Friday Links

Well, now that the network upfronts are over, we can decompress, and get back to the focus of this blog. But I’ll have an analysis of the schedules later today. First things first, the links to the sports media columns as there are usually a ton of them across the country.

We’ll go from East Coast to West Coast as usual. Starting off in Boston and the Globe, Susan Bickelhaupt writes about the changes in ESPN programming, plus mentions the troubles some disenfranchised Red Sox fans in Connecticut who can’t get NESN on their cable systems.

David Scott from Boston Sports Media Watch has his Friday column in which he criticizes NESN announcers Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy for not asking hard questions to MLB Commish Bud Selig last night. The Commish was asked about whether he would be on hand to commemorate Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record and Selig was wishy-washy as usual. I don’t think there was much more Orsillo or Remy could have done in that situation in my opinion, but again, NESN is not there for journalism as it is mostly owned by the Red Sox.

Scott also gives this tidbit on my favorite whipping boy, Glenn Geffner. If it’s true, then it gives me plenty of joy this drab and rainy Friday morning in New England.

(Scott) has been told that it’s no coincidence that Dave O’Brien is being used in conjunction with Joe Castiglione on the in-game Giant Glass radio spot (and alone for O’Brien’s deck builder spot) instead of those advertisers choosing Castig’s other part-time partner, Glenn Geffner.

It appears the buyers weren’t comfortable with the understated Geffner and felt much better with the booming voice of O’Brien. The thinking also lends some support to the notion that Geffner is a one-and-done Sox broadcaster, who is being given the chance to get some audition reels together and will be encouraged (if not helped) to seek a gig in a smaller market, where he can further polish his skills. (Geffner is certainly a capable booth man, but, as we’ve opined before, he pales in comparison to the ultra-talented Obie, who is beginning to develop a nice rapport with ‘Stig. Geff would be well-served with a three to five year stint in a smaller market, followed by a possible return to Fenway if his guy, Larry Lucchino is still around by then. For Geff, there’s no shame in being less noteworthy than Obie – the guy’s a major national commodity.)

I wouldn’t go so far to say Goofner is capable. He’s not the type of announcer that Red Sox fans are accustomed to and after the enjoyable Jerry Trupiano was forced out last season, listening to Geffner has been a unenviable task.

Our friend, LC, who runs the 38 Cliches blog listened to both Red Sox-Tigers games yesterday. It appears that Dave O’Brien made it in for the second game while Goof did the afternoon session. LC says the game with O’Brien at the mike was a much better listen.

Over to New York, Neil Best has been energized by doing his blog. He has a very good story today on Lee Mazzilli, the former Met and the former Yankee coach (and Orioles manager to boot), getting adjusted to his new role as studio analyst at SNY for Mets games. In his blog, Best says he’s going to review an episode of MSG Vault, focusing on Game 6 of the 1979 New York Rangers-New York Islanders series that changed hockey in the New York area for the next decade.

Tonight begins Interleague play in baseball, a gimmick which I have hated from Day 1, but as long as Selig is Commissioner, it’s not going to change. New York fans think the Subway Series between the Yanks and Mets is the biggest story in baseball this weekend and Fox and ESPN will show their games this weekend, but fans across the country don’t care as much as the networks think we do. Anyway, Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says this weekend’s series is different for the Yankees as compared to previous years.

The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir says fans may not like the networks force-feeding Yankees-Mets to most of the nation, but he says the numbers spell out good ratings for these games.

Over to the New York Post where curmudgeon Phil Mushnick says the NBA got it right for handing down suspensions for the Spurs-Suns brawl this week. The Post’s Pat Reichart writes that Yankee fans can see Roger Clemens’ first minor league start live on ESPN2 tonight or via taped highlights during the Yankees-Mets game tonight on YES.

In Philadelphia, 76er fans won’t have Steve Mix on Comcast Sportsnet telecasts next season.

Laura Nachman says it’s a waiting game for some minor league baseball announcers hoping to get the call to do major league games.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today has four mini-columns in one, but his most entertaining focuses on TNT’s Craig Sager who has found himself in some of the strangest places when it comes to the greatest moments in sports history.

The big sporting event in Baltimore this weekend is The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown. Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun talks about NBC’s coverage which will end the network’s coverage of major horse racing for the year.

Jim Williams of the Baltimore/DC Examiner wonders if the Preakness has the legs to continue as a national event.

Down to Miami where Barry Jackson of the Herald has a nice story on Dr. Jack Ramsey who’s battling cancer and caring for his wife who has Alzheimer’s Disease. As many of you know, Dr. Jack does work on ESPN Radio as an analyst for the NBA.

Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune gives his weekend viewing picks for Chicagoans. Greenstein also has a story about a minor on-air incident involving Cubs radio analyst and homer (lovable I should add), Ron Santo.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle talks with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy who’ll be working the Spurs-Suns game tonight on ESPN.

To the left coast, Larry Stewart of the LA Times has a story on the interactive network, TVG which focuses on horse racing. TVG has been shut out of the Preakness Stakes and not allowed to take bets on the race. In his news & notes column, Stewart has stuff on this weekend’s Preakness, the Speed Channel’s foray into its very first NASCAR race and the lack of high definition in the LA area.

More links later.