Let’s do your links for today.
I’ll start with the great Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated who writes about ESPN’s Dick Vitale and Jon Gruden.
SI’s Peter King in his Tuesday edition of his Monday Morning Quarterback says Jon Gruden’s staying at ESPN now puts Mike Shanahan in prime position for several job openings during the offseason.
Also from SI, Olympics writer Brian Cazeneuve says the networks are ready for a big bidding war for the 2014 and 2016 Games (scroll down).
USA Today’s Bob Kimball and Reid Cherner write about ESPN locking up Jon Gruden for Monday Night Football and the 24 hour college basketball marathon.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noted a slight faux pas from Jon Gruden during last night’s Ravens-Browns game.
Eddie Pells of the Associated Press says former rivals over an Olympic sports TV network could be combining forces when Comcast takes over NBC.
The AP lists some of the key moments in Comcast’s history.
Mike Farrell of Multichannel News says a combined Comcast/NBC would definitely benefit cable.
Dan Levy of On The DL writes in the Sporting News regarding Comcast’s local website expansion to challenge ESPN’s local sites.
In Sports Business Daily, Eric Fisher tells us that ESPN will use optical tracking data for Sunday night’s MLS Cup.
Sports Business Daily recaps NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s visit to Davidson College.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says a website that lists restaurants serving chicken wings is gaining popularity.
The St. Petersburg Times’ Eric Deggans writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center discusses NFL blackouts, NFL overruns and Steve Phillips.
Judy Battista of the New York Times writes about Jon Gruden signing a new deal with ESPN.
The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman wonders what was really behind Jets QB Mark Sanchez’s scripted remarks after the team’s game on Sunday.
To Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union who says that Siena’s flagship radio station hopes to get a signal boost this week.
Also from the Times Union, Pete Iorizzo says ESPN and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference have signed a contract extension.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette writes that University of Albany football makes a local TV appearance this weekend.
Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call talks with the TV voice of Lafayette College football.
Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog looks at the continuing feud between Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wise. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.
Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes about a long day of college hoops on the ESPN family of networks.
The Charleston (WV) Daily Mail reports that this year’s Backyard Brawl, Pittsburgh at West Virginia will be aired the day after Thanksgiving on ESPN2.
Sarah Talalay from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that the Florida Panthers officially have new owners.
Bryan Mullen in The Tennessean says ESPN Radio returns to Nashville after a four month absence.
Lindsey Clark of KTHV-TV in Little Rock, AK says next Saturday’s Arkansas-LSU game will be aired live on ESPN.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News welcomes back Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to the Cowboys Stadium announcing booth.
Rick Cantu of the Austin American-Statesman says Texas women’s basketball coach Gail Goestenkors knows the power of TV as her Longhorns take on defending NCAA champ UConn in today’s 24 hour college basketball marathon on the ESPN family of networks.
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Xavier fans will have to look hard to find tonight’s game on local TV.
Dave Calabro from WTHR-TV in Indianapolis spent Sunday with NBC’s Tony Dungy as he prepared for another night on the Football Night in America set.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business writes that a local museum is seeking donations to fix a statue of the late baseball announcer Jack Brickhouse.
Joe Flint from the Los Angeles Times says the WWE’s new deal with USA Network could be part of a bigger partnership for the company down the road.
Truth & Rumours’ William Houston reports that CBC has officially renewed a new season of Battle of The Blades.
Gavin O’Malley in Mediapost says CBS’ MaxPreps high school sports website has signed a distribution deal with Comcast Houston.
Mike Stern of Media Life Magazine says sports radio stations are finding the sales tough going for live games.
Maury Brown at the Biz of Baseball says it doesn’t appear that MLB owners will address the silly Extra Innings blackout rules.
David Brown of Yahoo’s Big League Stew blog says there’s an online petition asking MLB Network to air the infamous Dock Ellis no-hitter when he said he pitched high on LSD.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media has another edition of his Tuesday mailbag.
Some ratings news from Sports Media Watch. First CBS had strong numbers for its NFL regional coverage on Sunday.
CBS had good numbers for its SEC doubleheader on Saturday, although they were down from last year.
But ABC saw a ratings downturn for its college football slate.
NASCAR on ABC continues its ratings slide.
SMW has some ratings news and notes.
In the Eye on Sports Media blog, Chris Byrne talks with the radio voice of an SEC team as he tried to find out as much about a team he had never seen.
Chris also has some suggestions for ESPN.com on how it could make it easier for one to find certain columns.
The great Joe Favorito says the “ambush” play and creative marketing stunts are making a comeback this year.
And we end with Kristine Leahy with today’s edition of The Five at WEEI.com.
That’s it for today. Press release posts will come later.
