Here in the Northeast, we’re expecting that huge storm that’s hovering off the North Carolina coast and dumping lots of rain on Virginia. I’m just waiting for it as I’ve cleaned out my yard, my gutters, and made sure my basement won’t get flooded. This is going to be a washout at least for Saturday.
Anyway, let’s provide the sports media stories for today. But first, for the weekend sports including college football, NASCAR, NBA, NFL, NHL, various other sports and primetime TV, check out the Weekend Viewing Picks.
Now to the links.
National
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks with CBS college football analyst Gary Danielson who lobbies for the SEC over teams from other conferences.
Jim Chairusmi from the Wall Street Journal talks with Andre Agassi about his autobiography.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell wonders if Kevlar can revolutionize sports.
Darren looks at LeBron James discussing a number change and how that could affect jersey sales.
James Hibberd of the Hollywood Reporter writes that Spike TV is going to launch a new series involving sports personalities and their cars.
Georg Salazai of the Reporter says the NFL is happy with its current TV deals including one with DirecTV.
Rick Kissell of Variety the sluggish economy has led to higher ratings for the NFL.
Alex Weprin of Multichannel News looks at ESPN snagging the South American TV rights for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics.
Sports Business Daily has highlights of NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol’s speech at the FSA Sports Media & Technology Conference.
In the Sporting News, Dan Levy of On The DL looks at this Sunday’s NFL games on TV.
CBS College Sports’ play-by-play man Tom Hart writes a guest column for the Eye on Sports Media on the importance of a good statistician in the booth.
The Sports Media Watch has some ratings news and notes.
SMW says the SEC package on CBS is paying off with high ratings.
SMW says get ready for another primetime finish for next year’s U.S. Open golf tournament.
And SMW says Versus is seeing ratings gains for the NHL and college football despite being dumped from DirecTV.
The Big Lead speculates how much money the woman who sparked the Steve Phillips affair would seek from ESPN.
Maury Brown has highlights of an interview MLB Network’s Bob Costas conducted with Ernie Harwell.
Steve Lepore of Puck The Media has suggestions for programming on Versus.
East and Mid-Atlantic
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks with former Fox25 sports anchor Butch Stearns who signed off for the last time last night.
Bill Doyle of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette says Holy Cross College is putting interviews and highlights of its greatest athletes on its new website.
Kristine Leahy has today’s version of The Five on WEEI.com.
Richard Sandomir from the New York Times speculates on the future of Versus and Golf Channel if NBC Sports’ Dick Ebersol gets to run them under a Comcast-NBC umbrella.
Stuart Elliott of the Times writes that the NFL has put the kybosh on a guerrilla ad campaign involving players and donating money to charity.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says the finish of the Giants and Jets this season will directly affect the sales of their Personal Seat Licenses for their new stadium.
Phil Mushnick in the New York Post criticizes Derek Jeter for attempting to gouge his fans.
The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty talks with Siena radio voice Robert Lee.
Speaking of Siena, Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says Siena’s radio network adds a station.
Paul Farhi of the Washington Post profiles the public relations henchman for DC NFL team owner Daniel Snyder.
Tim Lemke from the Washington Times wonders why the NBA out-of-market broadband package costs more than MLB.TV.
South
Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times says South Florida fans are angry that the local ABC affiliate won’t showing next week’s game against Louisville in favor of Ohio State-Michigan.
Sarah Talalay from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel talks about the rumors that surfaced yesterday that The Who is going to play the Super Bowl halftime show.
Ray Buck in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes about some former college football coaches getting their acting bug in a new movie starring Sandra Bullock.
The Star-Telegram has a video
of ESPN’s College Gameday setting up at the TCU campus in town.
To the Dallas Morning News and Evan Grant who says the Texas Rangers and TV voice Josh Lewin are now talking about a new contract.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle says a local sports radio station went against the grain and hired an outsider for its morning show.
Mel Bracht of the Daily Oklahoman tries to scrape up ten college football games to watch this week.
Mel profiles ESPN/ABC’s college football analyst Craig James who’s happy to be out of the studio and calling games involving his son.
Midwest
John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes that local college basketball games are being bumped off Fox Sports Ohio in favor of the Cleveland Cavs and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Michael Zuidema in the Grand Rapids (MI) Press feels a one week suspension was proper punishment for ESPN’s Bob Griese. Zuidema is incorrect when he mentions Griese returns this week, he returned last week after being suspended for one game.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says NBC’s Tony Dungy is giving high praise to his successor at the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Caldwell.
On to Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business who has his weekly winners and losers in sports business and media.
Paul Christian in the Rochester (MN) Post-Bulletin says Patriots-Colts will be quite special for NBC on Sunday.
Scott Dochterman of the Iowa City Gazette says Iowa fans will have to find a way to watch basketball and football on Saturday as the Hawkeyes’ games overlap.
Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says fans are angry at Fox for its handling of NFL games in the market.
Dan writes about a sports radio talk show host who is now taking operation for most of the station’s daytime programming.
West
Scott D. Pierce of the Deseret (UT) News is surprised at the sudden ESPN love for the Mountain West Conference.
Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic writes that the high school football championships may not be televised statewide due to a dispute between the state’s governing body and Cox Communications.
Jay Posner of the San Diego Union-Tribune talks with Fox Sports’ Brian Billick who’s enjoying his time on television.
Over to the North County Times and John Maffei who writes about a local sports radio host who returns to the air after suffering a heart attack.
Jim Carlisle of the Ventura County Star says Pats-Colts gets the national spotlight this week.
Jim writes about a local resident who will be showcased on CBS’ presentation of the Arete Awards on Sunday.
Jon Weinbach of the Los Angeles Times looks at the increasing role of the league-owned TV networks walking that fine line of providing and potentially taking away content from other TV partners.
Diane Pucin of the Times says NBC’s Tony Dungy and Rodney Harrison have personal interest in Sunday’s Patriots-Colts game.
To the Los Angeles Daily News and Tom Hoffarth who talks with NFL Today host James Brown.
In his blog, Tom has more with JB about his new book and other subjects.
Kelly Johnson of the Sacramento Business Journal looks at a new online companion to the Kings’ game TV broadcasts.
Canada
Bruce Dowbiggin of the Toronto Globe and Mail says it’s almost the end of the line for the 55 year career of a CFL radio announcer.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star writes there’s more college sports available online for Canadians.
That concludes the megalinks. Press release posts will go up later tonight. See you then.
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