We have a lot of links to get to today so I’ll forego any opening comments and just get to them.
Starting with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand, he writes that ESPN/ABC will try to stem the tide of sliding NASCAR ratings as it takes over the Sprint Cup season this weekend.
John Daly at The Daly Planet motorsports blog says ESPN’s attempts to raise the ratings won’t be through a lack of trying as it pulls out all the stops for this weekend’s Brickyard 400.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says TMZ (which has been breaking sports media stories left and right lately) has obtained a tape showing Xavier’s Jordan Crawford dunking over LeBron James. Nike had confiscated two tapes shot of that dunk, but apparently did not account for a third.
Darren talks about what football teams have to consider before signing Michael Vick this season.
Darren is surprised that Tom Watson’s sponsors didn’t take advantage of his big story over the weekend.
Some links on ESPN’s refusal to report the Ben Roesthlisberger story.
The Wall Street Journal Speakeasy media blog wonders why ESPN did not report the Ben Roethlisberger story.
The Sports Business Daily looks at the reaction to ESPN’s stance and thanks to SBD for quoting my post from yesterday.
Michael David Smith from AOL Fanhouse says ESPN is all alone on an island ignoring the lawsuit against Roethlisberger.
John Gonzalez of the Philadelphia Inquirer doesn’t buy ESPN’s explanation on why it won’t report the story.
Deadspin feels ESPN’s “Do Not Report” edict on the Roethlisberger really doesn’t make any sense.
And I’ll give Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk which has done some tremendous reporting on ESPN’s silence, the last word on this.
To Bruce Allen who tells us that WEEI managed to keep some big feathers under its programming cap in the wake of WBZ-FM’s August debut.
Here’s the latest edition of WEEI.com’s “The Five” hosted by Kristine Leahy.
Perhaps this is a sign of the times, I hope not. Chris King of Newsday says the New York Islanders have fired their radio announcing team and will use a simulcast from its TV broadcasts. Neil Best of Newsday finds the move a big strange.
Southeastern New England media magnate Keith Thibeault of Sports Media Journal says this could lead to team radio broadcasts being taken off stations altogether.
Coincidentally, Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News reports that the Cowboys will use a simulcast of TV and radio for its exhibition games next month.
Now to the Erin Andrews story.
Neil writes an opinion piece on the reaction unfortunate Erin Andrews affair. Neil admits feeling melancholy about the entire story.
Former Deadspin editor Will Leitch has some guilt about the story.
The Big Lead has some surprising reaction from USA Today’s Christine Brennan. I like what Christine wrote, but to say Erin is catering to the lowest common denominator? I disagree.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner says the story shows that women still have to struggle to get taken seriously in sports broadcasting.
David Hinckley of the New York has a similar article.
Bob’s Blitz which has been in the forefront of looking into the story says Erin’s lawyers may go after Fox News, the New York Post and CBS for either printing pics or playing the video outright.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business has ESPN’s official statement on the story.
I’m hoping the story will die down in the next few weeks, but with the New York Post using it to sell newspapers, I have a feeling it won’t.
Now let’s head to the South and link to stories about the new SEC Network which is being produced by ESPN Regional Television.
Jon Solomon of the Birmingham (AL) News says the far-reaching footprint of the network which goes beyond the SEC’s borders is the largest college sports syndicated package in the country.
Jon is amazed at the network’s tentacles going beyond the SEC footprint.
David Jones of the Fort Myers (FL) News-Press writes that the SEC Network will bring more football and basketball games to over-the-air TV.
John Patton of the Gainesville (FL) Sun reports that SEC Network will be seen in 73 markets across the country.
Josh Weinfuss from the Panama City (FL) News-Herald says the SEC Network is part of a trend of conference-centric TV networks across the country.
Ron Higgins of the Memphis (TN) Commercial Appeal says the SEC is now flooding area TV’s with a plethora of games.
Michael Casagrande of the Columbus (GA) Ledger-Enquirer says the SEC Network is ready and rearing to go.
Kyle Veazey of the Clarion (MS) Ledger tells us that one long-time Raycom affiliate signed with SEC Network to continue carrying football and basketball games.
In a related note, the Sporting News picks up a story from sister publication, Sports Business Journal, written by John Ourand and Michael Smith regarding the plans for the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 10 as their TV contracts come up for bid in the next year or so.
Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic writes that with the University of Arizona starting its own statewide syndicated network, it leaves Arizona State exclusively on Fox Sports Arizona.
Now to other links.
Brian Koontz of the Danbury (CT) News Times is happy to have ESPNU available in the Nutmeg State now.
To Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette talks about CBS College Sports signing to show all Army home football games starting in 2010 (coincidence that West Point grad Colin Powell is shown on that page??? I think not).
Alex Weprin of Broadcasting & Cable has some more details of the new CBS College Sports/Army agreement.
I don’t know if this is good news, but Terrell Owens’ new reality show scored well in Western New York as Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News writes.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman writes about the new Shaquille O’Neal reality series.
Greg Barr of the Houston Business Journal talks about the Texas Bowl signing a rights deal with ESPN.
Back to Ed Sherman, he says internet sports sites and newspapers are going in opposite directions.
Aaron Schaefer in the Riverfront Times is not a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals’ TV broadcasters Dan McLaughlin and Al Hrabosky.
Austin Meek of the Topeka (KS) Capital-Journal says he just-released ESPN Big 12 basketball schedule includes two primetime games for Kansas State.
The Los Angeles Times has a new sports editor.
Mark Saxon of the Orange County Register says Batting Stance Guy will become a regular on Angels games through Fox Sports West.
Rich Lieberman of the San Francisco Chronicle is not a fan of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reporter Amy Gutierrez (scroll down to “Media Bores”).
Writing in Pro Football Weekly, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson feels NBC has improved on its Football Night in America show. We’ll see.
The 38 Cliches blog is happy to see improvement in NESN Red Sox analyst Dave Roberts.
Chris Byrne in the Eye on Sports Media notes that CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus is on Twitter.
The Sports Media Watch has the weekend ratings.
EPL Talk chronicles the English Premier League’s history on US television.
That’s going to do it for now. Lots of stuff. I actually should be working so I’ll do that for the rest of the day. Anything breaks, you’ll see it here.
