESPN/ABC choosing the 76ers-Heat series over Knicks-Celtics proves the drawing power of LeBron James & Co.

In the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, ESPN’s Rachel Nichols pays tribute to a former boss.

Steve Gorten from the Sun-Sentinel says ESPNU will air three videos produced by the Miami Hurricanes’ website.

Nate Allen from the Helena (AR) Daily World says ESPN is in town for the Arkansas spring football game.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that Hall of Fame Astros broadcaster Milo Hamilton will be speaking about his colorful career at Texas A&M.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman says a new era in Oklahoma Sooners broadcasting begins on Saturday.

Midwest

Nice to have George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal in the megalinks again. He says fans without a rooting interest will have plenty of choices to watch in the NBA Playoffs starting tomorrow.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer discusses a new book on the 1961 pennant-winning Cincinnati Reds.

John says several well-known Cincinnati and national personalities were on hand last night to roast a local restaurant legend.

And John writes that from here on end, the Reds will be seen in high definition on Fox Sports Ohio.

Michael Zuidema from the Grand Rapids (MI) Press notes that a local lawyer by day also serves as  minor league baseball team’s radio analyst by night.

The Indianapolis Star notes that last Sunday’s IndyCar race on Versus barely registered in the ratings opposite The Masters^®.

Ed Sherman at Crain’s Chicago Business has some Windy City broadcast news and notes.

Ed says Notre Dame and Northwestern plan to meet on the gridiron again.

And Ed has this week’s winners and losers in sports business and media.

Will Buss of the Belleville (IL) News-Democrat says Fox Sports Midwest and AT&T U-Verse are haggling over 17 St. Louis Cardinals games.

Dan Caesar from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says despite not making the playoffs, the St. Louis Blues still set a ratings record for Fox Sports Midwest.

Sam Mellinger at the Kansas City Star says with a new rights deal in hand, the Big 12 became a big money player.

West

John Maffei of the North County Times writes that San Diego State University is concerned that the Mountain West Conference is falling behind in national TV exposure.

Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says the national NBA television analysts like the Lakers’ chances to repeat as champs this year.

In his notebook, Jim says The Masters^® drew in the viewers.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News looks at how quickly Kobe Bryant’s homophobic slur transcended sports.

Jon Wilner from the San Jose Mercury News looks at the bidders for the Pac 12 TV rights.

George Schroeder with the Eugene (OR) Register-Guard says the Pac 12 is going to get rich very quickly thanks to some TV network.

Canada

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says a throwaway radio comment had Winnipeg laying down the welcome mat for the Phoenix Coyotes.

And we will end the megalinks there.

NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football Announcing Teams

Here’s how NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football announcing teams have looked since 2006:

2006 – Bryant Gumbel/Cris Collinsworth
2007 – Bryant Gumbel/Cris Collinsworth
2008 – Bob Papa/Cris Collinsworth
2009 – Bob Papa/Matt Millen
2010 – Bob Papa/Matt Millen/Joe Theismann/Alex Flanagan
2011 – Gus Johnson/Mike Mayock (speculated, not confirmed)

You can see there hasn’t been much consistency for NFL Network and even its production crew has turned over a couple of times in the process. To say NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football has been a work in progress would be an understatement, but it needs some consistency and a team that can be its signature as Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth have been for NBC’s Sunday Night Football in the last two seasons.

DEVELOPING: Mike Mayock In At Thursday Night Football; Possibly Gus Johnson Too

This is what happens when I’m out of the office, news breaks and I need someone to point me in the right direction. Coming from the great Richard Deitsch at Sports Illustrated, NFL Network has apparently decided to do away with the Joe Theismann/Matt Millen analyst combo and chucked them in favor of one of the best analysts in football, Mike Mayock. I asked NFL Network’s PR department for confirmation, but was given an “NFL Network declines comment” response.

In the meantime, this would be most excellent news if this is true. Mayock has been with NFL Network from its inception as its Draft guru. He has surpassed Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay as the go-to guy for draft information.

And last year, Mayock received good notice for his work on NBC’s Notre Dame football broadcasts forming a very good team with Tom Hammond. In addition, the two worked one of NBC’s NFL Wild Card playoff games in January and again, Mayock received mostly positive reviews for his work.

If this is true, it would mean the end of a failed experiment in using two analysts on Thursday Night Football, a booth that has been retooled, reshaped and reworked since NFL Network got the package in 2006.

And Richard reports that NFL Network is also considering NFL on CBS voice Gus Johnson to replace Bob Papa. Now there was nothing wrong with Papa’s work on Thursday Night Football. He was always prepared and he meshed well with Cris Collinsworth in his first season on TNF, but then was saddled with Matt Millen in 2009 and then Theismann and Millen in 2010. Papa is a very good play-by-play man and deserves another network shot if indeed, NFL Network goes in another direction. I would have liked to have heard Papa and Mayock work together in 2011, but that appears not to be the case.

We’ll continue to monitor what has become a very interesting story.

