After not blogging since Friday night (not by choice), I’m back with a vengeance today. My home computer is totally on the fritz. I looked at a nice notebook that I’ll be getting over the next few days. And because I was out Sunday helping my sister move into a new apartment and at a jobsite on Monday, I could not blog until today. But I’m here now and there are several stories that I need to get to.
Let’s start in my native New England where media types are talking about the decision by NESN to drop the lovely and popular Hazel Mae at the end of this month. After Tina Cervasio announced her departure from NESN in April, Hazel is now the latest to leave. Bruce Allen of the Boston Sports Media Watch was among the first to break the news. The Sox & Dawgs blog noted that Hazel dropped the bombshell during a NESN.com chat (that is no longer archived). The word is that NESN lowballed Hazel during contract negotiations and that is the reason for her departure. Rumors say that this apparently happened with Tina Cervasio during her negotiations with NESN. Dan Lamothe of the Red Sox Monster blog says he never quite understood the Hazel love. And the Inside Track girls from the Boston Herald have background and details on Hazel’s departure.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch has his Media Power Rankings for May.
A few things from CNBC’s Darren Rovell. First, he pats himself on the back for his handicapping for the National Spelling Bee. Darren says the latest promotional fad in Minor League Baseball is the free funeral. And Darren has a fascinating interview with MLB.com CEO Bob Bowman.
Checking the Tuesday media columns, Newsday’s Neil Best says ABC could not have asked for a better NBA Final with the Celtics and Lakers. Neil has a personal tidbit stemming from his Tuesday columm in his blog. And Neil says many of his fellow sports journalists are resentful of Rick Reilly getting a big payday from ESPN.
Richard Sandomir from the New York Times apparently did not enjoy Saturday’s MMA broadcast on CBS. Sandomir says the Elite XC telecast on CBS drew a 2.7 rating.
Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News says a Sunday night game is rough on the Mets and their fans.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that a local sports anchor has been tapped to call Olympic handball for the networks of NBC Universal.
Friend of Fang’s Bites, Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette says ABC will have Breeder’s Cup coverage this October combining with ESPN for the first joint cable-network TV venture for the horse racing event. And Ken says ESPN Radio will have coverage of the Belmont Stakes this Saturday.
The Philadelphia Daily News reports that former CNN executive Princell Hair will be a senior Vice President of news operations for all of Comcast SportsNet’s 10 regional sports networks.
Bob Smizik of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tells us that ESPN is taking its time to replace the embattled Mark Madden.
Ray Frager of the Baltmore Sun says the Elite XC event drew well locally.
David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes that MMA didn’t do that great in Houston.
From Mel Bracht’s blog in the Oklahoman, he says ESPN/ABC’s NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy is predicting a Lakers dynasty.
Jon Lafayette of TV Week writes that the Celtics-Lakers is driving strong ad sales for ABC.
George M. Thomas from the Akron Beacon Journal says the NBA Finals are not appointment viewing for the younger generation.
Steven Zeitchik and Paul J. Gough of the Hollywood Reporter wonder if the Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals will be enough to draw ratings for ABC.
But Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine writes that the NBA Finals should be a big ratings draw.
The Sports Media Watch cautions about high ratings expectations for the NBA Finals. And the SMW reports last night’s Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals garnered the highest overnight ratings for an NHL game on NBC.
Tom Hoffarth from the Los Angeles Daily News writes in his blog that Petr Sykora called his overtime winning goal to NBC’s Pierre McGuire during last night’s Stanley Cup Final game. Here is Sykora talking to McGuire about his called goal.
William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that TSN will get a Wednesday all-Canadian NHL doubleheader as part of a new six year deal with the league.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bob Wolfley says the Brewers’ sweep of the Astros drew well this past weekend for FSN Wisconsin.
Tom Jones from the St. Petersburg Times writes in his blog that HBO will run some of its best sports documentaries every Tuesday night starting tonight.
Fox Sports NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip is sad that he won’t be calling any more races this year.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow. But Primetime and Late Night viewing picks are coming up.
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