Some Saturday Links

I have my home computer back online, but I don’t know for how long. But at least I can provide you with some links.

First, let’s continue on the news from late yesterday regarding Bryant Gumbel. As you might know by now, he has announced he would no longer calls games for the NFL Network. Chris Pursell of TV Week has the story. Richard Sandomir of the New York Times had a brief e-mail exchange with Gumbel over the matter. Ben Grossman of Broadcasting & Cable says the search for a successor begins immediately. Ryan Wilson of the AOL Fanhouse blog wonders if the decision for Gumbel to leave came from the NFL Network. Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star blogs that Gumbel was really doomed from the start. Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says Gumbel punted. Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter also has a version of the story. Finally, Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote a story as it broke late yesterday afternoon.

Now to some of the regular Saturday media columns and other stories as well.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette writes that local sports radio station WTMM is finally adding some local shows.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says sports radio station KFNS wants to enforce a non-compete clause to prevent a fired talk show host from surfacing elsewhere in the market.

From the San Antonio Express-News, Jerry Garcia explains why a local TV station cannot show Spurs games in HD.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell is amazed at how The Masters tries hard not to make money.

Barry Horn writes in the Dallas Morning News that talking is helping to heal CBS’ David Feherty.

Back to Richard Sandomir of the NewYork Times, he writes that ESPN carefully dipped its proverbial toes in the water when broadcasting The Masters. Also from the Times, Jack Bell writes for the paper’s Goal blog that watching soccer in HD is truly an experience.

A few things from TV Week today. Sergio Ibarra lists the national sports ratings for the week ending March 30. Here are the national sports ratings for the week ending April 6. Chris Pursell writes in his Pressbox blog that Versus will team up with sister regional sports networks Comcast SportsNet to promote the NHL playoffs.

Ben Grossman of B&C says ESPN is bidding farewell to “The Contender”, the boxing reality series that had previously run on NBC.

Jim Williams of the DC/Baltimore Examiner writes in his Watch This! blog that Comcast SportsNet, Versus and the DC area are all immersed in the Capitals.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma (WA) News Tribune says long time Voice of the Seattle SuperSonics Kevin Calabro does not plan to move with the team if it goes to Oklahoma City.

Alan Pergament of the Buffalo News writes that a former sports radio talk show host has landed at a new station.

Brian Lowry of Variety writes that NBC is dealing with a different bird as the Olympics hit Communist China. Daniel Frankel of Variety says the Olympics will allow NBC to offer more in HD.

The extremely hot Leeann Tweeden is the new host of NBC’s Poker After Dark taking over for the lovely Shana Hiatt who left the show to have a baby.

I think I’ll end it there. I may have an update later. Check back.