Finally, Our Tuesday Links

Thanks to the server host getting a Denial of Service attack last night, Fang’s Bites has been down for most of the day. Not happy for not being able to blog for most of the day, although I’m back up for now. I apologize for the inconvenience. I’ll give you linkage now and hope you’ll be able to continue to visit throughout the night. And I’ll try to catch up with press releases tonight.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today writes that former CBS bitter curmudgeon college basketball analyst Billy Packer agrees with ESPN’s Jay Bilas in bashing VCU’s selection to the NCAA Tournament.

ESPN’s corporate blog, Front Row has launched before its official midnight unveiling.

John Ourand of Sports Business Journal notes that Turner Sports accomplished its mission by getting fans to find truTV for the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Van Riper of Forbes notes that three DirecTV-owned FSN regional sports networks will be re-branded as of April 1.

Fox Sports’ Brian Lowry says two programs this week won’t forget what the NCAA Tournament is really about.

Royce Young of CBSSports.com notes that ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose was arrested earlier this month on DUI charges, something the Mothership is looking into.

Carolyn Giardina of the Hollywood Reporter explains why tonight’s Blackhawks-Bruins game is being transmitted via satellite to CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Todd Spangler from Multichannel News writes that Time Warner Cable has received cease and desist letters over its iPad app.

Paige Albiniak at Broadcasting & Cable reports that March Madness ate into syndicated TV’s ratings.

To the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center reviews Frontline’s documentary on March Madness.

Marcus Vanderberg from SportsNewser writes that MLB Extra Innings will be free to all for the first week and a half of the season.

Andrew Gauthier at TVSpy notes that a TV live truck got mobbed during the VCU Final Four celebration on Sunday.

At SportsGrid, Dan Fogarty notes that Jay Bilas continues to pound the case that he was right in his VCU assumption.

Joe Favorito says the Cleveland Baseball Team is totally embracing social media.

Joe looks at the ever-shrinking television newscast in the biggest market in the country.

Newsday’s Neil Best has Fox’s Tim McCarver saying that the Wilpon family will have to sell the New York Mets over their off the field troubles.

Neil talks with ESPN’s Bobby Valentine over his new gig.

Keith Groller at the Allentown (PA) Morning Call recaps an appearance by ESPN/ABC’s Matt Millen.

Neal Shaffer of Bmore Media reviews Jen Royle’s tumultuous year after joining MASN and CBS Radio.

Jim Williams from the Washington Examiner talks about the total audience that has viewed at least a portion of the NCAA Tournament.

Tom Jones at the St. Petersburg Times notes that the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg drew decent ratings on Sunday.

Barry Horn from the Dallas Morning News says a local sports radio personality is switching stations.

David Barron at the Houston Chronicle says CBS is bringing back a classic version of “One Shining Moment” next week.

David also has a preview of tomorrow’s Real Sports on HBO.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Friend of Fang’s Bites Trenni Kusnierek will be joining a local radio station. She had hinted to me that she would be doing something locally after leaving MLB Network. Congrats to her on her new gig.

Bob Young of the Arizona Republic notes that Phoenix Suns voice and longtime network announcer Gary Bender is retiring at the end of the season.

Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News gets predictions on the Dodgers from a couple of network MLB analysts.

Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times says Fox is testing out a new camera during tonight’s Dodgers-Angels game on Fox Sports West.

NHL.com has posted some of the best calls of Edmonton Oilers voice Rod Phillips as he’s calling his final games with the tea.

Sports Media Watch notes that UConn steered ESPN to its highest NCAA Women’s Tournament ratings in eleven years.

The Canadian Sports Media Blog notes that Sunday Night Baseball is back on TSN2 this season.

Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media wonders if CBS could brand the Final Four to draw viewers.

Emmett Jones of Sports Business Journal looks at ESPN Front Row.

And we’re done.

Quick Sunday Links

Let’s do some linkage on this Sunday.

Mike Reynolds from Multichannel News mentions that Tennis Channel has begun coverage of the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals this week.

Stu Hackel of Sports Illustrated looks at the New York Islanders’ silly ban of blogger Chris Botta.

Doug Farrar of Yahoo’s Shutdown Corner blog says NFL Network’s Matt Millen is not winning any popularity contests among viewers.

Martin Peers of the Wall Street Journal writes about Time Warner Cable’s plans to offer a cheaper cable tier without mainstay ESPN.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says the NFL pregame shows will devote plenty of time to canonizing Michael Vick.

Ethan Sacks of the Daily News writes that the NFL is using electronic forensics in the Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger case. 

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post feels the NFL is still promoting violence.

In SB Nation New York, Puck The Media’s Steve Lepore talks about the Islanders revoking Chris Botta’s media credentials.

Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman notes that ESPN2′s crew tried to keep its audience interested in the Oklahoma-Baylor blowout. 

The Tulsa World says ESPN’s College Gameday is headed to Stillwater, OK this Saturday. 

Steve Daniels of Crain’s Chicago Business says the stalker convicted of secretly taping Erin Andrews is being sued by another woman.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the NFL is going high-tech on its investigation into Brett Favre’s alleged sexting to Jenn Sterger.

Sports Media Watch has its Weekend Ratings Predictions.

