Mid-Week Links

Let’s do some links for you. But before we do that, let’s go over the All Star Game in San Francisco broadcast last night on Fox.

Best moment: Legend Willie Mays coming onto the AT&T Park field and being flocked by the current All Stars. Then riding in a pink Cadillac throwing baseballs into the crowd. Magical moment. It was just like when Ted Williams was transported around Fenway Park in the 1999 All Star Game. However, Fox cut away from Mays’ ride for a commercial break. It should have stayed with him throughout.

Fun moment: Watching the first ever All Star Game inside the park home run by Ichiro.

Best picture: Manny Ramirez fanning Ichiro in the American League dugout after he ran the bases.

Worst moments: Any time Tim McCarver decided to overanalyze plays, pitches, and he was behind on replays especially during the Ichiro inside the parker.

Biggest bust: The use of Eric Byrnes in a kayak out in McCovey Cove. In fact, the day before, ESPN used Kenny Mayne in a kayak and he was also wasted as no balls were hit in the water either during the Home Run Derby or the All Star Game. But we did get to see Byrnes’ bulldog, Bruin swim in the cove and require rescue as he seemed to want to escape Byrnes.

Fox had some nice drama in the bottom of the 9th when the National League loaded the bases and had the winning run in scoring position, but Frankie Rodriguez managed to get the last out.

Also, good interview during the game with NL manager Tony La Russa who said he wouldn’t use Albert Pujols from his own Cardinals team unless it was an emergency. He was true to his word, although I would have used him instead of Aaron Rowand in the 9th.

To the links. First, USA Today’s Michael McCarthy talks about how networks try to give viewers access during their telecasts. The All Star Game with the aforementioned kayak stunt is an example.

Neil Best is back from his vacation (you wouldn’t know it from the many posts he made in his Newsday blog, for which I am thankful). He writes about WFAN stalling for time in hopes it gets Don Imus back for the morning drive slot. And Best is blogging like crazy this morning. I can barely keep up. Here’s his take on Fox cutting away from a very key moment in the Mays pre-game ceremony last night.

On the other hand, I’m hearing that Boomer Esiason will be named as Imus’ replacement. The New York Post has a story in Page Six, of all places.

Peter Hautlaub in the San Francisco Chronicle says it’s a good thing the All Star Game was close because there wasn’t much excitement in Fox’s broadcast.

In the New York Post, Adam Buckman takes ESPN to task for not going to “The Bronx is Burning” as quickly as possible after the Home Run Derby ran late. The network promoted a 10 p.m. start time, but the first part of the mini-series didn’t begin until over an hour later. And ESPN should know the Derby has never run in less than two and a half to three hours so why it promoted the 10 p.m. start is beyond me. Richard Huff in the NY Daily News talks to some angry viewers.

Jim Williams in his Watch This! blog in the DC/Baltimore Examiner website suggests that the ESPN Radio affiliates in both cities should go local to replace Dan Patrick.

Over to the Washington Post where Leonard Shapiro reviews HBO’s documentary on the Brooklyn Dodgers which premieres tonight at 8. Bill Edelstein of Variety calls the documentary, “compelling”. Dusty Saunders, whom I thought retired from the Rocky Mountain News, also gives positive reviews to HBO. And Alan Pergament in the Buffalo News calls “Brooklyn Dodgers: Ghosts of Flatbush”, a winner.

Bob Wolfey talks with ESPN’s Dick Vitale on Milwaukee Bucks draft pick Yi Jianlian.

I’ve noticed that British newspapers are just now picking up on an ESPN press release issued last week about the coverage regarding David Beckham’s first game for the MLS’ LA Galaxy. I won’t link to them, but even they’re surprised about the hype for this.

If I hear more about the Boomer Esiason story, I’ll let you know.