It’s Wednesday, the middle of the week and it’s time to do some links. By the way, you may see this a lot over the next 100 days until the start of the Winter Olympics. NBC Universal will be doing a big promotional push for the Vancouver games. NBCOlympics.com has done a relaunch and added a new DVR-like player powered by the very shaky Microsoft Silverlight technology and you have Facebook connectivity there as well. This promo will be on tonight and then others will play on NBC Universal’s networks throughout the time leading up to the Olympics.
I’ll more on that later. First, let’s do some sports media links so I can do some work and then record a podcast this afternoon.
Sean Leahy of USA Today’s The Huddle blog says CBS’ Screamin’ Gus Johnson apologizes for a comment he made during Sunday’s Jacksonville-Tennessee game.
Michael Hiestand from the Nation’s Newspaper writes that Fox is seeing ratings jumps in many markets for this year’s World Series.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the Yankees players may not have wanted a World Series Game 6, but certainly management won’t mind.
And Darren tells us that sports retailers are ready in case the Yankees win the World Series.
The New York Post’s Page Six jumps on the Jim Nantz divorce settlement.
Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News quotes Fox Sports President Ed Goren as not being a fan of constant conferences on the pitcher’s mound.
Jim Williams at the Washington Examiner notes the World Series ratings for Fox and Comcast’s impending purchase of NBC Universal.
Sarah Talalay of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that a long-time opponent of the Florida Marlins’ new ballpark received some love.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says former Cowboys WR and current Metroplex sports radio host Michael Irvin feels current Dallas WR Roy Williams ignored his advice on how to improve his pass patterns.
Barry writes that most of America doesn’t care about the World Series.
Ed Sherman in Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the Tribune has lured a Sun-Times sports editor to its side.
Ed reviews a new book written by famed Chicago sports personality Chet Coppock.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at baseball crackpot Bill James’ assessment of the Brewers.
Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News says Bill Walton is going to be Truckin’ as he steps away from broadcasting. I hope you get that reference.
Tom has the college football TV schedule for SoCal this week.
Tom also has the NFL TV schedule.
In the Toronto Star, Chris Zelkovich says the World Series was a relatively large attraction for Rogers Sportsnet last week.
Rick Kissell of Variety says four World Series games hit a ratings Grand Slam for Fox.
Toni Fitzgerald in Media Life Magazine writes that the World Series is getting Fox off to a blistering start for the November sweeps ratings period. One aside here. Don’t think this is not lost on Fox. Next year’s World Series also starts in late October so getting the Fall Classic to spill over into November might not be a rare occurrence anymore.
Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek says anyone hoping for a sign from Comcast on its impending purchase of NBC won’t get any today.
MLB Network host and Fang’s Bites Award-winner Victor Rojas breaks down tonight’s World Series Game 6 on his MLB.com blog.
The Biz of Baseball’s Maury Brown lists five reasons why MLB needs a 7 game World Series.
Maury has also relaunched his personal website and says MLB and the NFL are telling states to keep out of their personnel matters when it comes to drug testing.
Erick Schonfeld of TechCrunch writes that NBC is improving the video player on its Olympics website and providing social networking as well.
The Sports Media Watch lists the weekend overnight ratings for all sports action on the broadcast networks.
And SMW says Monday Night Football took a ratings hit against the World Series.
Chris Byrne’s Eye on Sports Media notes that notorious self-promoter Jenn Brown has demoted herself from co-host of ESPN’s College Gameday.
Ian Bethune over at Sox & Dawgs is thrilled to have ESPN/ABC’s top college football announcing team calling this Saturday’s UConn-Cincinnati game.
The Big Lead enjoys the battles between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the local media.
And we wrap up with The Five on WEEI.com as hosted by Kristine Leahy.