SMW has some NBA ratings notes.

SMW has more ratings news and notes.

Joe Favorito looks at college football hitting some non-traditional sites yesterday.

And we’ll end it there.

Bringing Back Some Megalinks, Part I

Since I’ll be away from any wireless technology this afternoon, I’m doing the megalinks now and will try to get as many as I can in before leaving the office for the day.

Let’s start now and I’ll provide some links I could not get to over the last couple of days.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand has the ESPN announcing teams for the BCS games coming in January.

Mike McCarthy of USA Today notes that Versus will be rolling out a new daily NHL studio show to replace The Daily Line which went off the air last week.

Mike also talks with ESPN public relations executive Keri Potts who had to fight off a sexual assault while vacationing in Italy.

And Keri’s blog, A Fight Back Woman, which describes how she escaped is must reading not only for women, but for men as well.

From the Wall Street Journal, Aditi Kinkhabwala profiles one of the New York Giants employees who has become a giant part of the team and owner’s family. Thanks to Newsday’s Neil Best for the link.

Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated has some thoughts of Joe Morgan’s firing from ESPN. 

Jon Lafayette of Broadcasting & Cable notes that lower revenues from ESPN caused parent company Disney’s fourth quarter-earnings to drop.

Fox Sports’ Brian Lowry is already fed up of seeing and hearing about the Miami Heat.

Marcus Vanderberg of SportsNewser speaks with Screamin’ Gus Johnson.

The Big Lead wonders if the upcoming ESPN book has already cost someone his job.

Sports Media Watch notes that ABC’s Saturday Night Football ratings tied a record low.

SMW has some news and notes.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell says Americans aren’t too enthralled about 3-D TV and to be honest, I’m not rushing out to buy a $5,000 TV set to wear glasses over my regular pair of glasses to watch an NFL game.

Darren notes that MLB now has an official cookie.

Joe Favorito says the New Jersey Devils’ work in the community off the ice is beginning to pay off for their brand.

Ben Koo at Awful Announcing notes that ESPN’s Lou Holtz has brought his quirky Dr. Lou character to a new Discover Card ad.

At Press Coverage, Dan Levy felt NFL Network’s Bob Papa deserved a medal for enduring a night with Joe Theismann and Matt Millen. 

I also have a post on Joe Theismann’s pitiful performance on Thursday Night Football.

East and Mid-Atlantic

The always lovely Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe announced this week that she’ll no longer be covering the Red Sox for the newspaper, but remain with the Globe.

Chad Finn of the Globe says NESN has ended the Uri Berenguer experiment as co-host of NESN Daily.

At the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Bill Doyle notes that WEEI’s morning team of John Dennis & Gerry Callahan are getting ready for their TV closeup starting on Tuesday.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times wonders why it took so long for ESPN to jettison Joe Morgan from the Sunday Night Baseball booth.

Richard gets a rather terse statement from Morgan over ESPN dropping him.

Newsday’s Neil Best talks with Fox Sports’ Troy Aikman about the Cowboys’ new interim coach.

Dan Mangan of the New York Post notes that former Versus “Daily Line” co-host Jen Sterger finally met with the NFL regarding the Brett Favre sexting situation.

Phil Mushnick of the Post feels ESPN is wrong for trying to make us care about the Steelers’ James Harrison.

Justin Terranova of the Post speaks with ESPN’s Dick Vitale about St. John’s coach Steve Lavin.

Justin also has five questions for CBS’ NFL Today analyst Bill Cowher.

The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman feels Jets coach Rex Ryan knows how to manipulate the media.

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has SNY’s college basketball schedule for this season.

Pete says Siena College has no qualms about putting its home basketball games on TV.

Ken McMillan of the Hudson Valley Times Herald-Record says SNY has made a couple of hires.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun wasn’t a fan of Matt Millen and Joe Theismann in the NFL Network booth. 

Dan Steinberg in the DC Sports Bog at the Washington Post notes that ESPN Radio hack Colon Cowherd did a character assassination on rookie Wizards guard John Wall.

Dan noticed that the NFL Network took on writer John Feinstein over the Donovan McNabb benching from two weeks ago?

I’ll end it here for now as I have to leave the office for a bit. I wanted to bring these to you now. I’ll have more coming later. Hopefully.

Joe Theismann Is Who We Thought He Was

NFL Network returned Thursday with the 4th incarnation of its announcing team in five seasons. And to be honest, the official TV network of the National Football League which has done tremendously in producing original programming such as America’s Game, Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players, NFL Game of the Week, NFL Replay, NFL Total Access, NFL GameDay Final and other shows, somehow falls short when it comes to live game production.

And the announcing teams starting with Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth in 2006 and 2007, Bob Papa and Collinsworth in 2008, Papa with Matt Millen last season and Papa, Millen and Joe Theismann have not been up to par with other network teams. While Papa is a drastic improvement over Gumbel, he’s been saddled with pedestrian partners, excepting Collinsworth with whom he forged a very strong team. But it only lasted one season after John Madden retired from Sunday Night Football. Now you have NFL Network bringing back Theismann whose brief one game stint on NBC during Wild Card playoff weekend was an out-and-out disaster.

