I had to leave my office earlier today to help one of my employees who doesn’t know who to install a printer driver properly so that has put me behind the 8 ball for the rest of the day so I’ll be here late. But after the links, do expect a review of tonight’s ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Without Bias” sometime mid or late afternoon Eastern Time. I have the DVD screener right next to me so I will put that in the laptop as soon as the links are done to watch it.
So without delay, here are the links.
Bob Kimball of USA Today looks at the ratings of selected weekend sporting events.
USA Today’s Game On blog will miss Bill Walton on NBA broadcasts. While I’m not a fan of the NBA as I used to be, Big Red was always a fun listen and I enjoyed his on-air arguments with Steve Jones on NBC. He’ll be missed.
Stephanie Reitz of the Associated Press reports that CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz will have to pay his ex-wife nearly a million dollars annually in alimony plus other costs as part of a divorce settlement. That’s a lot of money. Thanks to USA Today’s Game On blog for the link.
The Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand talks with the ESPN official who’s responsible for heading up the network’s efforts to televise next year’s World Cup from South Africa.
Famed baseball writer Murray Chass notes the number of newspapers NOT covering the World Series this year.
Marc Berman of Mediaweek says Fox won Monday night’s primetime ratings thanks to the World Series, but its overall numbers were down from Sunday.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes that USA defeated ESPN for the cable ratings last week, but Monday Night Football was still the top rated show.
Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age has a story on how ESPN is helping advertisers with ad campaigns showing how it can tie the network to a certain product.
Major props go to CNBC’s Darren Rovell for admitting he was wrong about NYC Marathon winner Meb Keflezhighi’s background. Here’s Darren’s original post on the subject. Good on Darren for doing some research and realizing what he originally wrote was wrong.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch gives praise to Fox for not overfawning on Brett Favre during Sunday’s Minnesota-Green Bay game.
Writing for Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans warns of sports radio talk show hosts rushing to get stories on the air without checking their facts.
Doug Most of the Boston Globe looks at ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary on the late Len Bias and wonders “what if”?
The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir writes that hatred for the national announcers on the World Series dates back a long time.
On a similar vein, Phil Mushnick of the New York Post tells Yankees fans that Joe Buck and Tim McCarver are not rooting against their team.
Dan Mangan of the Post writes that ESPN is warning its employees about intra-office affairs. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News seems to be unhappy that Fox gets a long World Series.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes that NFL Network’s slate of Thursday Night games is fast approaching, but there’s still no agreement between the NFL and Time Warner Cable.
Pete notes that the ratings for World Series Game 5 were lower than Game 4, but it was still higher than last year’s Game 5.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call talks with MLB Network’s Matt Yallof who has worked both in Philadelphia and New York.
Laura Nachman says two local Fox sports TV reporters didn’t get their baseball lingo straight on Monday.
Tim Lemke of the Washington Times writes about the new deal Capitals star Alex Ovechkin signed with super sports agency IMG.
Marc Weiszer of the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald says Georgia’s SEC game against Auburn on November 14 will be on either ESPN or ESPN2 in primetime.
Barry Horn in the Dallas Morning News looks at Sunday’s sports TV ratings in the Metroplex.
Barry has what Dallas will watch during NFL Week 9.
Barry says Texas A&M will be back on local TV this week.
Barry notes that Dallas and Houston really don’t care about the World Series despite the high national ratings.
Barry is really happy over the name for a new sports radio station in Texas’ state capital.
Speaking of that new station, John Maher of the Austin American-Statesman says fans will now be able to hear sports talk on crystal clear FM.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle also looks at the low World Series ratings locally.
David reviews ESPN’s new 30 for 30 documentary on the death of Len Bias.
David writes that Stephen Colbert’s production company is now sponsoring USA Speedskating. That’s not a joke.
Rick Rouan of the Youngstown (OH) Vindicator writes that the NFL Network and Armstrong Cable have signed a multiyear agreement that brings the Thursday Night Football schedule to local TV’s.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News reports that previously, Armstrong had carried the channel, but refused to carry the games.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business would like the World Series to end in October.
Ed says the Blackhawks are drawing well for Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that thanks to the Bears, newsradio WBBM is expecting to see a ratings boost in October.
Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic says a decision on what network and time Arizona State and Oregon will play on November 14 will be made on Sunday?
Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times writes that of all NBA analysts for ESPN to lose, Bill Walton was not the one.
Ryan Leong of Examiner.com goes behind the scenes of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s 49ers postgame show.
William Houston of Truth & Rumours writes that CBC’s Battle of the Blades is such a ratings success that it’s seriously considering a second season.
At Puck the Media, Steve Lepore answers readers’ questions.
Chris Byrne of the Eye on Sports Media says self-promoter Jenn Brown has named herself co-host of ESPN’s College Gameday which might come as a surprise to Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.
Chris has some more advice for sports media organization when publishing press releases.
To the Sports Media Watch and several posts on sports TV ratings.
SMW says CBS is riding BCS Championship contender Florida to good ratings on its SEC coverage.
SMW has some various news and notes.
SMW has even more news and notes here.
And SMW notes that the ratings for NASCAR on ABC fell once again on Sunday.
Joe Favorito looks at athletes trying to find that happy medium on Twitter.
On Monday, WFAN’s Mike Francesa responded to Phil Mushnick’s column in the New York Post that he’s anti-Semitic which is preposterous. I have two sources for you to visit. This is the audio from themikefrancesa.com. Bob’s Blitz has the video from YES Network.
And we finish up with The Five from WEEI.com with the always lovely Kristine Leahy.
We’re done with the links. Back later with the review of “Without Bias”