NFL Network which had hired Theismann last year to be an analyst on its Playbook show decided to bring him back to game analysis this season and judging from Thursday’s Baltimore-Atlanta game, the pairing of Millen and Theismann may turn out to be a very bad one.

I was not a fan of Millen’s return to the booth last season and he’s proven to be a lightning rod among Detroit Lions fans who have still not forgiven him for his horrible stint as General Manager. And he’s taken to shouting to get his points heard, especially in the wake of working with Theismann.

To say Theismann is verbose is like saying an arsonist sets things on fire. There were several occasions where he could not wait for Bob Papa to finish his point and would talk over him to start an extremely long-winded analysis. Then he started to contradict Millen just for argument’s sake and that’s never good.

For his part, Millen stated the obvious and never spotted trends or challenged Theismann. He seemed to kowtow to the former Washington quarterback. To make matters worse, the two talked incessantly after every play. Millen would ask a rhetorical question only to have Theismann jump in and answer it. This got be tedious.

It’s never easy for NFL Network to jump into the season during Week 10 and try to hit the ground running. However, with a new production crew, there were some mistakes such as the audio not being synced properly with the video. There’s still time to correct the audio and video errors, but as for Theismann, it’s tough to teach an old dog new tricks.

Thursday Night Football Begins This Week With A Stellar Matchup

Thursday Night Football on NFL Network returns this week with a matchup of 6-2 teams, the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Baltimore Ravens. Can’t ask for a better way to premiere an 8 game package of games. However, it also means the debut of motormouth analyst Joe Theismann who never passed the opportunity to talk into a microphone. With he and returning analyst Matt Millen together in the booth, play-by-play man Bob Papa may be lucky to get down and distance in before Theismann takes over.

We have a look at the particulars for NFL Network’s coverage this Thursday.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11 — 8:00 PM ET

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT ATLANTA FALCONS ON NFL NETWORK

Joe Theismann Debuts on Thursday Night Football

Deion Sanders Sit Down Interview with Baltimore Linebacker Ray Lewis On Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears Pregame Show at 6 PM ET

“Your Weekend Starts Here”

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE…

• NFL Network and NFL.com add a handful of new members to its Thursday Night Football coverage team. JOE THEISMANN joins play-by-play announcer BOB PAPA and analyst MATT MILLEN in the booth as a game analyst. KURT WARNER is a new analyst on Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears from Los Angeles, along with host FRAN CHARLES and analysts STERLING SHARPE, JAY GLAZER, and JIM MORA.

• “It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to get back where I always wanted to be and (where I) spent so many years in the booth.” – JOE THEISMANN on joining the Thursday Night Football broadcast as a game analyst

• “Now we’re getting to see Joe Flacco open up his game personally, throw the football around a little bit more. I think the emergence of (Atlanta wide receiver) Roddy White in Atlanta has really taken Matt Ryan to another level.” – JOE THEISMANN on the development of quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan

• Thursday Night Kickoff analyst DEION SANDERS sits down for an interview with Baltimore Ravens linebacker RAY LEWIS, the #18 player on The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players during the pregame show at 6 PM ET on NFL Network.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-2) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (6-2)

ANNOUNCERS: Bob Papa (play-by-play), Matt Millen and Joe Theismann (game analysts)

PREGAME (6:00 PM ET):  Thursday Night Kickoff

In Atlanta: Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kara Henderson (on-site reporter); In Los Angeles: Fran Charles, Kurt Warner, Sterling Sharpe, Jay Glazer, Brian Billick, Jason La Canfora

PRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET):   Pre-Kick Show

Bob Papa, Matt Millen, Joe Theismann, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders

HALFTIME:  The Halftime Show

Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kara Henderson

POSTGAME:  Postgame Show

Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Steve Mariucci, Marshall Faulk, Kara Henderson

NFL Total Access Postgame Show

Fran Charles, Jamie Dukes, Rod Woodson

WHERE TO WATCH:  DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD)

Verizon – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – 630 (SD) 1630 (HD)

Check your local cable listings

NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game

NFL Mobile Live on Verizon Wireless

LOCAL OTA SIMULCAST*:  Baltimore: NBC Ch. 11 (WBAL)/Atlanta: MyNetwork Ch. 36

Thursday Night Football

NFL Network begins its fifth year airing the Thursday Night Football primetime package. NFL Network presents eight games in the key stretch of the season as teams jockey for playoff berths and seeding. 

This week, Thursday Night Football travels to Atlanta where the (6-2) Falcons host the (6-2) Ravens at the Georgia Dome in a battle of two of the top teams in the NFL. The matchup marks the first time that third-year quarterbacks JOE FLACCO (Baltimore) and MATT RYAN (Atlanta) will face each other. Both quarterbacks were first-year starters for their teams, and this season each ranks in the top 10 in passing yards.

This season marks the debut of new game analyst JOE THEISMANN, who returns to the broadcast booth after a successful stint with ESPN from 1988 – 2006. Alongside Theismann in the booth will be BOB PAPA, who returns for his third year as the play-by-play announcer for NFL Network, and second-year game analyst MATT MILLEN. Additional newcomers include producer ED FEIBISCHOFF and director ARTIE KEMPER.

RICH EISEN hosts NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff from the stadium.  Eisen, a two-time Sports Emmy nominee in the Studio Host category, is joined by fellow Sports Emmy nominee STEVE MARIUCCI, a former NFL head coach with the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions who also served as Brett Favre’s quarterback coach in Green Bay; MARSHALL FAULK, who won a Super Bowl XXXIV ring with the Rams, earned 2000 NFL MVP honors and three Offensive Player of the Year awards (1999-2001) and has been selected to seven Pro Bowls; and DEION SANDERS, a two-time Super Bowl winner who was 1994 Defensive Player of the Year and an eight-time Pro Bowler who holds the NFL record with 18 career return touchdowns. Coverage also includes on-site reports from KARA HENDERSON, who begins her eighth season with NFL Network, and sideline reporter ALEX FLANAGAN, who is in her fifth season with NFL Network, first as a sideline reporter on Thursday Night Football.

Additional coverage will be provided from NFL Network studios in Los Angeles with host FRAN CHARLES and analysts KURT WARNER, a two-time NFL MVP and a Super Bowl MVP quarterback; STERLING SHARPE, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a 16-year veteran NFL broadcaster; JAY GLAZER, FOX Sports NFL insider and senior writer for FOXSports.com; and BRIAN BILLICK, former NFL coach with the Baltimore Ravens who won a Super Bowl in 2000. NFL Network insider JASON LA CANFORA will also provide the latest updates.

NFL.com LIVE at 8:00 PM ET features live programming including live “look-ins” of Thursday Night Football, game highlights and instant analysis from NFL Network talent. From the NFL Network studios in Los Angeles, PAUL BURMEISTER, JAMIE DUKES, BUCKY BROOKS and MIKE MAYOCK provide expert analysis, commentary and fantasy information with contributions from Faulk, Mariucci and Sanders. Henderson and STEVE WYCHE will provide live reports from the stadium, while Mayock will return for a second season with ‘Instant Playbook’ from the NFL Films studios exclusively for NFL.com/LIVE: Thursday Night Football, which provides instant X & O analysis of key plays right after they happen.

Following the game at 12:00 AM ET, NFL Network analyst ROD WOODSON will join Charles and Dukes for a postgame edition of NFL Total Access Live.

And you have the details of NFL Network’s coverage.

ESPN’s College Football Games & Announcing Assignments For Week 9

It’s already Week 9 in the college football season. Time is just flying by. The college football week begins on Tuesday for ESPN’s family of networks. Plus as we know, College Gameday will be heading to SoCal for the Oregon-USC game which will be played in primetime on ABC.

Once again, ESPN tortures the state of Michigan by assigning Matt Millen to the Michigan State-Iowa game. Why does ESPN do this?

We have your schedule in detail below.

College GameDay from No. 2 Oregon at USC; Five of Top Six Teams in BCS Standings in Action; Two Telecasts between Ranked Teams

College GameDay – beginning on ESPNU at 9 a.m. and continuing on ESPN at 10 a.m. every Saturday and simulcast on ESPN Radio — will originate from Los Angeles on Saturday, Oct. 30, the site of No. 2 Oregon at USC (televised on ABC at 8 p.m.). This year, all seven schools that have hosted College GameDay have won that day. The last three road teams were ranked No. 1 entering the game.  

Chris Fowler hosts the Emmy Award-winning program with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. Erin Andrews anchors several segments of the first hour on ESPNU and contributes reports, interviews and features during the ESPN portion.

This week’s schedule will feature five of the top six teams in the BCS standings in action, including two against ranked opponents Saturday at 3:30 p.m.: No. 5 Michigan State at No. 18 Iowa and No. 6 Missouri at No. 14 Nebraska. Additional highlights:

• No. 1 Auburn will take on Mississippi Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2;
• The Saturday Night Football telecast on ABC will pit No. 2 Oregon at Pac-10 rival USC at 8 p.m.;
• ESPN2 will televise No. 3 Boise State against Louisiana Tech Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Also on Saturday, ESPN2 will televise No. 9 Oklahoma, coming off its only loss this season against Missouri, versus Colorado at 9:15 p.m. while ABC will offer one-loss No. 11 Ohio State at Minnesota at 8 p.m.

Date	Time (ET)	Matchup	Network(s)
Tue, Oct 26	8 p.m.	Louisiana Tech at No. 3 Boise State Beth Mowins, Robert Smith, David Norrie & Heather Cox	ESPN2/ESPN3.com
Thu, Oct 28	7:30 p.m.	No. 16 Florida State at NC State Rece Davis, Craig James, Jesse Palmer & Jenn Brown	ESPN/ESPN3.com
	7:30 p.m.	North Carolina A&T at Bethune-Cookman Anish Shroff, Jay Walker & Charlie Neal	ESPNU
Fri, Oct 29	8 p.m.	West Virginia at Connecticut Joe Tessitore & Rod Gilmore	ESPN2/ESPN3.com
Sat, Oct 30	Noon	No. 22 Miami at Virginia Bob Wischusen & Brian Griese	ESPN/ESPN3.com
	Noon	Purdue at Illinois Dave Pasch, Bob Griese & Chris Spielman	ESPN2/ESPN3.com
	Noon	Syracuse at Cincinnati Rob Stone & David Pollack	ESPNU
	3:30 p.m.	No. 5 Michigan State at No. 18 Iowa ** Sean McDonough, Matt Millen & Heather Cox	ABC and ESPN/ESPN3.com
		No. 6 Missouri at No. 14 Nebraska **| Ron Franklin, Ed Cunningham & Jeannine Edwards	ABC and ESPN/ESPN3.com
	3:30 p.m.	Wake Forest at Maryland Pam Ward & Danny Kanell	ESPNU
	3:30 p.m.	Florida vs. Georgia (from Jacksonville) Bill Rosinski, David Norrie & Joe Schad	ESPN Radio
	3:30 p.m.	William & Mary at North Carolina Dave Weekley, Drew Henson & Angela Mallen	ESPN3.com
	6 p.m.	No. 1 Auburn at Mississippi Mark Jones, Bob Davie & Quint Kessenich	ESPN2/ESPN3.com
	7 p.m.	Kentucky at No. 21 Mississippi State Clay Matvick, Herm Edwards & Jessica Mendoza	ESPNU
	8 p.m.	No. 2 Oregon at USC Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit & Erin Andrews	ABC/ESPN3.com
		No. 11 Ohio State at Minnesota Mike Patrick & Craig James	ABC/ESPN3.com
	8 p.m.	Michigan at Penn State Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge & Holly Rowe	ESPN/ESPN3.com
	9:15 p.m.	Colorado at No. 9 Oklahoma Carter Blackburn, Brock Huard & Mike Bellotti	ESPN2/ESPN3.com
	10:30 p.m.	Utah State at No. 24 Nevada Todd Harris & David Diaz-Infante	ESPNU

** Reverse mirror in which ESPN will regionalize two games on ABC to markets not receiving the telecast

This will wrap up our posts tonight unless something breaks.

Your Back To Work Tuesday Links

It was a three day weekend for most of you. It wasn’t for me as I worked all three days, but you don’t want to hear my complaints, you want to see the linkage so I’ll do that. Plenty of stuff to get to.

Sean Leahy of USA Today surveys all 32 NFL teams and looks at the possibility of TV blackouts in each market for this season.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand notes that Versus will launch a new show starring Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.

Rick Kissell at Variety says it appears Monday’s Boise State-Virginia Tech did well for ESPN. 

At Sports Media Journal, Southeastern New England media mogul Keith Thibault announces a site hiatus. It also affects the Sports Media Weekly which Keith and I co-host. I’ll have an announcement on a new podcast coming up.

Mike Florio at Pro Football Talk discusses the looming local NFL blackouts this season.

Mike writes that NFL Network’s Rich Eisen has agreed to a new contract with the channel which is very good news. 

Jon Lafayette at Broadcasting & Cable says Big Ten Network is primed to have a successful season.

Over to Mike Reynolds at Multichannel News who looks at Versus premiering the new show with Ochocinco and T.O.

Mike says NFL Network is making its Thursday Night Football package into a three man booth.

I’ve written a post for Press Coverage on two sports media stories that broke over the holiday weekend.

Andrew Laughlin of Digital Spy UK says ESPN UK is getting ready to air Monday Night Football in England.

The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick gets on ESPN/ABC’s Matt Millen for not telling the whole story about Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

Newsday’s Bob Glauber looks at Dan Hampton’s apology after making light of Hurricane Katrina on Pro Football Weekly. 

Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette says he won’t be watching the new T.O./Ochocinco show.

Keith Groller in the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says the radio voice of a local minor league baseball team has been very busy over the last three seasons. 

Washington Post Ombudsman Andrew Alexander weighs in for a second time on the Mike Wise suspension for posting a fake tweet.

The Post’s Dan Steinberg in the DC Sports Bog has DC NFL team coach Mike Shanahan lecturing the media.

Completing a WaPo trifecta, Sally Jenkins says the late Vince Lombardi lives on through books, movies and a new Broadway play.

Vito Stellino of the St. Augustine (FL) Record says this Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Denver Broncos will be sold out and avoid a local TV blackout (scroll down). Thanks to J.P. Kirby at the506.com for the link.

Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times says a blackout is a distinct possibility for Tampa Bay Buccaneers home opener against the Browns.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has a Bears official responding to a negative Forbes article on the team.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times says while the NFL is enjoying higher TV ratings, it wants some of those fans to experience the games in person. 

In the Huffington Post, Brian Frederick of the Sports Fan Coalition says Comcast and Cablevision are screwing fans in Philadelphia and in New York.

Brady Green at Awful Announcing says ESPN’s Robert Flores made a “rippin’ and the tearin’” reference on SportsCenter. If you don’t know what that means, the post will on AA will explain. Oh, the humanity.

The Be Your Own Fan site gets a tour of the MLB Network facilities from Harold Reynolds.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann writes in his MLB blog about how he came to dislike Buck Showalter’s intimidation methods.

We’ll end it there.

NFL Network’s Announcing Teams Since 2006

Since NFL Network started airing live games in 2006, its broadcast booth has been a bastion of inconsistency. Since Bryant Gumbel left in 2007, there have been changes every year. Let’s take a look at the combinations.

2006 – Bryant Gumbel & Cris Collinsworth
2007 – Bryant Gumbel & Cris Collinsworth
2008 – Bob Papa & Cris Collinsworth
2009 – Bob Papa & Matt Millen
2010 – Bob Papa, Matt Millen & Joe Theismann

It would behoove NFL Network to keep the booth consistent for next season. Even if the Theismann move is unpopular, the changes make the booth look topsy-turvy.

Tuesday’s Regular Links

Ok, now that I have the Joe Buck Live links out of the way, let’s get to the other sports media links of the day.

Ray Glier of USA Today has a very nice story on a sightless announcer who does the Spanish language broadcasts for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Paul Sanford of the Sports Business Daily measures how ESPN covered the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ben Klayman of Reuters says NBC Sports has extended its agreement to televise the New York City Marathon.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders whether the University of Minnesota will allow beer to be served in its in new stadium. Darren looks at the sale of Tiger Woods’ worn shirts from last year’s U.S. Open. Darren feels it’s ok for company CEO’s to show their faces at the U.S. Open.

T.J. Donegan of the Sports Media Journal looks at NBC’s partnership with Pro Football Talk.

Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News gets on the SNY crew for getting on Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain.

Keith Groller from the Allentown (PA) Morning Call likes Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, but not his TV show.

Thom Loverro of the Washington Times says MASN’s Rob Dibble takes a different approach to broadcasting Nationals games than his predecessor, Don Sutton.

Tom Jones of the St. Petersburg Times goes over some NHL stuff as well as some TV and radio news over the weekend.

Kevin Price of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer says the local Fox affiliate has signed up to air ESPN Regional Television’s SEC package.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says a local station is misleading viewers when it says it will have “complete coverage” of the Reds-White Sox Civil Rights game this Saturday.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says the Windy City’s internet sports radio station is shutting down today. Ed talks with the station’s program director who has no regrets about leaving his old job.

Ameet Sachdev and Becky Yerak of the Chicago Tribune write that the founder of the station is being charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud.

Teddy Greenstein of the Tribune talks with NBC’s Dan Hicks as he gets ready to call this week’s U.S. Open.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Matt Millen has bounced back on TV with a vengeance (scroll down).

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News recaps last night’s 4th and Long episode.

Chris Dufrense of the Los Angeles Times talks with retiring Pac 10 Conference Commissioner Tom Hansen about his long tenure and the future of its TV rights.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News says the NBA may have garnered higher ratings than the NHL for their respective league finals, but John notes that the NHL has to be happy.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star has has random thoughts about sports TV coverage from the last few days. Chris also looks at the sports TV ratings in Canada.

James Hibberd of the Hollywood Reporter says this year’s NBA Finals were the second most watched finals series on ABC.

The Sports Media Watch says Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals received 8 million viewers, the highest for an NHL game in three and a half decades. SMW says thanks to a short series and lower ratings for Game 5, the NBA Finals’ ratings finished down.

Real Clear Sports counts down the Top 10 Moments on Sports Blog History.

Ryan Lawler of Contentinople.com says NBC Sports will use Microsoft’s Silverlight technology to stream Wimbledon next week.

Puck the Media says Versus will carry the NHL Entry Draft and the annual NHL Awards later this month.

And that does it for now. Back later with another post.

Our Monday Links

After hemming and hawing over how to organize the links today, I’ve decided I’m going to do a post based on just sports media links, then one on reaction to Blogs With Balls. I know many of the readers are probably sick of my posts on the conference, but it was a good event to attend and there was a lot of good things that came out of it. But if you want to skip over the upcoming BWB post, then go right ahead.

Let’s do the regular sports media links there and there are a lot of them as usual on Monday.

Starting with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand, he writes about the Dan Patrick Show moving to DirecTV and not necessarily being a simulcast of his radio show.

Michael also has a profile of Joe Buck in anticipation of the premiere of his new HBO show tonight.

Tripp Mickle of Sports Business Journal says ESPN is sending SportsCenter to South Africa to cover the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell notes that Kobe Bryant is the NBA’s most marketable player again after almost five and a half years.

The Sports Media Journal’s Ray Frager talks about Matt Millen getting his second TV gig in just a few short months.

Newsday’s Neil Best who will spend the week at the Bethpage Black course covering the U.S. Open has a rare interview with ESPN’s Chris Berman who will be in the 18th tower to the chagrin of many golf enthusiasts. In his blog, Neil has the entire transcript of his interview with Berman. Fascinating stuff.

Apparently the real Phil Mushnick has returned to today’s New York Post. Yesterday, he wrote a preview piece on the U.S. Open that turned out to be quite well done. Today, the mean Phil is back and he’s after ESPN for not recognizing a pitching performance from Friday. Let it go, Phil.

In the ever-changing world of the Chicago internet sports radio station, Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business reports that Mike North was back on this morning, but the financial backer was not. Ed writes the station is still on the air today, but it’s not known for how long. Apparently North wrote his own personal checks to cover those that bounced last week.

Armeet Sachdev of the Chicago Tribune’s Breaking News Center says the owner of the internet station has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for running a Ponzi scheme. Wow.

Dusty Saunders from the Denver Post says a weekend TV sports anchor is the victim of a numbers game by the parent company.

The Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer who broke the Pro Football Talk/NBC story yesterday has more on their partnership.

Philip Hersh of the Times writes that MLB officials making the pitch to the Olympics are willing to make major concessions in its TV schedule to help reinstate the sport to the 2016 Summer Games.

Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball also has highlights of MLB’s and the International Basebal Federation’s presentation to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail feels CBC focused too much on Sidney Crosby while not picking up that Evgeny Malkin on the Conn Smythe Trophy in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star asks Blue Jays announcers Rod Black and Pat Tabler to take it easy during the games.

Rick Kissell of Variety says the NBA Finals Game 5 won the primetime ratings last night, but will most likely be one of the lower rated games of the series.

Steve Clark of Vareity writes that the English Premier League has given cash-strapped Setanta Sports until Friday to meet its payments or have its TV rights sold off to competitors. Look for ESPN to try to swoop in here.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says HBO has had to postpone the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight due to an injury to one of the boxers.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says the Lakers are steering ABC to higher ratings in the NBA Finals than last year’s series.

Chris Byrne of Eye on Sports Media says the Pro Football Talk/NBC Sports partnership is evidence that new media and mainstream media can co-exist.

I’ll end it here for now. I’ll have a post with links from various blogs wrapping up the Blogs With Balls conference.

BREAKING NEWS: Matt Millen Joins NFL Network

From NFL PR Guy Brian McCarthy, we learn from his Twitter page the following:

Matt Millen to join Bob Papa in booth as color analyst for NFL Network’s 8-game package. 1st game 11/12 Bears-49ers

I expect a press release soon. When I get it, you’ll see it here.

UPDATE, 10:37 a.m.: Here it is!

MATT MILLEN NAMED ANALYST FOR

NFL NETWORK’S THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Millen Joins Bob Papa on NFL Network’s Primetime Games

Beginning November 12

Matt Millen returns to the NFL broadcast booth as the new analyst for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football, NFL Network president and CEO Steve Bornstein announced today. The new team of Millen and play-by-play announcer Bob Papa will debut on NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football November 12 at 8:00 PM ET when the San Francisco 49ers host the Chicago Bears.

“Matt Millen is one of the best television analysts in the business and we welcome him back to the booth on Thursday Night Football,” said Bornstein. “Matt’s candor, knowledge and passion for the NFL, partnered with Bob Papa, make them a very entertaining and informative announcing team.”

A four-time Super Bowl winner in his playing days, Millen made a smooth transition into the broadcast booth as a highly acclaimed NFL analyst for FOX and CBS from 1995 to 2000. He was regularly mentioned as one of the best analysts on NFL games by the media and his broadcast peers. In addition to working on television, Millen was also the analyst for CBS Radio’s Monday night crew from 1997 to 2000.

“I am humbled to be a part of the NFL Network team,” said Millen. “It is very exciting to be joining Bob Papa and an outstanding crew of professionals on the Thursday Night Football telecasts.”

Millen’s playing career featured four Super Bowl victories with three teams. As a standout linebacker for 12 seasons, Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins. He won two Super Bowls with the Raiders (XV, XVIII) one in San Francisco (XXIV) and his last ring with the Redskins (XXVI).

A three-year starter and a first team All-American at Penn State, Millen was Oakland’s second-round selection in the 1980 NFL Draft. Always one of the leaders of any defense he played on, Millen was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1988 season with the Raiders.

Millen returns to the booth after spending the past eight seasons as the president of the Detroit Lions. He also served on the NFL competition committee the past three years. Millen replaces Cris Collinsworth as the analyst on Thursday Night Football games. In addition to working for NFL Network, Millen is an analyst on ESPN’s college football games and Monday Night Countdown show.

NFL Network’s 2009 Thursday Night Football Schedule

Week 10: Thursday, November 12 at 8:00 PM ET

Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers

Week 11: Thursday, November 19 at 8:00 PM ET

Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers

Week 12: Thursday, November 26 at 8:00 PM ET

New York Giants at Denver Broncos (Thanksgiving)

Week 13: Thursday, December 3 at 8:00 PM ET

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills (in Toronto)

Week 14: Thursday, December 10 at 8:00 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns

Week 15: Thursday, December 17 at 8:00 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 15: Saturday, December 19 at 8:00 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

Week 16: Friday, December 25 at 7:30 PM ET

San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans (Christmas)

No Lions games so Matt won’t have to deal with any backlash from the Ford Field faithful. Millen will take part in a media conference call later today.